R E S E A R C H   G U I D A N C E

Delaware
Research Outline
   

Table of Contents
Records Of The Family History Library
Family History Library Catalog
Archives And Libraries
Bible Records
Biography
Business Records And Commerce
Cemeteries
Census
Church Records
Court Records
Directories
Emigration And Immigration
Gazetteers
Genealogy
History
Land And Property
Maps
Military Records
Naturalization And Citizenship
Newspapers
Periodicals
Probate Records
Slavery And Bondage
Societies
Taxation
Vital Records
Voting Registers
For Further Reading
Comments And Suggestions

SOCIETIESLook this term up in the glossary.

For genealogical and historical societies which have records and services to help you with your research, see the “Archives and Libraries” section of this outline.

Many Delaware towns and counties have historical societies or genealogical societies which offer services and collect records to help genealogists. You can find their addresses by using directories cited in the “Societies” section of the United States Research Outline (30972).


Return to top of page


TAXATIONLook this term up in the glossary.


State Look this term up in the glossary.and CountyLook this term up in the glossary. Records

Tax assessments in what is now Delaware were first taken in 1693. FHL film 441413 (computer number 373195) has the lists for that year for Kent, New Castle, and Sussex Counties; also a list for 1696 for New Castle County. Tax lists were taken sporadically until 1726, then annually thereafter. Lists for the following years are on microfilm at the Family History Library:

Kent County:

1726-1850 (FHL films 006494-510; computer number 309233.)

New Castle County:

1738-1852 (FHL films 006531-36; computer number 309827.)

Sussex County:

1767-1850 (FHL films 006674-78; computer number 314043.)

The original lists from the 1700s to about 1915 are preserved at the Delaware Public Archives.


Published Lists and Indexes

The following published lists and indexes may be helpful in locating early residents of Delaware:

Bendler, Bruce A. Colonial Delaware Records, 1681- 1713. Westminster, Md.: Family Line Publications, 1990. (FHL book 975.1 R2b; computer number 674280.) This includes lists for: Kent County, rent rolls 1681-1688, tax lists 1693, quit rents 1701-1713; New Castle County, tax lists 1693; Sussex County, rent rolls 1681-1688, tax lists 1693, quit rents 1702-1713. The quit rent records often contain valuable genealogical information.

DeValinger, Leon Jr. Reconstructed 1790 Census of Delaware. Washington, D.C.: National Genealogical Society, 1962. (FHL 975.1 X2d 1790; film 1000156; fiche 6019928; computer number 113633.) This list was prepared from tax lists and is a useful census substitute.

The First Tax List for the Province of Pennsylvania and the Three Lower Counties, 1693. Bedminster, Pa.: The Press, 1994. (FHL 974.8 A1 no. 643; computer number 731209.) This book contains information for 1693 on the three Delaware counties as well as Philadelphia, Bucks, and Chester Counties in Pennsylvania.

Hancock, Harold B. The Reconstructed Delaware Census of 1782. Wilmington, Del.: Delaware Genealogical Society, 1973. (FHL book 975.1 X2r; computer number 274659.) The publication below by Ralph Nelson is more complete and more fully indexed.

Jackson, Ronald Vern, and Gary Ronald Teeples. Early Delaware Census Records, 1665-1697. Bountiful, Utah: Accelerated Indexing Systems, 1977. (FHL book 975.1 X2p; computer number 254585.) This early tax record index is also included in the Accelerated Indexing Systems (AIS) microfiche search 1, available at many Family History Centers in the United States and in the FamilyFinder Index and Viewer (FamilyFinder is a trademark of Brøderbund Software, Inc.)

Nelson, Ralph D. Delaware 1782 Tax Assessment and Census. Wilmington, Del.: Delaware Genealogical Society, 1994. (FHL 975.1 X2n 1782; computer number 362379.) Contains tax lists for 1782 for all the “hundreds” of Delaware and 1782 census for seven of the “hundreds.” This has maps on pages 5-6 and a list of the “hundreds” on p. 4. There is a Soundex cross reference list (to surnames) at the end of the book.


Federal Internal Revenue RecordsLook this term up in the glossary.

The following Internal Revenue records are available:

United States. Bureau of Internal Revenue. Internal Revenue Assessment Lists for Delaware, 1862-1866. Washington, D.C.: National Archives, 1988. (FHL films 1578436-43; computer number 462519.) These records are not well organized and it is difficult to find out where the records of a particular town are located. There is a note at the beginning of the first film about the history of this type of record; however, it does not show any organization for the towns and counties.

Return to top of page

Previous Document   Next Document

©1998, 2001 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. No part of this document may be reprinted, posted on-line, or reproduced in any form for any purpose without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. FamilySearch is a trademark of Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
[FamilySearchTM: Research Guidance
Version of Data: 6/8/2001]