Series 486: Territorial Censuses. 1801-1816.
Creator: Territorial Governor (RG 2).
Collection Summary: : Population censuses and census abstracts taken of counties in the Mississippi Territory, sometimes including important towns such as Natchez and Washington. Generally, the census lists heads of families by name with members of the household listed only by age, race (and if black, whether slave or free), and gender. Abstracts of censuses list totals only for age, race and gender.A single territory-wide census abstract (with a sum total figured for products’ value) for manufacturing establishments and products is included with these records. In this census there are the following column headings for each county:
° Number of looms
° Yards of cotton, linen, woolen cloth
° Number of carding machines
° Number of spinning mills and number of spindles
° Number of Tanneries and leather-tanned products’ value
° Number of Distillers
° Amount of Tin and Tin Products’ value
Two miscellaneous items are included with these records as well: a cover letter from Mr. W.E. Boyd presumably accompanying an unidentified census, and an 1810 circular with instructions on the taking of the census. All the census materials are included on Microfilm Roll #17792 in the Library Microfilm Room.
Access Restrictions: Original records in this series are restricted due to age and/or fragility. A microfilm copy is available in the Microfilm Room.
Date(s): 1801-1816.
Volume: 3.00 Cubic Feet.
Finding Aid Created By: Colby Cox in March 2025.
Related Materials: TBD.
Record Group History: The Territorial Governor of Mississippi was the figure selected by the U.S. Congress to be the leading political figure of the Mississippi Territory. The Office of the Territorial Governor was created on April 7, 1798 when the creation of the Mississippi Territory was authorized. The Territorial Governor initially had full power over the creation of legislation until a general assembly was formed to represent the state in May of 1800. The Territorial Governor additionally served as the commander-in-chief of the Mississippi militia and was given authority over affairs with native peoples. The office was abolished once Mississippi became a full state in 1817.
- Collection Inventory:
Box Content Box Number
Adams County: 1809 - Abstract [mf 17792] 19821 Adams County: 1816 [mf 17792] 19821 Amite County: 1810 [mf 17792] 17981 Amite County: 1816 [mf 17792] 17014 Baldwin County: 1810 [mf 17792] 17981 Baldwin County: 1816 [mf 17792] 19821 Claiborne & Warren Counties: 1810 [mf 17792] 17981 Claiborne County: 1816 [mf 17792] 17981 Clarke County: 1816 [mf 17792] 17014 Franklin County: 1810 [mf 17792] 17981 Franklin County: 1816 [mf 17792] 17014 Greene County: 1816 [mf 17792] 17981 Jefferson County: 1805 [mf 17792] 17981 Jefferson County: 1808 [mf 17792] 17981 Jefferson County: 1810 [mf 17792] 00085 Jefferson County: 1816 [mf 17792] 17981 Marion County: 1816 [mf 17792] 17014 Miscellaneous items - Circular with census-taking instructions.: 1810 19826 Miscellaneous items - cover sheet accompanying census (W.E.Boyd) 19826 Monroe County: [1815-1817] [mf 17792] 17981 Pike County: 1816 [mf 17792] 17981 Territory-wide Census: 1801 - Abstract [mf 17792] 00085 Territory-wide Census: 1810 - Abstract [mf 17792] 19821 Territory-wide Census: 1811 - Abstract [mf 17792] 19825 Territory-wide Manufacturing & Manufacturers Census: 1809 - Abstract [mf 17792] 19825 Warren County: 1810 (see Claiborne & Warren Counties, 1810) [mf 17792] 17981 Warren County: 1816 [mf 17792] 17014 Washington County: 1808 [mf 17792] 00085 Washington County: 1810 [mf 17792] 17981 Wayne County: 1816 [mf 17792] 17981 Wilkinson County: 1805 [mf 17792] 00085 Wilkinson County: 1809 - Abstract [mf 17792] 17981 Wilkinson County: 1816 [mf 17792] 17014