Treasure Chest Thursday -- 1860 U.S. Agricultural Census Record for Henry Carringer in Pennsylvania

 It's Treasure Chest Thursday - time to look in my digital image files to see what treasures I can find for my family history and genealogy musings.

The treasure today is the 1860 United States Agricultural Census record for Henry Carringer, my 3rd great-grandfather, in Perry Township, Mercer County, Pennsylvania:

There are two pages for these records, and they are on two different images on FamilySearch digital microfilm.  Here are the two images:

Henry Carringer is in Line 20 on the first imag, and his agricultural information carries over on Line 20 on the second image.

Here are the headings and Henry's information (Line 20) on the first page:

The headings and Henry's information (Line 20) on the second page are:

The information on the first page is (by column number):

1.  Name:  Henry Carringer

2.  Acres of land - Improved: 100

3.  Acres of land - Unimproved: 60

4.  Present cash value - Of farm ($): 3200

5.  Present cash value - Of farming implements and machinery ($): 90

6.  Live stock, June 1, 1860 - Horses: 1

7.  Live stock, June 1, 1860 -  Mules and Asses: 0

8.  Live stock, June 1, 1860 - Milch cows: 5

9.  Live stock, June 1, 1860 - Working Oxen: 2 

10.  Live stock, June 1, 1860 - Other Cattle:  0

11.  Live stock, June 1, 1860 - Sheep:  17

12.  Live stock, June 1, 1860 - Swine:  8

13.  Live stock, June 1, 1860 - Value of all live stock ($):  343

14.  Produce during the year - Wheat (bush):  6

15.  Produce during the year - Rye (bush): 25 

16.  Produce during the year - Indian corn (bush): 50

17.  Produce during the year - Oats (bush): 201

18.  Produce during the year - Rice (bush): 0

19.  Produce during the year - Tobacco (bush): 0

20.  Produce during the year - Cotton (bales): 0

21.  Produce during the year - Wool (lbs):  56

And on the second sheet:

22.  Produce during the year - Peas & Beans (bush):  0

23.  Produce during the year - Potatoes - Irish (bush):  50

24.  Produce during the year - Potatoes - Sweet (bush):  0

25.  Produce during the year - Barley (bush):  0

26.  Produce during the year - Buckwheat (bush):  75

27.  Produce during the year - Orchard products ($):  0

28.  Produce during the year - Wine (gallons):  0 

29.  Produce during the year - Produce of market gardens ($):  0

30.  Produce during the year - Dairy products - Butter (lbs):  600

31.  Produce during the year - Dairy products - Cheese (lbs):  0

32.  Produce during the year - Hay (Tons):  25

33.  Produce during the year - Seed - Clover (Bush):  0

34.  Produce during the year - Seed - Grass (Bush):  0

34.  Produce during the year - Hops (Lbs):  0

35.  Produce during the year - Hemp -Dew Rotted (Tons):  0

36.  Produce during the year - Hemp -Water Rotted (Tons):  0

38.  Produce during the year - Hemp -Other Prepared (Tons):  0

39.  Produce during the year - Flax (Lbs):  0

40.  Produce during the year - Flax seed (Bush):  0

41.  Produce during the year - Silk cocoons (lbs):  0

42.  Produce during the year - Sugar - Maple (Lbs):  0

43.  Produce during the year - Sugar - Cane (1000 Lbs):  0

44.  Produce during the year - Molasses (Gallons):  0

45.  Produce during the year - Bees - Wax (Lbs):  0

46.  Produce during the year - Bees - Honey (Lbs):  170

47.  Produce during the year - Value of home manufacture ($):  0 

48.  Produce during the year - Value of animals slaughtered or sold for slaughter ($):  50

The sourc e citation for this record is:

1860 United States Federal Census, Agricultural Schedule, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, Perry Township, Pages 23-24, Line 20, Henry Carringer entry; imaged, "Nonpopulation census schedules for Pennsylvania; agricultural schedules, 1850-1880," FamilySearch (familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHV-53L2-CSXV : accessed 20 July 2026), "Luzerne - Montgomery counties (NARA Series T1138, Roll 16)," Mercer County, Image Group Number DGS 8886228, images 519-520 of 1032; original records in United States National Archives, 62 microfilm reels, Microfilm Series T1138, Roll 16.

