My GUESS is that this indicates a "colored person" who was not eligible to
vote in NYS. Before the 15th Amendment went into effect in 1870, the only
blacks who could vote in New York were those who owned a certain amount of
property and paid taxes on it over a certain amount. If this person was
not taxed, it's probably a way to count them for legislative
representation, but also indicate they couldn't be included on the voter
lists.
New York was more "liberal" than most northern states in that it allowed a
few of the more wealthy black to vote. Only a couple of northern states
allowed all blacks to vote .. Vermont, Massachusetts, Ohio .. a couple of
others. Most allowed NO blacks to vote.
David
On Mon, 3 Feb 1997 JCurtin315@aol.com wrote:
> I read your response regarding the NYS Census, and > I am wondering if you could answer a question that I have regarding the 1865 > NYS Census? What does the column in the census labeled, "Colored, Not Taxed" > mean? Does it mean the obvious - that the individual was colored and not > taxed, or is there another meaning to this classification? Thanks so much > for any help you can provide. > Sincerely, > JCurtin > >