Introduction
Enumeration
Districts
Number of Deaths
Per Township
Enumerator's
Remarks and Comments
Some
years ago a transcription of names listed in census Death Schedules for
towns in Madison County was compiled and circulated to local historians
and libraries. These lists, taken from several State and Federal
census records, (as well as another partial set of transcripts by another
compiler), did not include all of the census years available and had a
number of errors. It was obvious that the compilers had some difficulty
reading the original records, were unfamiliar with the names, and did not
copy some of the data correctly (Cleoma was transcribed as Celoma,
scrofula consumption became scarlet consie, congestion of the lungs
became cancer of the liver, and Chloey ended up as Coey).
Also, there had been no attempt to confirm several unusual entries and
obvious errors of the original documents and the transcriptions retained
the errors and misspellings of original document despite the obvious incorrectness
(Clerasa = Clarissa, Bordnell = Bordwell, Schoburrie = Schoharie, Burdie
= Burdick, Sherer = Shaffer, etc.). If one is not familiar with the
names of the area these errors might not be recognized, but, knowing the
names of historic Cazenovia, Fenner, and Nelson the errors were obvious
(I know that Caroline Shaffer died in 1850, not Caroline Sherer, and there
are no Bordnells or Burdies, but there are Bordwells and Burdicks).
These
census records are valuable resources for genealogists, demographers, and
historians but are of little use unless the information they contain is
true to the original document. In this listing every attempt has
been made to check unfamiliar names, misspellings, obvious confusions,
and illegible entries due to scratched and out of focus microfilm, faded
ink, and poor handwriting. The original documents or their closest
equivalent were consulted in every case, and were often rechecked in their
entirety. Supplementary data such as Population Schedules and cemetery
records have been checked to minimize the unknown and confusing entries
(the family numbers of the 1870 Population Schedules differ from the numbers
given in the Death Schedules but a pattern is present allowing identifications
to be made). The obvious errors of some of the original documents,
copied by 19th century federal clerks who may have had a difficult time
reading the unfamiliar names of Madison County residents or who cared little
for the correct spelling of the names, have been corrected here but nothing
which could not be verified in other documents was changed. The worst
example of poor copy work in the original document is for Joanna and Thomas
Lynch, who are recorded in the census as Johemiah and Thema
Lynch! Examination of an earlier Population Schedules clarified these
names.
The
data collected in the various years was not the same for each year.
Some years also included data on the place of birth, occupation, etc.,
but only the data that was constant (name, age, cause of death, date of
death, place of death) was included in this listing. The 1880 census,
primarily concerned with immigration, records birthplace of the individual
and their parents, occupation, length of residence, and a statement from
the attending physician - which are not included in this listing.
The various spellings of diseases, as given on the Death Schedules, have
been standardized but no attempt has been made to define the modern equivalent.
Marital status, or "civil condition," is given in the records but the omnipresent
"single" for children under 16 years of age was not retained as it is meaningless
at this age. Kate Mullner, died February 1870 in Cazenovia, is listed
in the Death Schedule as being 14 years old and married. Cross-checks
of the Population Schedules show this was the same Cate Mulliner, age 4,
who is shown in the 1860 Population Schedule for the Town of Nelson.
As she was a Mulliner at age 4 it is likely that she was not married in
1870. The Mulliners are not a Cazenovia family and why she was in
Cazenovia at the time of her death is not known.
Unfortunately
the 1855 State Census Death Schedules did not list the name of the deceased
but did give age, sex, marital status, month of death, and cause of death
which might allow the individual to be identified through cemetery records.
A check was made of the transcriptions of the Cazenovia, Fenner, and Nelson
cemeteries for matches to the Death Schedule data, with some result (42
of 99 entries identified). A
list of people who died during the 1855 census year (June 1, 1854 to May
31, 1855) who are buried in Cazenovia, Fenner, and Nelson cemeteries is
given on a seperate page, and cross matches are referenced in the combined
list of Death
Schedules.
The
search for names for the 1855 Death Schedule showed that there are many
others buried in Cazenovia, Fenner, and Nelson who died between June 1854
and May 1855 that should have been on the Death Schedule but are not.
