761
22
743
62
2640
20
1546
Hampshire, .
27
829
42
2164
11
766
16
634
67
2939
89
2515
Hampden,
22
658
72
3906
6
425
17
560
62
2771
3C
2107
Worcester, .
6d
2210
177
9577
33
2388
70
3001
107
8791
118
8168
Middlesex, .
57
1939
171
8899
22
1352
131
10,285
179
7565
69
6600
Essex, . .
47
1697
159
7810
23
1714
63
2945
153
6929
14S
10,342
Norfolk,
26
890
63
3358
12
884
14
730
59
2616
35
2515
Plymoath,
21
1014
63
3770
14
1099
24
1335
68
3428
29
2172
Bristol, .
32
1378
84
4670
15
1119
27
1302
84
3403
50
3550
Banwtable, .
17
491
49
2512
7
484
11
461
45
1877
31
2270
Dukes dtNant
10
326
17
968
1
82
9
546
15
803
19
1335
Total,
344
12,149
1016
53,613
162
11,671
424
23,392
963
46,334
606
45,384
Average age,
•
35.29
•
52.76
•
72.04
•
55.16
•
48.11
.
74.88
Digitized by VjOOQIC
APPENDIX.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
Digitized by VjOOQIC
LETTER TO THE SECRETARY
LEMUEL SHATTUCK, ESQ.
Boston, December 12, 1845.
Hon. JoHir G. PALrwET,
Seerdary qf ike ComnumwedUh.
Sir: — ^Agreeably to your request, and as far as other special engagements
would permit, I have examined the returns made under the Registiy Latr of this
State, and the tables abstracted from them, and proceed to give you the results of
this examination. I had the honor, on the 13th December, 1843, to address a
letter to John A. BoUes, Esq., your predecessor in office, in which I alluded
to the defects of the then existing laws on the subject, and the almost entire
neglect of registration by all classes of people. I pointed out some of the
objects to be gained by a new and more efficient system ; and at the close of the
letter submitted a plan, accompanied by forms and instructions, for canying such
a system into successful operation. This communication was published in the
Second Annual Registration Report Since that time, a new act on the subject
has been passed, and my plan, in relation to the Registry Books for the towns,
has been generally carried into operation. With a slight modification of the
entries in the Register for marriages, which the Registrar may easily make,
these books are all that may be desired for the most efficient system. Without a
proper and uniform plan for making the original records, no general results
can be deduced from the facts they contain, which would be of much value.
Here then one of the first and most important objects' in this matter has been
attained. In the notes accompanying the returns this year, some town clerks
allude to the additional labor which these fonns require, but generally the plao
is regarded with increasing favor, and a firmer conviction of its importance;
and should proper blanks be used, and a suitable compensation be allowed, the
labor would be comparatively trifling, and the system would soon become very^
popular.
The law is, however, very imperfect in the means it proposes for obtaining the*
facts to be recorded; and for this reason it has Jailed to be useful in many towna.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
68 BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.
,Thifl is an important part of its operations. I stated, in my letter of 1843, above
alladed to, that *' the experience of every government, where systems of regis-
tration have been adopted, shows that it must be made the special daty of some
individuals to collect the facts, and furnish them to the proper officer. To leave
this to the voluntary action of any one in the community, fails of producing
those full and accurate returns, which are essential to render the record valuable.
It is also bad policy to exact a fee of the connexions or friends of those whose
births or deaths are recorded, as was once the provision of our statutes. So far
as they are concerned the record should be free. But to the proper officers and
persons concerned, rewards should be offered for the performance of duty, and
penalties imposed for the neglect of it In this way it will be made their inter-
est, as well as their duty, to perform what the law may require.**
The justice of these views is confirmed by experience, and the uniform testi-
mony of the town clerks in the notes accompanying their returns. Should at-
tempts be made to amend the provisions of the present law, it is important that
proper ones should be passed to supply their place. It is believed that such a bill
might be drawn, as would entirely remove any objections which may exist in the
minds of clergymen and others, against any part of the present act; and, while it
would be simple in its operations, would accomplish all the objects to be desired,
especially if carried into effect with competent attention and ability.
Without further remark, I proceed to notice some results, obtained from the
returns under our Registry System. Before doing so, however, I wish to notice a
few facts relating to the condition of the population.
