Tax Lists or Tithables as they are called in Accomack and Northampton County VA can act as a "Census" of landowners "freeholders" can be very a very useful tool in doing genealogy.

In Maryland the existing Tax Lists start in 1723.

When I first came across the "Tax Lists" I was curious about the numbers assigned to the Housholds. I asked and what I found out was that these numbers were assigned (in order) by J. Russo. Becky Miller who has also transcribed other Tax Lists for Somerset has continued doing this.

They can be used, with some accuracy, to figure out the location of a person and his neighbors. Only landowners, "freeholders," males over 16 and all slaves male and female in their household were taxed and were listed last. Most households named slaves which can be useful indentifying individuals in wills and can be used in following a line for a couple of generations. Hiding a "Taxable" or "Tithable" for too long was almost impossible. The colonists of the area were under a "Honor System" which required that unreported Taxables were to be reported to the Sheriff. This can be found in Somerset County's Judicial Records or Accomack County Orders. Honor Systems still exist in Colleges and Universities today.

Not all areas listed the names of slaves. The early Accomack and Northampton Tithables "Tax Lists" note the name of the person and collecting the tithe, the name of the freeholder and just the number of "Tithables" in each household.

From 1723 up to 1890 Accomack has "Processioners Returns" Every five years two or three men were sent to mark or remark the bounds of all freeholders lands. I have done these from 1723-1797 and will be publishing it this Spring.

By using the Tax Lists to locate individual surnames a one can get a picture of where the members of that family are "Clustered" and who were their neighbors. A further study of the neighboring households can produce clues to spouses or furture spouses, Aunts, Uncles &c.

Tax Lists , Tithables, and Processions.

Tax Lists or Tithables as they are called in Accomack and Northampton County VA can act as a "Census" of landowners "freeholders" can be very a very useful tool in doing genealogy.

In Maryland the existing Tax Lists start in 1723.

When I first came across the "Tax Lists" I was curious about the numbers assigned to the Households. I asked and what I found out was that these numbers were assigned (in order) by J. Russo. Becky Miller who has also transcribed other Tax Lists for Somerset has continued doing this.

They can be used, with some accuracy, to figure out the location of a person and his neighbors. Only landowners, "freeholders," males over 16 and all slaves male and female in their household were taxed and were listed last. Most households named slaves which can be useful identifying individuals in wills and can be used in following a line for a couple of generations. Hiding a "Taxable" or "Tithable" for too long was almost impossible. The colonists of the area were under a "Honor System" which required that unreported Taxables were to be reported to the Sheriff. These reports can be found in Somerset County's Judicial Records or Accomack County Orders. Some form of an Honor System still exist in Colleges and Universities today.

Not all areas listed the names of slaves. The early Accomack and Northampton Tithables "Tax Lists" note the name of the person and collecting the tithe, the name of the freeholder and just the number of "Tithables" ( males over 16,) in each household.

From 1723 up to 1890 Accomack has "Processioners Returns" Every five years two or three men were sent to mark or remark the bounds of all freeholders lands. I have done these from 1723-1797and 1796-1816.

Northampton County VA has only two Processioners Return Books remaining.

Somerset County MD has Tax Lists from 1723 to 1758. These were done by districts.

By using the Tax Lists to locate individual surnames a one can get a picture of where the members of that family are "Clustered" and who were their neighbors. A further study of the neighboring households can produce clues to spouses or future spouses, Aunts, Uncles &c.

Years ago while working on Smith's Island (in the bay,) I decided to find "out how far a man would go to get a wife." I had some information to work with. In my great, great uncles notes on his life I found a curious statement. He stated " one day in August he set out from Smith's Island MD on a schooner to go to Chesconnessex Accomack VA for a dedication of a new Church. He left at dawn with a good head wind, and arrived just before breakfast. I checked when dawn was in August and estimated breakfast time and found that there was two hours between these times. Next I checked the mileage. It was about 20 miles. It took 2 hours to do 20 miles. Next I called a Waterman I knew on Smiths Island and asked "How far would you go to get a wife with a good head wind." He said "no further than 50 miles. Actually 50 mile and 40 mile circles were a little too far. You'd have to spend the night. These circles could show a permanent move. I put a protractor on Smith Island and drew 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mile circles. Water routes play a big part in this. The fastest and easiest way to travel at that time was by water. It worked. Example: If you place the protractor on the tract "Armenia" (land patented by John s/o of George and assigned to his brother Charles) and head north Sussex DE would be in that 50 mile circle. If you head south with the circle you would hit Poplar Cove (land patented by John's father) in Accomack.

By then doing what I call "Area Genealogy," placing the inhabitants of the area studied and doing the genealogy of those families living before and after, one can get an idea of whose living near, interacting with who and an idea of who could have married who. Wills, Deeds, Patents and Court Orders can be used to zero in on the area where they were. The Tax Lists , Tithables, and Processions can be used in the same way.