The 1950 Census is Here!

Nobody really cares that the 1950 United States Federal Census is now available, except family history nerds like myself. So if you are into genealogy, you will understand my excitement.  

 The first federal census was in 1790 and asked just a few questions: 

• Name of head of family
• Number of free white males age 16 years and upwards, including head of family
• Number of free white males under 16 years old
• Number of free white females, including head of family
• Number of all other free persons (fee African-Americans)
• Number of slaves

Since that time, the census has been taken every 10 years. Sadly, the 1890 census records were lost to fire in 1921. Each year the questions have varied and included such data as age, marital status, immigration status, work/salary information and addresses. For the family historian, there is much to be gleaned from the census records. 

Each census is released after 72 years. The records are released to the public by the National Archives and Records Administration. April 1^st of this year, the 1950 census was released. For many people, this is the first census they find their parents, or even themselves. 

I found records for my dad, uncle and grandma in the Dutchess County, New York census. Daddy (12 y/0) and Uncle Jack (14 y/o) were students at Greer School (Hope Farms), where Grandma Miller (41 y/0) was a teacher. Grandma lived in the staff dorms and Daddy and his brother lived in resident housing. Although I’ve known for years they were at Greer School, it was exciting to me to find this documentation of their residence. I’ll need to do a post soon of some of the stories Daddy has shared with us about his time at Greer.

Next I was able to locate the page listing my mom, her oldest brother and parents, in Richland County, South Carolina. Mama has always told me they lived in several places in Columbia, specifically the Eau Claire area. In 1950, the census shows that they lived at 1802 Adams St. Grandpa Myers was a 29 y/o auto mechanic at a repair shop. Grandma Myers was 31 y/o and kept house. Mama was 4 y/o. Uncle Hazel was 9 y/o. Every fifth person listed was a sample for additional questions, and Uncle Hazel was one of those. This sample information indicated that he did not live in the same house a year ago. It also states that he lived in Kershaw County the previous year, and that he was in 4th grade.

I have lots more people to look up, so I better get busy!

 

Great-Grandmother Mary A. Gaffney Miller

 

I know little about my father’s paternal side of his family. I am currently trying to learn more about his grandmother, Mary A. Gaffney Miller.

When I talked to my dad about her, he did not know her parent’s names. I ordered a copy of her death certificate in hopes of learning their names.

It took weeks and weeks before the document came, but it did in fact have their names. I was excited to get this information, but not so excited that they all have rather common names, which makes it harder to research.

Her parents are John Gaffney and Margaret Power. No middle initials are included, or their places of birth. At least this is a starting point!

                     

This document indicates that Mary’s date of birth was July 6, 1887, in Jersey City, New Jersey and that she was 62 years old when she died May 31, 1950, in Highlands, New Jersey.

I entered this latest information into Family Search and have in fact located a John Gaffney and Margaret Power with a daughter Mary Gaffney. There is a christening record in FS from St. Peter-Catholic, in Jersey City, New Jersey, which lists a Mary Gaffney born July 6, 1886, to John Gaffney and Margaret Power. This date has a different year than the death certificate, but the month and day are the same, as well as the location. I believe this christening record is for “my” Mary, but further research will be required to be sure. With the common names, it is so much more difficult, but with the month, day and location being the same, it is a pretty safe bet this is her.       

                        

              

Going on the assumption that these ARE my great-great-grandparents, John and Margaret had several other children. The 1900 US Census lists John & Margaret Gaffney in New Jersey on June 6, 1900, with seven children listed. One of the children is 14-year-old Mary. This age supports the birth year of 1886 from the christening record.

The census indicated that John was born in New Jersey and Margaret was born in Ireland.

Mary's obituary from the June 1, 1950, edition of The Daily Register (Red Bank, New Jersey) provides little information I didn't already know. My great-grandfather Burton J. Miller and their three sons are mentioned. New information to me is a sister that is mentioned, but since it does not include her given name, it's not much of a lead. 

My next steps will be to look further into the siblings to see if I can find any connection to my great-grandmother, and to look for more information on John and Margaret.