Copyright 2003, Esther Doyle Read

New 22 February 2004

READ FAMILY CONNECTIONS

CRAWFORD COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA
TAX RECORDS 1849 - 1870
SOUTH SHENAGO TOWNSHIP

The following extracts are from the Crawford County Board of County Commissioners Tax Records, Assessor's Return for South Shenango Township during the years 1849 through 1870. The records extracted in this section are publically available. They are on microfilm and may be found at the Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The selections below are for all individuals with the last name of Coursen and for William Fonner, Aaron Reed Coursen's father-in-law.

Links to Documents and Family Pages

1849

1850

1851

1852

1853

Return to Sarah Ann Read Coursen

1854

1855

1856

1857

1858

Return to Aaron Reed Coursen

1859

1860

1861

1862

1863

Return to Home Page

1864

1865

1866

1867

1868

Surname Index

1869

1870

 

1849 Tax Records Film Roll # 6291

Name & Description

Value

County Tax

State Tax

Wm Coursen

50 Acres

$250

2 Cows

$14

2 Horses

$40

$304

$1.52

$0.92

Wm Fonner

170 Acres

$850

25 Acres

$125

Sawmill

$25

2 Horses

$50

9 Cows

$63

1 Buggy

$25

$1138

$5.69

$3.41

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1850 Tax Records Film Roll # 6291

Name & Description

Value

County Tax

State Tax

Jacob Coursen

50 Acres

$225

25 Acres

$75

2 Horses

$45

6 Cows

$42

$387

$1.93

$1.16

Wm Coursen

50 Acres

$225

1 Cow

$7

2 Horses

$50

$282

$1.41

$0.85

Wm Fonner

170 Acres

$807

25 Acres

$80

Sawmill

$75

2 Horses

$50

8 Cows

$56

1 Buggy

$10

$1078

$5.34

$3.30

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1851 Tax Records Film Roll # 6291

Name & Description

Value

County Tax

State Tax

Jacob Coursen

50 Acres

$225

25 Acres

$75

2 Horses

$40

3 Cows

$24

$364

$1.45

$1.09

Wm Coursen

50 Acres

$225

1 Cow

$9

2 Horses

$60

$294

$1.17

$0.88

Wm Fonner

170 Acres

$807

25 Acres

$80

Sawmill

$75

2 Horses

$80

5 Cows

$40

2 Oxen

$35

$1117

$4.46

$3.35

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1852 Tax Records Film Roll # 6291

There was a math error in the computation of the value of the property of William Fonner. The Assessor's Book gives the property value as $994, it should be $1094.

Name & Description

Value

County Tax

State Tax

Jacob Coursen

50 Acres

$225

25 Acres

$75

2 Horses

$40

3 Cows

$24

$364

$1.82

$1.09

Wm Coursen

50 Acres

$224

1 Cow

$9

2 Horses

$60

$293

$1.46

$0.87

Wm Fonner

170 Acres

$807

25 Acres

$80

Sawmill

$75

3 Horses

$100

4 Cows

$32

$994

$4.97

$2.98

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1853 Tax Records Film Roll # 6291

Name & Description

Value

County Tax

State Tax

Jacob Coursen

50 Acres

$250

25 Acres

$125

2 Horses

$40

3 Cows

$24

$439

$2.19

$1.31

Wm Coursen

50 Acres

$300

2 Cows

$16

1 Horse

$30

$346

$1.73

$1.03

Wm Fonner

170 Acres

$1020

Sawmill

$100

2 Horses

$80

4 Cows

$32

Carriage

$25

$1259

$6.16

$3.95

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1854 Tax Records Film Roll # 6291

Name & Description

Value

County Tax

State Tax

Jacob Coursen

50 Acres

$250

25 Acres

$125

2 Cows

$18

$393

$2.35

$1.18

Wm Coursen

50 Acres

$300

1 Cow

$9

1 Horse

$30

$339

$2.03

$1.01

Wm Fonner

170 Acres

$1020

25 Acres

$125

Sawmill

$15

1 Horse

$30

4 Cows

$36

2 Oxen

$40

Carriage

$25

$1291

$7.74

$3.87

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1855 Tax Records Film Roll # 6291

The total assessed value was not given in the 1855 tax record. It is given here in ( ).

