The first enumeration began on Monday, August 2,1790, little more than a year after the inauguration of President Washington and shortly before the second session of the first Congress ended. The six inquiries in 1790 called for the name of the head of the family and the number of persons in each household of the following descriptions: Free White males of 16 years and upward (to assess the country’s industrial and military potential), free White males under 16 years, free White females, all other free persons (by sex and color), and slaves.

A twenty-dollar fine, to be split between the marshals’ assistants and the government, would be levied against anyone who refused to answer the enumerator’s questions. Additional, Free men “of color” are listed as heads of household by name. Slaves appear in age groupings by name of owner.

Note from Patti: The following is NOT an exact transcription of the original census, but rather an attempt at determing who - other than the head of household - might have been included. That being said, I have also included a link to a copy of the original census in each family grouping, with the families of interest highlighted. This area, which later became part of Union Township, was then in the boundaries of Nottingham Township. (Orignal census does not specify a township)

Nottingham Township was the ninth of the original townships organized July 15, 1781. It was then bounded on the north by Peters township, on the east by the Monongahela River, on the south by Fallowfield township, and on the west by Strabane township. It is drained by Peters Creek on the north, Mingo and Little Mingo Creeks on the south, and its boundary lines were reduced three times when portions were annexed to form neighboring townships. The first reduction was in 1792 by Strabane, the next in 1834 by Carroll Township and the last in 1836 by Union Township.

If you know my speculations to be incorrect, please feel free to email me. Thanks!

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