Reconstructed Census, 1774-1810: Berkeley County, Virginia

In 1970, Max W. Grove published the Reconstructed Census, 1774-1810: Berkeley County, Virginia, January 1970 under the press title of Eastern West Virginia Press, 50 Bonifant Road, Colesville MD 20904. [Last address I could find for Max W. Grove: 175 Collins Drive, Martinsburg WV 25403, 4 Dec 2006.)
Grove also announced that he was re-launching a periodical called American Museum, OR Repository of Ancient and Modern Fugitive Pieces, 1787-1792 published by Matthew Cary of Philadelphia. [Among the original subscribers was George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and many other political figures of the time. AE]

It was Grove’s intent to reprint some of the original fugitive pieces and then to draw upon materials from PA, WV, KY, and Daniel Boone then expanding into the Eastern US and across the Mississippi. The beginning issues would provide the Reconstructed Census–1772-1810, then 1700-1774 including names omitted from the years 1772-73 in the first issue, then 1830, 1840, 1850 censuses of Berkeley County. And a Cemetery List and Gravestone Collection and the Catholic Baptismal Records were scheduled for future issues.

The only issue of this periodical I have been able to find, is the Reconstructed Census, 1774-1810: Berkeley County, Virginia. This very useful compilation includes the Rent Rolls for Berkeley County, 1774-1781, Tax List 1782, Tithable List 1783, Poll List 1788, Tax List 1792, and Tax List 1802. Thomas Jefferson’s map of 1783 is folded loose within the publication. (Even the FH Library does not have a copy.) Copies are for sale through Google Book Search.

Grove is very knowledgeable about Berkeley County, and did publish earlier versions of the 1810 (1967) and 1820(1969) census schedules. In the Preface to this January 1970 issue, he identifies the tax divisions by boundary. Two alphabetical indexes provide access to places and inhabitants names.

I found the copy I used at the Library of Virginia in Richmond. Use this reconstructed census version with:

1. 1787 Census (3-volume printing of the 1787 tax rolls for all of the counties of Virginia, including those which will become Kentucky and West Virginia compiled by Netti Schreiner-Yantis, Springfield VA: Genealogical Books in Print, 1987. She also issued this census in separate county booklets.
2. 1790 Census (two versions: a. Virginia Tax Payers, 1782-1787–Other than Those Published by the United States Census Bureau, compiled by Augusta B. Fothergill and John Mark Naugle, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1971 and reprints; Heads of Families at the First Census of the United States Taken in the Year 1790: Records of the State Enumerations: 1782 to 1785. United States Census Bureau, various printings by Genealogical Publishing Company.
3. 1782-1785 List of Inhabitants (39 counties and City of Williamsburg) compiled by David S. Hardin, typescript and original documents (damaged or hard to read). 1 microfilm reel, FHL #1854091.
4. Original tax rolls, Berkeley County (Land books, 1782-1810, 2 microfilm reels, FHL #531232-233; Personal property rolls, 1783-1813, 3 microfilm reels, FHL #2024478-480 [NEW at FHL! AE]–until 1787 only one tax division, in 1788 two divisions were created.) Also available on microfilm at the Library of Virginia.
5. See Virginia Genealogy Blog, March 2008–“Virginia Tax and Rent Rolls, A Checklist” and Arlene Eakle’s Genealogy Blog, January 2008, “The 1782 Census of Virginia.”

These versions give you alternate readings, additional names, and a reality check on the total list of inhabitants for any county in Virginia. Your favorite Virginia genealogist, Arlene Eakle http://www.arleneeakle.com

PS Remember that we established a non-profit library to receive those materials which would otherwise be thrown away. Your mother or grandmother or aunt or great-uncle spent precious time collecting and writing and preserving information about your ancestors and mine. Their work needs to be preserved.

#1 Reason–they collected information on their OWN people, or those they thought were their own. When you go through a book or a family file or a microfilm copy of the 1782 census, you encounter all the persons recorded in that item. You have to make the decision as to which ones belong to you. Your relatives may already have done the hard work.

And scattered around the world are your cousins eagerly trying to find the same stuff.

PPS If you know of a collection, big or small, that needs a home–you have found one! Send it to the Genealogy Library Center, Inc., Location Address, if by UPS: 875 N 300 E, REAR, Tremonton UT 84337. ( This is my house. My front entry way still has several hundred books and 32 stacked chairs! waiting to go to my building.  The front porch has no covering to protect the delivery from the rain.  My back entry is through a large covered patio with a table to set the materials on so if it is raining, they don’t get wet when I am not at home to receive them.) Mailing Address, if by USPS: P.O. Box 40, Garland UT 84312-0040. (My postmaster knows to keep them safe until I call by for them.)