Although the majority of the 1890 census was burned when a fire razed the Commerce Department Building in 1921, and the few remaining fragments destroyed by 1935, there is one group of the population whose records have endured. In addition to the regular schedules taken in the census, a special census of Union Civil War veterans and their widows was taken at the same time. The idea was for war comrades to have the means to find each other and establish through affidavits their eligibility for veteran’s benefits. Each state has been collected in a series of books indexing the names from this census. This review covers Mississippi 1890 Census Index of Civil War Veterans or Their Widows.
Mississippi’s population in 1890 was 1,289,600. Union veterans in the state totaled 6,362 with 1,140 surviving widows. Confederate veterans were reported at 26,728 and 3,830 widows. Not surprising is that a southern state would have so many more confederate veterans, but perhaps a little surprising that there were so many Union vets. This index lists 9,340 individuals. Most likely some of the names are for Confederate veterans. There are also a number of names which are likely listed twice. Transcription errors and other problems pop up in any indexed record.
This index can help the researcher find original census entries. Entries include the individuals name, the county, locale or city, the supervisor’s district number, and the enumerators district. The index is sorted alphabetically by surname. According to the introduction, best efforts were made to account for handwriting and other issues, but the researchers are reminded to remain flexible so as not to miss names due to minor spelling errors and other misinterpretations. The book contains a Table of Common Interpretations to help identify where interpretation errors most often occur. An example given is “Warren might appear as WARNER or Warner as WARREN.” Bryan Lee Dilts, the books compiler, has made effort to ensure the flexible researcher can find the records (s)he seeks.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
Table of Common Transcription and Interpretation Errors
Counties in Order of Appearance
Abbreviations Used in Local Names
Map of Mississippi, 1890–1900
Census Index
Mississippi 1890 Census Index of Civil War Veterans or Their Widows is available from Family Roots Publishing; Item #: X916SB, Price: $9.45.
Can you confirm if there ever was a town called MAYBANE, MISSISSIPPI AROUND 1890? Cant find it on any of the Mississippi maps during that time.
My great grandparents migrated through Mississipi around 1890 from the Carolinas. this is all I know. their name was George and Mary Norris. One of their children chose to stay in Maybane? during this ardous journey to the Texas/Oklahoma area
Thank you for any help you might be able to provide.
I would try Maybank. It is in Forrest county, Mississippi. The county itself wasn’t created until 1908 – from Perry county. Perry county was created in 1820. I’ve seen records of folks who lived in Maybank, Perry county, Mississippi in the early 1880s. The Maybane spelling isn’t one I’ve been able to find.