Ohio Tax Records - FamilySearch Historical Records

This wiki article describes a collection that is available for free online at FamilySearch Record Search – Pilot Site. To access the collection, see Ohio Tax Records, 1816-1838.



Collection Time Period
Tax records have been kept since the colonial era. Ohio records began early.

Collection History
Governments created tax records that vary in content according to the purpose of the assessment. Most are based on personal property, real estate, and income. There may be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. Numerous families lived in Ohio and owned taxable property.

Why This Collection Was Created
Tax records are based on the property owned by people. Only the person who owned the taxable property was listed on the tax record; other residents, living on the property, were not listed.

Collection Reliability
Tax records are considered a primary source. They are usually reliable because they are kept by the county clerk in the local courthouse, who usually recorded the event at or very near the time it occurred.

The information given in town land records is generally reliable, although there may be errors made in transcribing the town’s copy from the original deed.

Collection Description
Entries are recorded in voucher books, one person per page.

Collection Content
Genealogical information in Ohio tax records include:


 * Legal description of real and personal property
 * Names and ages of property owners and possible relationships
 * Time periods when families resided in Ohio
 * Occupation of the property owner
 * Places of residence
 * Names of other relatives
 * Additional information associated with the property

How To Use The Collection
Tax records supplement census records. Use tax records to:


 * Identify the name and residence of the taxpayer.
 * Identify the occupation of an individual.
 * Obtain a description of the real estate, number of acres owned, types of buildings, identifiable personal property, and how many farm animals.
 * Help trace families moving through Ohio.
 * Identify ages, residences and relationships, and perhaps the year an individual died or left the area.

Related Article
Ohio Taxation