The United States Census is a comprehensive population survey conducted every ten years since 1790, capturing detailed information about households, occupations, and property ownership.
For genealogical research, census records serve as snapshots frozen in time, allowing us to track individuals across decades and document their personal transformations over time.
Census data also provides essential context about the communities where our ancestors lived, revealing the social and economic environments that shaped their lives and opportunities.
These records provide important information on the American family, preserving ordinary lives that might otherwise be lost to time.
How We Use Census Records To Uncover Ransom’s Story
While census records do not make up the majority of our research, census records support our genealogical investigation into Ransom Hunter’s remarkable life. These government snapshots, taken every ten years, allow us to track his journey from young man to successful entrepreneur across four decades of American history. Each census provides not just basic facts about age, occupation, and family members, but also clues that guide our research in exciting new directions.
As you review Ransom’s census records below, you’ll notice we present what each census actually shows, then explain what other documents reveal about those same time periods. This approach helps separate documented facts from assumptions, ensuring our understanding of Ransom’s story is built on solid evidence. You’ll see how comparing details across multiple census years reveals inconsistencies that often lead to breakthrough discoveries – like age discrepancies that help us determine his true birth date, or changing household compositions that reveal marriages, deaths, and family relationships.
Pay attention to the “What We’re Investigating Next” sections following each census summary. These highlight the questions and mysteries that each record raises, showing how census data serves as a launching pad for deeper investigation.
When we find gaps or contradictions, they become roadmaps for finding marriage certificates, death records, property documents, and other sources that help complete Ransom’s story.
Follow the Ransom Hunter Foundation for updates, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates on our research .
The census records you’re about to explore represent more than just government paperwork – they’re windows into the life of an extraordinary man building success during one of America’s most transformative eras.
Ransom Hunter Foundation 