It's Treasure Chest Thursday - time to look in my digital image files to see what treasures I can find for my family history and genealogy musings.
Section 1 — Farm, land, values, labor, and grasslands
Column |
Census heading |
Entry |
|---|---|---|
1 |
The Name |
James Richmond |
2 |
Owner of farm |
1 (owner) |
3 |
Rent paid for fixed money rental |
Blank |
4 |
Rent paid for shares of products |
Blank |
5 |
Tilled land, including fallow and grass in rotation |
40 acres |
6 |
Permanent meadows, permanent pastures, orchards, vineyards |
29 acres |
7 |
Woodland and forest |
3 acres |
8 |
Other unimproved land, including old fields and lots not growing wood |
8 acres |
9 |
Value of farm, including land, fences, and buildings |
$1,200 |
10 |
Value of farming implements and machinery |
$150 |
11 |
Value of livestock |
$260 |
12 |
Cost of building and repairing fences in 1879 |
Blank |
13 |
Cost of fertilizers purchased in 1879 |
Blank |
14 |
Amount paid for farm labor during 1879 |
Blank |
15 |
Weeks of hired labor in 1879 |
Blank |
16 |
Estimated value of all farm productions consumed or sold in 1879 |
$350 |
17 |
Grassland acreage mown |
25 acres |
18 |
Grassland acreage not mown |
15 acres |
19 |
Hay produced |
29 tons |
20 |
Clover seed |
Blank |
21 |
Grass seed |
Blank |
22 |
Horses on hand June 1, 1880 |
2 |
23 |
Mules and asses on hand June 1, 1880 |
Blank |
What this tells us: James owned an 80-acre farm, consisting of 40 acres of tilled land, 29 acres of meadow or pasture, 3 acres of woodland, and 8 acres of other unimproved land.
The farm was valued at $1,200, with $150 invested in equipment and machinery and $260 in livestock. His reported farm production was worth $350 for 1879.
The 29 tons of hay are particularly interesting. Hay was an essential crop for keeping horses and cattle fed through the Connecticut winter.
Section 2 — Livestock and animal products
This section records animals on hand, livestock transactions during 1879, and animal products.
Column |
Census heading |
Entry |
|---|---|---|
24 |
Working oxen on hand June 1, 1880 |
Blank |
25 |
Milch cows on hand June 1, 1880 |
4 |
26 |
Other cattle on hand June 1, 1880 |
Blank |
27 |
Calves dropped in 1879 |
3 |
28 |
Cattle purchased in 1879 |
Blank |
29 |
Cattle sold alive in 1879 |
Blank |
30 |
Cattle slaughtered in 1879 |
3 |
31 |
Cattle that died in 1879 |
Blank |
32 |
Gallons of milk produced |
Blank |
33 |
Pounds of butter made |
200 |
34 |
Pounds of cheese made |
Blank |
35 |
Sheep and lambs on hand June 1, 1880 |
Blank |
36–42 |
Sheep and lamb movements and losses during 1879 |
Blank |
43–44 |
Sheep fleeces and weight |
Blank |
45 |
Swine on hand June 1, 1880 |
3 |
46 |
Poultry on hand June 1, 1880 |
16 |
47 |
Other poultry |
Blank |
48 |
Eggs produced in 1879 |
50 dozen |
What this tells us: James had at least four dairy cows and three pigs, along with 16 poultry. His cows produced 200 pounds of butter during the year.
The three calves born in 1879 suggest that he maintained a breeding dairy herd. Three cattle were also slaughtered during the year, although the census doesn't tell us whether these were older cows, steers, or other animals.
The 200 pounds of butter are particularly interesting. Butter production was an important source of food and potentially cash income for a Connecticut farm family.
Section 3 — Field crops and grains
This section records acreage planted and the quantity harvested in 1879.
Column |
Crop |
Acres |
Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
49–50 |
Barley |
— |
— |
51–52 |
Buckwheat |
2 |
17 bushels |
53–54 |
Indian corn |
2 |
60 bushels |
55–56 |
Oats |
4 |
120 bushels |
57–58 |
Rye |
— |
— |
59–60 |
Wheat |
— |
— |
61–62 |
Peas |
— |
— |
63–66 |
Flax (acreage, seed, straw, fiber) |
— |
— |
67–68 |
Hemp |
— |
— |
69–71 |
Sorghum (acreage, sugar, molasses) |
— |
— |
72–73 |
Maple sugar and molasses |
— |
— |
74–75 |
Broom corn |
— |
— |
What this tells us: James planted at least eight acres of grain crops:
2 acres of buckwheat, producing 17 bushels.
2 acres of Indian corn, producing 60 bushels.
4 acres of oats, producing 120 bushels.
Oats were especially useful for feeding horses. Corn could be used for both livestock feed and household consumption. Buckwheat was another useful New England crop, often ground into flour.
These were modest acreages, suggesting that James's operation was a diversified family farm rather than a large grain-producing enterprise.
Section 4 — Potatoes, orchards, gardens, bees, and forest products
Column |
Census heading |
Entry |
|---|---|---|
76–77 |
Hops (acreage and crop) |
Blank |
78 |
Irish potatoes — acreage |
1 acre |
79 |
Irish potatoes — production |
50 bushels |
80–81 |
Sweet potatoes |
Blank |
82–83 |
Tobacco |
Blank |
84 |
Apple orchard acreage |
Blank |
85 |
Apple-bearing trees |
35 trees |
86 |
Apples produced |
Blank |
87–89 |
Peach orchards and production |
Blank |
90 |
Value of orchard products sold or consumed |
Blank |
91–92 |
Nurseries |
Blank |
93–95 |
Vineyards and wine |
Blank |
96 |
Market garden products |
Blank |
97–98 |
Honey and beeswax |
Blank |
99 |
Forest products — cords of wood cut |
6 cords |
100 |
Value of forest products |
$45 |
What this tells us: James grew Irish potatoes, maintained an apple orchard, and harvested wood from his woodland.
The six cords of wood valued at $45 suggest that his woodland provided another useful farm product, perhaps for household heating or sale.
The 35 bearing apple trees also indicate that the farm had some established orchard production, even though no apple harvest quantity or value is entered.
In summary, we can see that James Richmond farm inventory in 1880 of his 80-acre farm was: 40 acres tilled, 29 acres meadow/pasture/orchard, 3 acres woodland, and 8 acres unimproved; a $1,900 farm valuation; 20 tons hay; 2 horses; 4 milch cows producing 200 lbs. butter; 3 calves; 3 swine; 16 poultry laying 50 dozen eggs; 17 bushels buckwheat, 60 bushels corn, 120 bushels oats, 50 bushels potatoes, 35 apple trees, and 6 cords wood.
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