There is no all encompassing definition of "head of household".  Generally "household" legally meant/means all of those persons living under one roof - in  any "residence" - for whom there is one person who acts as "head" of that gathering of people.  The meaning of the term "head of household" is greater than that of "family", and in the censuses it means those persons who have some measure of responsibility to answer for or respond to the inquiries concerning whoever lives in his/her "house".

"Head of family" is a more restrictive title and refers to anyone of any age who has some measure of charge or answerability for others who are his kin by marriage, adoption or by affinity.  It is well known that many apprentices were viewed for taxation purposes as members of the "family", and - of course - all those who were tithable were chargeable to someone, quite usually that person who owned the land, owned the slave, or was the head of a household as mentioned above.    

The information quite usually was gathered by personal interview of the householder by "enumerators" who were hired to go about collecting such data.

Since the earliest times in the English systems of govt. and land ownership, it was the prime responsibility of every owner of land to make himself known for taxation.     
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: clay gullatt 
  To: [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Friday, June 10, 2005 11:20 AM
  Subject: Heads of Families at the First US Census - Questions


  I have two ancestors listed on the Heads of Fams.
  at the First US Census VA, by the US Bureau of
  Census. Washington DC, 1908.

  Does anyone know what criteria was used in order
  to be listed as a head of family on this census?
  Did you need to be 18 and married or widowed?
  Where did they get the info to make up the
  census? Tax and property lists? I am assuming
  this census is from 1790.

  Also all the entries I have seen list the birth
  year as 175?. I assume this was just a wag on the
  part of whoever made up the census in 1908 since
  mother and son have the same entry.

  Clay

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