Tithable Questions: I understand that a person who is called a "Tithable" on the personal property tax lists is, generally, considered to be any able bodied adult male age 21 or older? Usually, the tax district is described as a "Militia District" so I assume that means the persons listed as "Tithables" are those subject to callup for militia duty? I have been going over several Personal Property Tax Lists where some of the older adult males are listed as "0 Tithables" - although they are still taxed for their horses. In this case would "0 Tithables" mean that they are considered too old for militia service? Or, perhaps, physically unable to perform militia service? Was there an upper age limit for which an adult male would no longer be considered a "Tithable"? Norman

Norman, Most people who were subject to militia service were also tithables, but not vice-versa. A tithable was a person, sometimes 21 but usually 16, who was subject to the poll tax to support the parish prior to the Revolution and the County thereafter (I'm not certain of the exact date of transition, but 1782 would be a fair guess). In the time period 1782-1786 (please don't take this to mean it was done differently before 1782 - it's just that evidence is scant), it appears the local magistrate, or someone in a similar capacity, gathered the tax lists. Those lists were taken by districts which were probably magisterial districts. Beginning in 1787, the tax collection was handled by area corresponding to the militia regimental area. It is quite possible that, in many instances, the magisterial districts coincided at least roughly with militia company areas. It was up to the County Court to excuse folks from the levy, except for constables, Peter Muhlenberg, and (I'm told) state officials, who were at times exempted by law. Obviously, if one were old and infirm, or perhaps one-legged from Revolutionary service, then the County Court would be likely to give an exemption since that person would be unable to easily make payment. Tom Norman Runyon wrote: >Tithable Questions: > I understand that a person who is called a "Tithable" on the personal >property tax lists is, generally, considered to be any able bodied adult >male age 21 or older? > Usually, the tax district is described as a "Militia District" so I >assume that means the persons listed as "Tithables" are those subject to >callup for militia duty? > I have been going over several Personal Property Tax Lists where some of >the older adult males are listed as "0 Tithables" - although they are still >taxed for their horses. > In this case would "0 Tithables" mean that they are considered too old >for militia service? > Or, perhaps, physically unable to perform militia service? > Was there an upper age limit for which an adult male would no longer be >considered a "Tithable"? >Norman > > >==== VASHENAN Mailing List ==== >To unsubscribe, send a msg. to VASHENAN-L-request@rootsweb.com or VASHENAN-D-request@rootsweb.com with the word unsubscribe. > > > >

Tom, Thank you for your reply. That clears up part of my wondering. The reason I posted the query is 3-fold: 1: I have found elderly men where the record said 0 tithables but they did have horses and they did pay tax on the horses. I do not know the phsical condition of the men. 2: I have found young men where they were listed as 1 tithable but 0 horses and paid no tax. 3: I have found women heads of households listed with 0 tithables but with horses and they paid tax on the horses. In most (not all) of the VA Personal Property Tax Records, that I have read, the tax seemed only to be on the livestock and not the on "tithable" individuals. Sometimes cattle, and/or other goods, were included in the tax. These were all VA Personal Property Tax records between 1782 and 1830. Norman ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Pierce" <tvpierce@infionline.net> To: <VASHENAN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2003 4:05 PM Subject: Re: [VASHENAN] Re: PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX LIST-SHENANDOAH CO., VA > Norman, > Most people who were subject to militia service were also tithables, but > not vice-versa. A tithable was a person, sometimes 21 but usually 16, > who was subject to the poll tax to support the parish prior to the > Revolution and the County thereafter (I'm not certain of the exact date > of transition, but 1782 would be a fair guess). > In the time period 1782-1786 (please don't take this to mean it was done > differently before 1782 - it's just that evidence is scant), it appears > the local magistrate, or someone in a similar capacity, gathered the tax > lists. Those lists were taken by districts which were probably > magisterial districts. Beginning in 1787, the tax collection was > handled by area corresponding to the militia regimental area. It is > quite possible that, in many instances, the magisterial districts > coincided at least roughly with militia company areas. > It was up to the County Court to excuse folks from the levy, except for > constables, Peter Muhlenberg, and (I'm told) state officials, who were > at times exempted by law. Obviously, if one were old and infirm, or > perhaps one-legged from Revolutionary service, then the County Court > would be likely to give an exemption since that person would be unable > to easily make payment. > > Tom > > Norman Runyon wrote: > > >Tithable Questions: > > I understand that a person who is called a "Tithable" on the personal > >property tax lists is, generally, considered to be any able bodied adult > >male age 21 or older? > > Usually, the tax district is described as a "Militia District" so I > >assume that means the persons listed as "Tithables" are those subject to > >callup for militia duty? > > I have been going over several Personal Property Tax Lists where some of > >the older adult males are listed as "0 Tithables" - although they are still > >taxed for their horses. > > In this case would "0 Tithables" mean that they are considered too old > >for militia service? > > Or, perhaps, physically unable to perform militia service? > > Was there an upper age limit for which an adult male would no longer be > >considered a "Tithable"? > >Norman > > > > > >==== VASHENAN Mailing List ==== > >To unsubscribe, send a msg. to VASHENAN-L-request@rootsweb.com or VASHENAN-D-request@rootsweb.com with the word unsubscribe. > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== VASHENAN Mailing List ==== > Shenandoah Co VAGenWeb > http://www.rootsweb.com/~vashenan/vashenan.html > >