The Thoresby Society Transactions Miscellanea volumes include many interesting articles. Volume XXIV (Miscellanea VII) includes an article by H.W. Thompson on a curious tax imposed in 1695. This was a Tax on Bachelors and Widowers. An Act of Parliament granted the King certain rates and duties to be paid at the time of births, marriages and burials, as well as those on bachelors and widowers. The main impetus appears to have been, as ever, the need to raise money for a war, this time against France.

It was originally meant to have been for 5 years but it must have been very successful as it was extended to 1706. The yearly average yield was £51,618.

Every unmarried male over 25 years of age, had to pay from 1s to £12.11s depending upon his means:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Duke paid the largest amount and then down through the peerage to a Baronet at £3.16s. A gentleman had to pay 6s. Members of the clergy and lawyers £1.6s and “persons not otherwise charged” 1s. The sums were collected twice a year, on Michaelmas Day and on Lady Day.

The following is an example printed of returns for parts of Yorkshire.

Guyesley	Michaelmas - £1.5s	Lady Day – 3s
Horseforth	Michaelmas - £1.6s	Lady Day - £2 18s
Rawdon	Michaelmas - £1 5s	Lady Day - £1 1s
Yeadon	Michaelmas – 15s	Lady Day - £1 4s
Garforth	Michaelmas – 15s	Lady Day – 11s 6d
Kippax	Michaelmas - £1	Lady Day - £1 10s 6d
Roundhey	Michaelmas – 5s	Lady Day – 9s
Seacroft	Michaelmas - £1 7s	Lady Day - £1 19s
Temple Newsome	Michaelmas - £3 3s	Lady Day - £17 12s 2d

Perhaps the Chancellor would like to add this to his taxation list! I am puzzled
as to who came up with the idea and how it managed to last so long.

Janet C. Senior, Assistant Librarian