A census of all persons living in the states were taken every ten years, beginning in 1790. Through 1840, the census recorded only the names of head of household. The number of children of various ages were giving in numbers – i.e. 2 females under the age of 5 – no names recorded. In 1850 everyone living in the household was named, their age recorded, as well as place of birth. This has been very helpful to genealogists in proving family relationships.
Earlier records were tax lists. These were taken yearly, from 1792 to 1840, and quite an amount of information was gathered. In addition to the owners name, land was divided into three categories, rated as to quality. First rated land was charged three shillings per acre; second rated 1 shilling 6 pence per acre; and third rated 9 pence per acre.
Also named were the county in which the land lies, the water course on which the land lies, in whose name the land was entered, in whose name the land was surveyed and in whose name the land was patented.
The next questions concern population – number of white males above 21; white males between 16 and 21; blacks above 16; and total blacks.
The number of horses were listed, with an additional entry for stud horses.
The last few entries are for retail stores, tavern licenses, value of town lots and number of carriages.
All information is not given for every person. On the first line of this example, dated April 11, 1803, Jarrad Tichner owns no land. He has one white male above 21 years, most likely himself, and 4 horses.
In the fourth line, May 13, 1803, John Tennell has 110 acres of second rate property located in Nelson County on Chaplins Creek. The land was entered in the name of Kincheloe, surveyed for Kincheloe and patented in Kincheloe’s name. Tennell has 2 white males above 21 years, 2 between 16 and 21. He owns one black slave above 16 years and a total of 6 slaves. He also owns 7 horses.
If we check the deed indexes for Nelson County we find in Deed Book 5 Page 386, on November 11, 1797, Thomas Kincheloe, of Nelson County, sold 110 acres of land to John Tennell of Washington County. It was part of a 400 acre preemption patented in the name of William Kincheloe and obtained by William Harrison, in the County of Nelson on the dividing ridge between the waters of Chaplins Fork and Salt River. Evidently Tennell moved to the new land in Nelson County since he is on the tax rolls for that county in 1803.
In this next example Joshua Beauchamp owns 2,197 acres of second rate land in Nelson County on Chaplins Creek. It was entered, surveyed and patented in the name of Ewen. Joshua has 1 male above 21 years. 1 black male above 16, total of 6 blacks. 5 horses and 1 stud horse. Rate of covering was 12. And Joshua ran a tavern.
In looking at the court records we find the license procured by Joshua Beauchamp for his tavern.
Know all men by these presents that we, Joshua Beauchamp and John Redman, are held and firmly bound unto his Excellency, James Garrard, Governor of Kentucky, and his Successors, in the sum of one hundred pounds current money for the payment of which to be made good to our said Governor and his successors. We, the said Joshua and John, do bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators jointly and severally, firmly by these presents, sealed as witness our hands and seals this 13th day of September 1802.
The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above bound Joshua Beauchamp hath obtained a license to keep a tavern at his present dwelling home in the County of Nelson. Now, should the said Joshua constantly find and provide in his said tavern good, wholesome lodging and diet for travelers and stablage provided and pasterage for horses for the term of one year from the date hereof and shall not suffer or permit any unlawful gaming in his house, nor suffer any person to tipple or drink more than is necessary, nor at any time suffer any disorderly or scandalous behavior to be practiced in his house with his privity or consent, then this obligation to be void, else to remain in full force and virtue.
John Beauchamp, John Redman
There is a wealth of information on our early ancestors!
Categories: Old Documents
Did you come across a Nichols? I think they were one of the first families in Nelson County. My mother grew up on the adjacent farm and the Nicole’s would fence in the cattle so they could cut across on the way to school. She remembered going by a wild plum tree that was the slave burial ground. The Nichols farm was between the old Bloomfield road and the new Bloomfield road. A fascinating family I went to the estate sale and it was like a time capsule of 200 years.
I did not read all the tax lists. I pulled two since this was a ‘how-to’ post rather than an informational post.