Just about every genealogist knows the 1890 Federal Census went up in a blaze of glory back in 1921 (Well, actually the room where it was stored went up – the records got watered). That is why we get so excited anytime new databases covering that time period become available. Thus, we are excited about Ancestry.com’s recent addition of the Georgia 1890 Property Tax Digests.
Compiled by militia district, the digest books cover 135 counties. Listed are property and asset taxpayers, including those owing the poll tax. Side note: It’s difficult for younger generations to image pay a tax in order to vote. Most of the country had done away with poll taxes by the 1940s. However, the tax was not officially done away with until the 24th Amendment was enacted in 1964. The Georgia tax books lists all men over 21 and any women property owners, making the digest an excellent substitute for the census.
White and Freemen tax payers were listed separately. Whites appeared on two page sets listing the following information:
- name
- number of polls
- taxable profession
- number of employees
- acres owned (and location)
- value of land
- value of city or town property
- shares held in banks and corporations
- stocks and securities
- investments in cotton, foundries, shipping, mining
- personal possessions (jewelry, agricultural products, animals, tools, etc.)
Freemen were noted on one page with the following information:
- name of freeman
- name of employer
- polls
- acres (and location)
- value of land
- value of city or town property
- personal property: household items, stock, tools, merchandise
If your research takes you to Georgia in the 1890s, then Ancestry.com’s new database, with over 385,000 records, is a goldmine worth exploring.
GenealogyBlog.com is proud to have an affiliate relationship with Ancestry.com.