Analysis of hearth tax assessments: Ongar Hundred, 1662, 1670 and 1674

A History of the County of Essex: Volume 4, Ongar Hundred. Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1956.

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'Analysis of hearth tax assessments: Ongar Hundred, 1662, 1670 and 1674', in A History of the County of Essex: Volume 4, Ongar Hundred, (London, 1956) pp. 303-310. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/essex/vol4/pp303-310 [accessed 26 April 2024]

In this section

ANALYSIS OF HEARTH TAX ASSESSMENTS FOR ONGAR HUNDRED, 1662, 1670, AND 1674

For those of the years between 1662 and 1674 when the Hearth Tax was administered direct by the Crown there exist for Essex five Exchequer copies (not all complete) and two county duplicates of Assessments made under the Hearth Tax Act, 1662 (14 Chas. II, c. 10).1 Of these Assessments those portions of the Michaelmas 1662, Lady Day 1670, and Michaelmas 1674 Assessments relating to Ongar hundred have been selected for analysis here, for their value in illustrating the distribution of population and, to some extent, the varying levels of prosperity.

Apart from an alphabetical rearrangement of the parishes (the High Ongar hamlets of Bobbingworth and Marden End are shown beneath the parish) the principle of analysis follows closely the method of compilation. The number of entries per hearth total, in columns for 1-16 hearths and another for 17 hearths and above, is shown against each parish or hamlet and two further columns supply the total entries and total hearths. For the Michaelmas 1662 roll one line per parish is adequate, footnotes being provided to distinguish empty houses. For the later rolls separate lines are needed for the chargeables, certified exempt, paupers, and empty houses. In the rolls the empty houses are generally intermingled with the chargeables and have been transferred to the 'empty house' line in the appropriate hearth column. New building has been distinguished by footnotes which also draw attention to other peculiarities.

The Michaelmas 1662 Assessment is taken from the county duplicate (E.R.O. Q/RTh 1), the Exchequer copy of which, preserved at the Public Record Office (E179/246/8), being now defective. The Assessment was enrolled at the Quarter Sessions at Chelmsford on 15 July and its adjournments on 24 July and 26 August and subsequently returned into the Exchequer on a date now missing from the Public Record Office copy. It served for the collection of the tax for the three half years Michaelmas 1662 to Michaelmas 1663.

This, the least comprehensive of names of the three Assessments here printed, gives details only of all those persons legally liable for the tax together with their hearths, for no provision was made in the Hearth Tax Act of 1662 for the enrolment of those legally exempt. Assessments for Michaelmas 1662 are, generally speaking, the least useful for a local study. They are, however, those most widely preserved throughout the country and thus form a useful basis of county by county comparison for the same year.

The Michaelmas 1670 Assessment is taken from the county duplicate (E.R.O. Q/RTh 5), the lists of which it is the enrolment having been received at the county Quarter Sessions on 2 May 1671. The Exchequer copy is no longer extant. It served for the collection of the tax for the three half years Michaelmas 1669 to Michaelmas 1670. It seems to be the case that Assessments made at this time, where preserved, are the most comprehensive of the Assessments made during the second period (Michaelmas 1669-Lady Day 1674) of Crown administration of the tax. This roll, compiled in accordance with the Revising Act of 1663 (15 Chas. II, c. 13), shows first those liable for the tax, followed by those whose property qualifications and exemption from church and poor rates excused them from Hearth Tax payments on certification by the local justices. In some 16 parishes and hamlets a third group is shown: the parish paupers who as recipients of alms were automatically excluded. The inclusion of so many lists of paupers in this Assessment, which is paralleled in other counties, is probably due to the fact that these 1670 Assessments were the first to be made by a new administration. It is this roll above all which yields most information on the pattern of settlement and prevailing prosperity levels in Ongar hundred in the 17th century.