From this, we can see that Henry Carringer's 160 acre farm (100 acres improved) produced 6 bushels of wheat, 25 bushels of rye, 50 bushels of Indian corn, 201 bushels of oats, 50 bushels of Irish potatoes, 75 bushels of buckwheat,  600 pounds of butter, 25 tons of hay, 30 pounds of bee honey, and $50 worth of animals slaughtered, for the year ending June 1, 1860.  Presumably, the rest of the farm production was used on the farm itself or traded for other commodities with other producers.  The farm was valued at $3,200, his equipment at $90, and his livestock at $343 on June 1, 1860.

Isn't that a great record?  It;s a snapshot of the possessions and livelihood of one man and his family for one year.  

Don't we all wish we had information like this for all of our ancestors?  I need to look for more Agricultural Census records for my farmer ancestors in the Midwest.

===================================

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/08/treasure-chest-thursday-1860-us.html

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.   Note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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Ask AI: "Please Transcribe and Summarize The 1900 U.S. Census Record for the Thomas Richmond Family in Leominster, Mass."

 I like to check occasionally to see if the current Artificial Intelligence Large Language Models (LLM) have improved over time. 

One of the genealogy records that every researcher uses in Census records. How will an LLM (in this case, OpenAI ChatGPT5 - the latest FREE model) do in transcription and summarization of a fairly simple task that almost every genelaogist can and has performed hundreds of times.

Here is the 1900 United States Federal Census record with the Thomas Richmond family (Thomas and his wife are my great-grandparents and their daughter Alma Bessie Richmond is my paternal grandmother): 

I made a larger image of the left-hand portion of the Thomas Richmond family below:

My prompt for OpenAI ChatGPT5 was:  "Please transcribe and summarize the information about the Thomas Richmond family from this 1900 US census record. Consider each family member and include every notation for each person. Write a short paragraph for each person including all of the information from this record."

Here is the ChatGPT5 transcription and summarization (with known errors crossed out, and my own transcription corrections in [green brackets].

The Thomas Richmond family appears on the 1900 U.S. Census, Leominster, Worcester County, Massachusetts, enumerated 1 June 1900 by Charles T. Dodge. They are recorded as [House] Dwelling 42, [Dwelling Number 53], Family [Number] 88. The household consists of Thomas H. Richmond, his wife Juliet E., and their six children.

Below is a complete transcription and summary for each family member.

---

1. Thomas H. Richmond (Head)

Transcription

• Name: Thomas H. Richmond [Note: Thomas had no middle name or initial. There is a handwritten number over his name]

• Relationship: Head

• Color/Race: White

• Sex: Male

• Birth: January 1849 [June 1848]

• Age: 51

• Marital Status: Married

• Years Married: 31

• Place of Birth: England

• Father's Birthplace: England

• Mother's Birthplace: England

• Year of Immigration: 1874 ]1856]

• Years in the United States: 26 [44]

• Naturalization: Naturalized

• Occupation: Overseer of Weavers [Woolen Mill]

• Months Unemployed: 0

• Attended School: No

• Can Read: Yes

• Can Write: Yes

• Can Speak English: Yes

• Home Ownership: Renting (R)

• Farm or House: House

Summary

Thomas H. Richmond was born in January 1849 [June 1848] in England and was 51 years old at the time of the census. He had been married to Juliette for 31 years, indicating a marriage about 1868–1869. Both of his parents were also born in England. He immigrated to the United States in 1874 [1856], had lived in the country for 26 [44] years, and had become a naturalized U.S. citizen. Thomas worked as an overseer of weavers [woolen mill], a supervisory position in the textile industry, and had experienced no unemployment during the preceding year. He was literate, able to read, write, and speak English. The family rented their home in Leominster.

