Sponsored By GenealogyBank

25 April 2014

Census of the Dead

The US federal census from 1850-1880 included a mortality census of those individuals who died in the twelve calendar months preceding the date of the census. Some states that took an 1885 special census also have this same schedule. Extant copies of these schedules have been microfilmed and some are available in digital form. Many have also been transcribed and published in book format.


  1. I found several of my ancestors in these mortality schedules. This is the only record I could find for the death dates.

  2. Was this the only time that there was a census that included a mortality census? I am looking at other years as well and for relatives in Canada and it would be very helpful if we knew what census had that information it it.

  3. But were are these census

    1. Originals are in state archives or other facilities usually. The microfilms are at the National Archives--some libraries may have them. Ancestry.com has published many of them digitally and there are some on FamilySearch as well.