The Lady Day 1674 Assessment is taken from the Exchequer copy (E179/246/22), returned into Quarter Sessions at Chelmsford on 13 April 1675 and delivered into the Exchequer on 16 August 1675. In this Assessment fewer parishes are found returning paupers and their hearths. Instead of 16 parishes and hamlets, 3 parishes only enrol their paupers and 2 of them give no details of the paupers' hearths. This decline in the enrolment of paupers is also paralleled in other counties; it is probably due to the need for reducing unnecessary listing and enrolling. In some parishes where paupers are omitted, e.g. Chigwell, Kelvedon Hatch, and Theydon Garnon, there is a gain among the certified exempt, suggestive of mobility in the prosperity scale. In other parishes the paupers vanish from the rolls and the gross total for these parishes is decreased. Fluctuations in prosperity appear also to account for the return of paupers by Bobbingworth, Beauchamp Roding, and Stapleford Tawney in 1674; the entries are significantly similar to their certified exempt of 1670. Similarly the decreased number of those chargeable in 1674 is roughly balanced by increases in the certified exempt. In general, however, there is a total loss of some 100 entries due to the omission of paupers.

These differences in totals do not alone justify the inclusion here of extracts from the 1674 roll. The value of the 1674 Assessment lies in the indications it contains that the 1670 Assessment is less comprehensive than would at first appear. In the 1674 roll there are 23 entries in 18 parishes declaring that a particular person is charged on a stated number of hearths in 2 or 4 houses. Thus in Theydon Bois Thomas Bradley is charged on 11 hearths in 2 houses; in Lambourne Robert Masters has 9 hearths in 4 houses. When such entries are compared with those relating to the same taxpayer in the earlier Assessments, it is found that the taxpayer is charged on usually the same number of hearths, but in one house only, or that his name occurs more than once in the list of entries. Thus in 1662 and 1670 the same Thomas Bradley is charged on n hearths in one house but Robert Masters appears three times in the 1670 document with i, 3, and 3 hearths respectively. If the Bradley type of entry was a commoner practice in 1670 than the evidence has so far revealed it means that many families may be masked behind the Assessment entry.

One further omission from the Assessments earlier than 1670 may be noted, that of Morrell Roding. A search of the 1662 roll and the books for Lady Day 1666 (E179/246/19 and E179/246/20) shows that neither the hamlet of Morrell Roding as such nor its 4 taxpayers appear in Assessments made before the Michaelmas 1670 Assessment.

The information contained in these Assessments, despite possible omissions, enables the areas of settlement to be plotted with reasonable accuracy. There emerges from the data a somewhat complex pattern of settlement. The densest concentration is in the parish of Chipping Ongar with most of the population crowded into the small market-town. Then come the 3 contiguous parishes of Fyfield, Moreton, and Shelley north of Chipping Ongar. To the south-east there is a fairly high level of density, and a marked density in the case of Navestock. In the south-west, except for Chigwell, density is lower. The lowest densities are found in the sparsely inhabited parishes of Abbess Roding and Beauchamp Roding.

To some degree the stratification of society also is reflected in the Assessments. The larger houses, with 10 or more hearths, are found in all but 5 parishes but are most numerous in the south-west, a more fashionable area near London. Smaller houses on the other hand, except in the detached hamlets, are evenly scattered and the proportion of houses with 1 hearth and 2 hearths is remarkably uniform throughout.

One of the most striking features is the relatively low level of pauperism in this hundred when compared with some of the other Essex hundreds, particularly Hinckford. Expressed as a percentage of the total of taxpayers and paupers in parishes returning paupers in 1670 we find that paupers in Ongar hundred amount to 13 per cent. of the total. In the same Assessment, paupers in Hinckford hundred exceed 50 per cent. and outnumber by 110 entries those on whom the Poor Rate was levied.

