WHITNEY-L Archives

From: "Larry Tracy" <>
Subject: [WHITNEY-L] Non-rateable Polls
Date: Fri, 31 Jan 2003 12:33:06 -0500

WRGers,

I would like to pose a question to the group for which I do not have a clearcut answer. During the Mass tax evaluation of 1771, those enumerated were purported to be only property holders. They were listed as "Rateable" or "Non-Rateable" Polls, many having 2 Rateable Polls in their listing. However, a scant number were listed as "Polls Not Rateable". I had assumed that ministers and schoolmasters were exempt from polls, but the individual that I am exploring seems not to be either. He was not credited with a house and/or any upland fields or farm animals, which, in itself, is suspicious. My thoughts turned to the possibility that he was indigent or an absentee owner of the property for which no deed appears to exist. Also considered was a threshold that had to be met for property value before a Poll was levied, or simply a recent death of the owner with the wife taking charge under exempt status. Nothing as an explaination has come to my attention as a basis for Poll!
s during this time frame. The subject seems mute.

The question to the WRG is whether anyone can add an explaination to this little dilemma of Rateable vs.Non-Rateable Polls, and specifically, what may have occurred in this case.

Larry Tracy Jr.

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• [WHITNEY-L] Non-rateable Polls by "Larry Tracy" <>