Using Mortality Schedules: An Overlooked Source for Genealogy

The census forms the foundation of much of our genealogy research. But there is a section of it that is often overlooked. Here is how to use mortality schedules to find even more about your ancestors.

Using mortality schedules for genealogy

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Generations Cafe Podcast, Episode 28

You can listen to this episode by clicking the play button below. (You can also listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and most other podcast apps.)
Length: 16 minutes.

One of the coolest finds that I've had in my research is a death record (recorded by the government) for my 3rd-great-grandfather William Skinner, who died in May 1850 in Perry County, Ohio. What's cool about it (aside from all of the details it gave me) is that it's a full 18 years before Ohio started keeping civil death records. So how did I find this death record? 

The 1850 mortality schedule. 

What is a Mortality Schedule?

Some federal censuses took some schedules in addition to the population schedule, which is the part of the census that we typically use. In the censuses of 1850 through 1880, along with some state censuses that were taken in 1885, there is a special schedule all about deaths. These Mortality Schedules were supposed to record the deaths that occurred in that area in the 12 months prior to the official census date (1 June). For example, the 1850 mortality schedule record the deaths in that area between 1 June 1849 through 31 May 1850.

The mortality schedules was a way of compiling public health data. Many states weren't yet keeping civil death records (I'm looking at you, Pennsylvania), so the mortality schedule provided at least rudimentary statistics. They ended after 1885, as most states by then had some level of vital records by then.

What Do Mortality Schedules Tell Us?

The 1850 and 1860 mortality schedules are pretty similar. They include the person's name, the month that they died, where they were born, their age, occupation, cause of death, and the length of the illness.

One thing to keep in mind with any of these mortality schedules is that they include deaths in the previous calendar year. If you see in the 1850 mortality schedule that someone died in November, they actually died in November 1849.

​On the 1850 and 1860 mortality schedules, be sure to read to the end of the township and the end of the county, as there should be information about the general health of the population as well as information about the geology of the area.

1850 Mortality Schedule, Perry County, Ohio

1850 Mortality Schedule, Perry County, Ohio. Image courtesy FamilySearch. (Click for a larger view.)

Beginning in the 1870 mortality schedule, we get the family number (from the population schedule) of the family that reported the death. This can help better identify the person so you can make sure it's the person you're looking for and not just someone with the same name. We also have checkmarks if the the person's father and/or mother were foreign born.

1870 mortality schedule, Bay County, Michigan.

1870 Mortality Schedule, Bay County, Michigan. Image courtesy FamilySearch. (Click for larger image.)

​In 1880, we get the birthplace of the deceased's father and mother, along with the name of the attending physician. We also have sections to note if the person died in another area or if they died in that area, but normally lived somewhere else.

1880 mortality schedule, Norfolk County, Massachusetts

1880 Mortality Schedule, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Image courtesy FamilySearch. (Click to enlarge image.)

Where Can We Find Mortality Schedules?

The mortality schedules themselves were offered back to the states. For the states that took them back, you'll find them often in state archives or state historical societies. For the states that didn't take them back, some are in the DAR Library in Washington, DC. 

Some have been digitized and are available on Ancestry or FamilySearch. Here are some of the collections you'll find them in: 

Ancestry:

FamilySearch:

If your state hasn't been digitized, check with the state archives or state historical society to see if they have them. Also check with state and local/county genealogy societies to see if they have published any, either as books or as articles.

Using mortality schedules - death in the census
Posted: May 10, 2019.

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  • Remember that it states that a resident of this place died. It does not say where they died so it should not be used as evidence of place of death. The hospital or accident may even have been in a different state.

    • Yes, good distinction. The 1880 schedule, however, does differentiate those who died in other places, thus implying that the rest did die in that location.

  • Thanks, Amy! I had forgotten all about the Mortality Schedules. I know what I’m doing the rest of this morning. Always love getting your emails!!!

  • WOW, I never knew these existed. By any chance do you know if they were also done in Canada. I have a severe multi-layer brick wall that seems to go stronger with and stronger. I am looking for a woman/wife/mother that simply disappeared between the birth of her second daughter in 1897 and the 1901 census. I have tried every search I can think of cover all of Canada and the USA and simply cannot find her. Your Mortality Schedule has given me a glimmer of hope. If one was taken in 1901 in Quebec.
    Thanks!!

      • There is a search page for an index to the Canada 1871 mortality schedule at FamilySearch. There is a separate article on the FS Wiki about this schedule.
        Also, the 1852 Upper Canada (Ontario) census has a mortality column on page 2 that can be useful.

  • I love your Generations Cafe. Your podcasts are short, to the point an extremely informative.!!

  • I am jazzed to go back through my records and see if I can locate someone on the mortality schedules. Thanks for the great tips, Amy!

  • Love this topic. I have found in the 1850 mortality schedule in Adams County, IL several German-born families that all died of cholera within a month of each other. Very tragic.