Name & Description

Value

County Tax

State Tax

Jacob Coursen

50 Acres

$250

25 Acres

No value

4 Cows

$38

($288)

$.86

$1.72

Wm Coursen

50 Acres

$300

1 Cow

$10

1 Horse

$45

($355)

$1.06

$2.13

Wm Fonner

170 Acres

$1020

25 Acres

$125

Sawmill

$15

3 Horses

$120

5 Cows

$45

Carriage

$20

($1345)

$4.04

$8.08

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1856 Tax Records Film Roll # 6291

Two inidividuals appear for the first time in this assessment, William Coursen's son Aaron R. Coursen and a young man named Sydney A. Coursen. Later tax assessments indicate that Sydney Coursen was a single free black male. Whether he had been a Coursen family slave, the descendant of a family slave, or simply adopted the last name is unknown. Aaron R. Coursen was married in May of 1856 to Sarah Fonner. Shortly before the wedding, he purchased 21 acres in South Shenago Township. In addition, this is the only tax assessor's book in which the surname of Coursen is spelled C-u-r-s-e-n.

Name & Description

Value

County Tax

State Tax

Aaron R. Coursen

21 Acres

$126

1 Buggy

$20

$146

$0.97

$0.48

Jacob Coursen

50 Acres

$300

25 Acres

$150

2 Horses

$36

4 Cows

$80

$566

$3.39

$1.69

Sydney S. Coursen

Nothing listed

$0.50

Wm Cursen

50 Acres

$375

2 Cows

$20

$395

$2.37

$1.18

Wm Fonner

170 Acres

$1190

25 Acres

$175

4 Horses

$160

5 Cows

$50

Carriage

$20

$1595

$9.57

$4.78

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1857 Tax Records Film Roll # 6291

A new tax was added to the tax rolls in 1857. In addition to paying County and State taxes, residents of South Shenago Township now paid a township tax.

Name & Description

Value

County Tax

State Tax

Township

Aaron R. Coursen

21 Acres 4 oxen 6 horses 17 acres

$102

1 Cow

$8

1 Carriage

$30

$140

$0.70

$0.42

$0.14

Jacob Coursen

75 Acres

$450

2 Horses

$32

4 Cows

$80

$562

$2.81

$1.69

$0.56

Sydney S. Coursen, B.S.M.

Nothing listed

$0.50

Wm Coursen

50 Acres

$375

2 Cows

$18

$393

$1.97

$1.09

$0.39

Wm Fonner

170 Acres

$1190

25 Acres

$175

2 Horses

$70

2 Oxen

$35

4 Cows

$32

$1502

$7.57

$4.51

$1.50

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1858 Tax Records Film Roll # 6292

As in 1857, a new tax was also added to the tax rolls in 1858. This was a militia tax, which appears to have been only required of the younger men of the community. The abbreviation B.S.M. next to Sydney Coursen's name stands for Black Single Male.

Name & Description

Value

County Tax

State Tax

Township

Militia

Aaron R. Coursen

21 Acres

$102

2 Horses

$52

1 Cow

$8

1 Carriage

$10

$172

$0.89

$0.50

$0.16

$0.50

Jacob Coursen

75 Acres

$420

1 Horse

$40

3 Cows

$24

$484

$2.66

$1.21

$0.48

Sydney S. Coursen
B. (S.M.)

No assets

$0.50

Wm Coursen

50 Acres

$375

1 Horse

$35

2 Cows

$16

$426

$2.34

$1.06

$0.43

Wm Fonner

170 Acres

$1190

25 Acres

$175

2 Horses

$40

2 Oxen

$39

4 Cows

$32

Carriage

$15

$1491

$8.12

$3.84

$1.48

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1859 Tax Records Film Roll # 6292

There was no militia tax in 1859. The Assessor's book gives additional information concerning the tax base in South Shenago Township. In 1859 the value of all township assests was $169,959. The land in the township was valued at an average of $8.00 per acre; horses averaged $35.00 per animal; oxen averaged $35.00 by the yoke (that is by the pair); and cows averaged $9.00 per animal. The tax assessor's book also noted the death of Sydney Coursen.

