TITHES & TAXES
Tithe awards are usually among Diocesan records with maps and apportionments, Church courts dealing with fornication or non-observance of Sabbath etc. Bishops were also responsible for licensing Parish Clerks , Surgeons, Schoolmasters and Marriages.
RATE BOOKS
Church rates were compulsory from 1601 to 1868. In many localities the parishes overseer's records include payment details. They list householders and/or owners. Assessment of property values and rates levied.
Rate books are useful for checks on:
 |
When a family first occupied an address |
|
When a street was named. |
|
When houses were built |
Rate books systematically cover streets as a pre-runner for street directories.
HEARTH TAX 1668
- 1689
Two shillings (2/- ) was paid for each hearth & was payable by the house
holder - not house owner.
The records are headed 'in
bonis' (Humble) and 'in terris' (wealthy).
Paupers were exempt, but noted in
1664!
WINDOW TAX
At the height of this tax in 1808 it squeezed Eight Shillings (8/-) for each house with a maximum of six windows. One Pound (£1) with seven windows and One Pound & Thirteen Shillings (£1-13-0) with 8 windows! Hence many Georgian houses were dark!
In 1825 houses with less than eight windows became
exempt.
GAME TAX
Payable by all who where permitted to kill game & the list includes addresses.
SHOP TAX
This was a form of duty enforced by William Pitt to raise money for Wars. This is useful source for finding tradesmen.
