When looking at original records, determine (as best you can) what the "order" is to how the names are listed. Are the entries made chronologically in the order in which they happened? Are the items recorded in the order in which the records were brought to the clerk? Did the census taker walk through the neighborhood asking questions? Was the list "cleaned up" and put in rough alphabetical order? Were people separated by townships, parishes, etc.?
One needs to be aware that organization of the records can vary from state to state, county to county, and clerk to clerk.
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