The material in this book has been transcribed from a microfilm of the original handwritten census sheets.  The transcription's accuracy is dependent not only on our reading of the document, but also the quality of the information recorded.  There are three sources of possible errors: the transcribers, the census taker, and the information given.  In dealing with handwritten documents, an element of uncertainty exists in correctly interpreting the handwriting.   The accuracy of the enumerator's information depended on his ability to hear what the data giver said and to correctly write down what he had heard.  Unfortunately, the identity of the provider is not indicated; therefore, we have no way to judge the competency of the information except by comparison to other sources.  The data provided was only as accurate as the knowledge or memory of the provider.  After locating information in our book, always verify your findings to the microfilm of the original record.

Header Lines
Recorded at the top of each census sheet was the location of those individuals listed on a particular sheet, the date they were enumerated, and the nearest post office.  For example, the first header line is Pg 1, Beat 1, Hillsboro P. O., 6 June, 1870, which should be read as on page 1 of the orginal census sheet, the inhabitants of  Beat 1 with a Hillsboro post office are recorded and were enumerated on June 6, 1870.

Columns and Abbreviations
In using abbreviations, we tried to use the obvious. In the interest of space, the column headings are not put on each page.  The following is an explanation of what is contained in each column and any abbreviations used:

column   1: line number on orginal census sheet
              2: dwelling number
              3 & 4: last name followed by first name of all persons living in this dwelling
              5: age (d - days, w - weeks, m - months)
              6: sex (M - male, F - female)
              7: race (blank space - white, B - black, M - mulatto, I - Indian, ? -  unreadable)
              8: occupation (kh - keeping house, sevt. - servant, d. g. - dry goods)
              9: value of real property
            10: value of personal property
            11: place of birth

            12: Other information coded as follows:
                  A - father of foreign birth
                  B - mother of foreign birth
                  C - month born within the year
                  D - month married with the year
                  E - attended school within the year
                  F - cannot read or write
                  G - can read but cannot write
                  H - male citizen of U. S., 21 years of age or upwards, whose right to vote is denied or abridged on grounds other than rebellion or other crimes

Dashes
If the name, age, sex, race, or birthplace columns were left blank by the enumerator, this is indicated by a dash, " - ".

Index
The inhabitants in the index can be found by our page numbers in the lower right of each page. The index includes head of household and the eldest individual with a different surname within a dwelling.
 

This census intro is by Delores (Pickering) Sanders, who transcribed the 1870 Census of Scott County in Mississippi.