---

2. Juliet [Juliaette] E. Richmond (Wife)

Transcription

• Name: Juliet [Juliaette] E. Richmond

• Relationship: Wife

• Color/Race: White

• Sex: Female

• Birth: September 1854 [1848]

• Age: 45 [51]

• Marital Status: Married

• Years Married: 31

• Children Born: 9

• Children Living: 9 [1] [-- it looks like a "1" to me, it should be 8]

• Place of Birth: England [Connecticut]

• Father's Birthplace: England [Rhode Island]

• Mother's Birthplace: England [Rhode Island]

• Year of Immigration: 1874 [blank]

• Years in the United States: 26 [blank]

• Naturalization: Alien [blank]

• Occupation: Overseer of Weavers (appears to read "Overseer of Weavers") [blank]

• Months Unemployed: 0 [blank]

• Attended School: No

• Can Read: Yes

• Can Write: Yes

• Can Speak English: Yes

Summary

Juliet [Juliaette] E. Richmond was born in September 1854 [1848] in England [Connecticut] and was 45 [51] years old. She had been married for 31 years and reported having given birth to nine children, all nine [one] still living, an important genealogical statement. Like her husband, she immigrated in 1874 and had resided in the United States for 26 years, but she was still recorded as an alien, indicating she had not become a naturalized citizen [She was a natural-born United States citizen]. She was literate and spoke English. The occupation entry appears to indicate she also worked as an overseer of weavers, suggesting she participated in the local textile industry. [No occupation was listed.]

---

3. Grace Richmond (Daughter)

Transcription

• Name: Grace

• Relationship: Daughter

• Color/Race: White

• Sex: Female

• Birth: August 1876

• Age: 23

• Marital Status: Single

• Place of Birth: Connecticut

• Father's Birthplace: England

• Mother's Birthplace: England [Connecticut]

• Occupation: Shirt Maker

• Months Unemployed: 0

• Attended School: No

• Can Read: Yes

• Can Write: Yes

• Can Speak English: Yes

Summary

Grace Richmond, age 23, was born in August 1876 in Connecticut, making her the oldest child in the household. She was unmarried and employed as a shirt maker, another occupation associated with New England manufacturing. She was literate and had not attended school during the previous year.

---

4. Emily W. Richmond (Daughter)

Transcription

• Name: Emily W.

• Relationship: Daughter

• Color/Race: White

• Sex: Female

• Birth: June 1879

• Age: 20

• Marital Status: Single

• Place of Birth: Connecticut

• Father's Birthplace: England

• Mother's Birthplace: Connecticut

• Occupation: None listed

• Months Unemployed: 0 [blank]

• Attended School: No

• Can Read: Yes

• Can Write: Yes

• Can Speak English: Yes

Summary

Emily W. Richmond was born in June 1879 in Connecticut and was 20 years old. She was single and living at home. No occupation is recorded for her. She could read, write, and speak English. (One birthplace entry appears to differ from the others by giving her mother's birthplace as Connecticut; this may be an enumerator error since the mother's own entry clearly states England.)

---

5. Charles E. Richmond (Son)

Transcription

• Name: Charles E.

• Relationship: Son

• Color/Race: White

• Sex: Male

• Birth: August 1880

• Age: 19

• Marital Status: Single

• Place of Birth: Connecticut

• Father's Birthplace: England

• Mother's Birthplace: Connecticut 

• Occupation: Painter

• Months Unemployed: 0

• Attended School: No

• Can Read: Yes

• Can Write: Yes

• Can Speak English: Yes

Summary

Charles E. Richmond was 19 years old, born in August 1880 in Connecticut. He was unmarried and worked as a painter. He was fully literate and spoke English. As with Emily's entry, the mother's birthplace appears to have been written as Connecticut, likely an inconsistency by the enumerator.

---

6. James F. [Alma B.] Richmond (Daughter? actually Son)

Transcription

• Name: James F. [Alma B.]

• Relationship: Son Daughter

• Color/Race: White

• Sex: Male [Female]

• Birth: February 1882

• Age: 18

• Marital Status: Single

• Place of Birth: Connecticut

• Father's Birthplace: England

• Mother's Birthplace: Connecticut (appears written)

• Occupation: House Work

• Months Unemployed: 0

• Attended School: No

• Can Read: Yes

• Can Write: Yes

• Can Speak English: Yes

Summary

James F. [Alma B.] Richmond was born in February 1882 in Connecticut and was 18 years old. He [She]  remained single and lived with his [her] parents. His [Her] occupation is recorded as House Work, indicating he [she] was performing work in or around the household rather than outside employment. He [She] could read, write, and speak English.

