1571 Lay Subsidy for Stottesdon Hundred

In the 16th and early 17th centuries, taxation followed the medieval pattern of “subsidies”, granted by parliament to the crown, nominally to meet particular circumstances. Using a formula that originated in the 14th Century, the amount expected to be raised from each community was decided in advance and then the inhabitants were taxed a proportion of their nominal wealth until the sum had been raised. For a small subsidy, only a few individuals in each community would need to contribute. Clergy were taxed separately; hence the assessments are known as lay subsidies.

This is the list of contributors to the first instalment of a 1571 subsidy, granted by Parliament in April 1571. It lists the individuals in the Stottesdon Hundred who contributed. Sir George Blount, one of the commissioners, was lord of Kinlet and would have the local knowledge necessary to ensure the tax was properly collected. Individuals were assessed on their “moveable goods” (ie possessions) at the rate of 1/12th of their value or on the land that they owned, at the rate of 2/15th s of its assessed value. The assessments provide only a rough estimate of the true value of an individual’s wealth, but they are useful for comparative purposes.

In the account below, the person’s name is recorded, then the value of the assessment whether in goods or land and finally the amount of tax due. A feature of particular interest are the Frenchmen in Cleobury Foreign, brought in from the Weald to work the newly opened blast furnace.

The transcript was done by Dr Gwyneth Nair. The original document is in the National Archives, E179/167/44. It also includes the assessments for Brimstree and Overs Hundreds but these have not been transcribed.

1571 Lay Subsidy

The certificate indented made by Sir George Blount and Thurstanie Woodcocke esquire commyssyoners amongst others appointed for the fyrste payment of the subsydie in the countie of Salop granted unto the Queens majestie in the high courte of Parlyament holden at Westminster the second daie of Aprill in the X111th yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Ladie Elizabeth by the grace of God of England France and Ireland Quene , defender of the faith, etc and lymitted and allotted to the hundred of Stoterston Brimstree and Overs the towne of Ludlowe and the towne of Bridgnorth for the assessing rating and taxing of all and every such some and somes of money as are due to be paied in the said hundred and townes upon the persons undernamed as appereth in the severall parishes townes places and hamlettes hereafter expressed and to be paied to ?? the Quene’s Majestie in her highness receipte of Exchequer before the XXth day of Novembre next comyng. In witnes whereof the said Commysyoners to other parte of these presents certificate and put to their seales and subscrybed there names the [blank] day of [blank] the year above specified.
The assessment of the hundred of Stoterston and Franiches? of Cleobury in the Countie of Salop:

Asheford
Henry Boorton in landes 20s 3s 8d
William Howton in goodes £3 5s

Grete
Theyres of William Norton viz
Margery and Johane Norton in landes £3 8s

Coreley Hintes and Hope Baggot
John Hopkys in goodes £3 5s
Robart Wadington in goodes £3 5s
George Starye in goodes £4 6s 8d

Cleobury Mortymer
Richard Cowper gent in landes £4 10s 8d
Edward Dolman in landes 40s 5s 4d
Willyam Nashe in goodes £3 5s
Robart Hayles in goodes £3 5s

Cleobury Foren
Richard Kettelsbie gent in landes £8 21s 4d
Elizabeth Farmar vid in goodes £5 8s 4d
Richard Wyre in goodes £5 8s 4d
Foulke Tedstill in goodes £5 8s 4d
William Hawle in goodes £4 6s 8d
John Cowley in goodes £3 5s
The names of Fenchmen there
Howgate Foundar in goodes £10 34s 4d
Gyllam Fynar in goodes £3 5s
John Done in goodes £3 5s
John Bray in goodes £3 5s
Clowde Stronchin £3 5s
[blank] Hussey in goodes £5 16s 8d
Gillam Collyer - 4d

Cainham
William Hybbens in lande £10 26s 8d
Roger Byrrye in goods £5 8s 4d
Richard Maylard in goods £4 6s 8d
John Poughnell in goods £5 8s 4d
John Cardington in goods £5 8s 4d

