Hearth tax: indenture of revenues

Indenture, dated 17 Oct 1667, between(1) Sir Robert Vyner Bt., Alderman of the City of London, (2) Sir Allen Broderick Bt., of Wandlesworth, Surrey, (3) Sir Richard Pigott Kt., (4) Perient Trott, (5) Humphey Beane, (6) James Hoare, (7) John Rives (or Ryves), (8) John Bence, (9) George Cock, merchant, and (10) James Temple, (3-10) being 'of London'. The identure settles their respective shares, profits, accounts and liability in the farm of the hearth tax revenues. The terms of an indenture of 30 Mar 1666 whereby Pigott, Trott and Beane paid £250,000 to the King for a grant of the annual rates of revenues from from 'fyer hearth and stoves' in England, Wales, and Berwick on Tweed, for 7 years; in Oct 1667 Vyner paid the £250,000 due to the crown, while Pigott, Trott and Beane lent their names to the transaction. Signed and sealed by the parties. Endorsed: 'Indenture...wherein Perient Trot...advanced 20,000 l.'

The hearth tax consisted of a half-yearly payment of one shilling for each hearth in the occupation of each person whose house was worth more than 20s a year, and who was a local ratepayer of church and poor rates. It was introduced by Charles II in 1662 and continued to be levied until 1688.

Single item.

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Bought from P. Dobell in 1971 (see Calendar of Treasury Books, ii, 361).

Collection level description.

660 x 730mm. Seals missing; some signatures mutilated. Parts of the text are worn away.

Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

See C.D. Chandaman, The English public revenue (Oxford, 1975).