Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790

Book excerpt: The First Census of the United States (1790) comprised an enumeration of the inhabitants of the present states of Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia. Unfortunately, during the War of 1812, when the British burned the Capitol at Washington, the returns for several states were destroyed. However, the census records for Massachusetts survived and were available for this 1908 publication. In March 1790, Massachusetts had a population of 378,787, out of a total population of approximately 3,920,000. The information provided in this census includes the Name of Head of Family, the number of free white males of 16 years and upward in the household, the number of free white males and under living in the household, the number of free white females, all other free persons, and the number of slaves (there were no slaves in Massachusetts). Populations are also recorded for Towns and Counties.