Name & Description

Value

County Tax

State Tax

Township

Aaron R. Coursen

21 Acres

$147

2 Horses

$87

2 Cows

$18

$252

$1.64

$0.63

$0.25

Jacob Coursen

71 Acres

$497

2 Horses

$75

4 Cows

$36

$608

$3.95

$1.52

$0.61

Sydney S. Coursen, B.S.M.

Dead

Wm Coursen

47 Acres

$329

1 Horse

$37

1 Cow

$9

$375

$2.44

$0.24

$0.38

Wm Fonner

170 Acres

$1190

25 Acres

$150

3 Horses

$125

3 Cows

$27

$1492

$9.70

$3.73

$1.49

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1860 Tax Records Film Roll # 6503

The militia tax was back on the books in 1860. The Assesor's Books did not give a total value for the entire estate of an individual tax payer. Instead the books gave a total value for the real estate and a second value for the personal estate (i.e. cattle, buggies, carrriages, etc.). I have included a total for both the real and personal assests in ( ).

Name & Description

Value

County Tax

State Tax

Township

Militia

Aaron R. Coursen

21 Acres

$147

1 Horse, $30

1 Cow, $10

$40

($187)

1.40

$0.48

$0.49

$0.50

Jacob Coursen

71 Acres

$497

1 Horse, $30

3 Cows, $27

$57

($554)

$4.43

$1.39

$0.55

Wm Coursen

47 Acres

$329

1 Horse, $30

2 Cows, $18

$48

($377)

$3.02

$1.94

$0.38

Wm Fonner

170 Acres

$1190

25 Acres

$150

4 Horses, $80

3 Cows, $30

$110

($1450)

$11.60

$3.62

$1.45

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1861 Tax Records Film Roll # 6503

The militia tax continued in 1861, the year the Civil War began. Two more members of the Coursen family appear on the tax rolls for the first time, J.A. Coursen and James Coursen. James Coursen was probably the son of Jacob Coursen and the nephew of William Coursen. He was 21or 22 years old in 1861. The second individual, J.A. Coursen, has not yet been identified. He may be the same individual who appears in the 1863 tax assesor's book as J. Coursen, single freeman.

Name & Description

Value

County Tax

State Tax

Township

Militia

Aaron R. Coursen

21 Acres

$147

2 Horses

$60

2 Cows

$20

$227

$2.27

$0.57

$0.22

$0.50

J.A. Coursen

1 Cow

$10

$10

$0.10

$0.02

$0.01

Jacob Coursen

71 Acres

$497

2 Horses

$50

2 Cows

$20

$567

$5.67

$1.42

$0.56

James Coursen

1 Cow

$12

$12

$0.12

$0.03

$0.01

$0.50

Wm Coursen

47 Acres

$329

1 Horse

$30

2 Cows

$20

$379

$3.79

$0.95

$0.37

Wm Fonner

170 Acres

$1190

25 Acres

$150

2 Horses

$40

2 Cows

$20

$1400

$14.00

$3.50

$1.40

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1862 Tax Records Film Roll # 6503

In 1862, the tax assessor's books stopped spliting out the state, county and township taxes. Instead, the individual taxes were totaled together as one sum. The militia tax was still in effect, but was not figured in with the other taxes. In addition, a $0.50 dog registration fee was also charged. This was an annual fee that appears in taxs records until 1869. The fee was raised to $1.00 per year in 1867. The 1862 Shenago Township Assessor's Book included information about the Township's assets and valuations. Real estate for the entire township was valued at $147,740. Personal property (which included cattle, carriages, money at interest (in the bank), etc.) was valued at $25,225. Total Township assets were $172,965. Land was valued at $8.00 per acre, cows averaged $8.00 per animal, horses averaged $35.00 per animal and oxen were valued at $35.00 a pair. The original assesssment was revised, the tax books indicate that an extra $12.00 was added to every household's assessment.