Doddington
Roger Ropar in goods £6 10s
Willyam Parkar in goods £6 10s
Henry Cooke in goods £6 10s

Walton
Thomas Rushebury in goods £5 8s 4d

Sydbury
Robart Purslowe gent in landes £8 21s 4d
John Purslowe gent in lande 40s 5s 4d
Edward Purslowe in goods £4 6s 8d

Neen Savage
Thomas Worley in goods £5 8s 4d
Richard Norgrove in goodes £5 8s 4d
Edward Bushopp in goodes £3 5s
Thomas Hayles in goods £4 6s 8d
Richard Hopkys in goodes £3 5s

Kynlet
Sir George Blount knight in lande £20 53s 4d
George Piggot in lande 40s 5s 4d
Thomas Southall in goodes £5 8s 4d
Humfrey Southall in goodes £5 8s 4d
John Tedstill in goodes £3 5s

Ewdon George
Willyam Tedstill in lande 20s 2s 8d
Thomas Levington in goodes £6 10s

Ad in Hundred de Stoterston
Higley
Thomas Lowe of Bowre mill in lande £4 10s 8d
Olyver Harryes in lande 30s 4s
Thurstan Hollowey in goods £4 6s 8d

Nyneton
Hugh Cowling in goods £5 8s 4d
Edward Smalman in goods £4 6s 8d
Nicholas Ree in goods £4 6s 8d

Overton
Thomas Wynne the elder in goods £6 10s
John Grove in goods £5 8s 4d

Chelmarsh
John Foxall in lande 40s 5s 4d
William Palmer in lande 20s 2s 8d
Katheryn Doode in lande 20s 2s 8d
Thomas Head in lande 20s 2s 8d
William Crateford in goods £5 8s 4d
Thomas Lawrence in goods £5 8s 4d
John Doode the elder in goods £3 5s
Richard Wall in goods £3 5s

Shipley Rudge
Sybblie Jammes in goods £9 15s

Burwarton
William Holland in lande 40s 5s 4d
Richard Holland in goods £3 5s

Sheynton
Richard Harnage in lande 40s 5s 4d
Thomas Kynricke in lande 20s 2s 8d
Peter Wood in goods £6 10s
William Trowe in goods £3 5s
Roger Gardener in £3 5s
Thomas Batley in goods £3 5s

Earnewood
Allen Hamond in lande 40s 5s 4d
Humfrey Whelar in goods £4 5s
Thomas Dallowe in goods £3 5s

Wricton and Walslowe
Roger Tedstill in goods £6 10s
Robart Overton in goods £4 6s 8d
Henry Trowe in goods £3 5s
William Cocke in goods £3 5s
Richard Fewtrell and his
mother in lawe in lande 40s 5s 4d

Morveld and Walton
William Farmer in goods £6 10s

Bottrells Aston & Whettell
William Bottrell gent in lande £6 13s
Robart Detton gent in lande £6 16s
Henry Wall in lande 40s 5s 4d
John Sheppard in lande 20s 2s 8d
Arthur Coxson in lande 20s 2s 8d
Thomas Myllychop in goods £3 5s

Upton Cresset
Katheryn Cresset wid in lande 40s 5s 4d
Richard Cresset in goods £6 10s
Richard Harley in goods £4 6s 8d

Scryvens Middleton
Jane Whitton vid in lande 40s 5s 4d
George Northwood in lande 40s 5s 4d
John Brockhouse in lande 20s 2s 8d
William Burwell in goods £5 8s 4d

Stoterston
Alys Ameys vid in goods £3 5s
Thomas Ree in goods £3 5s
John Harryote in goods £3 5s
Richard Hamond in goods £3 5s

