The Hearth Tax

By Wendy Gilding

The article reproduced below was published in our Local History Bulletin No. 14 (October 2006). Subsequent to this, we received further information on the same topic (obtained from http://www.hearthtax.org.uk/communities/eastriding/eastridingstats.html) that allows the following comparison to be made between Bishop Wilton and neighbouring places in the Harthill Wilton Beacon area: the total number of hearths for Bishop Wilton, as shown below, was 125; the equivalent number for Pocklington, the largest in the area, was 255; third after Bishop Wilton came Barmby Moor with 90. The figures for the largest dwelling were 13 for Kilnwick Percy, 12 for Bishop Wilton (for the Manor House) and 11 for Pocklington.

Taxes are never popular, but the Hearth Tax was worse than ever. Cromwell’s ‘Commonwealth’ was over, and Charles II arrived from Europe with suspect foreign and religious ideas. In 1662 the ‘Cavalier Parliament’ decided to impose a tax of 2 shillings per annum on each hearth or stove in all houses whose owner had property worth 20 shillings or more, unless receiving alms or poor relief.
The village constable and tithing-man listed those liable for the tax. If not satisfied with the house-holder’s statement, the constable was empowered to search the house. What an intrusion and who knew what he might spot when nosing around! The tax was evaded wherever possible; however, it is of interest to historians, as we are given the names of householders, in this case as delivered to the Quarter Sessions on Lady Day 1672. We can also compare the fluctuations of population in and between records from different taxes.
The Hearth Tax collection was so unreliable, raising only a fraction of the estimated amount, that a Receiver General was appointed, and collection twice farmed out by contract. In 1684 a Special Commission was appointed to undertake all collections, but in 1689 the tax was abandoned.
The number of hearths is only given in this list where there was more than one. I have not put them in alphabetical order, as they could possibly be in house order round the village.

Householder	Hearths	Householder	Hearths	Householder	Hearths
Ric. Darley	12	Elex. Burton		John Jelleyson
Mr Tho. Peacock	4	John Greane		Wm. Staveler
Mr Ralph Barnard	4	Tho. Richardson		Issabell Hodgson
Tho. Watterworth		Wm. Richardson		Tho. Stillburne
Hugh Jackson		Fran. Chambers		Wm. Sanderson
Sam. Hebden		Geo. Oliver		Jam. Clarkson
Widd[ow] Sanderson		Rich. Stamford		Tho. Sanderson
Robt. Sanderson		Mary Barnard		Tho. Clarkson
Robt. Williamson		Tho. Arnold	3	Wm. Burton
Bartho. Sanderson		John Hall		Rich. Bayley
Wm. Stevenson		Wm. Tate jun.		Ralph Banks
Wm. Cobb		Andw. Hall		Wm. Carner
John Sanderson jun.		Tho. Sanderson sen.		Rich. Oliver
Marm. Kettelsy		John Waer	3	Rich. Sanderson jun	4
Widd[ow] Haxby		Tho. Hide		Wm. Ward
John Robinson jun.	2	Ric. Sanderson sen		Wm. Richardson	2
Oswould Borse		Wm. Perkin		Wm. Harper	3
Widd[ow] Etty		Ric. Graves		Pett. Quarton sen
John Simpson		Thos. Oliver		Peter Quarton jun
John Sanderson sen.		Mich. Herbett		Mr Phinis Atkison of Bellthorpe Grainge	4
Tho. Carlton		Widd[ow] Barnard		Wm. Burton	forge
Tho. Butler		Wm. Tate		Wm. Cobb	forge
Rich. Cobb		Marm. Harper
Rich. Boze		Eliz. Michell
Eliz. Boze		Tho. Tindall
				TOTAL HEARTHS	104

These persons following are discharged by legall certificate:


Wm. Morley	John Tindall	Margt. Roscall	Alice Graves
Edw. Bollam	Eliz. Harby	Hester Peacock	John Haxby
Marg. Bollam	Alice Trayne	Jane Shann	Robt. Richardson
Margt.Richardson	Eliz. Mayson	Jane Johnson	Alex. Mitchell
Ann Wang	Eliz. Chambers	John Williamson	Robt. Mooreforth
			Ralph Barnard

		TOTAL HEARTHS	21

Viewed	Edw. Lambert
Coll.	Wm Carver, Constable
		Lady Day 1672

Transcribed by Ripon Historical Society and Ripon & Harrogate & District Family Group.

Comments on Hearth Tax from ‘Village Records’ by John West