An Alabama Census Taker in 1850
by Waneva Maymon
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When Eli S. Pouncy signed up to record the federal census in 1850, he had no idea that some daffy lady 168 years later would be trying to read his handwriting! Mr. Pouncy was given the entire county of Tallapoosa, Alabama to enumerate. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county currently has a total area of 766 square miles – in 1850 it was a bit less. He was paid 2 cents per person (living or deceased), with a 2% supplement for collecting “social statistics”, 10 cents per mile traveled, 10 cents per farm enumerated (where crops and livestock production figures had to be collected), and 15 cents per “establishment of production industry”. |
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I’m sure that Eli needed the extra money since he had a large family. He was a farmer living in Township 23 of Tallapoosa County. He and his wife, Mahulda, had ten children living at home –
the oldest was 19 and the youngest 11 months. Eli and his wife were both born in Georgia and all of the children were born in Alabama.
• The 1850 Federal Census is considered to be the first “modern census”.
• First to record names. The 1850 Census was the first to record the names of every person in a household and an individual’s place of birth. 1790-1840 censuses listed head of family only.
• Two questionnaires. There were two questionnaires, one for free inhabitants and one for slaves.
• Census maps. This is the first census where the enumerator (census taker) was actually given a map (with districts) of the area they were to cover.
• Native Americans. Indians that lived on reservations or unsettled tracts of land were not included.
• Extra census copies. Enumerators made two extra copies of the original census: One for the county clerk and one for the state/territory. (Hand copied – no carbon paper or Xerox machines!) It was cumbersome and tedious to copy names and endless columns of personal information. Most enumerators probably never thought their copies would be read again once the statistical tabulations were completed, so it is easy to believe that many became careless as the job wore on. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to distinguish the original census taken by the enumerator—the one likely to be most accurate—from the copies. While it is usually not possible to know if the original census or a copy was sent, it is relatively easy to recognize the census that was sent to the Census Office. “Researchers can distinguish the latter set from the other two because the Census Office made tabulations directly on the schedules; consequently, the central office copy bears pencil, crayon, and red ink markings on virtually every page.
The census day for 1850 was June 1st and they were given five months to collect all the information. All of Mr. Pouncy’s pages show an October date. His job certainly wasn’t easy – no SUV or ATV to travel all those miles – just his trusty horse! Some folks resented him for trying to stick his nose in their business and many women refused to give him their true age. His day was long and tiring and when he got home he had farm chores waiting for him.
I would like to know more about Eli Pouncy – did he know my relatives who lived in Tallapoosa County? He evidently didn’t like them, because he omitted them from the census – or something happened because I can’t find them! None of the relatives who should be recorded show up in the index, so I searched page-by-page, line-by-line through all of Tallapoosa and surrounding counties, but these folks just aren’t there. Maybe they were omitted, maybe they weren’t home or maybe those pages were never microfilmed – in any event – they are missing. I wish I could claim Eli as a relative – he was easy to find!!
Sources: www.teachinghistory.org www.genealogybybarry.com www.genealogy.stackexchange.com
the oldest was 19 and the youngest 11 months. Eli and his wife were both born in Georgia and all of the children were born in Alabama.
• The 1850 Federal Census is considered to be the first “modern census”.
• First to record names. The 1850 Census was the first to record the names of every person in a household and an individual’s place of birth. 1790-1840 censuses listed head of family only.
• Two questionnaires. There were two questionnaires, one for free inhabitants and one for slaves.
• Census maps. This is the first census where the enumerator (census taker) was actually given a map (with districts) of the area they were to cover.
• Native Americans. Indians that lived on reservations or unsettled tracts of land were not included.
• Extra census copies. Enumerators made two extra copies of the original census: One for the county clerk and one for the state/territory. (Hand copied – no carbon paper or Xerox machines!) It was cumbersome and tedious to copy names and endless columns of personal information. Most enumerators probably never thought their copies would be read again once the statistical tabulations were completed, so it is easy to believe that many became careless as the job wore on. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to distinguish the original census taken by the enumerator—the one likely to be most accurate—from the copies. While it is usually not possible to know if the original census or a copy was sent, it is relatively easy to recognize the census that was sent to the Census Office. “Researchers can distinguish the latter set from the other two because the Census Office made tabulations directly on the schedules; consequently, the central office copy bears pencil, crayon, and red ink markings on virtually every page.
The census day for 1850 was June 1st and they were given five months to collect all the information. All of Mr. Pouncy’s pages show an October date. His job certainly wasn’t easy – no SUV or ATV to travel all those miles – just his trusty horse! Some folks resented him for trying to stick his nose in their business and many women refused to give him their true age. His day was long and tiring and when he got home he had farm chores waiting for him.
I would like to know more about Eli Pouncy – did he know my relatives who lived in Tallapoosa County? He evidently didn’t like them, because he omitted them from the census – or something happened because I can’t find them! None of the relatives who should be recorded show up in the index, so I searched page-by-page, line-by-line through all of Tallapoosa and surrounding counties, but these folks just aren’t there. Maybe they were omitted, maybe they weren’t home or maybe those pages were never microfilmed – in any event – they are missing. I wish I could claim Eli as a relative – he was easy to find!!
Sources: www.teachinghistory.org www.genealogybybarry.com www.genealogy.stackexchange.com
