Have you ever thought about how your ancestor's possessions would be valued in today's world? I often think about this because it helps me to better compare their situation against my own.
On the 1850 United States Population census individuals were asked about only the value of their real estate. The 1860 US census was the first to ask people to provide information about both their personal assets and the value of their real estate. The process continued with the 1870 census but was removed on the 1880 census. This makes the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census helpful in shining some light on the financial situation of our ancestors.
There is one downfall and that is that Individuals may have hesitated to answer correctly because the values they provided were used to determine the tax they owed.
Because I haven't come across any ancestors that had a large fortune, I decided to focus on those that didn't. I looked into all of my 3rd great grandfathers and what they claimed as the real estate and personal estate value on the 1860 and 1870 census.
I have been able to identify fourteen of my sixteen 3rd Great Grandfathers. six of them were living in the United States and recorded on the 1860 and/or 1870 census. The remaining eight were living in Canada.
One way to better understand the financial situation of our ancestors is to convert income and assets to current day value. This makes the comparison a little easier to understand.
I decided to compare 1860 values to 2010 values and 1870 values to 2020 values. You can see the results in the chart below.[zref]9C974GWN[/zref]
Instructions for Census Taker
1860
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1870
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In July of 1860 Francis Ward, age 27, was living in Harrison Township, Elkhart, Indiana with his wife of two years Mary Elizabeth and their baby daughter Lucinda Ellen Ward. Francis was working as a farm laborer and had no real estate and $50 in personal assets. In 2010 this would equate to $1,313.59.[zref]United States. Indiana. Elkhart County. 1860 Federal Population Census, population. Digital image. Ancestry.com. http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7667 : 2017.[/zref]
By July of 1870, Francis, age 37, was living in Concord, Elkhart, Indiana. He and Mary now had 4 children (Lucinda, John, Mary, & William). Francis lists his occupation as a farmer but does not claim any real estate or personal assets. I'm not sure if that was truly the case or if he was trying to sneak out of some taxes.[zref]United States. Indiana. Elkhart. Concord. 1870 Census, population. Digital image. www.ancestry.com. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/19217591:7163?tid=171372097&pid=372223153536&hid=1049480921589&_phsrc=sMi468&_phstart=default : 2021.[/zref]
In June of 1860 George Faught, age 22, was living with his brother William Faught in Lexington, Sanilac, Michigan. Also living with William were his elderly mother Bridget and older sister Ann. George is a farmer and does not report any real estate or personal assets.[zref]1860 Population Census, Sanilac County, Michigan, population, Lexington, 899, Dwelling Number: 452, Family Number: 443, William Faught; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/44736122:7667 : Viewed 26 March 2021); Family History Library Film: 803558.[/zref] However, this doesn't mean he didn't have any. Per the directions given to census takers for the 1860 census, only the head of each household was asked for information about real estate and personal assets.
By July of 1870, George, age 32, is living in Bridgehampton, Sanilac, Michigan with his wife Elizabeth and their daughter Mary Anna. He is still working as a farmer and claims real estate with a value of $800 and $200 in personal assets.[zref]1860 Population Census, Sanilac County, Michigan, population, Bridgehampton, 10A, Household: 14, Family: 14, George Faught; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/44736122:7667 : viewed 26 March 2021); Family History Library Film: 803558.[/zref] Comparatively speaking these assets would be valued at $15,809.29 and $3,951.32 in 2020.
