About This Collection
A record of contingent expenses disbursed and taxes and fees collected by the Auditor General's Office. Disbursements most often covered such routine items as pensions, canal and bridge expenses, and militia expenses. Information found include the name of the individual to whom funds were disbursed, the purpose of the disbursement, the date of the disbursement, and the amount of the disbursement. The income was most frequently derived from canal tolls, tavern and retail licenses, land sales, taxes on collateral inheritances and stock dividends, country rates, and auction duties. Information found includes date of receipt or disbursement, name of person remitting or receiving the funds, and the amount remitted or disbursed. For the Civil War era, the books contain a record of funds disbursed for militia and troop transportation and funds collected from tolls, licenses, and land sales. Militia expenses cover defense of the Commonwealth, acquisition of land for the soldiers' cemetery at Gettysburg, and the removal and burial of deceased Union soldiers. Images are arranged chronologically by date of disbursement or receipt. This collection is part of the Office of the Auditor General which audits the fiscal affairs for the Commonwealth.