Two manuscript census volumes survive in the City Archives Collection. The first includes entries for the years 1854 and 1855, arranged alphabetically by first letter of inhabitants' surnames. As provided for by the ordinance, the censuses record the name of each head of household, the numbers (by sex and age group) of persons living in each household, and the profession or occupation of each household head. The record also indicates the number of voters living in each household. Totals are shown for each letter of the alphabet; these are recapitulated at the end of the volume. Also at the end of the book are lists of slaveholders in the town, showing the number of slaves owned by each. In addition to the records of 1854 and 1855 (which are entered in ink) there are also pencil entries for the year 1872. The latter provide the same data as the earlier records, except, of course, for slaveholdings.

The second volume, covering 1856 and 1857 contains essentially the same data recorded in the earlier document. Entries for these years are in ink and there are also later (undated) pencil entries. The pencil entries do, however, include listings of slaveowners, thus suggesting a pre-1864 date. The recapitulations for 1856 and 1857 are dated and signed by Peter Stoulig, Commissary.