In July of 1860 Thomas Jefferson Burt, age 54, was living in Sciota Township, Shiawassee, Michigan with his second wife Amelia and their five children (Ann, Ruth, George, Pruie, and Nile). Thomas is a farmer and reports that he owns $1,200 of real estate and $400 in personal assets. In 2010, these assets would be worth $39,407.71 and $10,508.72 respectively.[zref]1860 Population Census, Shiawassee County, population, Sciota Township, Dwelling No. 1500 Family No. 1354, Thomas J. Burt; digital image, Ancestry.com (: viewed 26 March 2021); https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7667/images/4232713_00187?treeid=171372097&personid=372223153407&usePUB=true&_phsrc=sMi444&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=45279055.[/zref]
Thomas passed away on June 26th, 1864 at the age of 58, and was not recorded on the 1870 census.[zref]Henry Martyn Burt and Silas Wright Burt. Early Days in New England: Life and Times of Henry Burt of Springfield and Some of His Descendants. Genealogical and Biographical Mention of James and Richard Burt of Taunton, Mass., and Thomas Burt, M.P., of England. Madison, Wisconsin: C. W. Bryan Company, printers, 1893.[/zref]
In July of 1860, John Paul Jones was 34 years old and living in Howell, Livingston, Michigan with his wife Mary Jane and their three children (Delphine, Lucinda, and John Paul Jr.). John is working as a farmer and owns real estate with a value of $550.00 and personal assets of $67.00. Comparatively speaking, this would equate to a value of $14,449.49 and $1,760.21 in 2010.[zref]United States. Livingston County. 1860 Federal, population schedule. Digital image. Ancestry.com. http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7667 : 2017.[/zref]
By August of 1870, John, age 44, and his family have moved to Sciota Township, Shiawassee, Michigan. Five children are living in the household (John Paul Jr., Lucinda, Merritt, Royal, and Harriet). John now lists his occupation as a mason. The value of his real estate has increased to $3,000 and his personal assets to $326.00. In 2020 this would have been worth $59,269.85 and $6,440.66 respectively. It appears that he significantly improved the financial situation of his family in ten years.[zref]United States. Shiawassee County. 1870, population schedule. Digital Image. Ancestry.com. http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7163 : 2017.[/zref]
in July of 1860 Sylvester Mason, age 45, is living in Bridgehampton, Sanilac, Michigan with his wife Nancy and their four children (Robert, Silas, Amelia, and Perry). Sylvester is working as a lumberman. On the census, he claims $800 in real estate and $300 in personal property. Respectively, in 2010, this would be worth $21,017.45 and $7,881.54.[zref]United States. Michigan. Sanilac County. 1860 Population Census, population. Digital image. Ancestry.com. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/44736122:7667 : 2021.[/zref]
By July of 1870 at the age of 54, Sylvester had moved his family to Sault Ste. Marie, Chippewa, Michigan. In the household are Sylvester, Nancy, Robert, Amelia, Mark, and Mary). Sylvester is working as a fisherman and does not report either real estate or personal property on the census. This could have been a mistake on the part of the census taker or maybe Sylvester was trying to avoid taxes. We can't know for sure but I assume that he had at least some assets.[zref]United States. Michigan. Chippewa County. 1870, population census. Digital image. www.ancestry.com. https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/27281969:7163?tid=171372097&pid=372223153643&hid=1049777162193&_phsrc=sMi491&_phstart=default : .[/zref]
In June of 1860, at the age of 19, William Thomas King was living in Bloom Township, Seneca County, Ohio. William was living in the household of James and Sarah Stinchcomb. William was attending school and working as a laborer. He did not report any personal or real estate assets. This was probably because he was not the head of household and therefor not required to provide this information.
By July of 1870 at the age of 29, William had moved to Portland, Ionia, Michigan. He is living with his wife Catherine and their son Truman. The family is living next door to Catherine's mother Clarissa Coon and her mother's mother Catherine (Macqueen) Goodwin. William does not report any personal assets or real estate.
Summary
Although I have chosen to compare these six men across ten years they aren't all the same. Their ages range from 19 - 45 years of age. This is a range of 26 years. They lived in different states, counties, and cities. They were at different stages of their lives, and had different occupations. Some men were at the beginning of their lives and some nearing the end.
Throughout these ten years, their lives, families, occupations, and fortunes have changed. Being able to create comparisons like this for a single generation of our ancestors helps to put their lives into perspective. Census records contain so much information that allows us to do just that.
Asking the non-typical questions about typical record types will help us better understand and relate to our ancestors which helps us better understand their stories and the circumstances that lead to our lives today. Their successes, and struggles built the foundation for our life today. For that, we should feel fortunate.
Continuing with the 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks challenge, I am going to share what I know about my paternal 2nd great grandmother Lucinda Jones. Lucinda has always been a little bit of a mystery to me.
How I'm Related
Lucinda Jones - My 2nd Great Grandmother
Ernest Nile Burt - My Great Grandfather
Edna Jean Burt - My Grandmother
Tom Orlando McKenzie - My Father
Family
Lucinda E. Jones was born on November 24th, 1854 in Howell Township, Livingston County, Michigan to John Paul Jones and Mary Jane Chappell. She was the third child of nine.
