The
1875 New York State census is available at
FamilySearch.org. Family Search made the images available before indexing them which worked to my advantage. (Some of the 1875 census has been indexed and is searchable, however Jefferson County does not yet show up in a search.) I had several families that I wanted to find in Adams, Jefferson, New York and so I started browsing page by page. I got lucky and found my great-grandfather and great-great-grandmother on image 7, page 13 of the 1st election district, Adams, Jefferson, New York.
Previously I had known that my great-great-grandfather, Michael Kelly had died between the 1870 and 1880 censuses. Now I had narrowed the date down to between 1870 and 1875. (Official death records were not kept in New York prior to 1881 so I will not be able to find a death certificate.)
I might have stopped paging through the census there, however there were many other relatives that lived in Adams so I continued on. Much to my surprise on image 23, page 45 was a record of Marriages that had occurred between 1 June 1874 and 1 June 1875.
The names, ages and previous marital status are included as well as where the wedding took place and who performed the ceremony. No members of my family were included but I was curious as to what else might be hidden in the census and continued to the next page.
Deaths were next and there was my great-great-grandfather on page 46, line 10. Recorded as Micheall Kelley, age 49. He was born in Ireland, worked as a general laborer and died 12 Nov 1874 of pneumonia.
If I hadn't continued paging through the census I never would have found what is most likely the only death record there is for Michael Kelly. Lesson learned!
The 1875 census also includes agricultural schedules. There are several pages for each group of names. My ancestors were not included but this could be treasure for others.