Name/Description

Value

State/County/Township

Militia Tax

Dog Fee

Aaron R. Coursen

21 Acres

$136

1 Horse

$45

Revision

$12

$193

$2.13

Jacob Coursen

71 Acres

$455

2 Horses

$70

2 Cows

$18

1 Dog

$.050

Revision

$12

$555

$6.16

James Coursen

Military

$.050

Wm Coursen

47 Acres

$329

1 Horse

$35

3 Cows

$27

Revision

$12

$403

$4.49

Wm Fonner

170 Acres

$1190

25 Acres

$175

2 Horses

$50

5 Cows

$45

1 Dog

$.050

Revision

$12

$1472

$16.19

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1863 Tax Records Film Roll # 6503

In 1863, the Shenango Township tax assessor's books reported total township assests of $164,905. Real estate was valued at $147,885—up $145 from the 1862 value. Personal estates had a value of $14,418. This included a total of 17 carriages in the township, which were valued at $670. William Fonner was one of the carriage owners. Money at interest (in the bank or otherwise invested) came to a total of $2,602. The assessor's books also listed individuals who were delinquent in their militia tax. Included in the list were Aaron R. Coursen and James Coursen. The assesor's book did not list the total value of each individual's holdings. It is given here in ( ).

Name/Description

Value

State/County/Township

Militia Tax

Dog Fee

Aaron R. Coursen

21 Acres

$136

1 Horse, $30

$30

($166)

$3.57

$0.50

J. Coursen. single freeman

$0.50

$.050

Jacob Coursen

71 Acres

$455

2 Horses, $55

4 Cows, $28

$83

1 Dog

$.050

($538)

$11.36

Wm Coursen

47 Acres

$329

2 Horses, $30

2 Cows, $14

$44

($373)

$8.01

Wm Fonner

170 Acres

$1190

25 Acres

$175

2 Horses, $45

4 Cows, $32

$77

1 Carriage, $25

$25

$0.19

1 Dog

$.050

($1467)

$29.88

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1864 Tax Records Film Roll # 6503

Name/Description

Value

State/County/Township

Militia Tax

Dog Fee

Aaron R. Coursen

21 Acres

$136

($136)

$2.72

$0.50

J. Coursen, S.M.

$0.50

$.050

Jacob Coursen

71 Acres

$455

2 Horses, $50

4 Cows, $28

$78

1 Dog

$.050

$533

$10.65

Wm Coursen

47 Acres

$329

2 Horses, $50

2 Cows, $14

$64

$393

$7.86

Wm Fonner

170 Acres

$1190

25 Acres

$175

2 Horses, $50

4 Cows, $28

$28

1 Dog

$.050

$1443

$28.86

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1865 Tax Records Film Roll # 6503

Name/Description

Value

State/County/Township

Dog Fee

Aaron R. Coursen

21 Acres

$159

1 Cow, $10

at interest, $500

510

$519

$13.24

$0.50

Jacob Coursen

71 Acres

$496

1 Horse, $25

2 Cow, $18

$43

$539

$10.78

$.050

James Coursen

1 horse, $35

$35

$35

$0.70

Wm Coursen

47 Acres

$388

2 Mares, $58

1 Cow, $9

$67

$455

$9.10

Wm Fonner

120 Acres

$1050

25 Acres

$219

3 Horses, $75

5 Cows, $45

$120

$1389

$27.78

$.050

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1866 Tax Records Film Roll # 6503

This is the only year in the tax assessor's books for the years 1849 through 1870 which did not include the tax assessed against an individual.

Name/Description

Value

Dog Fee

Aaron R. Coursen

21 Acres

$152

2 Horses, $70

2 Cows, $18

$88

$240

Jacob Coursen

71 Acres

$496

2 Horses, $50

3 Cows, $27

$77

$573

$.050

James Coursen

1 horse, $35

$35

$35

Wm Coursen

47 Acres

$388

$388

Wm Fonner

120 Acres

$1050

25 Acres

$219

3 Horses, $75

4 Cows, $36

$111

$1380

$.050

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1867 Tax Records Film Roll # 6503

In 1867, the fee for the family dog went from $0.50 per year to $1.00 per year. James Coursen disappears from the tax list.

