Department of Commerce and Labor,
Bureau of the Census,
Washington, D.C., April 15, 1909

Sir:

In accordance with an act of Congress passed in 1903, the Department of the Interior transferred to the custody of the Director of the Census the records relating to the successive censuses of the United States. Among these records were the original schedules of the First Census for 11 of the 17 States and territories comprised in the United States in 1790.

The schedules of the First Census were prepared by underpaid assistant marshals, who furnished their own stationery, and naturally gave no thought to the permanent preservation of the manuscript, which to them merely represented the fulfilling of their task. In consequence, after the lapse of more than a century, the remaining schedules of the First Census show evidences of serious deterioration. This has been increased by the wear and tear resulting from frequent use for reference.

The states for which the schedules still exist are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina. The states and territories for which the schedules are lacking are New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, and the Southwest Territory (Tennessee). It is possible that some of the missing schedules were never in the custody of the Federal Government; others doubtless were obtained during the first half of the nineteenth century, and were either destroyed during the invasion of Washington by the British or in the Patent Office fire, which subsequently occurred, or were lost or mislaid during a period when the Federal records did not receive the intelligent care now accorded them.

In order permanently to preserve the valuable but vanishing census records which still remain, relating to the first year of constitutional government, and in response to urgent requests from many patriotic societies and public-spirited individuals, Congress authorized, in the sundry civil appropriation bill for the fiscal year 1907, the publication, by the Director of the Census, of the names of heads of families returned at the First Census. The Director was instructed to sell these publications at such price as in his opinion was just, and to report to Congress the proceeds.

In accordance with the authority thus granted (and subsequently renewed), as the resources available for the printing requirements of the Bureau of the Census permitted, the Director of the Census published, from time to time during the succeeding year and a half, a part, or volume, for each of the States for which the schedules are in Existence. For Virginia it was found that partial returns were available from the state enumerations of 1782, 1783, 1784, and 1785. These lists, which comprise most of the names of heads of families for nearly half of the State, were therefore included as a part, or volume, uniform with the returns of the Federal census for the other states.

After the publication of these volumes, the sale of which had been considerable, it became evident that this unique series (which is not included among the regular publications of the Census) would not be complete without a final section, or volume, discussing the historical aspects of the First Census and presenting such statistics as could be compiled from the limited returns of the first enumeration of the population. 

The results of the First Census were originally published in summarized form in a small volume, and it was recalled that no attempt had ever been made to present returns of that census in full detail, nor had the Federal Census Office ever attempted to analyze the returns, or to compare them with the corresponding figures at later censuses. The Director accordingly assigned to Mr. W. S. Rossiter, chief clerk of the Census, the task of compiling a report which should meet the requirements above noted. The results are embodied in the following pages:

Systematic inspection and analysis of the returns of the First Census revealed the fact that some of the tabulations would result in the presentation of figures basic in their relation to statistical science. Other statistical information proved to be available-in some instances easily deducible from the returns of the First Census, and in others resulting from assumptions believed to be justifiable, and for which the reasons are fully stated. A second and perhaps more important series of tables resulted from an inspection of the names of the heads of families at the First Census. 

The tables thus secured present many facts-with respect to both nomenclature and nationality-that are of great interest to persons descended from the population enumerated in 1790. It is also hoped that this publication will prove of equal interest to those who have not the personal interest resulting from the enumeration of their ancestors at the First Census. In these pages will be found tabular analysis and discussion indicating the two great streams of population which have united to form the population of the Republic at the beginning of the twentieth century.

As work on this publication progressed it became evident that the scope had broadened and that it should constitute a review of the growth of the population during the century of census taking. Some changes were made, therefore, in the form of presentation and the volume thus became more general in character than was first intended.

Acknowledgment is made of the faithful and efficient work of Miss Martha W. Williams in the construction of tables, of Miss Joyce Lee in the formation of tables and in criticism, and of Mr. Charles P. Smith in extended historical research and criticism. I desire also to make grateful acknowledgment of the valuable assistance rendered this office by Mr. William Nelson, secretary of the Historical Society of New Jersey, in clearing up many doubtful points in connection with a state for which no census returns exist; by Mr. Joseph Fornance, president, Historical Society of Montgomery County, Pa.; by Judge Harman Yerkes, Doylestown, Bucks county, Pa.; by Thomas L. Montgomery, State librarian, Harrisburg, Pa.; by Mr. Boyd Crumrine, Washington county, Pa.; by Rev. Horace Edw. Hayden, corresponding secretary and librarian, Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; and of assistance in the preparation of the lists of minor civil divisions at the date of the First Census, rendered by Mr. William G. Stanard, corresponding secretary and librarian of the Virginia Historical Society; by Prof. Charles Lee Raper, president of the Historical Society of North Carolina; by Mr. Robert T. Quarles, state archivist of Tennessee; by Mrs. Jennie C. Morton, secretary of the Kentucky State Historical Society; by Mr. Henry C. Conrad, president of the Historical Society of Delaware; and ;by Mr. Richard H. Spencer, corresponding secretary of the Maryland Historical Society.

Very respectfully,
S.A.D.Forth
Director

Hon. Charles Nagel,
Secretary of Commerce and Labor