For sale is a small, original handwritten PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT from the 1850s. This tax bill assessed a county tax in the amount of $1.43 and a state tax of $1.43 to Catherine & Regina Schafer. The county tax rate was 3 points. The assessed property value was $475.00. The tax assessor’s name was Goullon.
An interesting feature of this standard tax form is that it is automatically addressed to “Sir”, presumably because only a man could own property. This note is particularly ironic because this particular property was in fact jointly owned by two women, probably sisters. A great historical collectible.