Hearth Tax Assessments 1662–1664
Extracted by Tony Higgins
The Hearth Tax was an attempt to tax people according to
their wealth, working on the principle that the wealthier they were the more
hearth's they would have in their home. The tax and variants were in
existence for several decades but records for this parish only exist for
1662 and 1664. It was often found that people had stopped up hearths after
the first taxation in order to reduce their tax
"The document here published is the Hearth Tax
Assessment for Dorset ...... for Michaelmas 1664; it is based on and
embodies the earlier assessment for 1662."
| Anthony Furseman 4 Mr Giles Turner 3 Steph’ Guy in John Streets house 5 Tho’ Gilbert in Wm’ Normans house 2 Joseph Symondes 3 Wm Hunt in Winifred Sumers house 2 Ann Dolling 1 Mary Bondfeild in John Streets house 1 Edward Keynell 4 Wm’ Dolling in John Edmondes house 1 John Welman in Eliz’ Mosse house 3 Bartho’ Forder in Rich Jones house 5 Richard Toope 5 John Knowles 2 Benjamin Tombs in Fran’ Trewes house 5 Thomas Hill in John Streetes house 1 Anne Street widd’ 1 Mr Nicho’ Gibbins in Mr Tho’ Groves house 6 Edm’ Speere in James Hainlandes house 1 John Miller in Alex’ Millers house 2 Edward Tewxbury 2 Peter Weys 2 Edward Harvey 3 Edward Harvey in John Streetes house 3 John Norman in James Hainlands 1 Richard Painter in Henry Streets house 6 The Lady Laurence and Wm Harvey in Mr Brune Daccombes house 10 Thomas Diverges 2 Eliz’ Mosse in John Streets house 1 Mr Wm’ Okeden in ye house of Wm’ Okeden Esq. 10 Andrew Benfeild in Philip Bayleys house 1 Wllm’ Norman 2 Willm Frampton 2 Mathew Mosse 4 |
Richard Parlett in John Streetes house 2 John Streete junr 2 James Summers 3 John Browne 3 Phillipp Bayly 2 Mrs Dorothy Dacomb wid’ 5 Phillipp Bayly 1 John George 1 Wm’ Grone in Robte Brownes house 2 Robte Perry, Rich’ Butt and James Dobson in Robte Halls house 3 Roger Baker in Robte Browns house 2 Nich’ Hill in Edward Dollins house 1 John Hayward 2 Alex’ Miller in Steph’ Guyes house 1 Richard Jones 3 John Norman in Mr James Hanilands 1 Jerome Dibbin in James Hanilandes 5 Jerome Dibbin in Tho’ Moores house 2 Tho’ Trew in Tho’ Summers house 2 Giles Browne 2 Elizabeth Webber in Thomas Summers 1 Widd’ Keynes 1 John Trew 3 Hen’ Smith in Dionis Smiths house 3 Wm’ Puckett in Wm’ Farrs house 3 Edw’ Abram’ in the widd’ Toopes house 4 Robte’ Harris in Mr Wm’ Cullefordes house 6 Gyles Parris 1 John Norman 1 Wm’ Peirce 1 Widd’ Eyres 1 Francis Trew 1 Henry Street 1 Nathall’ Smith 4 |
Transcribed from original returns on microfilm by Tony Higgins.
(Note: Ornate letters and unusual spellings introduce
uncertainties.)
The English Revolution (1640-60)
began in November 1640 when Charles 1st. summoned Parliament to help him out
of a financial crisis. Charles was very unpopular and was forced to agree to
radical reforms which gave Parliament a more prominent roll in the
constitution.
The political crisis escalated and
the "Long Parliament" split into two opposing parties in the Autumn of 1641,
forming the King's party of Royalists (Cavaliers) and the Parliamentarians
(Roundheads), who demanded further political and religious reforms. The
events of 1640/41 led to the Civil War which began in August 1642.
It was agreed and ordered on the 3rd
May 1641, that every Member of the House of Commons should make a
protestation (declaration of loyalty), which the House of Lords also agreed
to the following day.
The Commons ordered the printing of
the protestation and preamble on the 5th May 1641 and this was distributed
by the Members to their counties. The Protestation was to be made by
everyone and the Rectors, Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor had to
appear before the Justices of the Peace in their Hundred to make their
protestation and, on returning to their parishes, any two of them were to
witness the taking of the Protestation Oath by all males over the age of 18
years. All names were listed and anyone who refused was to be noted.
