IROQUOIS CENSUS PROJECT
1851 – 1925
Produced by
Special Collections – Reed Library
Fredonia State University of New York
2014
The Seneca collection was transferred
to the Archives of
the Seneca Nation, Allegany Territory.
2016
The Iroquois Census Project contains yearly annuity census rolls for the Iroquois Nations residing in New York State, starting in 1851 through 1886, with rolls also for 1890 and 1902. An added feature is abstracts of various New York State Census records for the Senecas, both the Seneca Nation and the Tonawanda Band.
The annuity census rolls are mostly complete for the Seneca Nation of Indians, the Tonawanda Senecas, the St. Regis Mohawks, the Onondagas and the Cayugas of New York. There is only one roll each for the Tuscarora and Oneida Nations. Following at the end of this narrative is a complete listing of the available rolls.
These annuity census rolls have been primarily brought together from the holdings of the National Archives, Washington, D.C. and the New York State Archives in Albany. The Seneca Nation of Indians provided early Seneca rolls, as did the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, and the Huntington Library in San Marino, California.
The following procedures were followed in producing this project:
The original census rolls were transcribed by hand. Sometimes the handwriting of the original census taker was difficult to decipher. Great care was taken to be as accurate as possible.
From the handwritten transcription the data was entered into a computer and a printout was prepared.
The printout was proofread against the handwritten transcription and errors were corrected.
An index was printed after the text was corrected.
Copies were made of the final printed census rolls and indexes for research purposes.
It sounds simple, however it has taken several years, thousands of dollars, and the help of several volunteers, primarily Josephine Lautenslaker, a descendent of Tonawanda Senecas, and Audrey Potter.
Preceding each annuity census roll there is an information form which provides important data about a particular census. Because this project was produced over several years, there will be differences in the files, folders and their order. In some cases the folders only list form and census; no file for index. In this case the index follows the census. Even though there are these inconsistencies, each early census will include the form, the census and an index. It was necessary for indexing purposes to assign a number to each individual in each household. The index will refer a researcher back to the census by use of this assigned number.
Prior to 1877 the annuity census rolls provide little family data. Recorded was the name of the head of household, the number of males, females, and number of children in each family. Sometimes a death was recorded and it appears that annuity funds were provided for the deceased for the year after death. From 1858 to 1877 the data columns list four numbers – the fourth indicates either an anticipated birth or a death.
Annuity census rolls starting in 1877 provide the name and age or birth date of all members of a household, with relationship to head of household: w = wife, s = son, d = daughter, etc. A listing of abbreviations used follows.
It is recommended that researchers take the time to fully analyze these census rolls. In the early years the census taker might list families by geographical location, or by family groups. By comparing entries in several years sometimes a pattern develops. In later years entries are arranged alphabetically by surname.
The National Archives produced a microfilm version of the New York State Iroquois annuity census rolls, 1885 – 1922. These can be purchased on microfilm from the National Archives, and on CD from the Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, Maryland. Later records, 1923 – 1960, are located in the National Archives. These have not been microfilmed. New York State Census, 1875, 1915, 1925 with indexes, for Seneca Nation territories and for the Tonawanda Senecas are also included. The Buffalo Creek Territory census of 1839 is included with the Iroquois Census Project. This is a partial census for that territory . There is an index. This census usually provides an individual’s Seneca name and clan. Clans are not found again until the New York State Census records for 1915, 1925 and these later listings must be regarded with caution.