Using the Agricultural Census to Explore Henry Fischer’s Farm
Last night at my talk in Wayland I showed how you can start to learn about a farm from Tax Valuation Lists.
In the tax valuation above from 1878 we can see that Henry Fischer had a horse, 4 cows, a heifer and 3 swine. On the other side of the page (seen below) we get details about his land. He has 24 acres total of mowing and tillage, 15 acres of pasture, 10 acres of woodland, 5 acres of meadow. In total there are 44 acres listed. We also see that he has a house, barn and shop.
The U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedules
We’re all familiar with the U.S. Federal Census where we can learn about the people who lived in our house. Those are the population schedules. There’s another part of the census called the U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880. These cover industry and agriculture.
We can search for Henry B. Fischer in the non-population schedule to get a more detailed look at his farm. Henry bought his Wayland farm from Samuel Ward in 1866 [1] so the first agricultural census we will check is the 1870 (there are also earlier censuses for 1850 and 1860).
The census from 1870 is comprised of two pages. We find Henry on line 23.
We can see that he has 35 acres of improved land and 10 acres of Woodland. The present cash value of the farm is $2,000 and the value of farming implements and machinery is $250.
He has 1 horse, 2 cows, 2 other cattle and 1 swine valued in total at $280. Lastly, he produced 25 bushels of indian corn (for the year ending June 1, 1870) likely to feed all the animals.
On page two of Henry’s agricultural census we find more details. Henry continues on line 23.
On this page (below) we see more of what was produced on the farm. It included:
- 1 bushel of beans and peas
- 71 bushels of Irish potatoes
- 150 pounds of butter
- 8 tons of hay
- The value of animals slaughtered or sold was $30
- Total estimated value of all farm produce $375
So in addition to the amount of land and livestock Henry has, we learn about the crops and dairy products that he is producing as well as the value of what he has produced.
We can also look at the 1880 agricultural census which is the final census in this series. From this we can learn how his farm has changed from 1870 to 1880. This census is laid out differently than the 1870 and all the information for one person appears on one page. You need to check the line number for the person, in this case Henry B. Fischer is on line 10, and the review all the corresponding rows for line 10.
In this census Henry has 27 acres of tilled land, 20 acres of permanent meadow, and 7 acres of woodland.
In terms of value, the farm is valued at $1,600, the farming implements and machinery at $100 and the livestock at $250. On this census we get information about hired labor. Henry doesn’t have any – he’s probably using his family. Lastly we get the estimated value of all farm productions (sold, consumed , or on hand for 1879) which totals $350.
In terms of grass lands there are 15 acres mown which reaped 6 tons of hay.
For livestock Henry has 1 horse, 8 dairy cows and one other cow, 3 calved dropped, 5 sold living. There was 1 swine and 15 barnyard chickens who produced 110 dozen eggs in 1879. Two hundred pounds of butter (from the dairy cows) were produced that year.
The farm had 1 acre of indian corn which produced 40 bushels. Also grown was 1 acre of Irish potatoes yielding 60 bushels. The farm also had 30 apple trees.
Total value of produce sold was $100. Wood cut in 1879 was 5 cords and total value of all forest products sold or consumed was $15.
We get an incredible picture of a working farm from the U.S. Non-population schedule for agriculture. If you think farming might have been done at your house be sure to check out these records.
Read other Wayland, Massachusetts articles here.
Cite/link to this post: Marian Pierre-Louis, “Using the Agricultural Census to Explore Henry Fischer’s Farm,” The Northeast House Historian (https://northeasthousehistorian.com/using-the-agricultural-census-to-explore-henry-fischers-farm/ : posted 7 June 2024).
[1] Massachusetts. Middlesex County. Deed Records. Office of the Register of Deeds, Cambridge. Digital Images. FamilySearch.org. Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986. https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/2106411 : 2024, entry for Samuel M. Ward to Henry B. Fischer, 16 April 1866, citing Deed Book 967, Page 594.