MICHAELMAS 1662

Total of entries, with hearths Totals
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17+ Entries Hearths
BOBBINGWORTH 11 2 6 5 1 1 .. .. 3 .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. 30 103
CHIGWELL 52 29 19 14 6 9 8 1 3 2 1 2 1 2 .. .. 1(17) 150 511
FYFIELD 33 10 8 3 2 5 .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. 62 141
GREENSTEAD 'HAMLET' 3 3 .. .. 2 1 .. .. .. 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 46
KELVEDON HATCH 13 2 3 1 1 .. 3 .. 1 .. .. .. 1 1 1 1 .. 28 123
LAMBOURNE 11 10 8a 7b 6 2 1 1 3 .. 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. 51 190
LAVER, HIGH 4 7 5 4c 1 1 .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 68
LAVER, LITTLE 3 5 1 .. .. 1 .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 30
LAVER, MAGDALEN 7 2 5 4 3 1 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 78
LOUGHTON 12 19d 15 14e 6 3 1 1 .. 2f 1 .. .. .. .. .. 1(35) 75 280
MORETON 9 9 3 3 3 3 1 .. .. 1 .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 33 111
NAVESTOCK 47 24 11 12 3 1 4 3 2 .. .. 1 1 .. .. .. .. 109 292
NORTON MANDEVILLE 6 5 1 4 2 .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 53
ONGAR, CHIPPING 8 18 9 5 4 .. 1 2 3 .. 1 .. .. 1 .. .. .. 52 186
ONGAR, HIGH 29 16 8 3 4 3 .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 65 156
Hamlets of: BOBBINGWORTH .. 1 2 .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 14
MARDEN END 2 1 1 1 .. .. .. 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 28
RODING, ABBESS 3 2 4 1 .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1(20) 12 49
RODING, BEAUCHAMP 7 1 1 4 1 .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 40
SHELLEY 1 6 2 2 1 .. 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 47
STANFORD RIVERS 11 10 8 3 6 4 1 4 2 1 .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. 51 203
STAPLEFORD ABBOTS 10 5g 8 5 2 1 1 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1(40)g 36 158
STAPLEFORD TAWNEY 4 4 5 2 .. .. .. 1 2 .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. 19 76
STONDON MASSEY 2 4 7 .. 1 1 1 2 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 19 74
THEYDON BOIS 9 11 5 4 2 .. 1 .. .. .. 1 .. .. 1 .. .. .. 34 104
THEYDON GARNON 15 8 14 6 7 7 5 1 .. .. 1 1 .. 1 .. .. 2(22)(23) 68 299
THEYDON MOUNT 9 3 4 3 1 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1(22) 23 79
WEALD, NORTH BASSETT 16 9 9 4 1 6 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 45 118
Totals 337 226 172 114 66 53 32 25 21 7 7 7 5 6 4 1 7 1,090 3,657h

MICHAELMAS 1670

Total of entries, with hearths Totals
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17+ Entries Hearths
BOBBINGWORTH
Charged		 13 3 5 5 1 1 .. .. 3 .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. 32 104
Exempt 8 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 8
Total 40 112
CHIGWELL
Charged		 36 28 19 14 5 10 6 .. 4 2 1 1 .. 2 1 .. 1(24) 130 478
Exempt 17 4 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 25
Paupers 8 3 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 17
Empty .. .. .. 2 .. .. 1a .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 15
Total 166 535
FYFIELD
Charged		 22 12 10 3 3 3 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 54 128
Exempt 25 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27 29
Paupers 8 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 8
Total 89 165
GREENSTEAD
'HAMLET'
Charged		 4 2 1 2 1 1 .. .. .. .. 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 52
KELVEDON HATCH
Charged		 8 2 2 1 1 .. 3 .. 1 .. .. .. 1 .. 2 1 .. 22 116
Exempt 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 3
Paupers 8 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 10
Total 33 129
LAMBOURNE
Charged		 10 6 7 8 5 3 1 1 3 .. 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. 46 183
Exempt 3 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 3
Paupers 3 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 5
Total 53 191
LAVER, HIGH
Charged		 6 10 6 1 1 1 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. 28 89
Exempt 10 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 14
Paupers 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 2
Total 42 105
LAVER, MAGDALENb
Charged		 8 7 6 6 3 2 3 .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 36 122
Exempt 5 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 9
Paupers 2 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 4
Total 46 135
LOUGHTON
Charged		 12 15 16c 12c 4 3 1 1c 1 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. 1(27) 68 248
Exempt 10 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 14
Paupers 8 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 12
Total 90 274
MORETON
Charged		 16 9 3 3 3 2 1 1 .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 39 111
Exempt 13 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 13
Paupers 5 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 5
Total 57 129
NAVESTOCK
Charged		 41 17 18d 10 3 1 4 2 2 .. .. 1 1 .. .. .. .. 100 277
Exempt 13 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 17
Paupers 12 2 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 19
Empty .. .. .. 3 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 12
Total 133 325
NORTON MANDEVILLE
Charged		 4 4 .. 4 3 .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 51
Exempt 3 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 3
Total 19 54

MICHAELMAS 1670 (cont.)

