Tuesday's Tip - Mantalslängderna (tax/census records)

Lists from 1676, Hällestad Parish in Östergötland County

The tax/census records are lists that show how much taxes people payed. The oldest are from 1625 when Sweden were at war and there was a great need for money. The list showed all the men between the ages of 15 and 63 in every household in the parish or town. Only the name of the head of the household is mentioned and the number of people who are obligated to pay taxes. Towards the end of the 17th century the people are started to be put into categories like; man, wife, son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, farmhand, and firmgirl. Poor and sick people could be freed from paying taxes and are therefor not mentioned.

List from Tjellmo Parish, Östergötland County, 1813-1840

The original list was kept by the district taxation register and two copies were made, one for public record office and one for the county administrative board. The originals often contain more detailed information than the copies where only sertian facts were wanted.

The tax/census records are not as detailed as the church records but can still be a lot of help to a genealogist. In the middle of the 18th century there are taxes for luxury products such as silk, tobacco, and coffe. This will give an insight to the family's economic situation. I find it very helpful when I want to know more about a farm or a village.

The tax/census recordswere kept up until 1991 and became more detailed when it came to personal facts than taxation.

Where you can find the registers online:
http://arkivdigital.net/
http://sok.riksarkivet.se/svar-digitala-forskarsalen
http://home.ancestry.com/ - I am not sure if Ancestry has the lists becuse they are not really clear on what they have.

Source:
Szabad, C. Släkthistoriskt Forum 3/2014

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