The Hearth Tax Returns for Fishlake Lady Day 1672.
What is the Hearth Tax?
Information taken from David Hey’s, Journeys in Family History, 2004.
The Hearth Tax was the government's chief source of revenue during the reigns of Charles 11 and James 11. It was introduced in 1662 and was abolished after the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
Each hearth in a property was taxed at the rate of 2 shillings a year, payable in two installments at Lady Day and Michaelmas.
Householders were exempt if they were too poor to pay church or poor rates, if they occupied premises worth less than 20 shillings a year, or if their annual income was less than £10.
Hearth tax was assessed and collected in the various townships that formed the basic units of local government until the nineteenth century, with the assistant of the local constable. The money was taken to the high constable of the hundred or wapentake, who forwarded it to the sheriff of the county.
Collectors and constables had powers to enter houses to count the hearths but there are cases when they did not succeed. Generally speaking the number of hearths reflect the size of the building and therefore the wealth and importance of the householder.
The Fishlake Returns, with thanks to the Public Records Office.
Transcription of the returns.
John Carter 2
Willm Clarke 2
Thomas Padley 1
Mr Gilby 2
Nichollas Crabtree 1
Robert Dickinson 2
Widdow Beamond 1
Richard W……. 1
Henry Wright 2
Thomas Doughty 1
John Pettey 3
Mr James Mahum 2
Mr Simpson 2
Richard Crabtree 4
Willm Parkin 1
Thomas Bilsbeney 1
Thomas Wood 2
Willm Clarke 2
Thomas Fairburne 4
Steven Milns 3
Willm Smith 1
Mr Bragden 2
Richard Good 2
James Clarke 3
Mr Parkins 10
Richard Dawson 2
Richard Swindon 2
Thomas Parkin 1
Willm Allen 1
John Dawson 1
Richard Stead 1
John Whitacre 3
Richard Jackson 1
Willm Pease 2
John Pettey 2
Widdow Hill 1
Widdow Sawle 1
Robert Stothard 1
Steven Wharam 1
Robert Sikes 1
Willm Byfeild 1
Willm Byfeild 1
John Wayte 2
John Wayte 2
Thomas Atkin 2
John Doughty 1
Widdow Jurdy 1
John Doughty 1
Willm Wright 1
Thomas Goodridge 1
Thomas Rayney 2
Thomas Chantey 1
John Wilson 1
Mr Portington 5
Robert Parker 1
John Padley 3
John Hill 1
Robert Wright 1
Robert Bladworth 2
George Wright 2
Widdow Atkinson 2
Willm Doughty 1
Willm Chantrey 1
Richard Swindall 1
John Doughty 2
Thomas Womersley 2
Willm Brears 2
Mr Womersley 7
William Crabtree 1
Robert Hill 3
Robert Womersley 1
Widdow West 1
Thomas Blaydworth 1
Thomas Wright 1
Thomas Milnes 4
John Mitchell 3
John Doughty 1
Samuel Pinkin 2
Robert Beamond 1
Richard Goodridge 2
Richard Doughty 2
Thomas Goodridge 2
Richard Sayle 1
Peter Wright 2
Mary Doughty 1
John Wilson 2
David Jebb 2
Elizabeth Mankes 2
Willm Goodridge 1
Thomas Waite 1
Sarah Goodridge 2
Elizabeth Goodridge 1
Wiilm Bladworth 1
Mary Parkin 1
John Bladworth 2
Joseph Walker 2
Thomas Parkin 1
Robert Waite 2
Willm Trimingham 2
Richard Gamble 2
John Crabtree 1
Willm Seavens 1
194 (See below)
Empty & no duties to be had
Jo Godfrey 1
Sandell Schoole 1
Widdow Blaxton 2
Omitted by reason of poverty16
Robt B…. Collr (collector)
Robt Mere Const (Constable)
Notes.
Total recorded 194 actual total 183 hearths.
Total number of houses 102.
Households with large numbers of hearth includes.
Mr Parkin. Mr donates a gentleman without a title. 10.
Mr Portington 5.
Mr Womersley 7.
Rob Downing January 2019.