In 1844, Edwin Chad wick, Esq., author of the able Report on the Sanatory
Condition of England, published a work on the ^ Pressure and Progress of the
Causes of Mortality among different Classes of the Community," in which he
alludes to America as follows : —
" In America, little attention and labor appear to have been bestowed in any of
the rural districts on general land drainage. Yet nature inflicts terrible punish-
ment for the neglect of the appointed and visible warnings. The cleansing and
the general sanatory condition of the American towns appear to be lower than in
England or Scotland, whilst the heat there at times is greater and decomposition
more active ; pestilence, in the shape of yellow fever, ague, and influenza, is
there more rife ; the deaths in proportion to the population more numerous, and
the average age of death (so far as there is information) amongst the resident
population much lower.
Years, Monihs.
The average age of the whole of the living population in America,
80 far as can be deduced from the retums at the periods given in
the census, is only 22 2
<* Notwithstanding the earlier marriages, and the extent of emigration, and the
general increase of the population, the whole circumstances appear to me to
prove this to be the case of a population depressed to this low age, chiefly by the
greater proportionate pressure of the causes of disease and premature mortality.
The proportionate numbers at each interval of age, in eveiy 10,000 of the two
populations, are as follows : —
Digitized by VjOOQIC
LETTER TO THE SECRETARY. 69
Uniled SUUea qf America. England and Wales,
Under 6 yean
1744
1324
6 and under 10
1417
1197
10 "
16
1210
1089
15 "
20
1091
997
20 "
30
1816
1780
30
40
1160
1289
40 «
60
732
959
60
60
436
646
60 "
70
246
440
70 "
80
113
216
80 "
90
32
69
90 and npxi
raids
4
6
10,000
10,000
Ayerage age of all the liring 22 years 2 months 26 years 7 months.
''Here it may be observed, that whilst in England there are 5025 persons be-
tween 15 and 50, who have 3610 children or persons under 15; in America there
are 4789 persons .living between 15 and 50 years of age, who have 4371 children
dependent upon them. In England there are in every ten thousand persons
1365 who have obtained above 50 years' experience; in America tbero are
only 830.
** The moral consequences of the predominance of the young and passionate
in the American community, are attested by observers to be such as have already
been described in the General Sanatory Report as characteristic of those crowded,
filthy, an4 badly administered districts in England, where the average duration of
life is short, the proportion of the very young great, and the adult generation
transient
*' The difference does not arise solely from the greater proportion of children
arising from a greater increase of population, though that is to some extent con-
sistent with what has been proved to be the effect of a severe general mortality ;
the effects of the common cause of depression is observable at each interval of
age ; the adult population in America is younger than in England, and if the
causes of early death were to remain the same, it may be confidently predicted
that the American population would remain young for centuries.
Yean, Monihe.
The average age of all alive above 16 in America is ... 33 6
The average age of all alive above 15 years in England and
Wales is 87 6
The average age of all above 20 years in America is ... 37 7
In the whole of England the average of all above 20 years is 41 1 "
These are important statements ; and, coming from a man so eminent for the
ability and knowledge he has displayed on this subject, deserve serious considera-
tion. The prevailing opinion among us is, that ^ no people in the world are
more healthy than Americans." But if the above statements are true, this prevail-
ing opinion is incorrect Let us examine the subject by such aids as we have at
command, to ascertain how far they are applicable, especially to the people of
Massachusetts. We will first take a view of the facts obtained by the National
Census of 1830 and 1840; and afterwards of those obtained under the Registry
Digitized by VjOOQIC
70
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.
Lkw, concerniDg births, marriages, and deaths. The census of 1840 contained
many errors, but when compared with that of 1830, the results conespond bo
well that it may be taken as a near approximation to the truth. It is much to be
desired, that measures should be deyised, when the next State census shall be
taken, to have it more full and accurate than any hitherto taken ; and to obtain
other particulars concerning our population, which are important to be known.
In presenting facts of this kind, to give the mere numbers without the propor-
tions, affords but an imperfect view of the subject Such a collection of facts
may be likened to the bones of our bodily system withottt the accompaniments
which give them vitality. . I have, therefore, in most of the tables in this commu-
nication, calculated these proportions, — a work which has been attended with
considerable labor. This is a mode by which even statistics can be made both
interesting and useful.
