The information given for each individual is a selection of their entries over the period 1819-1850. It consists of each person's first and last appearances on the tax lists, as well as each appearance on a year ending in 0 or 5. If for some reason a person is not found in a year that would other wise have recorded, the nearest record is used. For people who are found in four or fewer tax years, all entries are given. No tax books have been found for ta years 1832 or 1834.
pg=page in tax book
en=Entry line on that page Each person is a different entry even if they require
more than one line
Land=The acreage owned. For the years 1819-1836 each parcel of land owned by the
individual is listed. After 1837 this information is condensed into a singlw number
of total acreage.
Water Course= The location of the land being taxed. It was the creek or river into
which the land drained. There was often judgment involved in identifying the water
course with several equally goos descriptions from year to year. As we.., after 1836
only a total acreage figure of holdings was given and a single Water Course, presumably
the one which most of the land was located.
Entered by=For the tax years 1819-1836, this was the name under which the land was first
entered as a claim. An entry was the first step in gaining ownership of land, the
following steps being the survey and patent. This sequence of 'entry', 'survey', and
'patent' often took some time to complete, and it was not uncommon for claimants to fail
to follow up on their claims.
P=White Polls. The number of taxpaying males over 21 years of age. We also see
here that young men under 21 who owned property are entered on the lists.
Ho=Horses..mare and geldings owned
Bl=blacks
Lt= town lots number of lots owned in the towns of Williamsburg or Boston.
Ca= cattle
C=school age children started recording in 1840
J= jennies or female mules
M= mules
$Val= total taxable property value. From 1838 onward the State of Kentuxky allowed
an adjustment to the priperty value for those who had valuable tangible worth, but who had
none or little of the normal taxable items. This explains why some people in the tax
lists have a tazablw worth that appears to be out of line with their entry. In those
cases where it appears an error has really been made it is so noted....
Notes= Ownership of tavern licenses, stores, buggies, gold watches, stud horses and the
like are recorded here. In addition for widows an attempt was made to identify their
likely husband by examining the records closely..
the above quote was from Stephen Broyles, compiler of Whitley
Co.,KY Tax list Summary 1819-50