---

7. Edwin J. Richmond (Son)

Transcription

• Name: Edwin J.

• Relationship: Son

• Color/Race: White

• Sex: Male

• Birth: December 1883

• Age: 16

• Marital Status: Single

• Place of Birth: Connecticut

• Father's Birthplace: England

• Mother's Birthplace: Connecticut (appears written)

• Occupation: Laundryman

• Months Unemployed: 0

• Attended School: No

• Can Read: Yes

• Can Write: Yes

• Can Speak English: Yes

Summary

Edwin J. Richmond was 16 years old, born in December 1883 in Connecticut. Although still a teenager, he was employed as a laundryman, reflecting the early entry of many young people into the workforce around 1900. He was literate and had not attended school during the census year.

---

8. Marcus [James] H. Richmond (Son)

Transcription

• Name: Marcus [James] H.

• Relationship: Son

• Color/Race: White

• Sex: Male

• Birth: November 1886

• Age: 13

• Marital Status: Single

• Place of Birth: Connecticut

• Father's Birthplace: England

• Mother's Birthplace: Connecticut (appears written)

• Occupation: At School

• Months Unemployed: 10 [blank]

• Attended School: Yes, [10 Months]

• Can Read: Yes

• Can Write: Yes

• Can Speak English: Yes

Summary

Marcus James H. Richmond was born in November 1886 in Connecticut and was 13 years old. Unlike his older siblings, he was still attending school, with his occupation recorded as "At School." He had attended school during the year [for ten months], could read and write, and spoke English. His entry illustrates the transition within the family from older children already working to the youngest still receiving an education.

Household Summary

The 1900 census depicts a hardworking immigrant family headed by Thomas H. Richmond, an English-born textile supervisor who had become a naturalized American. His wife Juliet [Juliaette] reported that all nine [one?] of her children were still living, an especially valuable genealogical detail. The children born in Connecticut reflect the family's early years in New England before moving to Leominster, Massachusetts. Most of the older children were already employed in textile or manufacturing-related occupations, while the youngest son, Marcus [James], remained in school. The family rented their home, was fully literate, and was well established in the community after approximately twenty-six [forty-four] years in the United States.

===============================

There are 124 transcription lines and at least 23 of them have errors.  Most of the errors are on the parents, Thomas and Juliaette. Almost all of the errors are "unforced" -- a human eye can read them well.

The errors by ChatGPT5 surprised me -- it misread five names, and got many details wrong. I thought it would do better.   I did not try to tell it to correct everything that I found wrong -- there were too many!

I did this task also on Google Gemini 3, and it made many mistakes also, but different errors than ChatGPT5.  The MyHeritage Scribe AI Tool did a much better job on the transcription (but it was not perfect). 

This human does a better job in deciphering census returns than at least two AI LLMs do.  It's not worth my time to do this task using AI -- I can do it faster and more accurately myself at this time. 

I will try to revisit this exercise in a year or so from now and see if the LLMs have improved. 

                          ==============================================

Links to my blog posts about using Artificial Intelligence are on my Randy's AI and Genealogy page. Links to AI information and articles about Artificial Intelligence in Genealogy by other genealogists are on my AI and Genealogy Compendium page.

The URL for this post is:  https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/07/ask-ai-please-transcribe-and-sumjmarize.html

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com. Note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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Saturday Night Genealogy Fun -- Are Your Ancestors Missing in the Census?

 Calling all Genea-Musings Fans: 

 It's Saturday Night again - 

time for some more Genealogy Fun!!

Here is your assignment if you choose to play along (cue the Mission Impossible music, please!):

1) Which of your ancestors or relatives have you NOT found in the Census records and what have you done or are doing to try to find that person? Can AI help?

2)  Identify one or more of your ancestors that are inexplicably missing from one or more census collections.  Why do you think they were not enumerated?

3)  Share your information about your Ancestor or Relative NOT in the census records in your own blog post, writing a comment on this blog post, or put it in a Substack post, Facebook Note, or some other social media system.  Please leave a comment on this post so others can find it.

Thank you to Marian B. Wood for this SNGF idea.