The following is a statement of the ages of the white population of Massa-
chusetts, according to the National Censuses of 1830 and 1840, and the propor-
tion in every 10,000, living at each specified age.
' AOK.
Number of Persons.
In every 10,000, there were in
1830.
1840.
1830.
1840.
Under 5
5 to 10
10 to 15
15 to 20
20 to 30
30 to 40
40 to 50
50 to 60
60 to 70
70 to 80
80 to 90
90 to 100
Over 100
Totol,
80,131
70,558
67,971
67,331
118,908
73,601
50,342
33,482
23,203
12,693
4,276
507 •
3
92,626
80,411
74,803
77,429
150,535
101,607
63,270
41,954
26,077
14,860
4,869
570
19
1,329
. 1,170
1,127
1,117
1,972
1,221
835
555
385
210
71
8
1,270
1,103
1,026
1,063
2,065
1,394
868
575
358
203
67
8
603,006
729,090
10,000
10,000
This table is read thus. There were in Massachusetts, under 5 years of age,
80,131 persons, in 1830 ; and 92,626 persons in 1840 ;— «nd to every 10,000, of all
ages, therQ'were 1329 under 5, in 1830 ; and 1270 under 5, in 1840. The other
ages are read in the same way. The proportion may be road as so much /xr
cent in this and many other tables in this communication, by separating the two
right hand figures by a decimal point, when they will be read 13J29 and 12.70.
From this statement, it appears that the proportion under 15 years of age was
2.27 per cent more in 1830 than in 1840 ; from 15 to 60 it was 2.65 per cent
less ; and over 60, it was .11 more. In the census of 1840 there was an error
of about 8000 in Boston, as I shall show in the report of the census of that
city this year. This error was made in regard to the class from 15 to 60 ; and,
taken in connection with the increased immigration to our cities, of the i
class, during this period, will account for the difference in the proportions.
Digitized by VjOOQIC
LETTER TO THE SECRETARY. 71
There are Taiioas modes suggested of comparing the energies and prosperity
of one people with another. It has been said, with much truth, that " a countiy
is placed in the most &vorable circumstances for advancement, when it has the
largest proportionate nombers of its inhabitants of an age suited to active em-
ployments.'' That age, according to the above extract from Mr. Chadwick^
work, is between 15 and 50. It appears to me, however, that, in New England at
least, 15 to 60 would bo a better division ; for most persons here between 15
and €0 are able to labor. I propose, therefore, to adopt the foUowing standard
of comparison. Those under 15 years of age to be called the D^pendaU Oaatf
because they are dependent on those older for support; those from 15 to 60 to be
called the Productive CkuSj because they are the only class who enjoy the full
vigOT of life, and are capable of discharging all its manifold duties ; and those
over 60, the JJged CZosr. The first and third classes combined may be called the
Burdeniomt Qau, and the other the Productive Class. The word produdive
is used here as applied to labor, in contradistinction from idleness or inability.
One class are producers and the other consumers.
The educational age, as fixed by the laws of Massachusetts, is 4 to 16. It
seems to me, however, that this specific classification is injudicious, and that 5
to 15 would be a better division. One abject in specifying any age, is to have a
basis by which to proportion the public school money to the several towns. It is
probable, however, that it would make little or no difference in the result, whether
this sum were proportioned to the children between 4 and 16, or between 5
and 15. The latter are universally adopted by nations as important points in
the divisions of the population, and in the statistics of the dead; ancf there are
many reasons why the educational age should be within these points. It would
be less labor to make the enumeration; and, from examinations which have
been made, it appears that the ages of children attending school, more nearly cor-
respond to them. Comparisons could be more readily made with the ordinary
divisions of the population. I agree in opinion with a recent eminent writer in
thinking, in its application to schools, that *' hereafter 15 will be the age at which,
in any census, it will be considered that, in the mass of the community, occupa-
tion begins and education ends."
I will now apply the above test to the population of each county, the whole
State, and some other places ; and calculate the proportions of the whole popula-
tion living in each class. (Table 5, next page.)
From this statement it appears that, while the whole United States had 52J35
per cent of the population of the productive class, between 15 and 60, Massachu-
setts had 59.65 per cent and England 56.70 ; showing this State to be better
situated, in this respect, than either. In the aged class it appears, however, that
England had 7i20 per cent while this State had but 6.74 — a result in favor of the
longevity of that country. Some counties compare better than others or the whole
State. Boston has 64.65 per cent — the greatest proportion of the productive
class ; and only 9.93 per cent — ^the least of the aged.
