We have previously explored Williams Dollarhide’s two volume set, Census Substitutes and States Census Records. However, these two volumes deserve a more in depth examination. This article looks deeper into Volume 1 and picks out some specific examples for review. Part II to this article will follow shortly.
Volume I covers the eastern states. Chapters are broken down into geographical areas (see “Table of Contents” below). Each chapter begins with a brief timeline of events for the region, from early colonization to the ratification of statehood for each state. Under each state, key records, indexes and collections are listed with a description plus details such as compiler or publishing organization, availability, film number, etc. Following the main listing, an additional list of online databases is provided.
Here is a sample list of items found under varying states:
From New England, Connecticut 1632–1980:
- 1656–1700 Norwalk Register of Voters
- 1670 Connecticut Census: A reconstructed listing found in household, estate, tax, landowner, church and freeman lists between 1660 and 1673
- 1740 Connecticut Voter List
- 1762 Colonial Connecticut Census
- 1790–1850 Index of Connecticut Census Records
- 1905–1929 Hartford Directories
- 1920 Voters List, Eastford
From the Mid-Atlantic States, New Jersey 1600–1915:
- 1600–1825 Passenger Lists, New York and New Jersey
- 1660–1775 Colonial Documents Index
- 1687 Tax List of the Lower Division, Gloucester County
- 1750 Freeholders List, Middlesex County
- New Jersey Tax Lists, 1772–1822
- 1855 New Jersey State Census
- 1915 New Jersey State Census
From the Old South, North Carolina 1663–1913:
- 1600–1957 Land Records; Indexes, 1693–1959
- North Carolina Headrights: A List of Names, 1663–1744
- 1663–1900 Index to North Carolina Wills
- 1679–1790 Tax Lists
- 1690–1760 North Carolina Wills
- 1741–1868 North Carolina Marriages
- 1748–1763 Land Grants
- 1784–1787 Census
- Pre-1914 Cemetery Inscription Card Index
- Post-1914 Cemetery Inscription Card Index
From the Old Northwest, Illinois 1600s–1869:
- 1600s–1800s Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, and Missouri People
- 1763–1916 Illinois Marriage Records Index
- 1804–1814 Kaskaskia French and English Deed Records
- 1810 & 1818 Illinois State Censuses
- 1826–1873 Index to Public Domain Sales Land Tract Record Listing for Illinois
- 1861–1862 Illinois Military Census
- 1847–1860 Illinois (State) Directories
From the Central Plains, Iowa 1836–1925:
- 1836 Wisconsin Territory Census
- 1838 Iowa Territory Census
- 1847 Iowa State Census
- 1885 Iowa State Census
The partial list given above should give you an idea of the valuable information available within this book. Each state provides the reader with a similar list of resources with full descriptions provided.
Volume I Table of Content
State Finder
Forward
Introduction
Table 1: Non-State Census States
Table 2: State Census States
Table 3: State Censuses in Common Years
Chapter 1 — The Old Southwest
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
Chapter 2 — New England
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
Chapter 3 — Mid-Atlantic States
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
Chapter 4 — The Old South
- Kentucky
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Chapter 5 — The Old Northwest
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Ohio
- Wisconsin
Chapter 6 — The Central Plains
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Dakota Territory/North Dakota/South Dakota