Census - A system of numbering or the registration of the population at periodic intervals for the purpose of taxation, military recruitment, or to apportion representation in Congress.
I wish I could express the vital importance of what past census reports have meant in my pursuit for family members. In fact, it's fair to say that I have uncovered more meaningful information from these pages of names over any other genealogical resources I use. And, I think the majority of genealogists would agree with me.
Whenever the name of a new ancestor is uncovered, the first thing I do is check the various registries. I suspect seeing their name listed on a census makes them more of a real person to me. The information listed about these people every ten years begins to build a story and I love being able to follow their lives...to see their growth.
These pages of household names are so much more than just names. These records have:
- confirmed marriages between feuding families
- proven the existence of missing children
- shown me addresses of family-owned businesses
- uncovered the names of suspected grandparents
- assured me of deaths and divorces
- taught me about occupations I've never heard of
- suggested dates for when ancestors traveled the wide oceans for a new life
I've been able to watch our past generations of families grow, migrate, and evolve because of census reports. It's been a fascinating and indispensable resource for me since the start of my research obsession!
- The United States has compiled a census every ten years since 1790.
- After 1840, the pages listed families and individuals living in each county of each state, then road and building - the information available kept changing with each released report.
- The U.S. releases the census and information of a particular year ONLY after 70 years have passed. So for example: in 2020 we will be able to research the pages of the 1950 census and NOT until then!
- The 1890 census was almost completely destroyed by fire.
- The 1900 census is the only one to include each person's month and year of birth! (This on is a favorite of mine!)
- Women often gave lower ages, especially if they were married to younger men.
- Often, people didn't know their actual ages or birthplaces!
As important as the registries from England, Scotland, and the United States have been to my research...the census issued by Caesar Augustus (Luke 2:1-6) has been the most important census ever recorded!
It's been the most significant census and brought about the most profound birth in the history of the world!
Jesus, our Savior, was to be born in Bethlehem and his birth had been foretold in a prophecy almost seven centuries before that day:
God in his providence motivated the heart of Caesar Augustus, an earthly Roman emperor, to call for a counting causing all people of his known world to return to their ancestral homes and be registered. This was God's way of bringing Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem (Joseph's place of birth) in order that His Word would be fulfilled and not fail.
God set the whole world in motion. All those people going to their cities for enrollment, in order for that one prophecy to be achieved!
It's remarkable to me how every detail was orchestrated by God and he used a census! Caesar, seated on his throne in the capital of Rome far from the village of Bethlehem, had no knowledge of the purpose and the plans of God and how he was being used to accomplish the birth of God's son.
God was in charge of history then, and he's in charge of our history today! Can I get an amen?