Total of entries, with hearths Totals
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17+ Entries Hearths
ONGAR, CHIPPING
Charged		 8 15 15 4 5e 2 1 2 1 1f 1 .. .. .. .. .. 1(20) 56 209
Exempt 22 5 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27 32
Paupers 3 7 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 17
Empty 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 3
Total 95 261
ONGAR, HIGH
Charged		 15 10g 7 4 5 3 .. 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 46 131
Exempt 11 5 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 21
Paupers 7 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 11
Empty 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1
Total 72 164
BOBBINGWORTH
'HAMLET'
Charged		 .. 1 1 1 .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 15
Exempt 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 2
Pauper 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1
Total 7 18
MARDEN END HAMLET
Charged		 2 2 1 .. .. 1 .. .. 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 33
RODING, ABBESS
Charged		 4 2 4 1 .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1(20) 13 50
RODING, BEAUCHAMP
Charged		 7 1 3 2 1 .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 38
Exempt 3 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 5
Total 19 43
RODING, MORRELL
Charged		 .. .. 1 1 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 18
SHELLEY
Charged		 2 6 2 1 2 .. 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 49
Exempt 6 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 6
Total 21 55
STANFORD RIVERS
Charged		 16 11 11 10 7 5 1 2 .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. 65 225
Exempt 12 3 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 18
Empty 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 1
Total 81 244
STAPLEFORD ABBOTS
Charged		 12 5 8 4 2 2 3 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1(40) 38 160
Exempt 7 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 9
Total 46 169
STAPLEFORD TAWNEY
Charged		 4 3 4 3 1 .. 1 .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1 1 .. .. 19 84
Exempt 6 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 8
Total 26 92
STONDON MASSEY
Charged		 5 2 5 1 .. 1 .. 3 .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. 18 70
Exempt 6 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 8
Paupers 4 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 6
Total 30 84
THEYDON BOIS
Charged		 8 16 3 4 2 .. 1 .. .. .. 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. 36 105
Exempt 5 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 5
Total 41 110

Robert Greene is charged on 3 newly built hearths. A Robert Greene is also found among the chargeables with 2 hearths. Cf. 1674 Lady Day where he is charged on 5 hearths in 2 houses.

MICHAELMAS 1670 (cont.)

Total of entries, with hearths Totals
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17+ Entries Hearths
THEYDON GARNON
Charged		 8 9 14 8 6 10 3 .. .. .. 1 2 .. .. .. .. 2(22)(24) 63 292
Exempt 5 8 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 21
Paupers 3 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 7
Empty .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 7
Total 82 327
THEYDON MOUNT
Charged		 8 4 4 2 1 1 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1(22) 23 83
Exempt 8 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 8
Paupers 3 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 3
Total 34 94
WEALD, NORTH BASSETT
Charged		 14 6 12 3 2 5 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 43 121
Exempt 4 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 4
Paupers 14 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 19
Total 63 144
Total 592 272 191 123 68 60 38 16 19 6 8 8 3 3 6 2 8 1,423 4,112

LADY DAY 1674

Total of entries, with hearths Totals
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17+ Entries Hearths
BOBBINGWORTH
Charged		 12 2 6 6 2 .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1(21)a 30 98
Paupersb .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 b
Empty 1c 1 .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 9
Total 39 107
CHIGWELL
Charged		 20d 21e 20 16a 6 9 8 1 3 2 1 1 1f g .. 1 1(33) 113 494
Exempt 33 3 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 36 39
Empty .. 1 .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 8
Total 151 541
FYFIELD
Charged		 21 6 8 2 3a 3h .. .. 1 .. 1a 1 .. .. .. .. .. 46 130
Exempt 27 3 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30 33
Total 76 163
GREENSTEAD 'HAMLET'
Charged		 2 2 .. .. 2 2a .. .. .. .. 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 50
KELVEDON HATCH
Charged		 8 3 2 2 1 .. 3 .. 1 .. .. .. 1 .. 1 1 .. 23 107
Exempt 9 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 11
Total 33 118
LAMBOURNE
Charged		 5 8 5 7 6 2 1 1 4l .. 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. 41 180
Exempt 9 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 11
Total 51 191

LADY DAY 1674 (cont.)

