The Washington times., 1908-08-01
OLD FAMILY TREES
GET HARD SHAKING
Government Pamphlets to
Tell Truth About May
flower Descendants.

The Census Bureau is soon to put
On the market a series of pamphlets,
which are bound to cause sorrow in
the hearts OF many who lay claim to
an ancestry that dates back 10 that
apparently very much overloaded craft,
the Mayfiower.
These pamphlets. printed on laid an
tique paper. with beautiful covers and
a 81 price mark, will contain the details
of the first census Of the United States,
taken in 1890, by order Of President
Washington. showing the heads OF fam
flies. etc. This work was ordered by
Congress in response to repeated re-
quests from patriotic societies and per
sons interested in genealogy or desiring
10 study the early history of the United
States
When these handsome little booklets
are Issued there will be weeping and
wailing as well as joy and satisfaction.
In some homes they will be hung up on
the front parlOr wall, opened at a GER
tain page, showing that an ancestor
was really on the job in 1890. but there
are many other places where the books
will be buried deep in the dark, dank
cellar.
Secrets Are Disclosed
For 1t will show that an alleged ar
cestor was either not at home when the
enumerator called or was not working
the old farm at all. It will also show
whether the head of the family was a
free man or whether he was bound in
service.
There Is to be one statement in the
introduction Of these quaint little
pamphlets which many will point 10
as letting them out, and proving that
while their boosted ancestor was pres
ent and not in jail, he might have
feared the census enumeration was q
tax collector ana SO have been over
cautious and held back his name aud
family details.
1t has been said that this saving
clause was inserted at the request of
tnany persons who had been careful
enough 10 have their family trees
looked up, but Director North declares
there is no ground for this slanderOus
report. Others will point with equal
diligence to a clause to the effect that
there were good people with religious
prejudice against census taking. This
page also will be thumb worn.
The schedules OF New Hampshire
Vermont. and Maryland already have
been published, and reports Tor Maine,
Massachusetts. Rhode Island. Connect
cut. New York. Pennsylvania, North
Carolina, and South Carolina have been
compiled and are on the press. When
RU dressed up in their dainty little
dresses they may be had for one dol
lar apiece. Other States viii come along
presently.
Families Were Large.
These reports show. too. that there
was no fear of race suicide in the Olden
davs Families averaged six persons
then and families of a dozen or more
were frequent. The total population OF
the United States in $780, exclusive OF
slaves, as derived from the schedules,
was S,231. 533, not counting the tax
dodgers and those with religious
scruples-
The only names appearing upon the
old lists are those of heads of families
and as families averaged six persons
the total number was approximately
10000. Many schedules have been de-
stroyed, principally in the burning oil
the Capitol by the British in the Wal
of 1872
The first census act was passed al
the second session Of the first Congress
and was signed by Washington Marci
l. 1890 The task OF making the frs
enumeration of inhabitants was placed
upon the President Under this law the
rrarshals of the several judicial districts
were required to ascertain the number
of inhabitants within their respective
districts. emitting Indians not taxed
md Distinguishing free persons 0nClUd
ing those bound to service for a tern
of years. from all others; the sex anC
color OF free persons; and the number
of free males sixteen years Of age dnC
over. The object of the inquiry was 4
Obtain definite knowledge as to the mill
tary and industrial strength Of TIT
country.