52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Series
Prompt: Taxes
On my recent visit to the Family History Library in
Salt Lake City, I was able to look at the Tax Assessment records for Beverly
Township, Wentworth County, Ontario, Canada. At the time it seemed a very
tedious task scanning all these records, from year after year, but it did turn
up some interesting tidbits of information.
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| Greenland The Homestead in Valens, Ontario around 1900 |
In 1868 the land was valued at $740.00, and Robert
McDonald was a “freeholder,” which means he owned the property. Robert was
fifty-nine years old and listed in the reserve militia roll. Frederic Daniels
was listed as nineteen years old and was in the first class service militia
roll. These two columns of information were only found in this year’s
assessment records. This could be the reason my grandfather joined the militia,
following in his father’s footsteps.
In 1874 Frederic was 25 years of age and was listed as
a tenant farmer with Robert McDonald. The land was valued at $650.00.
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| Assessment of Ratable Property 1847 |
In 1885 Frederic took over the farm and was listed as
“freeholder.” There was a column that was marked, one death. Robert McDonald had
died and left his farm to Frederic.
From 1888 through 1891 Frederic shared his land with
John and George Dickson, and John Robson. In two of those years, their total
assessed values were combined.
At age 21 in 1897 Robert Daniels, Frederic’s eldest
son joined his father as a “freeholder.”
In 1898 he farm was valued at $1600.00. Robert
Dalziel, Frederic’s nephew, was included in the tax assessment due to his
income. He was living on the farm and working as a mason.
This is where my research ended with the tax assessment
records. As you can see, there are some interesting tidbits of information even
from boring tax records.
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| Former Daniels Farm in 1997 Picture courtesy of Jerold and Evelyn Daniels |
Dennis
Credit for this series to Amy Johnson Crow, Certified Genealogist
