1850 Census Entry for Henry David Thoreau
9/17/1850
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This page from the 1850 census schedule, beginning on line 33, shows Henry David Thoreau and his family living in Concord, Massachusetts, in Middlesex County. (The second image is a close-up.)
It reveals that Thoreau—the author of Walden—was 33 years old and living at home with his parents. The household includes his father, John (a 63-year-old pencil maker), mother Cynthia (63), Henry, Sophia (31), Jane (64), Maria (53), Margarett Dolande (18), and Catherine Rioden (13).
The 1850 census was the first one that listed individuals instead of families and that included questions about place of birth, age, and occupation.
It reveals that Thoreau—the author of Walden—was 33 years old and living at home with his parents. The household includes his father, John (a 63-year-old pencil maker), mother Cynthia (63), Henry, Sophia (31), Jane (64), Maria (53), Margarett Dolande (18), and Catherine Rioden (13).
The 1850 census was the first one that listed individuals instead of families and that included questions about place of birth, age, and occupation.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of the Census.
National Archives Identifier: 598284
Full Citation: Entry from 1850 Census Schedule for Henry David Thoreau; 9/17/1850; Population Schedules for the 1850 Census, 1850 - 1850; Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/documents/document/1850-census-thoreau, September 7, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.
