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This poll book is an electoral census of the 7th Ward of New York City and is arranged alphabetically by street, and numerically by address.

This electoral census of the 7th Ward of New York City is arranged alphabetically by street, and numerically by address. Although the volume is not dated, cross referencing the names and addresses of the residents with New York city directories suggests a date of 1837-38.

The compiler of this census apparently walked up one side of each street and down the other, as the addresses frequently ascend in even numbers and then descend in odd numbers. At most addresses, he recorded the name of the occupant(s) and provided a one letter code, with occasional additional comments such as "alien," "minor," "not in county six months," "non-resident," or the number of occupants. The code letters, probably referring to voting status, are "G" (probably for good), "B" (for bad), or "D" (doubtful?). At times, the author also wrote "all good" or "all bad" for groups of names, and in several instances, identified places as a "Whig Colony" or "Democratic Colony." On page 19 are several pencil notations of "challenge," and one man on page 3 "will vote in 4th & 7th if he can."