Here's mine:

My paternal grandmother, Alma Bessie (Richmond) Seaver (1882-1962) was not enumerated in the 1940 U.S. census with her husband Frederick W. Seaver (1876-1942) and daughter Geraldine (1917-2007) in Leominster, Worcester County, Massachusetts on 16 April 1940.  Frederick and Geraldine were residing at 90 Main Street in Leominster.  Frederick was the informant, and provided accurate information, including an M for married. 

Where was Alma Bessie (Richmond) Seaver?  Over the years, I have searched for her in the Ancestry, FamilySearch and MyHeritage 1940 U.S. Census collections.  I tried:

• Surname spellings: Seaver, Sever, Seavers, Seaner, Severs, Sevier, Leaver, Lever, Leaner, S*v*r*, L*v*r*, Se*er*, Le*er*, etc.
• First name spellings: Alma, Bessie, Alm*, Bes*, A., B., Mrs. Frederick, Mrs. F.W., etc. 
• Birth year: 1882 plus/minus 5 years; no birth year
• Birth location:  Connecticut, Massachusetts, adjacent states.

Why was she not enumerated? 

• Omitted by the enumerator in Leominster.
• Was visiting friends or relatives in Massachusetts, New Hampahire or Connecticut on the enumeration day.
• Was traveling, in a hospital or care center on the enumeration day.
• Told her husband and daughter to fool the enumerator.

Can AI help?  I asked the free OpenAI ChatGPT5 tool to provide reasons she might be absent, and a strategy to find her in the 1940 census.  

Why might Alma have been absent?

Given what is known about the family, I would rank the possibilities approximately as follows:

1. Enumerator or indexing error (most likely)
2. Visiting relatives on 1 April 1940
3. Hospital or medical facility
4. Enumerated elsewhere under a badly misspelled surname
5. Accidentally omitted from the household
6. Temporary separation from Frederick (possible, but there would ideally be supporting evidence such as directories, newspapers, or later records)

A research strategy I'd recommend

Since you already know the Leominster household, I would proceed in this order:

1. Read every page of the enumeration district containing 90 Main Street.
2. Search all Massachusetts census entries for women named Alma born 1882 ±3 years.
3. Search all Richmond siblings and their households.
4. Search hospitals and institutions in Worcester County.
5. Review 1939–1941 Leominster city directories.
6. Search local newspapers for Alma, Bessie, or Mrs. Frederick W. Seaver during 1939–1940.

I asked ChatGPT5 what the "miss rate" was for the 1940 U.S. census,  It said that the overall undercount for the USA was 5.4%, the rate for New England was in the 2-4% range, and the rate for genealogists looking for a specific person was in the 5-10% range.

                          =============================================

The URL for this post is: https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/07/saturday-night-genealogy-fun-are-your.html

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post. Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below. Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com. Note that all comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately.

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Treasure Chest Thursday - 1850 U.S. Census Record for Zacheriah Hildreth Family In Townsend, Massachusetts

It's Treasure Chest Thursday - time to look in my digital image files to see what treasures I can find for my family history and genealogy musings.

The treasure today is the 1850 United States Census record for the Zacheriah Hildreth household in Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

The Zacheriah Hildreth household is the first household on the page:

The extracted information for the Zachariah Hildreth household is:

*  Zacheriah Hildreth, age 67, male, a farmer, $1000 in real property, born MA

*  Hannah Hildreth, age 59, female, born NH

*  Hariet A. Hildreth, age 14, female, born MA, attended school.

The source citation for the Zacheriah Hildreth entry (census date 1 June 1850) is:

1850 United States Federal Census, Middlesex County, Massachusetts,  population schedule, Townsend, dwelling #307, household #341, lines 1-3, Zacheriah Hildreth household; imaged, "1850 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4199352_00516 : accessed 7 July 2021), Massachusetts > Middlesex > Townsend, page number 82 (stamped, image 39 of 47); original record on National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, Roll 796.

 Zachariah Hildreth (1783-1857) is my 3rd great-grandfather, who married Hannah Sawtell (1789-1857) in 1810, and they had nine children, including my 2nd great-grandfather Edward Hildreth (1831-1899). 

