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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