Southampton County (Va.) Lists of Tithables, 1752, 1778.

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Creator:
Southampton County (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Southampton County (Va.) Lists of Tithables, 1752, 1778, consists of lists of tithable heads of household in the county for the years 1752 and 1778.

Biographical / historical:

Southampton County was named, in the opinion of many authorities, for Henry Wriothesley, third earl of Southampton and treasurer of the London Company from 1620 to 1624. It is more likely, however, that the county was named for the borough of Southampton in England. Southampton County was formed in 1749 from Isle of Wight County, and part of Nansemond County was added later.

In seventeenth- and eighteenth-century Virginia, the term "tithable" referred to a person who paid (or for whom someone else paid) one of the taxes imposed by the General Assembly for the support of civil government in the colony. In colonial Virginia, a poll tax or capitation tax was assessed on free white males, African American slaves, and Native American servants (both male and female), all age sixteen or older. Owners and masters paid the taxes levied on their slaves and servants. For a more detailed history of tithables, consult the Library of Virginia's website for Colonial Tithables

Acquisition information:
These records came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court papers from Southampton County.
Arrangement:

Chronological.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
0.1 cu. ft.