Census returns are some of the first records that a genealogist turns to when studying a new family line. Unfortunately for Frederick County, as well as Virginia as a whole, both the 1790 and 1800 census reports for that state are lost. While the reason for their loss is argued, they nevertheless no longer exist. While personal property tax and land tax lists (which date from 1782) can be used to give some information about individuals, they do not give the researcher a glimpse into family composition or a snapshot of the county as a whole. Hence Frederick’s 1810 census is the first real window we have from the census records of this huge western county sitting astride the Shenandoah River and the Great Wagon Road west.
Statistical Summary of population.
Total number of heads of households listed - 2,696
Free White Males, 0-9: 2,642 (11.7%)
Free White Males, 10-15: 1,298 (5.7%)
Free White Males, 16-24: 1,490 (6.6%)
Free White Males, 24-45: 1,407 (6.2%)
Free White Males, 45 and over: 1,030 (4.6%)
Free White Females, 0-9: 2,483 (11%)
Free White Females, 10-15: 1,267 (5.6%)
Free White Females, 16-24: 1,604 (7.1%)
Free White Females, 25-44: 1,431 (6.3%)
Free White Females, 45 and over: 892 (4%)
Other Free Persons: 620 (2.7%)
Slaves: 6,457 (28.5%)
Total population: 22,621
Eight hundred eleven heads of households (30%) reported owning slaves, with the top five being Nathaniel Burwell, Sr.(325), Thomas Knight (146), Matthew Page (146), John Page (143), and Isaac Hite (103). Just less than 25% of the slave households (197) reported owning only one slave.
John Vogt
2007
107-FR10