The condition of a population is very much affected by emigration and immi-
gration. The character of the emigrants varies, however, veiy much in different
places. To illustrate this point we will take the city of Lowell and the Stat^ of
Illinois. In one the productive class, and in the other the dependent class, pre-
Digitized by VjOOQIC
72
BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.
dominates. Few of the productive class in either case were natives. By the
census of 1840, it appears that to every 10,000 persons there were
Under 16 16 to 60 Ooer 60.
In Lowell, 2600 7368 182
laQlinoif 4762 6046 193
That is, while Lowell had 2500 persons dependent upon every 7365 for support,
Illinois had 4762 persons dependent on 5045 for support ; showing, from the ages
alone, that the productive energies of the one are more than double those of the
other. If the other circumstances of the population were taken into considera-
tion, such as the greater amount of sickness and mortality, necessarily suffered
in one more than in the other, the difference would appear still more striking.
Lowell is a remarkable instance ; and perhaps there caimot be foimd, anywhere,
25,000 persons in one place, in which the productive class comprises 73.68 per
cent and the burdensome class only 26.32 per cent, — a little more than one quar-
ter. In neither place are to be found many of the aged class, most of the immi-
grants being of the other classes, and who had not lived long enough there to
pass out of them. Combining the dependent and the aged classes, as proposed,
the following proportions are obtained. (Table e, next page.)
There is another question: What proportion of our people survive difierent
ages, as compared with others in other places ? This is a subject of interest,
though when taken alone it should not be considered as a sure basis of a com-
parison of longevity. From the facts already given, table d is compiled.
It appears from this table, that in Massachusetts 63.74 per cent of the popula-
tion in 1830 had survived the age of 15, and 66.01 in 1840. In the United
States 55.01 in 1830, and 5a29 in 1840, and in England 63.90, had survived the
(h)
Number of Persons.
To every 100 per-
Iv
Whole
Population,
sons, there were
Under 15.
15 to 60.
Over 60.
Un.l5.
15lo60
Ov'r60
Massachus. 1830,
603,006
218,660
343,664
40,682
36.26
57.00
6.74
« 1840,
729,030
247,840
434,795
46,395
33.99
59.65
6.36
Boston, - - -
83,012
26,904
53,674
2,434
32.42
64.65
2.93
Essex Co. - -
94,482
33,039
54,494
6,949
34.97
57.68
7.35
Middlesex, - -
106,lld
34,383
65,982
5,753
32.40
62.18
5.42
Worcester, - -
94,740
32,906
54,892
6,942
34.73
57.94
7.33
Hampden, - -
37,034
12,363
22,427
2,244
33.38
60.56
ao6
Hampshire, - -
Franklin, - - -
30,696
10,763
17,672
2,261
35.06
57.58
7.36
28,724
10,466
15,972
2,286
36.44
55.60
7.96
Berkshire, - -
40,467
14,411
23,376
2,680
35.61
57.77
6.62
Norfolk, - - -
52,980
18,162
31,327
3,491
34.28
59.13
a59
Plymouth, - -
47,020
16,574
26,482
3,964
35.25
56.32
a43
Barnstable, - •
32,111
12,378
17,472
2,261
38.55
54.41
7.04
Bristol, - - .
58,934
20,712
34,202
4,020
35.14
58.04
6.82
Dukes, - - -
3,938
1,335
2,244
359
33.90
56.98
9.12
Nantucket, - -
8,433
2,572
5,210
651
30.50
61.78
7.72
U. States, 1830,
10,526,058
4,737,335
5,368,275
420,448
44.99
51.01
4.00
1840,
14,189,108
6,201,219
7,427,579
560,310
43.71
52.35
3.94
England, 1841, -
15,858,075
5,723,782
8,991,903
1,142,390
36.10
56.70
7.20
Sweden, 1835, -
3,025,439
1,065,444
1,722,332
237,663
35.22
56.93
7.85
Digitized by VjOOQIC
LETTER TO THE SECRETARY.
