Estonia Land and Property: Difference between revisions

During the period of Swedish power (1561-1710), a great deal of attention was paid to the economic carrying capacity of farms before taxing and imposing burdens on the people. Detailed information was gathered for taxation purposes in the form of ploughland revisions (a compiled list of eligible taxpayers). These revisions and ''Wackenbücher'' (or ''wackeböcker'' - books drawn up at the ''Wacka'', the annual inspection of the peasants which included a land survey) began in the 17th century and can be found in archives in Estonia, Sweden, and Latvia. Some are also available on the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/search FamilySearch Catalog]. In North Estonia, ploughland revisions were carried out in 1725-1726, 1732, 1739, 1740, 1750-1751, 1756-1757, 1765, and 1774. In South Estonia, they were carried out in 1724, 1731, 1738, 1744, 1751, and 1758. The complete set of South-Estonian revision records are located in the Russian State Archives of Early Acts in Moscow.

Unfortunately, only the owner of the farm was named in ploughland revisions; the rest of the family are represented in figures across their age categories (categories included: the men with working capacity, the women with working capacity, old and injured men, old and injured women, boys, girls). Migration information was often included in revisions. An overview about animals on the farm (including horses, oxen, cattle, and young cattle) was also listed. The names of owners changed at times; nicknames or shortened names were sometimes used. The ''Wackenbücher'' presented all burdens and taxes in every variety.