Those of you who do a lot of Kentucky research know that a good many early settlers of Kentucky came from North Carolina [Daniel Boone and company, for example, later hired by Col. Richard Henderson of NC] and of course, Virginia. Virginia claimed Kentucky--and what is now West Virginia--until Kentucky became a State in 1792. Because the 1790 census of Virginia is among those missing [the so-called 1790 census is a reconstructed census and is not a true census], the 1787 personal property tax lists for almost all counties extant in Virginia are a good resource for those with early Kentuckians. Why? Because, as indicated, in 1787 Kentucky still belonged to Virginia. There are three volumes called The 1787 Census of Virginia by Netti-Schreiner-Yantis and Florine S. Love. These were compiled about two decades ago and may no longer be in print. Ask your public librarian to help you locate where these three volumes may be in your State. If you live near a University or a college, try to find their online catalog and do a search for these volumes. Some State libraries permit interlibrary loan. (You may have to do research in the library and not remove the books from the borrowing library--so ask.) Take plenty of money for photocopying!!! The third volume to this set is the index to the preceding two volumes. So that is the volume you MAY want to look at first. If you have an uncommon surname, you are in luck. You may have only a few pages to search. (And try to search unusual spellings for the surname. Spelling was not standardized until way late, and even now some family members spell the name differently.) BUT, if, like I, you have LOTS of common surnames, I highly recommend this: Photocopy the pages of the index which pertain to your surname(s). Then take a clean 81/2 x 11 sheet of paper and arrange numerically the page numbers you find in the index. That way, you can go to a photocopier and do your photocopying in an orderly manner. Why should you pay attention to doing this search/photocopying in an orderly fashion? Because, like I, you may find your Virginia ancestor is in the process of moving personal property [slaves, livestock, etc] to Kentucky, and he [or perhaps some females--mostly widows] has property in several counties--in at least one Virginia county--and in Madison Co., which was later in the State [Commonwealth] of Kentucky. Be sue to copy the key to the figures which appears in the first pages--I believe it is in each volume, but I do not recall. It took me a few years to figure this method of searching--so heed my words!!! You may find your underage ancestor is listed as a tithable of some older person--even his widowed mother. Pay close attention to what you find. (Look for Thomas Jefferson in Albemarle Co., VA) May you find these books in a nearby library. They are still under copyright, and, to date, I have not seen these lists on the internet. By the way, occasionally you can find listed on the internet occasional individual county booklets. I have such a booklet by the same authors for Fauquier Co.VA [whence came some of my Garrard Co. ancestors] and it has some extra material which enriches my family history. Do a google.com search for Nettie Schreiner-Yantis. I have posted this previously, but we are always looking for missing ancestors. E.W.Wallace **************Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in one place. Try it now. (http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010)