Page Format: In the original schedules, there were 13 columns with line numbers down each margin of the page.
An explanation of each of the original columns, with my column heading in parethesis, is as follows:
Line Number (LN): In the original schedules there were line numbers down each margin of the page, I have listed them in the first column.1. Dwelling-houses numbered in the order of visitation (HN).
2. Families numbered in the order of visitaion. IMPORTANT NOTE: In each case the Dwelling number and the Family number were the same in this census, so to save space I have eliminated the Family Number column from my pages.
3. The Name of every Person whose usual place of abode on the first day of June, 1850 was in this family (LAST NAME) (FIRST NAME). I have made these entries into two columns for indexing purposes.
4. Age (AGE) The age of every person in years. If age was less than 1 year, it was noted in a fraction, where 3/12 would equal 3 months of age.
5. Sex (SEX)
6. Color {white, black or mulatto} (RACE) Most spaces in this column were blank, indicating white, B indicating black, and M indicating mulatto.
7. Profession, Occupation or Trade of each Male Person over 15 years of age (OCCUP.)
8. Value of real estate owned (VAL.)
9. Place of Birth, Naming the State, Territory or Country (B/PL)
10. Married within the year (MRD)
11. Attended School within the year (SCH)
12. Persons over 20 years of age who cannot read & write (R/W)
13. Whether deaf and dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, pauper or convict (DDB)
Mr. Shoemaker’s handwriting is generally very clear, most of his letters were distinct and fairly consistent. However, it took me a little while to learn to distinguish his capital “S” and capital “L”, they are almost identical. In some names it was fairly obvious, like in the name Samuel, but in the surname Letture, it was a little more difficult. He sometimes also changed his style of letters between first and last names, giving the first letter of the surname a little more flourish. Certain numbers were sometimes hard to distinguish. Many times 6’s looked like 0’s and vice versa.