73
same age. In Massachusetts, 6.74 in 1830, and 6.36 in 1840; in the United
States, 4.00 in 1830, and 3.94 in 1840; and in England, 7.20 had survived the
age of 60. These deductions show that a less proportion of the population live
through the productive age to be classed with the aged, and less experience and
maturity of mind is preserved, in the United States, and even in Massachusetts,
than in England or Sweden. Though this State compares better with England
than the whole Union, yet even here is found some confirmation of Mr. Chad-
wick's statements, *so far as they apply to the existing population.
The following statement will illustrate the average age of the population. In
the United States it applies only to the whites.
Years, Persona. Average age.
In the United States, 1840 14,189,108 22,71
Blassachusetts, 1830 603,006 25.34
" 1840 729,030 25,99
England, 1S41 16,868,075 26.69
(C)
Proportion, per cent., of the |
In
Year.
Productive Class.
MaasachusettB,- -
1830
57.00
43.00
« - -
1840
59.65
40.35
Lowell, . - - .
1840
73.68
26.32
Illinois, - - - -
1840
50.45
49.55
United States, - -
1830
51.01
48.99
*« . .
1840
52.35
47.65
England, - - -
1841
56.70
43.30
Sweden,- - - -
1835
56.93
43.07
(d)
A^e
Number persons per cent, surviving, were in
United States.
England.
surviving.
•
1830.
1840.
1830.
1840.
1841.
At Birth,
100.
100.
100.
100.
100.
5 years,
86.71
87.30
82.00
82.56
86.76
10 «
75.01
76.27
67.44
68,39
74.79
15 «
63.74
66.01
55.01
56.29
63.90
20 "
54.57
55.38
43.90
45.38
53.93
30 "
32.85
34.73
26.09
27.22
36.13
40 «
20.64
20.79
15.18
15.62
23.24
50 «
12.29
12.11
8.30
8.30
ia65
60 «
6.74
6.36
4.00
3.94
7.20
70 "
2.89
2.78
1.47
1.49
2.80
80 "
.79
.75
.37
.38
.64
90 "
.08
.08
.06
.04
.05
10
Digitized by VjOOQIC '
74 BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.
This subject is an important one, and might be profitably examined more in
detail ; but I leave it for the present to advert to the facts obtained under the
Registry Law of this State.
The number of births, marriages and deaths, returned under the Registry Law
of Massachusetts, in all the counties but Suffolk, in 1845, and the three preceding
years, not including the still bom, were —
1813. 1843. 18M. 1845.
Births, 8,470 8,669 14,646 16,664
Marriages, 4,974 6,023 4,275 4,841
Deaths . 7,491 8,306 8,260 8,642
An examination of the Abstract of each town, on pages 3 to 11 inclusive, and the
notes appended to that abstract, shows that these returns do not include all that
have occurred. Some towns have omitted to make any returns, and others are so
imperfect, that a comparison between these numbers and the population would
present a fallacious result I stated, in my communication to Mr. Bolles, already
referred to, that the population then was ^ about 750,000, and in this number
it may be estimated that 1 in 30, or about 25,000 births ; 1 in 125, or 6,000
marriages ; and 1 in 60, or 12,500 deaths, take place in the whole State every
year. This is a mere estimate, and may be erroneous, though it is supposed to be
not far from the truth." From a comparison of some of the returns since that time,
I am inclined to think the proportional number of births and marriages too small;
and the deaths also, unless Boston be excluded. Taking the rural districts alone,
it would be a fair estimate, but including tlie cities, it would perhaps be too low
an estimate of the number of deaths. The number of births returned has in-
creased each year, and in 1845 amounted to nearly double those of 1842. This
is an encouraging fact, and shows the increasing attention of the people to Reg-
istration. The number of marriages and deaths returned has not varied mate-
rially in the four years.
The following table (e) is compiled from the latest information in my posses-
sion, showing the proportions which the births, marriages and deaths, bear to the
population in various European states.
States.
Period of*
Observation.
Annual number of Marriages,
Births, and Dealbs, to 100 per-
sons living, or per cent.
Nusabcr of persons living
to one annual Marriage,
Birth, and Deatli.
Marriag^es.
per cent.
Births,
per cent
Deaths.
per cent.
Marria^s.
One m
Buths.
One in
Deaths.
One in
England, -
France, -
Austria, -
Prussia, -
Russia, -