The Hearth Tax for Shrivenham Oct 1662

Like most taxes, the Hearth Taxes of the 17th century were very unpopular. The newly installed King Charles II had ro raise money, and to charge people 1 shilling for every hearth they possessed in their houses was thought to be a fair way of administering it. Many of the poor classes were excluded. Today, they are interesting documents and provide us with a glimpse of who was living locally. Below is one of the collections for Shrivenham.

 

The Shrivenham Hearth Tax List. BRO MF652-Folio 87

 

A Return made by the Constable of Shrivenham of all the fire hearths that are in our Liberty, October 16, 1662.

 

John Wildman     2

Oliver Pleydell     7

William Langton     8

Mr Langton’s Widow     3

Mrs Jane Stratton     9

Thomas Bunce – Vicar     4

John Ridley, gent     5

Mrs Ann Fettiplace     2

Charles Blagrave     5

Thomas Clarke     6

William Warren     3

Thomas Midwinter     1

Thomas Brown     1

Thomas Anger     3

John Mirhall     2

Thomas Read     1

Widow Hunt     3

Richard Eloe     4

Thomas Gearing the elder     2

Thomas Sealey     2

John Sammon     2

Richard Ayres     1

Edward Prestwood     3

Henry Wilkins     1

Richard Day     2

William Naish     1

William Day     1

John Day     1

Robert Harding     1

 

The names of those that do not pay to the Church or give with their Hearths

 

 

John Bayley     1

Richard Osborn     3

William Eloe     1

John Cutler     2

Thomas Gearing the younger     2

William Parsons     2

John Stratton     1

Simon Leadbetter     5

Christopher Eloe     3

Widow Westbrook     3

John Joyner     1

Mary Blagrave - widow     4

John Charles     1

Robert Peeters     2

 

Given to the London Constable the sum of £5.17.00