Reliability of 1870 US Census (New York City)

Jeff Drake

FamilySearch’s page on the 1870 US Census (https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/United_States_Census_1870) states that “Because of complaints regarding the accuracy and completeness of the 1870 Census, three cities were re-enumerated”. One of these three cities is New York City, where my Drake family lived. The family was enumerated on 16 July 1870 and again on 10 January 1871.

Here’s my question: is the second enumeration generally more reliable? Both parents are listed as age 30 in July, but age 38 in January. I suspect that in either case, one spouse’s age was used as the other’s, but I’m not sure which is more correct. (All five children’s ages are fairly consistent, with three of the five apparently having a birthday between the two.)

Thanks in advance!

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6L87-JF3

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-XW16-JF?i=96

Áine Ní Donnghaile

As a NYC researcher of many years, I see flaws and good points in both versions.

In theory, the 2nd enumeration should have reflected the same information as the 1st. Unfortunately, both enumerators and those being counted didn't always get that right.

Many people were missed in the 1st enumeration, with estimates ranging as high as 10% in some areas. The recount of NYC produced only an additional 2%.

I've found families where the wife died after the 1st enumeration, and the husband remarried before the 2nd enumeration. The 2nd enumeration should have reflected the original family, but instead it has the blended family with the new wife.

In the household of my GGF, his older brother, and his mother, my GGF's place of birth changed from England to Ireland, and his age by several years. Their surname had widely different spellings in the two.

I use both, of course, but I don't rely on one over the other, with the exception that the 2nd enumeration contains street addresses.

Jeff Drake

Thanks, Áine! That definitely helps!