Dowles
John Grove in goods £3 5s

Dudlicke
John Dowghtie in goods £6 10s
Thomas Smyth in goods £3 5s
Edward Wadeley in lande 40s 5s 4d
Thomas Byrde in lande 20s 2s 4d
Thomas Hollande in goods £3 5s

Hopton and Detton
Humfrey Hide in lande 40s 5s 4d
Peter Norgrove in goods £5 8s 4d
John Mill in goods £3 5s
Thomas Mylward in goods £4 5s 8d

Billingsley
Rowland Ree in goods £5 8s 4d

Oldbury
John Oldbury in goods £4 5s 8d
Wylliam Butcher in goods £3 5s

Quat Malverne
Agnes Yate vid in goods £3 5s

Cleobury North
Elizabeth Piggot spinster in goods £3 5s
William Browne in goods £4 6s 8d


Alveley
John Lee gent in lande 40s 5s 4d
Humfrey Potter in lande 40s 5s 4d
John Langley in lande 20s 2s 8d
Humfrey Grove in lande 20s 2s 8d
John Howell in lande 40s 5s 4d
Eliyner Jones wid in lande 40s 5s 4d
Thomas Penn[?]ell in lande 40s 5s 4d
Humfrey Nicholes in lande 40s 5s 4d
John Reynolds in lande 20s 2s 8d
Humfrey Hollowey in goods £3 5s

Aston Eyre and Harcot
Robart Acton [..]nd Coreley 40s 5s 4d
His mother in lande [blank]£
John Byshopp in goods £6 10s
Robart Taylor in goods £6 10s

Erdington
Symon Mucklowe Ar. In lande £40 54s 4d
Richard Olley in lande 20s 2s 8d
John Leme in lande 20s 2s 8d
Willyam Leme in lande 20s 2s 8d
Willyam Crofte in lande 20s 2s 8d
Thomas Oldbury in lande 20s 2s 8d

Ewdon Burnell
Edward Corbet gent in lande £9 26s 8d
Anne Fyrkyn vid in goods £3 5s

Acton Rownde
Richard Symonds in goods £6 10s
Richard Weale in goods £5 8s 4d
Willyam Higgens in goods £4 6s 8d

Bold and Charlecot
Thomas Ridley Ar in lande £10 26s 8d
John Hylland in goods £3 5s

Chetton
Thomas Symonds in goods £5 6s 8d
John Overton in lande 20s 2s 8d

Kinges Nordley
Humfrey Lee gent in lande £3 8s
Roland Whyte in lande 40s 5s 4d
John Nicholes in lande 20s 2s 8d
Thomas Elcocke in lande 20s 2s 8d
Humfrey Dovy in lande 20s 2s 8d
Theyres of Astley in lande 20s 2s 8d


Asteley Haughton & Crofte
Thomas Fermor Esq in lande £20 54s 4d
John Hopton Esq in lande £10 26s 8d
Richard Weseley in goods £5 8s 4d
Rowland Courtny in goods £5 8s 4d
Willyam Baylie in lande 20s 2s 8d
John Rowley in lande £10 5s 4d
Roger Fathers on lande 20s 2s 8d
Henry Smyth in goods £3 6s 8d

Bridgnorth
William Sparry in goods £5 8s 4d
James Peres in goods £5 8s 4d
Francis Hord in goods £3 5s
George Smyth in lande 20s 2s 8d
John Heyward in goods £3 5s
Rowland Whitbroke in goods £3 5s
George Sing in goods £3 5s
Rowland Heyns in goods £3 5s
William Gravenor in lande
Richard Powle in goods £3 5s
Humfrey Nicholes in goods £4 6s 8d
John Longmor in goods £4 6s 8d
Wyllyam Evetts in goods £4 6s 8d
John Jurden in goods £4 6s 8d
Thomas Mompas in goods £3 5s

Dudmaston
Dorothie Barker wid in lande 20s 2s 8d
William Broke armg? de £5 8s 4d
William Wilkes in goods £4 6s 8d

Tasley
Thomas Browne in goods £3 5s