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Genocide through Census Taker Instructions - Indians & the Census 1790-2010
I read this article and sat back in amazement at the instructions that were given to census takers and how it affected thousands of Native American families. I am going to post some of the instructions with the date of the census. Hopefully, it will entice you to click the link above to read the entire document. I have also attached a printout of the information. Click Here for the printed version of this article.
Direct quote states "...discusses Indians in the census between 1860 and 1880 and states that in 1870 half-breed people who had assimilated and adopted white ways were to be recorded as white."
Excerpts from the article:
1790 – "Omitting Indians not taxed, distinguishing free persons, including those bound to service, from all others." Indians living "wild," generally meaning plains Indians in the west, or on reservations were not taxed, but those who were enumerated were recorded in the "all other free" column on the census form.
1800 – Indians living off of reservations and not "wild" would have been recorded in the "all other free persons" column on the census form. Options were free white, slave and "all other free persons."
1810 – Indians living off of reservations would have been recorded in the "all others" column on the census form. Options were free white, slave and "all other."
1820 – Indians living off of reservations would have been recorded in the "free colored persons" categories. Other options were free whites, slaves and "all others except Indians not taxed."
1830 – Indians living off of reservations and not "wild" would have been recorded in the "free colored persons" category. Other options were free whites and slaves.
1840 – Essentially the same as 1830 with the exception that an additional column labeled "pensioners for revolutionary or military services" with a blank for the pensioner's name to be included and applies to all individuals.
1850 – 1850 is the first census in which every individual in the household was enumerated. In prior years, only the name of the head of household was recorded and other household members were recorded by age grouping by category. In 1850, the instructions say that Indians not taxed (meaning on reservations) were not to be enumerated and the categories for race were white, black, mulatto. So if your ancestor looked "dark" and was an Indian, chances are they were recorded as M for mulatto. There was no "Indian" category until 1860.
1860 – Indians not taxed were not enumerated. However, the categories differed a bit this year. "The families of Indians who have renounced tribal rule, and who under State or Territorial laws exercise the rights of citizens, are to be enumerated. In all such cases write "Ind." opposite their names, in column 6, under heading 'Color.'"
Please click the link mentioned above to read the entire article. If you are aware of more articles that you think would benefit this page, please email myself, Weeya Michelle Smith.
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