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John Shields — 1940 US Census Record
Model Tree available1940 United States Federal Census · Berkshire-County, Massachusetts
Our Model Tree links this John Shields across the 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940 US Censuses in Berkshire-County, Massachusetts (XGBoost, ~Confirmed), with identified parents Helen & Nellie — first a head (b.~1898), then head of a 4-person household.
Age 42
b. ~1898
Male
Head
Born: Connecticut
Married
1940 Census Record Details
| Census Year | 1940 |
| Location | Berkshire-County, Massachusetts |
| Surname | Shields |
| Given Name | John |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 42 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | Connecticut |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Pittsfield City |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Berkshire |
| Additional Details | |
| Occupation | Salesman |
| Industry | Stationary Shop |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 40 |
| Income (1939) | 1300 |
| Highest Grade | Hs 4 |
| 1935 Residence | Same place |
| Birth State | Connecticut |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | connecticut |
| Occupation | Salesman |
| Township / Ward | Pittsfield City |
| Est. Birth Year | ~1898 |
Household Members
Census records only state relationship to the household head.
Pairwise kinship is derived (~90–95% accurate), not recorded.
Step/blended families and boarders can break it.
4 people recorded at the same address in the 1940 census.
| Name | Relation to head | Relative to John | Age | Birth yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grace Germain | Spouse | — | 51 | ~1889 |
| John Shields | Son | — | 9 | ~1931 |
| John Shields | Head | — | 42 | ~1898 |
| Ethel Germain | Daughter | — | 20 | ~1920 |
Census Appearances
1910
Berkshire, Massachusetts
Son, age 12
Berkshire, Massachusetts · implied b. ~1898 — 6 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Shields |
| Given Name | John |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 12 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Connecticut |
| Father's Birthplace | Ire English |
| Mother's Birthplace | Connecticut |
| Birth State | Connecticut |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | connecticut |
1920
Berkshire, Massachusetts
Son, age 22
Berkshire, Massachusetts · implied b. ~1898 — 6 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Shields |
| Given Name | John |
| Relationship to Head | Son |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 22 |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Birthplace | Connecticut |
| Father's Birthplace | Ireland |
| Mother's Birthplace | Connecticut |
| Occupation | Office Clerk |
| Industry | Electric Works |
| Class of Worker | W |
| Can Read | Yes |
| Can Write | Yes |
| Speaks English | Yes |
| Birth State | Connecticut |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | connecticut |
1930
Berkshire, Massachusetts
Head, age 32
Berkshire, Massachusetts · implied b. ~1898 — 2 household members
●
Primary link
· ~Confirmed · 2 sources
XGBoost
Household
| Surname | Shields |
| Given Name | John J. |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 32 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | Connecticut |
| Age at First Marriage | 30 |
| Father's Birthplace | Connecticut |
| Mother's Birthplace | Connecticut |
| Occupation | Salesman |
| Industry | Auto |
| Class of Worker | W |
| Can Read/Write | Yes |
| Home Owned/Rented | R |
| Home Value / Rent | 45.00 |
| Veteran | Yes |
| Birth State | Connecticut |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | connecticut |
1940
Berkshire-County, Massachusetts
Head, age 42
Berkshire-County, Massachusetts · implied b. ~1898 — 4 household members
| Surname | Shields |
| Given Name | John |
| Relationship to Head | Head |
| Sex | M |
| Color / Race | White |
| Age | 42 |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Birthplace | Connecticut |
| 1935 Residence (City) | Pittsfield City |
| 1935 Residence (County) | Berkshire |
| Occupation | Salesman |
| Industry | Stationary Shop |
| Class of Worker | PW |
| Hours Worked | 40 |
| Income (1939) | 1300 |
| Highest Grade | Hs 4 |
| 1935 Residence | Same place |
| Birth State | Connecticut |
| Birth Country | United States |
| Birthplace (normalized) | connecticut |
Model Tree
An inferred pedigree reconstructed from census links — up to 4 generations within the 1900–1950 window. Closer generations are built from household co-residence; deeper ones are bridged by following a relative to their own childhood census. Confidence compounds and weakens with each generation.
Our Model Tree links John Shields across 4 US Census years (1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940) in 2 locations, using XGBoost record linkage. Identified parents: mother Helen Shields (~0.92 confidence) and mother Nellie Shields (~0.92 confidence) and father Patrick Shields (~0.92 confidence) and father Patrick Shields (~0.92 confidence). The pedigree spans 1 generation with 4 identified ancestors.
