Name/Title
List of Taxable inhabitants of Town of Hamptonburgh year 1852Entry/Object ID
002036Tags
HamptonburghScope and Content
This 1852 tax record for the town of Hamptonburgh (likely New York) provides a detailed snapshot of the community’s wealth, land distribution, and prominent families.
Key Takeaways
Prominent Families: The list is dominated by the Bull, Booth, Brown, and Boyd families. These names appear multiple times, suggesting they were established settlers with significant holdings.
Wealth Extremes: There is a wide range of economic standing. While some residents like Abraham Brown or Hezekiah Maffett only owned a "house and lot," others held massive estates.
Top Property Owners (by Total Value):
Alfred Booth: $16,150 (including a $10,000 personal property valuation).
Fletcher M. Brooks: $14,659 (holding 209 acres and a "Church Lot").
Benjamin Brown: $12,129 (due to a high personal property valuation of $7,761).
Ebenezer Bull: $10,530 (owning 235.5 acres).
Economic Indicators
Agriculture vs. Industry: Most entries are based on Acres, indicating a primarily agrarian economy. However, Henry F. Brown is a notable exception, with a valuation tied to "Mills & site" ($4,000) and a "store."
Personal Property: Several women, such as Sarah Bull, Jane E. Bull, and Mary Booth, are listed with significant personal property valuations but zero acreage, suggesting they may have been widows or family members holding liquid wealth or inherited assets rather than managed farmland.
Land Value: Most rural land appears to be valued at approximately $40 to $45 per acre, though this fluctuates based on the structures (like the "Buskirk house" or "dwelling house") located on the property.
Document Observations
The record shows evidence of active updates; for example, Hezekiah Brewster has been crossed out in two places, and some entries (like Jesse Booth) refer to "Heirs," indicating the transition of property following a death.
