The Cap-Haïtien 1776 Census
Mentioning 1776, many will not think about the Cap-Haïtien 1776 Census. Nothing is more rewarding than finding free resources. Free resources that you can share with many as they search for information on their ancestors. I share this content with the Haitian community in hopes that many will find information about their ancestors.
One of the best sources in general is a census. Especially for years where there may not be church or civil records. In 1885, countries across the globe initiated the tracking of civil records. These records included birth, marriages, and deaths to help permit formal travel. Prior to 1885, there was no official process which led to chaos for identity.
Another good reason to look at census records is it helps you create that family picture and ensure you have not missed an ancestor. Lastly, it helps with being able to pinpoint whether someone was still alive during a specific year which can then narrow down your search.
A perfect example is, I have my great grandmother who was alive in 1940 as I found her in the 1940 US Census. I am unable to locate a death record for her. This is where the 1950 US Census comes into play. In 2022, the 1950 US Census will be released. If I find her in 1950, then I know she didn’t die between both censuses and I can exclude those years. Therefore, if she isn’t listed, then she died between 1950 and 1960. Knowing this I can then order a copy of her death certificate.
The nice thing about the Cap-Haïtien 1776 Census is that it has an index in the front, making it easy to follow. The records are listed for Cap-Français, it is today Cap-Haïtien. I am providing two separate links. One is to the index and the other is the book images. Note that I will provide the series of image numbers of where the book begins. This image number will count as page 1 of the book.
If you are looking for other posts covering Haiti, check out the Haiti Genealogy page.