As I recall from the conference, nothing that happened from 1860 forward
was supposed to be discussed that day. So the statement that the census
was taken in 1859 isn't to be taken literally. That probably should have
been made clear in the published text.
Mari Julienne
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of mlichtsr
Sent: Friday, October 22, 2010 12:25 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VA-HIST] When was the 1860 census taken?
On page 15 of America on the Eve of the Civil War (Edward L. Ayers and
Carolin R. Martin, eds., University of Virginia Press, 2010) the reader
notes that the 1860 census may have taken place a year earlier. In the
opening paragraph of Chapter 1, Professor Ayers, leading the discussion,
states: "It strikes me that these 1850s have been pretty interesting
times. What do you think is going to leap out from the census that is
being taken for the country? It will later be known as the 1860 census,
but it was actually taken in 1859."
Though it was authorized on May 23, 1850, I had always thought that if
no law was passed by January 1, 1860, that the Eighth U.S. Census was to
begin on June 1, 1860 as the original enabling legislation ordered.
The June 1860 start date seems to hold true for Orange County, VA.
Assistant Marshal John F. Taliaferro started on June 15, turned in 220
pages of census schedules on October 31, 1860 and had Thomas R. Towles,
justice of the peace, sign off on the transfer on that date.
I am sure that Dr. Ayers is very busy as president of the University of
Richmond, and I would not ask him to take the time to explain what he
said. Perhaps someone else can enlighten me?
Mitchell Lichtenberg
Mt. Pleasant, SC
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