Let me follow up to say that a poll or “head” in this case is every adult.

From: Metz, John (LVA) <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, April 3, 2023 at 9:11 AM
To: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] 1840 city property tax categories
I am guessing that this is the tax per head represented in the household. Poll, after all, is an archaic reference to “head.”

From: Lois Leveen <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, April 3, 2023 at 9:05 AM
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [VA-HIST] 1840 city property tax categories
Howdy colleagues,
I am looking at receipts for Richmond city property tax assessments from
the 1840s.  The form lists various types of taxable property:
Lot
House
Horse
Dog
Carriage Wheel
Poll

I understand what most of those refer to, but I'm stumped by what "polls"
are in this context (poll tax as a voting tax I understand, but this is
property tax on a household whose Black members would not be eligible to
vote for decades to come).  I look forward to someone on this list
educating me on what exactly this household had two of, that were treated
as Polls for the purpose of taxation.

Thanks,
Lois

Lois Leveen, PhD
she/her/hers

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