I once looked at these lists for Pittsylvania and Halifax Counties  
where there is some great detail reported on portions of the county  
lists. If I recall, when contrasted to the published volume meant to  
supplement the census of 1790, the other buildings would likely have  
included cabins which do show up for many people in Halifax who have  
no dwelling house listed. Those without any buildings were probably  
renters whose housing was being reported on the land lords list. The  
Halifax list gives some details on construction, siding, roofing etc.  
What distinguished a Dwelling houses may have been in the eye of the  
tax man--an examination of the originals would really help you, I  
believe--good luck--Mick Nicholls
On Dec 4, 2008, at 11:11 AM, Joan Horsley wrote:

> In the 1785 Heads of Households Census of Virginia, why are so many  
> residents in each county (sometimes it appears close to the  
> majority) listed as having no "dwelling-house?” Most of those with  
> no “dwelling” have one or more "other building(s)," but some  
> families are listed with neither. I cannot find a definition of  
> "dwelling-house" in the Act calling for this census or elsewhere  
> that would explain why so many people had none.
>
> The 1785 Virginia heads of household enumeration came from “An act  
> to ascertain the quantity of land, the improvements thereon, and  
> the number of people, within this commonwealth.” The law required  
> "a list from each person within [each county precinct] of the  
> number of white persons in each family therein, and the number of  
> buildings, distinguishing dwelling-houses from other  
> buildings." (Hening's Statutes at Large, 11:415-417)
>
> The purpose of the 1784 Act was to comply with the Eighth Article  
> of Confederation and establish the "value of all land within each  
> state, granted to or surveyed for any person, as such land and the  
> buildings and improvements thereon shall be estimated." Since this  
> is not a personal tax law but a valuation of state-wide land, it  
> seems it would not make any difference for this census whether a  
> particular person owned versus rented his/her dwelling or  
> outbuilding, as I previously thought might be one explanation.
>
> Several people at LVA have been most helpful in trying to answer  
> this question, but so far they are stumped as well. I have not seen  
> the microfilm for this census, which may provide some clue, and  
> I’ve ordered it through ILL.
>
> In the meantime, I figured someone here might know what I am  
> missing.  Thanks very much for any help.
>
> Joan Horsley
>
>
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