Ky Tax Records of Catherine Eddleman,
her Sons: John and Daniel Eddleman,
and John Burger and his Sons

I saw these records in the Old Kentucky Capitol Building, Kentucky Historical Society, about 1980, but I did not copy everything for Burgers and plan to return some day. One should look in two counties because Bourbon County was split from Fayette County in 1786. 1787 is the first year of Bourbon County records. The Burgers and John Eddleman left KY for Indiana in 1911, but Daniel Eddleman bought Indiana land a year later. They bought the Indiana lands at the Jeffersonville land office.

These pages link to these tax records.

810 - Biography of Catherine Eddleman
811 - Biography of John Burger
812 - Biography of John Eddleman
813 - Biography of Daniel Eddleman

Louise Eddleman figures Catherine married Burger between 1783 and 1790. John Burgher and John Eddleman first paid taxes same day in 1987, but that does not prove the marriage date because 1) that was probably the first year John was 21 and 2) they may have just gone to town as neighbors, not family.

Paying Taxes in Kentucky

When a man became 21 in Kentucky (and Indiana) he had to pay a Poll Tax of $1 per year if he wanted to vote. If you failed to pay your property taxes, the County took your property. The County did not take your head if failed to pay tax on it. I have heard many old timers brag that they had always paid their Poll Tax; it was a matter of pride and good citizenship. Thus, the year a man first paid Poll Tax should be his 21st year of age, unless it was delayed one year as property taxes are. John Burger, John Eddleman, Daniel Eddleman, and later Michael Burger always paid their taxes the same day.

Paying County Taxes in Fayette County

I have no Fayette County tax records. I do not know whether I looked for such taxes at the State Museum. I have not been to Fayette County Courthouse. I have heard Fayette county records are complete from the founding of the county. 1786 would be the last year Catharine owed taxes in Fayette County. We need to check for those records.

Paying County Taxes in Bourbon County

Bourbon County was split off Fayette County in 1786. 1787 is the first year of Bourbon County records. I carefully checked for 1786 tax records of Bourbon County and found none.

Date Paid.........Taxpayer...........Poll....Horses... Real Estate, etc.

I carefully checked the 1796 records, but 1797 is the first year I found any Eddleman listed. I did not think to look for Burgers prior to 1797. I do have a note "....paid 92, 93, 94, 95, 96"; I think that means Burgers paid each of those years, but I did not record the details.

1797 Jul 4.......John Eddleman .....1.........1......No watercourses, etc. First year John paid any tax
.......which means John Eddleman was born in 1776 if he was 21 in 1797
...same day......John Burger Sr......1.........7.....400 acres....2 blacks....Townsend Waters
...same day......John Burger Jr.......1.........3.....no land
1798 ....no tax book available...
1799 Sep 12....John Eddleman......1........9......one white over 16 (poll) ...no Daniel poll tax
1800 June 4.....John Eddleman......1........4.......no real estate
.....same date ...Daniel Eddleman....1........2.......no real estate (suggests Daniel was born 1779)
1801 May 19...John Eddleman......1........2.......no land
..same day.......Daniel Eddleman... 1........3.......no land
1802 Jun 10.....John Eddleman......1........4.......no land
...same day......Daniel Eddleman....1........4.......no land
1803 May 18...John Eddleman......1........4.....50 acres of land
...same day.......Daniel Eddleman...1........4....50 acres of land
...There were 3 different tax rates on land, Eddleman and Burger had to pay the highest rate. Each land parcel also showed: to whose name entered, to whose name surveyed, to whose name patented(?). for each of these notations the Eddleman boys land assigned to Jno Burger. For the years 1803-1809 inclusive, John Eddleman and Daniel each appear to have had the use of and paid taxes on 50 acres of John Burger land which was in the highest tax catergory. For the next years I will omit all these details on entry, survey, and patent as it was to John Burger each year. I did not copy Burgers' tax records except for 1797.
1804 Jul 4.........John Eddleman.....1........5.....50 acres
...same day....... Daniel Eddleman..1........5.....50 acres
1805 Aug 15.....John Eddleman.....1........4.....50 acres
...same day........Daniel Eddleman...1.......6.....50 acres
1806 Jun 25.......John Eddleman....1........5.....50 acres
...same day.........Daniel Eddleman..1........5....50 acres
1807 Aug 22......John Eddleman....1........6.....50 acres
...same day.........Daniel Eddlema....1.......4.....50 acres
1808 Apr 1........John Eddleman....1........3.....50 acres
...same day.........Daniel Eddleman..1.......4.....50 acres
1809 Jun 12.......John Eddleman....1........6.....50 acres
...same day.........Daniel Eddleman..1........5....50 acres
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1809 was the last year that tax payments are shown for any Eddleman. In 1810 the county combined records to one book but there was no Eddleman in it. Recall family did not buy Indiana land until 1811. I do not know why we have these couple years of no taxes paid. I did not check whether the horses and land taxes were paid by John Burger for those years in question.

Birth Dates of John and Daniel Eddleman

The Birth Dates of John and Daniel can be computed from the dates they first paid poll tax. Daniel did not pay poll tax in 1799, but did pay in 1800. Since this tax was paid at age 21, we subtract 21 from 1800 and find his birth year was 1779 which fits perfectly with Catherine's claim that she settled on her Kentucky land in 1778 and Daniel's claim on all census records that he was born in Kentucky. John first paid poll tax in 1797 which places his birth year as 1776, unless he was late paying his poll tax. From census records I had calculated John's birth year as 1770-75 and felt 1774 was the best fit. It seems there is a possibility that John Eddleman might be older than 21 when he paid poll tax in 1797. All census records reflect John Eddleman was born in North Carolina and Daniel was born in Kentucky. In the census of 1850, Daniel reported he was 75 years old and was born in Kentucky. It is unlikely Catherine was in Kentuck in 1775 and I conclude Daniel claimed to be 4 years older than his actual age. If John was born in 1776 and Daniel in 1779, there might have been a child between them.

Suggestions, corrections, and comments are appreciated: Contact Harold Eddleman indbio@disknet.com