First Tax List for Philadelphia County, 1693

In the 59th Chapter of "The Great Law," passed at Upland in 1682, it had been provided that no money or goods should be raised upon or paid by any of the people of the province by way of a public tax, but by a law for that purpose made by the Governor and freemen thereof, and that no tax at any time should continue any longer than the space of one whole year. This law was substantially re-enacted, and approved by the Governor, Benjamin Fletcher, June 1st, 1693, and forms the 37th section of the law known as the " Bill of Right."

The Province of Pennsylvania was then composed of but three counties, Philadelphia, Chester, and Bucks and the Territories, or Three Lower Counties upon Delaware, New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, now comprising the State of Delaware. Philadelphia County extended indefinitely toward the northwest, bounded on either side by the counties of Chester and Bucks. Chester County included all the territory (except a small portion now in Philadelphia County) southwest of the Schuylkill River, to the extreme limits of the province, and Bucks County had for its northern boundary the Kittatinny Mountain, or as far as the land might be purchased from the Indians, a very indefinite limit, as subsequent events proved. Read more.....

Note: These pages are presented in the same manner as listed in book.

For Granting One penny per pound to King William & Queen Mary &c Wee the Assessors under Written have Taxed and Assessed the Inhabitants the respective Sums following:

Note: The original Tax list is in the possession of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The spelling of names, though decidedly phonetic, can scarcely be said to be worse than that which has been found in some tax books of later years.

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