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The Tax Man Commeth
Keeping up with the Paperwork
A tiny red leather purse was always kept in Gertrude Cooper Rolfe's tin full of buttons. Her
Mother must have kept it in some similar fashion. I have kept it too. Tax receipts from 1823
are neatly folded within it's red leather, under the glass dome, behind the tiny golden wires
and the initials AW. The purse may have been the property of Antje Wynants DeHart
Mother must have kept it in some similar fashion. I have kept it too. Tax receipts from 1823
are neatly folded within it's red leather, under the glass dome, behind the tiny golden wires
and the initials AW. The purse may have been the property of Antje Wynants DeHart
( 1680- 1764 ) The earliest receipt is addressed to Winnie DeHart. The tax receipts have been
kept by 6 generations of her decendants . 184 years of keeping up with the paperwork. The
Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish-American, WWI, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, Gulf War, and
Iraq War have occurred and we still have the tax receipts for land long gone, paid into the
hands of tax collectors long dead, by ancestors whose DNA still lives within us.
kept by 6 generations of her decendants . 184 years of keeping up with the paperwork. The
Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish-American, WWI, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, Gulf War, and
Iraq War have occurred and we still have the tax receipts for land long gone, paid into the
hands of tax collectors long dead, by ancestors whose DNA still lives within us.
I think the chances of the tax debt being challenged are relatively slim, but surprisingly
enough, they have provided one very surprising service. Marriage records are sketchy in
the early part of the 19th Century, and census records give little information beyond num-
bers and sexes. These records clearly show that Winnie DeHart was the widow of Wynant
DeHart, and that Jane Owen paid the taxes addressed to Wynant's heirs, and that later in,
1833, she paid them as Jane Cooper. Tiny scraps of paper offer a window to the past, long
after the tombstones have been destroyed and the cemetery plowed into cotton.
enough, they have provided one very surprising service. Marriage records are sketchy in
the early part of the 19th Century, and census records give little information beyond num-
bers and sexes. These records clearly show that Winnie DeHart was the widow of Wynant
DeHart, and that Jane Owen paid the taxes addressed to Wynant's heirs, and that later in,
1833, she paid them as Jane Cooper. Tiny scraps of paper offer a window to the past, long
after the tombstones have been destroyed and the cemetery plowed into cotton.
Isn't it amazing that the whole tax bill for a land grant on Bayou
Bartholomew should have ever been merely $1.50 as it was in 1823;
in what was then Ouachita Parish. Like a lot of historical dollar
amounts, it is deceiving , the equivalent of $48.34 in 2006 Currency.
The 1842 tax of $5.42 paid by James C. Cooper Sr., Translates to
$186.30.
Bartholomew should have ever been merely $1.50 as it was in 1823;
in what was then Ouachita Parish. Like a lot of historical dollar
amounts, it is deceiving , the equivalent of $48.34 in 2006 Currency.
The 1842 tax of $5.42 paid by James C. Cooper Sr., Translates to
$186.30.
Odd among these papers is a note payable to James C Cooper by
Alexander Anderson in 1858. Mr Anderson signed with his mark
and was prepared to pay 8% interest. The $600.00 sum converts to
$17,676.00 in 2006 Dollars.
Alexander Anderson in 1858. Mr Anderson signed with his mark
and was prepared to pay 8% interest. The $600.00 sum converts to
$17,676.00 in 2006 Dollars.
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