Activity
Record decoder
Old records are full of clues — if you know how to read them. Tap the glowing parts of each practice record to learn what they mean, then answer the questions.
Census takers went door to door writing down everyone in each home. This practice page follows the 1880 United States census — tap each part to learn what it means.
Practice record — the family is made up
| Dwelling / family | Name | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Place of birth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Weatherby, Samuel | 38 | Blacksmith | Vermont | |
| — Ellen | Wife | 35 | Keeping house | New Hampshire | ||
| — Thomas | Son | 12 | At school | Vermont | ||
| — Clara | Daughter | 9 | At school | Vermont | ||
| Pike, Martha | Mother-in-law | 67 | New Hampshire | |||
0 of 6 clues found
👆 Tap a glowing part of the record to decode it.
Test your decoding
In the practice census, what was Samuel Weatherby's job?
About what year was Clara Weatherby born? (She was 9 in 1880.)
Who is Martha Pike to Samuel?