                                      =============================

Disclosure:  I have a paid All-Access subscription to Ancestry.com now.  Ancestry.com has provided a complimentary subscription and material considerations for travel expenses to meetings, and has hosted events and meals that I have attended in Salt Lake City, in past years.

The URL for this post is: https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/06/treasure-chest-thursday-1840-us-census_01918705280.html

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  All comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately after posting.

Subscribe to receive a free daily email from Genea-Musings using www.Blogtrottr.com. 

Treasure Chest Thursday - 1840 U.S. Census Record for Zachariah Hildreth Family In Townsend, Massachusetts

 It's Treasure Chest Thursday - time to look in my digital image files to see what treasures I can find for my family history and genealogy musings.

The treasure today is the 1840 United States Census record for the Zachariah Hildreth household in Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

The Zachariah Hildreth household is the last entry on the page:

The extracted information for the Zachariah Hildreth household (with my educated guess as to the names of the family members, assuming that they are all from the Zachariah Hildreth (family):

*  Name of head of family:  Zachariah Hildreth 

*  one male age 5 to 10 (probably son Edward born 1831)

*  one male age 10 to 15 (probably son Moses born 1828)

*  one male age 20 to 29 (probably son James born 1817)

*  one male age 50 to 59 (certainly Zachariah born in 1783)

*  one female under age 5 (probably daughter Harriet born 1835)

*  one female age 15 to 20 (probably daughter Elizabeth born 1822)

*  one female age 20 to 29 (probably daughter Clarissa born 1820)

*  one female age 50-59 (certainly wife Hannah born in 1789)

Son Milo born in 1824 does not seem to be in this household.

The source citation for the Zachariah Hildreth entry (census date 1 June 1840) is:

1840 United States Federal Census, Middlesex County, Massachusetts,  population schedule, Townsend, Zachariah Hildreth household; imaged, "1840 United States Federal Census,"   ncestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8057/images/4409532_01142 : accessed 7 July 2021), page number 204, (image 7 of 28); original record on National Archives Microfilm Publication M704, Roll 190.

 Zachariah Hildreth (1783-1857) is my 3rd great-grandfather, who married Hannah Sawtell (1789-1857) in 1810, and they had nine children, including my 2nd great-grandfather Edward Hildreth (1831-1899). 

                                      =============================

Disclosure:  I have a paid All-Access subscription to Ancestry.com now.  Ancestry.com has provided a complimentary subscription and material considerations for travel expenses to meetings, and has hosted events and meals that I have attended in Salt Lake City, in past years.

The URL for this post is: https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/06/treasure-chest-thursday-1840-us-census.html

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  All comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately after posting.

Subscribe to receive a free daily email from Genea-Musings using www.Blogtrottr.com. 

Treasure Chest Thursday - 1830 U.S. Census Record for Zachariah Hildreth Family In Townsend, Massachusetts

 It's Treasure Chest Thursday - time to look in my digital image files to see what treasures I can find for my family history and genealogy musings.

The treasure today is the 1830 United States Census record for the Zachariah Hildreth household in Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

The Zachariah Hildreth household is the last entry on the page:

The extracted information for the Zachariah Hildreth household (with my educated guess as to the names of the family members, assuming that they are all from the Zachariah Hildreth (family):

*  Name of head of family:  Zachariah Hildreth 

*  one male under age 5 (probably son Moses born 1828)

*  one male age 5 to 10 (probably son Milo born 1824)

*  one male age 10 to 15 (probably son James born 1817)

*  one male age 15-20 (probably son Aaron born 1811)

*  one male age 20 to 30 (perhaps a younger brother or a farm employee)

*  one male age 40 to 50 (certainly Zachariah born in 1783)

*  one female age 5 to 10 (probably daughter Elizabeth born 1822)

*  one female age 10 to 15 (probably daughter Clariassa born 1820)

*  one female age 40-50 (certainly wife Hannah born in 1789)

The source citation for the Zachariah Hildreth entry (census date 1 June 1830) is:

1830 United States Federal Census, Middlesex County, Massachusetts,  population schedule, Townsend, Zachariah Hildreth household; imaged, "1830 United States Federal Census,"   ncestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8058/images/4411243_00533 : accessed 7 July 2021), page 265 (penned), image 5 of 24; original record on National Archives Microfilm Publication M19, Roll 67.

