In most Pennsylvania counties: + "Freemen" were usually single men older than 21. After the mid-1700s, most counties started taxing men once they reached that age. However, it's not a hard-and-fast rule. + "Inmates" were married or widowned men who were secondary occupants of a property. [Pennsylvania counties generally taxed a property's occupant rather than the actual owner.] For example, a young married man might live on his father's farm (most typical). Also, an older widowed man might live on his son's farm. NOTE: You can often figure out when someone got married by looking at when he was switched from the "freeman" column to the "inmate" column. + Jr./Sr. - quite often, Jr. simply designates someone who has the same name as an older man. In German communities, you will freqently see Johann Schmidt Sr. and Johann Schmidt Jr. but don't assume they are father and son. They are quite likely uncle and nephew - or unrelated. + "Less" - Sorry. I've never seen that one. Brian >From: "Kathleen Gregory" <gregory@giantcomm.net> >Reply-To: PALANCAS-L@rootsweb.com >To: PALANCAS-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [PALANCAS] Freemen, Inmates, Sr, Jr, Less >Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 09:38:22 -0600 > >Can anyone clarify the following terms from the Tax Lists? > >Freemen > >Inmates > >I found three James Mitchells listed on the same page as Sr., Jr., and >Less. >Can someone shed some light on this? I know that age wise Sr means the >eldest, Jr means the youngest so does Less mean in the middle? > >Kathy > > > > >==== PALANCAS Mailing List ==== >This is your list use and enjoy for genealogy. >