Total of entries, with hearths Totals
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17+ Entries Hearths
LAVER, HIGH
Charged		 6 11 4 1 1 1 1a 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 93
Exempt 13 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 13
Total 41 106
LAVER, LITTLE
Charged		 3 3 3 1 .. 2a 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 41
LAVER, MAGDALENk
Charged		 6 3 3 5 3 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 84
Exempt 5 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 7
Total 29 91
LOUGHTON
Charged		 9 14 11 15l 6l 3a 2 1 1 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. 1(23) 65 253
Exempt 6 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 6
Empty .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 2
Total 72 261
MORETON
Charged		 14 7 2 3 5a 2a 1 .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1m .. .. .. 36 113
Exempt 10 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 10
Total 46 123
NAVESTOCK
Charged		 31n 12 18 9a 4a 2 4 1 2 .. .. 1 1 .. .. .. .. 85 256
Exempt 20 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 20
Empty .. 1 .. .. .. .. : .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 2
Total 106 278
NORTON MANDEVILLE
Charged		 4 5 .. 4 3 .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 53
Exempt 4 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 4
Total 21 57
ONGAR, CHIPPING
Charged		 7 13 12 3 5 1 1 2 2 1 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. 49 185
Exempt 22 4 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 30
Empty .. 10 .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 6
Total 77 221
ONGAR, HIGH
Charged		 13 6 7a 6 4 3 .. 2 .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 42 134
Exempt 19 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 23
Empty 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 3
Total 65 160
BOBBINGWORTH 'HAMLET'
Charged		 .. .. 1 1 .. .. .. 1a .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 15
MARDEN END 'HAMLET'
Charged		 2 2 1 .. .. 1 .. .. 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 8 33
RODING, ABBESS
Charged		 1 3a 4 1 .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1(20) 11 49
RODING, BEAUCHAMP
Charged		 8 .. 3 2 1 .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 37
Paupersp 3 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 5
Total 19 42
RODING, MORRELL
Charged		 .. .. 1 1 1 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 18

LADY DAY 1674 (cont.)

Total of entries, with hearths Totals
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17+ Entries Hearths
SHELLEY
Charged		 4 5q 3 1 2 1 1r .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 50
Exempt 4 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 4
Total 21 54
STANFORD RIVERS
Charged		 11 7 10 9 7 5 1 2d .. 1 .. .. .. 1d .. 1 .. 55 219
Exempt 24 5 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 29 34
Total 84 253
STAPLEFORD ABBOTS
Charged		 11 5 8s 3 1 2 4a .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1(40) 36 157
Exempt 8 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 10
Empty .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 5
Total 46 172
STAPLEFORD TAWNEY
Charged		 4 4 3 4 1 .. 1 .. 1 .. .. .. .. 1 1 .. .. 20 87
Paupersb .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 b
Total 26 87
STONDON MASSEY
Charged		 2 4 7 .. .. 1 .. 3 .. .. .. .. 1 .. .. .. .. 18 74
Exempt 8 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 10
Total 27 84
THEYDON BOIS
Charged		 6 11 5 6 2 .. 1 -1 .. .. 1a .. .. .. .. .. .. 33 103
Exempt 12 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 14
Total 46 117
THEYDON GARNON
Charged		 5 12t 14 7u 8 9a 1 1 3a .. 1 1 .. .. .. .. 2(22)(24) 64 304
Exempt 17 4 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 25
Empty .. .. 1 1 .. .. 1v .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 14
Total 88 343
THEYDON MOUNT
Charged		 7 3 5 2 1 1 2 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1(22) 22 83
Exempt 9 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 11
Total 32 94
WEALD, NORTH BASSETT
Charged		 15w 9a 11x 3 2 4 1 .. 1 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 46 128
Exempt 11 4 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 13
Total 58 141
Totals 512 217 178 122 78 59 36 19 23 6 10 5 4 5 4 3 8 1,303y 4,010y

