(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved. Contact us for information about using this image.
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On July 9, 1798, the United States Congress passed an act providing for the valuation of lands and dwelling houses and the enumeration of slaves within the country. On July 14, another act was passed to lay and collect a direct tax. The states were divided into divisions and the President appointed a commissioner for each, who then divided them into assessment districts. The assessors were to compile a list of houses, land, and slaves and then evaluate and assess them accordingly. This notification is from the tax collector of the eighth division of Massachusetts, which was Hampshire County. It tells people where the assessments can be viewed and when he will be in the town of Hawley to collect the taxes due.