 Zachariah Hildreth (1783-1857) is my 3rd great-grandfather, who married Hannah Sawtell (1789-1857) in 1810, and they had nine children, including my 2nd great-grandfather Edward Hildreth (1831-1899). 

                                      =============================

Disclosure:  I have a paid All-Access subscription to Ancestry.com now.  Ancestry.com has provided a complimentary subscription and material considerations for travel expenses to meetings, and has hosted events and meals that I have attended in Salt Lake City, in past years.

The URL for this post is: https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/06/treasure-chest-thursday-1830-us-census.html

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

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Treasure Chest Thursday - 1820 U.S. Census Record for Two Zacheus Hildreth Families In Townsend, Massachusetts

It's Treasure Chest Thursday - time to look in my digital image files to see what treasures I can find for my family history and genealogy musings.

The treasure today is the 1820 United States Census record for two Zacheus Hildreth households in Townsend, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

The two Hildreth households are the 8th and 9th entries on the image:

The extracted information for the Zacheus Hildreth (line 8) household (with my educated guess as to the names of the family members, assuming that they are all from the Zachaeus Hildreth (family):

*  Name of head of family:  Zacheus Hildreth 

*  Free white Males aged 10 to 15:  two (probably sons John born 1806 and Levi born 1808)

*  Free white Males aged 16 to 25:  one (probably son Joseph born 1800 or son Jonathan born 1803)

*  Free white Males aged 45 and over:  one (certainly Zacheus born 1754)

*  Free white Females aged 16 to 25: two (probably daughter Mary born 1801 and one unknown female)

*  Free white Females over age 45;  one ( certainly 2nd wife Abigail born 1769)

*  Number of persons engaged in agriculture:  two

The extracted information for the Zacheus Hildreth Jr. (line 9) household (with my educated guess as to the names of the family members, assuming that they are all from the Zachaeus Hildreth Jr. (family):

*  Name of head of family:  Zacheus Hildreth j'r

*  Free white Males under age 10:  two (probably sons Aaron born 1811 and James born 1817)

*  Free white Males aged 26 to 45:  one (certainly Zacheus Hildreth born 1783)

*  Free white Females under age 10:  one (probably daughter Clarissa born 1820)

*  Free white Females 26ed 26 to 45;  one ( certainly wife Hannah born 1789)

*  Number of persons engaged in agriculture:  one

The source citation for the Zacheus Hildreth Jr. entry (census date 1 June 1820) is:

 1820 United States Federal Census, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, population schedule, Townsend, Line 9, Zacheus Hildreth Jr. household; imaged, "1820 United States Federal Census," Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7734/records/632440 : accessed 7 July 2021); Massachusetts > Middlesex > Townsend, page 569 (penned) image 4 of 7; original record on National Archives Microfilm M33, Roll 51.

Note that this census record is listed by first letter of the surnames.  It is possible that Zacheus and Zacheus Jr. resided next to each other. Note also that the men were formerly known as "Zachariah" in birth, marriage, death, land and probate records.

Zachariah Hildreth (1754-1829) (in line 8)  is my 4th great-grandfather, who married (1) Elizabth Keyes (1759-1793) in 1777, and had nine children.  He married (2) Abigail Hart (1769-1846) in 1794 and had eight children.  Zachariah Hildreth Jr. (1783-1857) (in line 9) is my 3rd great-grandfather, who married Hannah Sawtell (1789-1857) in 1810, and they had nine children, including my 2nd great-grandfather Edward Hildreth (1831-1899). 

                                      =============================

Disclosure:  I have a paid All-Access subscription to Ancestry.com now.  Ancestry.com has provided a complimentary subscription and material considerations for travel expenses to meetings, and has hosted events and meals that I have attended in Salt Lake City, in past years.

The URL for this post is: https://www.geneamusings.com/2026/05/treasure-chest-thursday-1820-us-census_01454110768.html

Copyright (c) 2026, Randall J. Seaver

Please comment on this post on the website by clicking the URL above and then the "Comments" link at the bottom of each post.  Share it on X, Facebook, or Pinterest using the icons below.  Or contact me by email at randy.seaver@gmail.com.  All comments are moderated, and may not appear immediately after posting.

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