A poll is an annual head tax, which varied by time period and locality as either 16, 18, or 21. North Carolina in 1790 should be 21. If someone is taxed for 2, it means that there were 2 white males (one in addition to the person whose name appears). The second poll could be a son, or just a hired hand living with the family. In some lists you may find the additional polls listed as: John DOE and son John 2 white polls or John DOE and John SMITH 2 white polls. In this case John SMITH would be living with John DOE. A black poll means the person was taxed for that number of blacks. Rick Saunders http://genealogypro.com/fsaunders.html