The Table of Number of Deaths per Township, indicates either a widely fluctuating
death rate, or that some deaths were missed by the enumerators. Cemetery
data indicate that the latter is most likely, and examination of various
Population Schedules also shows an unusually wide fluctuation in population
where a steady change should be noted - indicating many missed families.
Although
there were a few Cazenovia, Fenner, and Nelson individuals and families
who are listed in Population Schedules as being black, colored, or mulatto
only two persons in the Death Schedules are listed as with this category.
Charles W. Tousaint, died 1859, is listed as a mulatto and Theodore Dunbar,
died in 1875, is listed as black.
The originals
of the 1850, 1855, 1860, 1865, and 1875 census records are to be found
at the Madison County Clerk's Office in Wampsville. Great difficulty
was faced in locating the 1870 and 1880 Death Schedules which are compiled
separately from the population and other schedules of those years.
The microfilm copies of the records for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 were
eventually found at the New York State Library, Division of Manuscripts
and Special Collections. Some of the originals of these records,
in bound volumes containing all the like schedules of all the counties
across the state, were shredded a few years ago in an attempt to save storage
space at the Museum, Library, and Archives (a roll of film takes less space
than a unique century old public record). Although it is hoped that
nothing ever happens to the master set of microfilms the data for Cazenovia,
Fenner, and Nelson has been recorded elsewhere just in case. Schedules
of Agricultural Production, Industrial Production, Marriages, and Social
Statistics (number of schools, churches, newspapers) are also found int
he various census records.
Several
differences are noted between the copy of the 1860 census which is found
at Wampsville and the copy which was at the NYS Library and these differences
have been noted in the list. It is not clear which list was the original,
but it seems that it may be the copy at Wampsville which has the more correct
information.
Death
Schedules have been transcribed for all years that they were known to have
been taken: 1850, 1855, 1860, 1865, 1865 soldiers, 1870, 1875, and 1880.
Before 1850 there was no itemized listing of persons in the districts although
at least some mortality figures were taken for some years (see page below
for a table showing numbers for each census year). After 1880 the
focus of attention was on immigration rather than community composition
and thus no Death Schedules were compiled.
These
lists should not be considered complete nor perfectly accurate records
of those that died within the towns of Cazenovia Fenner, and Nelson during
the years reported. For various reasons; families moving, dates of
death forgotten, etc.; individuals who died during the enumeration period
may not be included or their data may be in error. Several persons
who appear in the record are noted to have actually died in other places
and these are set aside from the combined set of data. Soldiers who
died in the Civil War are also presented in a separate set as few of these
died in Cazenovia, Fenner, or Nelson. Cross reference has been made
in those cases where the individual died or is buried at home.
The
year of death is figured from, June 1, to, June 1 the year previous to
the census taking (June 1, 1874 to, June 1, 1875), except for 1880 when
the year ran from June 1, 1879 to May 31, 1880.
State Census records were collected by Election District and the Federal Census collected by the township. The 1880 Federal Census used Enumeration Districts which appear to be similar to the Election Districts used by the State Census.
1855, 1865, and 1875 State Census
Cazenovia District 1 = south
part of town
Cazenovia District 2 = central
part of town and the south part of village
Cazenovia District 3 = north
part of village and north part of town
Fenner has only one district
Nelson District 1 = south
part of town
Nelson District 2 = north
part of town
1880 Federal Census
Enum. Dist. 49 = south part
of Cazenovia
Enum. Dist. 50 = most of
Cazenovia Village
Enum. Dist. 51 = north part
of Cazenovia and part of village.
Enum. Dist. 56 = all of
town of Fenner
Enum. Dist. 69 = Dist #1
- south part of Nelson
Enum. Dist. 70 = Dist #2
- north part of Nelson
1835 Figures from Reports of Compiled Statistics
1850-1880 Figures from Death Schedules
Cazenovia
Fenner
Nelson
1835
61
25
29
1840
1845
1850
66
24
29
1855
56
14
27
1860
54
19
13
1865
49
8
14
1870
29
14
14
1875
57
12
17
1880
61
15
28
There were no comments in 1850.
Nelson, District 1, 1855: