1787 Virginia "Census"
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Introduction
The 1790 census was the 1st Census of the United States. Unfortunately the 1790 census for the State of Virginia was lost. I don't know if anyone knows exactly what happened to it. It has been suggested it was destroyed during the War of 1812, but I don't know if that is correct or not.
In 1987 a three volume series was published titled: The 1787 Census of Virginia: An Accounting of the name of every white male tithable over 21 years, compiled by Netti Schreiner-Yantis and Florene Speakman Love. They abstracted the 1787 tax lists for every Virginia county then in existence (a few counties are missing). This is an excellent substitute for the lost 1790 census.
The 1787 tax list follows a fairly standard format throughout the state.
1787 Census Columns:
- Name of Free White Males over 21 years of age. This is usually the taxpayer and anyone over 21 living with him for whom he is responsible.
- Number of Free White Males 16 years and up but under 21.
- Number of Blacks age 16 and up (male and female).
- Number of Blacks under 16 (male and female).
- Number of Horses, Mares and Colts.
- Number of Cattle.