Mortality Schedules are probably one of the most overlooked resources available to genealogists. Yet, they are also one of the most interesting. Though they document less than 1/10th of the deaths which occurred, they provide a historically significant snapshot during this time period. While today we consider heart disease and cancer as the major threats to modern life; dysentery, small pox, cholera and consumption were the words that made life precarious for our ancestors.

Mortality Schedules were taken for the years: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 and 1885. Enumerators were to inquire about persons who had died in the twelve months immediately preceding the taking of the federal census.

Questions asked were: deceased's name, sex, age, color, whether widowed, place of birth, month in which the death occurred, profession / occupation / trade, disease or cause of death, and number of days ill. In 1870, the parents' birthplaces was added. In 1880, how long they were a citizen or resident of the area.

In 1934 the federal government offered the mortality manuscripts to their respective states. Those schedules not accepted were given to the National Library of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Washington D.C.

All statewide mortality schedules are indexed from 1850 to 1880. For 1885 only South Dakota has been indexed.