The protestation itself reads:-
I,-------- do, in the presence of
Almighty God, promise, vow, and protest to maintain, and defend as farr as
lawfully I maye, with my Life, Power and Estate, the true Reformed
Protestant religion, expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England,
against all Popery and Popish Innovations, within this Realme, contrary to
the same Doctrine, and according to the duty of my Allegiance, His Majesties
Royal Person, Honour and Estate, as alsoe the Power and Privileges of
Parliament, the lawful Rights and Liberties of the Subjects, and any person
that maketh this Protestation, in whatsoever he shall do in the lawful
Pursuance of the same; and to my power, and as farr as lawfully I may, I
will appose and by all good Ways and Means endeavour to bring to condign
Punishment all such as shall, either by Force, Practice, Councels, Plots,
Conspiracies, or otherwise, doe any Thing to the contrary of any Thing in
this present Protestation contained: and further, that I shall, in all just
and honourable ways, endeavour to preserve the Union and Peace betwixt the
Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland: and neither for Hope, Feare,
nor other Respect, shell relinquish this Promise, Vow and Protestation
(Note: Ornate letters and unusual spellings introduce uncertainties.)
| Giles Turner, Mayor Henrie Darkombe, gent Robte Darkombe, gent Brune Darkombe, gent William Okeden, gent Henrie Brine(?) Richard ffry William Norman William Dollinge Edward Talbott Anthony ffurseman John Streete Joseph Neale Senior John Purse Sen. Nicholas Bennet William fframpton John Toope William Kaynes Senior Giles Browne John Edmonde junior Mathew Mosse Sen William Yonge(?) David Dolling Joseph Dourke(?) George Streete Edward Bearham William Toope Robert Bearhame Charles Burgis Richard Beale John Eyres George Wheeler Chas Smith Charles Wedder(?) John Robbins Robert Welledge John Collins(?) Robert White Beniamin Devenish curat Edward Dollinge Robert Hendy John Harden Thomas Hellier John Purseman John Bearham John Purse junior Symon Bennet James Harbit Richard Smith William Beale Edward Barfoote George Dollinge William Bartlett Thomas Corbin William Stuckley(?) Thomas Kibbie(?) John Pooke Richard Addams John Hull John Collins George Pye Lewes .........(?) William Harden Charles Jerard Solomon Burgis Jervais Gillet Peter Waye Robert Ellett Richard Tiler Anthony Darcombe Edward Barnes James Purse Edmond Pooke |
Jerome Debien Edward Gardiner Thomas Dowland Nicholas Hill Jervais ffry Richard Toope William Muddell Steven Guy Marmaduke Green Thomas Horsey Thomas Ashe Coddie(?) Streete John Edmonde Sen Thomas Rose Thomas Hill George Gardner William ffarrant John Grover Sen Robert Ailes Nicholas Seaward Henrie Cotterell Thomas Mathews John Gover Junior James Bartlett William Bower William West Senior Joseph Neale Junior John Nynam John Gover Nicholas Jones Robert Turner John Manfeld Robert Burgis Robert Diall William Ormmell William Beale Senior Edward Bason Robert Gillett John Welstead John Barnes William Harris Morgan Ginkar( ?) Henrie Miller Thomas Martin Robert Bower John Gentell Henrie Readhead Steven Dollinge Nicholas Butt Richard Tibbes(?) William West Ju. James Harvie Ju. Henrie Dolling William Hull Philip Mascoll Antonie Seachfeild(?) Thomas Sommers William Collins William Talbott William Kanie(?) ju John Gamling Antonie Trowe(?) Giles Janes John Bushe John Bondfeild Edward Dye(?) [Wye(?)] William Gover William Erle Thomas Hynam John Puckette(?) Symon Davie Richard Rose Richard Smith |
William Collins Anthony Wye(?) [Dye(?)] Christofer Benfeild John Knowles Thomas Roe Mathew Mosse Richard Dammon Philip Pollard Thomas Grove ffrancis Hascall Robert Browne Thomas Janes ffrancis Trew Edward Harvy Nicholas Cobb Thomas Avery Thomas Parkins Henry Ware John Sey James Turner John Trew William Draiton Mathew Benfeild William Tibbes Thomas Welsteed John Benfeild Henrie Prower Robert Davie Richard Pearce(?) Christofer Minever Peter Whiffen Robert Gover Robert Browne Philip Bailey Lawrence ffry Robert Die Nicholas Gardner Henrie Culliford John Horsey Augustine Gover George Wheeler Alban Trew Dionis Smith Beniamin Tomes Hugh Pearce John Trew John Trew John Trew Jefferie Hauksburie John Welledge Alexander Collins Edward Sey John Higgens Dionis Besse Alexander Robbins Mathew Tubb Anthonie Browne Thomas Trew Nicholas Rogers David Grove John Burgis Edward Collins John Norman Thomas Coastfeild Thomas Tiler John Pushman Robert Coleman William Gardner William Kaynes Henrie Purfrey Samuell Jeffrey George Bondfeild |