What were they: They were a way of obtaining revenue to make up a shortfall in the Crown's revenue.

Time period: 1662-1689

Exemptions: persons who didn't pay church or poor rates ie paupers did not pay this tax. Persons living in a house worth under 20s a yer. Charitable institutions with an annual income under 100 pounds a year. Industrial hearths eg kilns, furnaces etc but smiths and bakers do not seem to have been exempt.

Who paid it: The occupier of the house. If a leaseholder was absent the landlord paid it.

How much: The Tax of a shilling per hearth was payable twice a year.

Therefore a Hearth Tax assessment is a list of persons, arranged by townships or parishes, which shows against each name the number of hearths in that person's occupation.

Initially only taxable persons were listed in the assessments. This was changed in 1663 and from then on both chargeable and non chargeable persons were shown.

Transcribed by: Marg Keable
Date Added: July 04, 2000

Surname, Forename	Amount Taxed	Notes
Rich STEVENSON gent	xj
Robt MORSE	ij
Thomas HARRY gent	iiij
Nich HOWES	j
Rich SEAMAN	j
Charles OSBORNE gent	ix
Henry WOODS	viij
John WADE	iij
Mr Is DUSSEN	vij
Robt SPOONER	ij
Nich ROOKEWOOD esq	xxj
Willm STOUTE	j
Willm FOSTER	j
Tho CODLINGE	j
Robt TAYLOR	ij
Willm SPARROW	j
Nich SHEPPARD	v
Tho GREENE	iiij
Mary HACON	j
John SABBERTON	iiij
Roger ALLEXANDER	j
Tho SPOONER	j
Francis HAMOND	x