The prompt for 52 Ancestors/52 Weeks this week was: Taxes
I remembered that I have tax receipts for my great-grandfather, Adolphus Burdine Martin (1867-1917). I thought they might contain something interesting, and they did.
(First, I want to tell my Martin cousins that if they want copies of these tax receipts just let me know. I’ll move them to the top of the ‘to be scanned’ pile.)
My great-grandfather, A. B. Martin
The only sure things are death and taxes
A.B., as Adolphus was called, lived and farmed in Richland County, South Carolina on the land that would become Fort Jackson. His eldest son, Joel Daniel Martin (1886-1955) was my grandfather. Daniel, as he was called, was the executor when A.B. died in 1917. A lot of A.B.’s legal paperwork came to Daniel who kept it all. It eventually worked its way down to me.
A.B. paid several kinds of taxes in the 1890’s until 1917 when he died – personal property tax, poll tax, capitation dog tax, and others. One was the Commutation Road Tax which he paid in the 1900’s. Those are the only receipts I have for that tax, anyway.
Receipt for 1908 Commutation Road Tax paid by A.B. Martin
This particular road tax
The Commutation Road Tax was paid ‘in lieu of working on public highways,’ and the tax was $1 per able-bodied man. The penalty for either not working on the highways or not paying the tax was different in each county of South Carolina.
For Richland County in 1922, the penalty was a fine of $5-50 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days. That was a lot of money then and a lot of days to be missing from your livelihood if you were a farmer like A.B. I’m not sure what the fine was in the early 1900’s but probably not a lot less.
I can see why he chose to pay the tax instead of working on the public highways. Thankfully, he had enough money to pay it.
I was not surprised there was a road tax. What did surprise me was that men were expected to work on the roads, and paying the tax was the option.
Copyright © 2018 Nancy H. Vest All Rights Reserved
Wow! Very interesting.
Glad you liked it. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Your Great Granddad is my Great Granddad. My granddaddy was Adolphus B. Martin and my grandmother was Eva Lyn. Jackson Martin. Children were A. B. Martin, Nadine E. Martin Hawkins, Inez Martin Porter and Mary Lois Martin Huntley. So wonderful to read this. Thank you for sharing.
Dorothy Lynn Hawkins Rodgers
Dorothy, I’m so glad you found me here and on Facebook. I’m looking forward to sharing family stuff with you.
Just found out my grandson who married a Mckee that her grandmother’s maiden name was Martin and she lived in Winchester, VA. My Granddaddy Adolphus B. Martin whose father was also your great granddad had a brother who was Hubert Martin. Since Miranda Mckee Tomblin my granddaughter by marriage had Martin’s. I wonder if her grandmother could have been kin to our family the Martin’s. My great grandson is Arlo Martin Tomblin. Really kind of cool. A Tomblin married one of my cousins on Hawkins side but they are not kin to my daughters husband Ross Tomblin. It gets kind of confusing sometimes. I will find out what my granddaughter by marriage if the Martins are somehow very distant cousins. Enjoyed relating background with you. I would like to say that on the Adolphus B. Martin who is my granddad had 4 living children. They only list one. Inez Martin Porter. Inez was third living child. Aldolphus B, ( son), Nadine Eunice Martin Hawkis second living child, third Inez Martin Porter, then last Mary Lois Martin Huntley. Do you think they could correct that? Thanks
Thanks for reading and commenting, Dorothy! I am in contact with Uncle Hubert’s granddaughter and great-granddaughter. I actually visited Uncle Hubert several times in Winchester. I will send you a Facebook message since I’m not sure where you want me to make the changes about your granddad’s children.
I am so Thankful we could meet. Facebook and reading your comments about our Great Granddad was a wonderful blog you started. I feel so blessed that we have connected and so thankful we are cousins. You may want to touch bases with Sherry MacMillian who is also a Great Granddaughter of Adolphus B. Martin, also her sister Susan and another younger brother John Porter, her other brother Douglas Porter has passed away. Also if possible you might want to connect with Mary Lois Martin Huntley’s who is your Dad’s neice like my mother. Her children who are also your cousins and we all have the same Great Grandfather. Robyn Huntley Reynolds and older brother Darron Huntley, and younger brother Robert Timothy Huntley. Uncle Jr, Adolphus B. Martin Jr has 3 daughter Brenda is deceased, Dawn and Adrian I have lost contact with. Hopefully we can help each other with background information. When you find time please send me all the tax information and all children of our Granddad. Bless you and thank you for all your work.
Wow! I will have to get contact information from you, Dorothy. I will message you on FB. Thanks for commenting!