I'll admit that when it comes to using tax records for genealogy research well, I never have. I know they are there, I know they can be a great source, I forget they are there. Maybe it's a mental block considering what I do for living. In case you don't know, I prepare income tax returns for a living.
Don't get me wrong, when I do happen to take a look at some of these records, they're pretty interesting -
David Blackman was assessed $2 tax on a gold watch and carriage, Georgia, 1865
Goodridge Driver, Whiskey Distiller, 15 Gallons of Whiskey valued $30.42 tax, Georgia 1866
The problem I have with taxes is that I rarely find my family in these records. I'm assuming they paid their taxes, man I hope so, I don't want to try to untangle a mess that old, they just don't often appear in my searches through these records.
I've kept every tax return I have ever filed - including property tax records, I wonder if someday another researcher will be glad that I've done that or if they'll just think I was a hoarder?
#52ancestors