Taxpayers 1327-1666 - Hartley-Kent: The Website for Hartley

Most of the early records with names of taxpayers relate to a wealth tax called a subsidy, first levied by Edward I in 1290.  They were voted by Parliament for a specific purpose, such as a war.  in the countryside better off people paid 1/15th of their moveable property.  Some landowners who lived in the parish would be assessed on the value of their lands instead.   For a short time in Henry VIII's reign, some people were taxed on wages.

The 1377 poll tax was the first of its kind in England and the most successful in terms of revenue. It was repeated in 1379 and 1381, but abandoned after the widespread rioting that it caused in Kent and Essex. Its leader Wat Tyler is claimed by both Dartford and Maidstone.

As the preamble says, the 4d (about 1½p) tax was paid by every man or woman over the age of 14 - a total of 53 in the case of Hartley. It is estimated that to get a rough idea of population you need to add about 40% for children and 40% for evasion. This would give a population in Hartley of 80-100. Unfortunately the lists of names of taxpayers survive in few areas, and this area was not one of them.

Hartley - This indenture witnesseth that Richard atte Lese and his colleagues, collectors of 4d from each sane person, man and woman, of the age of 14 years and above, granted to the lord king.... in the county of Kent. Have received from Robert Jasper, constable of Hertley, Warin Dalton and Robert Baker, leading men of the same vill, 17s 8d for 53 people. In witness whereof the seal of the parties present has alternately been appended. Given there the 10th day of May in the said year (51 Edward III).

Fawkham

Robert Jasper, constable 48 people 16s

John Askelyn

Clement Fynyan

Longfield

John Hamond, constable 36 people 12s

William Mochered

John Meller

Asshe

John Hamond, constable 51 people [.....]

Robert Jasper

John Launce

This was anything but the free gift the name suggests.  It was taxation in another name, but enabled the monarch to circumvent Parliamentary scrutiny and assent.  See Wikipedia Article for background.

The valuations for the other local parishes was:

Fawkham: Thomas Walter (£40), Walter Pettytt (£10)

Ridley: James Averell (£20)

Ash: William Lance yeoman (£25), Robert Borowe (£20), William Warren sen (£10), Thomas Taylor (£10), Thomas Grenell (£10), Thomas Borowe (£10), Andrew Delasshe Alyen tyler (£8)

Longfield: William Lease yeoman (£13.6.8), John Middylton (£10)

Taxpayers from the other local parishes were:

Longfield: Henry Gatlande, Henry Cowlinge, Nicholas Middleton

Fawkham: Joan Maxfeilde, John Walter, Abraham Hackett

Ash cum Ridley: William Averell, Richard Whiffen, Richard Overie, William Hodsoll gent., Thomas Launce, Thomas Comforte

By this act of 1691 the Government hoped to raise £1.6 million for the war with France.  Kent's share of the tax would be £6,653 17s 4d.   Kent's assessement was exeeded only by the City of London, Northumberland, Devon and Norfolk.  It seems to have been like the old subsidy - assessed on both land and goods. The returns for Kent with the amounts collected by parish with the local collector's name, survive in the State Papers class of records at the National Archives.

Kent: A duplicate of the first quarterly payment of the tax granted unto their majesties by virtue of an act of Parliament entitled "Act for granting an aid to their Majesties of the sum of £1,651,702 18 shillings towards the carrying on a vigorous war against France.  Being levied withing the hundred of Axton and Dartford & Wilmington for their proportions.  Dated the 25th day of March in the 4th year of their Majesties' reign over England and year of the Lord 1692.