Question: Does NEHGS
have any of the original records for the 1771 Direct Tax list for Massachusetts? I have used the published format but would
like to see the original someday.
Answer: The original manuscript used for the published The
Massachusetts Tax Valuation List of 1771 (Camden, Me: Picton Press, 1998) can
be accessed on microfilm from the Massachusetts Archives. NEHGS has possession of most of the Massachusetts 1798
Direct Tax records that were being discarded in the late 19th century,
some portions had been destroyed before we obtained the collection. For contact information for the Massachusetts
State Archives http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arccon.htm