Footnotes

  • 9. Exchequer copies not mentioned in this Introduction are those for 1664 Mich. (serving for Michaelmas 1664-Michaelmas 1665), incomplete, and 1673 Lady Day (serving for Lady Day 1672-Lady Day 1673), damaged. Most of the original lists from which the latter were enrolled are preserved at the Essex Record Office. For some account of the Tax and its administration see V.C.H. Cambs. iv, 272. The compiler of the present tables is indebted to Mr. C. A. F. Meekings for the correct tax dating of these Assessments and for other advice.
  • 1. Includes an entry that Robert Masters is charged on 3 hearths in an empty house.
  • 2. The entry states that Henry Oddin in 2 houses is chargeable on 4 hearths.
  • 3. Includes an entry for the parsonage.
  • 4. Includes an entry for an empty house with 2 hearths.
  • 5. Includes an entry which states that John Rodgers and John Avery are jointly charged on 4 hearths.
  • 6. Includes an entry which states that-Collard gentleman and John Cudge are jointly charged on 10 hearths.
  • 7. An entry which states that Sir Robert Abdy, Bt., is charged on 40 hearths and also for 2 in an empty tenement.
  • 8. In E360/54 Benjamin Wright the sheriff is charged on 3,693 hearths.
  • 10. This entry is among the paupers.
  • 11. The entries for Little Laver are included in Magdalen Laver return.
  • 12. Includes an entry which states that Robert Dawges refused to pay for 3 separate houses in his possession with 3, 4, and 7 hearths respectively.
  • 13. Includes an entry, inserted below but separate from the certified exempt and presumably misplaced in error, which states that
  • 14. Includes an entry for 5 newly built hearths.
  • 15. This entry charges Elizabeth Gouldesborough on 6 hearths for the castle for which she has not been charged in the earlier entry of 10 hearths.
  • 16. Includes an entry which states that Christopher Watson refused to pay and has nothing for distress.
  • 17. Includes an entry which states that the taxpayer is charged on the given number of hearths in 2 houses.
  • 18. No paupers' hearths given.
  • 19. Includes an entry which states that the 1 hearth shown is decayed.
  • 20. Includes an entry that the taxpayer is charged on 1 hearth that is newly built.
  • 21. Includes one entry that the taxpayer has newly built 2 hearths and is chargeable on a total of 2 hearths and another entry that a second taxpayer has newly built 2 hearths; no total number of hearths is given.
  • 22. Includes an entry that the taxpayer has newly built 13 hearths; no total number of hearths is given.
  • 23. Includes an entry that the taxpayer has newly built 2 hearths and his total of hearths is 14.
  • 24. Includes an entry that the taxpayer has newly built 2 hearths and his total of hearths is 6.
  • 25. Includes an entry which states that the taxpayer is charged on the given number of hearths in 4 houses.
  • 26. MS. is defective, not all hearth entries are legible and the total in the final column is that shown on the roll.
  • 27. Includes an entry which states that the taxpayer is chargeable on 4 hearths and on a further 5 in respect of the parsonage.
  • 28. Includes an entry which states that in 2 houses there is 1 hearth decayed, leaving a total of 14 hearths.
  • 29. Includes an entry that 1 hearth is decayed leaving 1 on which the taxpayer is charged.
  • 30. Includes an entry which states that F. Warner, in an empty house, the schoolhouse, is chargeable on 2 hearths and that there is nothing for distress.
  • 31. The entry states that there are 4 persons, presumably heads of households, who are in receipt of alms and are therefore omitted; they have 5 hearths.
  • 32. Includes an entry that there are 2 newly built hearths in a total of 2.
  • 33. Includes an entry that there are 7 newly built hearths in a total of 7.
  • 34. Includes an entry that there are 3 newly built hearths in a total of 3.
  • 35. Includes an entry that there are 2 newly built hearths in a total of 2.
  • 36. Includes an entry that 1 hearth is decayed leaving a total of 4.
  • 37. The entry states that there are 3 empty houses with a total of 7 hearths.
  • 38. Includes an entry that 1 hearth is newly built; the total is 1.
  • 39. Includes an entry that Richard Gladwin and John Bevan are jointly charged on 3 hearths.
  • 40. In cross-totalling allowance must be made for the omission of 2 entries in the Magdalen Laver chargeables and of the pauper hearths in Bobbingworth and Stapleford Tawney.
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