The census enumerator would consecutively number dwellings and families in his work area. In this case, George Dean/Mitchell was in dwelling 45 and family 47, which implies that somewhere between dwelling 1 and dwelling 44, are two that housed 2 families, or one dwelling with 3 families, etc.

There is no particular meaning to the number other than it is a way to find an entry on a census page. Many page transcriptions over the years have dwelling number on them but do not list the orginal census image page#, thus dwelling # has become a sort of defacto pointing index. Thats all.

FWIW

I scoured the annual circular of the 62nd regiment and did not find a listing for George in those published in the first 7-8 years.

John R.