Tobolsk Gubernia Taxation

Introduction to Revision Lists
Taxation records, also referred to as ревизские сказки, or revision lists, are an important source in Russian genealogy. These records, similar to a US census, can be used to track a family across time.

Revision List History
In 1718, under the rule of Peter the Great, a new taxation system was created. This new taxation system was called the "soul" tax, as it taxed individuals rather than land or households as was done under previous taxation systems. The first revision, or enumeration of the taxable population was taken in 1719. There were ten revisions taken sporadically over the next approximately 150 years: In some cases, it could take up to several years to complete a revision.

Keep in mind that revision lists enumerated only the taxable population which excluded individuals such as nobility and clergy in some revisions. Revision lists are organized first by uyezd or district, and then by social class, so you should know which uyezd and social class your ancestor belonged to. The most common social class was that of the крестьянин, or peasant class.

For more information about revision list history please read The Imperial Russian Revision Lists of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries by Joseph B. Everett.