New York, State Census, 1855

What is in This Collection?

The collection covers the population schedules for the 1855 New York state census records still in existence. Most counties are covered, but some records were destroyed.

The information is generally reliable. However use the information with some caution, since the information may have been given to a census taker by any member of the family or by a neighbor. Some information may have been incorrect or deliberately falsified.

General Information about New York Census records

New York State took a census every ten years from 1825 to 1875. They also took a census in 1892; then every ten years from 1905 to 1925. The early census was as much interested in agricultural production as in the number of inhabitants. Only the name of the head of household is listed from 1825 to 1845. Many of these early census records have been lost.

Beginning in 1855, the name of every person in the household is listed. The 1855 to 1875 census asked the person for the name of the county that person was born in, if they were born in New York State. That helps to narrow down the search for a birth place for New Yorkers. The 1865 census asked many questions about military service which are helpful in finding Civil War records.

It is unknown why a census wasn't taken in 1885. The census for 1892 is not as helpful as the previous census. It does not indicate where a family begins and contains no relationships so it is difficult to determine if people of another surname are part of the previous family. It only asks for a country of birth not a State nor NY County.

To Browse This Collection

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

What Can These Records Tell Me?

A census can provide you with names and ages of family members, which can then be used to calculate birth or marriage dates. It can provide the county and town where your ancestor lived, people living with (or gone from) the family, and relatives that may have lived nearby. The census may identify persons for whom other records do not exist. Information found in the population schedules of the 1855 New York State Census includes:

• Name of every person whose usual place of abode was in the family on the 1st day of June, 1855
• Age
• Gender
• Color
• Relation to the head of the family
• In what county of New York, or in what state or country born
• Married
• Widowed
• Length of residence in this town
• Occupation
• Citizenship (native, naturalized, or alien)
• Person of color, not taxed
• Could read and write
• Owned land
• If deaf, dumb, or blind

Collection Content

Sample Image

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  New York State Census 1855

The following counties are included in the 1855 New York, State Census