United States Census Slave Schedules

United States

U.S. Census

Slave Schedules

Online Resources

1850

• 1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules at Ancestry ($)
• United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

1860

• 1860 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules at Ancestry ($)
• United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection

Historical Background

Slave Schedules were population schedules used in two U.S. Federal Censuses: The 1850 U.S. Federal Census and the 1860 U.S. Federal Census. Slaves were usually not named, but enumerated separately and usually only numbered under the slave holder's name. The National Archives has microfilmed all of the original manuscripts for applicable states.

Contents

1850 and 1860 schedules

• City, town, or sub district of slave holder
• Name of slave holder
• NO NAMES OF ENSLAVED (occasionally names were listed)
• Number of slaves owned
• Age, sex, color
• Fugitive from state?
• Number of slaves manumitted (released from slavery)
• Deaf,dumb (mute), blind, insane, or idiotic?

1860 added one additional question:

• Number of slave houses

Blank Schedules

Blank 1850 Slave Schedule
Blank 1860 Slave Schedule

Value

1. Name -- Sometimes an enumerator chose to list the first names of enslaved individuals. Each countywide slave schedule must be searched to see if there are names of enslaved individuals or not.
2. Number -- The number of enslaved enumerated could help determine if the owner had a plantation or not, and size.

1850 Slave Schedules

1850 Slave schedules were used for Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah Territory, Virginia.

Where to Find the Records

The 1850 Slave Schedules are available online.

Online

• 1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules (Ancestry) ($)
• United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1850 (FamilySearch)

  A wiki article describing this collection is found at:

  • United States Census Slave Schedule, 1850 - FamilySearch Historical Records

1860 Slave Schedules

1860 Slave schedules were used for Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah Territory, Virginia.

Where to Find the Records

The 1860 Slave Schedules are available online.

Online

• 1860 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules (Ancestry) ($)
• United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860 (FamilySearch)

References

• Dollarhide, William. The Census Book: A Genealogist's Guide to Federal Census Facts, Schedules and Indexes. (Bountiful, Utah: Heritage Quest, 1999.) FHL Book 973.X27d.
• Szucs, Loretto Dennis and Wright, Matthew. Finding Answers in U.S. Census Records. (Orem, Utah: 2001 Ancestry) FHL Book 973 X27s.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library.

To access available information, first log into FamilySearch.

Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)