History of the New York Census. 



199 



In 1T46, 1749 and 1756, a classification similar to that 

 adopted in 1712 was used, the ages being those under 16, 

 — from 16 to 60 and over 60, for both whites and blacks. 



From 1756, to 1771, there was no enumeration of the 

 population of New York. The census taken on the year 

 last named, was classified like those that had preceded it, 

 thus affording one of the conditions of essential value in 

 statistics, that of comparability with preceding returns. 



The necessities of the revolution, required a basis for 

 ascertaining the quotas of men and means due from the 

 several colonies represented in the continental congress, 

 and in 1775, that body ordered a census to be taken 

 uniformly throughout the thirteen colonies, by com- 

 mittees appointed in each county. The returns were 

 imperfectly taken, and only fragments of these are pre- 

 served. They show that qualification for military service 

 was the governing idea in grouping the ages, which are 

 classed as under 16, — from 16 to 50, and over 50, with 

 the white males, white females, and with negroes, were 

 classed without distinguishing sex as those under and 

 over 16 years of age. 



The Articles of Confederation conferred upon congress 

 the power to assign state quotas based upon the white popu- 

 lation, and required another census in 1782. It included 

 only the whites, and classed the males as under 16, — 

 those from 16 to 60, and those over 60. It gave a sepa- 

 rate classification of refugees from their usual place of 

 abode by reason of the war, and divided the females 

 between those under and over 16 years of age. 



In 1783, a modification in the 8th Article of Confede- 

 ration established a triennial census, of which only that 

 of 1786 was taken. In this the whites were classed as 

 before. The blacks were reported simply by sex, and the 

 Indians paying taxes by total only. 



The first Constitution of the state of New York, adopted 