Name/Description

Value

State/County/Township

Dog Fee

Aaron R. Coursen

21 Acres

$102

$2.29

2 Horses, $70

2 Cows, $24

1 Buggy, $40

$184

$0.40

$286

$2.69

$1.00

Jacob Coursen

71 Acres

$496

4.58

1 Horse, $35

4 Cows, $48

$83

$0.25

$579

$4.78

$1.00

Wm Coursen

47 Acres

$388

$388

$3.10

Wm Fonner

120 Acres

$1050

$9.65

2 Horses, $75

3 Cows, $36

1 Pair Oxen, $45

$156

$0.47

$1206

$10.12

$1.00

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1868 Tax Records Film Roll # 6503

Jacob Coursen's son, Jacob Jr., appears in the tax list for the first time. He was 22 years old in 1868. The 1868 Assessor's Book states that there were 16,743 taxable acres on the books. In 1868, the assessment on an individual acre was raised from $8.00 per acre to $11.00 per acre. The average assesment for cattle was $15 per cow (an increase of $7.00), $45 per pair of oxen (an increase of $10.00), and $40 per horse (an increase of $10.00).

Name/Description

Value

State/County/Township

Dog Fee

Aaron R. Coursen

21 Acres

$189

$2.46

1 Horse, $45

2 Cows, $30

$75

$1.20

$264

$3.66

Jacob Coursen (Sen.)

71 Acres

$710

$9.23

2 Horses, $80

4 Cows, $60

$140

$2.24

$850

$11.47

Jacob Coursen day laborer

$0.50

$0.50

Wm Coursen

47 Acres

$554

$554

$7.20

Wm Fonner

120 Acres

$1380

$17.94

2 Horses, $80

3 Cows, $43

$123

$2.00

$1503

$19.94

$1.00

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1869 Tax Records Film Roll # 6503

The format for reporting changed in the Assessor's 1869 book. Jacob Coursen, son of Jacob, disappeared from the tax rolls, but was replaced by his 26 year old brother Marshall Coursen. Jacob Coursen, Sr. also disapeared from the tax rolls. He sold his property to his nephew Aaron R. Coursen (which is stated in the tax book). Jacob may have transferred his livestock to his son Marshall, although that is not stated in the tax book.

Name/Description

Value of Real Property

Value of Personal Property

Total Value

Tax

Dog Tax

Aaron R. Coursen

21 Acres

$189

71 Acres, transfered from Jac. Coursen

710

2 Horses

$70

3 Cows

$33

$899

$103

$1002

$13.33

Marshall Coursen

2 Horses

$70

3 Cows

$55

$0

$125

$125

$1.63

$1.00

Wm Coursen

47 Acres

$554

1 Horse

$30

$554

$30

$584

$7.96

Wm Fonner

120 Acres

$1380

2 Horses

$70

2 Cows

$20

$1380

$90

$1470

$19.38

$1.00

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1870 Tax Records Film Roll # 6503

The report format used in 1869, continued to be used 1870. The individual value of each type of livestock was no longer listed in the Assessor's Books. Nor was the dog tax reported in the Assessor's Books.

Name/Description

Value of Real Property

Value of Personal Property

Total Value

Tax

A.R. Coursen

21 Acres

$189

71 Acres

710

2 Horses, 2 cows

$110

$899

$110

$1009

$13.45

Marshall Coursen

2 Horses, 1 cow

$70

$0

$70

$70

$1.12

Wm Coursen

47 Acres

$554

$554

$0

$554

$7.20

Wm Fonner

120 Acres

$1380

2 Horses, 2 cows

$110

$1380

$110

$1490

$19.70

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This web site was produced by Timothy Doyle 5/5/98,
Questions regarding content should be directed to Esther Doyle Read edrtjd@charm.net