Using a census for a specific location?

Question

How can I use a census (1840, 1850, 1860) to determine an exact location of a plantation, when I am 3000 miles away???

Wendy I know you got my back....lol

Answer 1

lmao.. we'll make you a regular here, for sure.

Gen's mom is actually who pulled that one off for you on prior question.  But, there are some tips to work with.

A census (depending on the year) will have enumeration districts.. that is, areas within the county.. that show up on the original pages. That fluctuates between census years, but I think ancestry has details on what area was included. I have seen some that go so far as to have a street name on the margin. You also can study the page from one year to the next, and often the neighbors in 1850 are the same in 1860. Doing a study like this, does require the full image of the page.  I had found a map of Patrick county that I was going to send you.

As above.. google maps is very useful, since it does allow zooming in.  However..what I have done with some locations is finding a TOPOGRAPHIC map, and have that open, along with google (or mapquest).  Another benefit.. once you have your ancestor's neighborhood, you sometimes can zero in on which cemeteries are close by.

One favorite source that I work with is land deeds. DON'T expect these on the internet.. they are just too many of them. If you find it online, it is gravy. Let's say that in 1920, your family sold the family farm.. and the deed itself will have the location.  This can be connected back to earlier land records, and who may have owned the land prior to that. You do not have to travel for deeds.. if you have an LDS family history center nearby.. you CAN order microfilm that does have them. Of course, "milk" what is online first, then go to the other sources.

Genevieve's mom is a sweetie.. and if she does not pick up the chat here, drop her a note to her profile, and ask how she pulled that rabbit out of the hat.

If there is one thing I often offer people here.. what is online is often the tip of the iceberg. When you SERIOUSLY want to find the ancestry, you'll use the internet to point you to gold mines that are out there.. just not obvious.

http://www.co.patrick.va.us/largemap.cfm...

Answer 2

I use Google Maps. Just enter the information at the top of the census page into a Google search, like Anson county, North Carolina in a Google search and to get the address or driving directions click Nearby Businesses at the left. Or you can enter GPS Whites store, Anson County, North Carolina and get the precise Global positioning co-ordinates..