6 Patterns of wealth distribution in tax assessments and inventories of estates were as follows, for urban Philadelphia and rural Chester County from 1684 to 1750.
|
Chester Co. |
Philadelphia |
Chester Co. |
Philadelphia |
|
Tax Lists |
Tax Lists |
Inventories |
Inventories |
Year |
(top 10%) |
(top 10%) |
(*top 20%) |
(top 10%) |
1684-99 |
|
|
|
36.4% |
1693 |
23.8% |
46.0% |
|
|
1700-15 |
|
|
|
41.3% |
1715 |
25.9% |
|
|
|
1714-31 |
|
|
*46.4% |
|
1716-25 |
|
|
|
46.8% |
1730 |
28.6% |
|
|
|
1726-35 |
|
|
|
53.6% |
1734-45 |
|
|
*53.0% |
51.3% |
1748 |
28.7% |
|
|
|
1756 |
|
46.6% |
|
|
Sources include Lemon and Nash, “The Distribution of Wealth in Eighteenth Century America”; G. B. Nash, “Urban Wealth and Poverty in Pre-Revolutionary America,” JIH 6 (1976), 545-84; G. B. Nash, “Poverty and Poor Relief in Pre-Revolutionary Philadelphia, WMQ3 33 (1976), 3-30; Duane Ball, “Population and Wealth in Pennsylvania,” JIH 6 (1976), 545.