Show:
Gen 1
Parents
confidence ≈ 0.92
Mother
Helen Shields
b. ~1872
Source mother
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Mother
Nellie Shields
b. ~1872
Source mother
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Father
Patrick Shields
b. ~1872
Source father
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
Father
Patrick Shields
b. ~1872
Source father
● Household
· direct · ~0.92
This person
Anchor record
John Shields
Head · 1940 · age 42 · b. ~1898 · Massachusetts
★ You are viewing this record
Confirmed / household (~0.90+)
Probable / derived (~0.65–0.89)
Candidate (<0.65, unverified)
Original Census Page
1940 US Federal Census — Berkshire-County, Massachusetts
Open full size
1940 US Federal Census — Berkshire-County, Massachusetts
Page Contents
40 people indexed on this census page (nara:1940:m-t0627-01569-00103)
| Line | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jennie (X) Cullen | 49 | Head | — | Massachusetts |
| 2 | John Swanson | 56 | Lodger | Machinist | Sweden |
| 3 | Lillian M. (X) Reed | 70 | Head | — | Canada |
| 4 | Florence Shields | 43 | Wife | — | Vermont |
| 5 | John Shields THIS PERSON | 42 | Head | Salesman | Connecticut |
| 6 | John Jr. Shields | 9 | Son | — | Massachusetts |
| 7 | Ethel (X) Germain | 20 | Daughter | — | Massachusetts |
| 8 | Grace Germain | 51 | Wife | — | Massachusetts |
| 9 | Charles Germain | 54 | Head | Planer-Grinder | Vermont |
| 10 | Joseph G. Germain | 77 | Uncle | — | Canada |
| 11 | Lena (X) Seddon | 27 | Wife | — | Massachusetts |
| 12 | Charles Seddon | 29 | Head | Compositor | New York |
| 13 | Joan Seddon | 3 | Daughter | — | Massachusetts |
| 14 | Mary A. (X) O'Brien | 68 | Head | — | Massachusetts |
| 15 | Edward O'Brien | 37 | Son | Production Clerk | Massachusetts |
| 16 | Mary M. O'Brien | 39 | Daughter | Typist | Massachusetts |
| 17 | Alcide Choquette | 40 | Head | Welder | Canada |
| 18 | Laura (X) Choquette | 41 | Wife | — | Massachusetts |
| 19 | Lucien Choquette | 17 | Son | Musician | Vermont |
| 20 | Hilaire Le Blanc | 26 | Head | Store Clerk | Massachusetts |
| 21 | Delia (X) Le Blanc | 22 | Wife | — | Massachusetts |
| 22 | Wayne Le Blanc | 1 | Son | — | Massachusetts |
| 23 | Alfred J. (X) Mandell | 80 | Head | — | Michigan |
| 24 | Alfred Jr. Mandell | 46 | Son | Carpenter | Massachusetts |
| 25 | John C. Mandell | 32 | Son | Postal Clerk | Massachusetts |
| 26 | Katharine Mandell | 43 | Daughter | — | Massachusetts |
| 27 | Mary A. Mandell | 74 | Wife | — | Massachusetts |
| 28 | John F. (X) Gilmartin | 67 | Head | — | Connecticut |
| 29 | Margaret Gilmartin | 63 | Wife | — | New York |
| 30 | John H. Jr. Gilmartin | 20 | Son | Store Clerk | Massachusetts |
| 31 | Lawrence Mahoney | 26 | Lodger | Tester Dept. | New York |
| 32 | Louis F. (X) Medicke | 60 | Head | Galvanizer | Rhode Island |
| 33 | Wilhelmina Medicke | 60 | Wife | — | New York |
| 34 | Louis Sr. Medicke | 86 | Father | — | Germany |
| 35 | Peter Mayeo | 29 | Son-in-law | Electrician | Massachusetts |
| 36 | Eileen Mayeo | 28 | Daughter | — | Connecticut |
| 37 | John H. (X) Harte | 75 | Head | — | Ireland |
| 38 | Bridget Harte | 74 | Wife | — | Ireland |
| 39 | Thomas Harte | 38 | Son | Asst. Foreman | Massachusetts |
| 40 | Edward (X) Maloney | 43 | Head | Letter Carrier | Massachusetts |
Pedigree Summary
John
Gen 1 · 4 parents
~0.92
Max depth 4 (1900–1950 window)
About This Record & Model Tree
This record was independently indexed by YourRoots from the 1940 United States Federal Census (NARA). Our Model Tree links this person across census decades using XGBoost-based record linkage, with per-link confidence scores. Household corroboration strengthens the signal when co-residents appear on the same census pages in multiple years.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)