The state of Rhode Island took a census in 1774. Didn’t know that? Well, neither did I. Better yet, they included a column for Indian.
This tells us who has Indians in their household, along with slaves, and who is an Indian household. This is extremely useful information.
Key:
A = White males above 16 years of age.
B = White males under 16 years of age.
C = White females above 16 years of age.
D = White females under 16 years of age.
E = Indians
F = Blacks
G = Total
Along the way, there are also tips and tidbits that you’ll never see when you’re just looking a the Native families. For example, there are two families listed on the census by the surname of Cary.
We find the following information:
|
FAMILIES |
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
| CARY, Nathaniel | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | – | 2 | 6 |
| CARY, Ichabod | – | – | – | – | 7 | – | 7 |
Now, of course, the questions begin. How did the Native Ichabod Cary family take their surname? Was it from the white Nathaniel Cary family? The Nathaniel Cary family has two slaves. Was Ichabod Cary once a slave of the Nathaniel Cary family?
Checking various Cary family genealogies, we come up empty handed. Maybe one day, a Cary male with show Native American heritage on a DNA test, much to their surprise, and we’ll have Ichabod listed on our list of names as a place for them to begin their search.
Native Heritage Project 