Siblings
Childhood
I was able to find Lucinda living with her parents in the 1860 and 1870 census
July 26th, 1860 - Lucinda, 5 years old, is shown on 1860 Federal Census with her father, mother, and two siblings; Mary O. D. (Delphine) (10) and John P. (10 Months). Lucinda and her family are living in Howell, Livingston County, Michigan. Her father, John lists his occupation as a farmer. The family has real estate worth $550 and personal property worth $67.
August 4, 1870 - Lucinda, now 15 years old, is shown on 1870 Federal Census with her father, mother, and four siblings; John P. (10), Merritt (6), Royal (4) and Leounch (2). I believe that Leounch is actually a misspelling of Harriet, who was born in 1868. Lucinda and her family are living in Sciota Township, Shiawassee County, Michigan. John's occupation is now listed as a Mason. The family owns real estate worth $1,500 and personal property worth $250.
We can see from the 1870 census that Lucinda is living near her future husband, George Washington Burt.
In 1870, both George and Lucinda are still attending school, most likely together. However, George, age 17, was two years older. Based on my research, they probably attended the Octagon school which was located on Doyle Road in between Austin Rd. and Shaftsburg Rd. in what is now Laingsburg. This school house still exists, although it has since been turned into a personal residence.
The image above shows the location of the Octagon School. Shaded in blue is also the property where George W. Burt was living with his mother Amelia and four siblings, on August 4th, 1870.
Marriage and Children
Just over a year after their marriage, George and Lucinda had their first child, a son whom they named Thomas John Burt. Thomas was born on July 15th, 1875 in Webber Township, Lake County, Michigan. My guess would be his name was chosen for each of their fathers; Thomas Burt and John Jones.
On June 14th, 1880, George and Lucinda were recorded on the 1880 census with their son Thomas. George was listed as a farmer.
A month later, on July 20th, 1880, my great grandfather, Ernest Nile Burt, was born. The family was still living in Webber Township.
By 1882, the family had moved to Sciota Township, Shiawassee County, Michigan. This is where their third child and first daughter Leah was born on September 24th, 1882.
George and Lucinda's youngest child Miles Raymond Burt was born on July 11th, 1886 in Laingsburg, Shiawassee County, Michigan. So the family has once again moved.
I found a clip in the Owosso Times Newspaper from Friday, November 9th, 1883 that suggests that the family moved around 1883. By the sounds of it, a bit of bad luck followed them.
Based on the information I found in the March 4th, 1887 edition of the Owosso Times Newspaper, the family is renting a farm, two miles north of Laingsburg, from a Mrs. Ann Smith. I believe that they were living on one of the plots outlined in yellow on the map below.
As you can see from the map below, they were living close to George's mother Amelia. Her land is outlined in orange on the map.
My assumption is that George and Lucinda moved back to the Laingsburg area to care for George's mother Amelia because she passed away not long after, on May 26th, 1888.
The area outlined in red, was later rented, about April 12th, 1889, by Lucinda's husband George from a gentleman named G. W. Swarthout.
Taken too soon
Unfortunately, one of the reasons that I know so little about Lucinda Jones is that she died very young. My grandmother, Edna Jean (Burt) McKenzie told me the story of her grandmother's death several times.
She told me that her father, Ernest, was at home with his siblings when his mother passed away. His father George was away from home working. Ernest had to walk several miles in the snow to find his father and tell him that his mother had died.
I later found a blurb in the Owosso Times Newspaper from Friday, December 14th, 1888 that confirmed the story. Lucinda Passed away in her sleep on Saturday, December 8th, 1888.
Although, I can't find the exact weather forecast for the day of Lucinda's death, based on historical averages, Shiawassee County temperatures for December range from 20.4 F to 34.5 F, with an average of 10.4 inches of snowfall in December.
I can only images how Ernest felt making that long walk to deliver such horrible news to his father while worrying about his siblings left at home with his deceased mother.
Summary
Lucinda passed away at the young age of 34, younger than I am now. She left a husband and four young children. She was the daughter of an immigrant and the wife of a farmer. Most important, she was the mother of four children, who went on to live full lives. We may not know a whole lot about Lucinda herself, but her children were her legacy. I am happy that I can share her story today, so that others will also remember her.
Outstanding Questions
- I am still looking for a photo of Lucinda. I have several photos of her siblings and their families, however, none of her or her parents.
- Where did George and Lucinda get married?