PALANCAS-L Archives

From: "Nelson R. Sulouff" <>
Subject: [PALANCAS-L] Re: Another Question
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1998 16:18:32 -0600

Nelson wrote:
>
> When I search the pre-1790 census an tax lists for Colonial America, I find that
> most of my Pennsylvanians are listed as in Philadelphia, even though I know they
> were in other areas such as Lancaster at those times. Were they mostly just grouped
> into Philadelphia for some reason?
> Thanks, Carolyn

//////////////////////////////////////////

Philadelphia Co. was established in 1682, along with Buck and Chester
Cos. Before 1729, when Lancaster Co. was established, Philadelphia Co.
had extended northwestward until it included the eastern half of
present-day Berks Co. Depending on the dates for the records you have in
mind, the people may well have been living in the Philadelphia Co. of
their day. Berks Co. was not formed until 1752, when it was taken off of
Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Chester Cos.

Referring to your opening statement, if you ever find ANY pre-1790
census lists, would you be kind enough to let the rest of us know where
they can be found!!! Real estate transactions and tax records abound,
but the earliest federal census was in 1790. I would like to learn about
state or county census records taken earlier than 1790 in Pennsylvania.
Does anyone on this list know of census records earlier than 1790?

A related question is this: there were years between the federal
decennial census years that Pennsylvania did its own census. Can anyone
tell me what odd years such census-taking was done in PA? Can the data
from the PA state censuses be accessed by E-mail or on line? (too much
to even hope for I suspect!)

Nelson R. Sulouf

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• [PALANCAS-L] Re: Another Question by "Nelson R. Sulouff" <>