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**Anne in Carlisle** · 03-09-14, 19:04

I have some like that too. It may mean that they were in receipt of parish relief, while not actually being in the workhouse. On the other hand I think I read a reference to some clergy using it as an excuse for his poorer parishioners not to yave to pay a tax on baptisms. I may be talking rubbish here and I'm sure someone who knows better will jump in.

One thing though ..... you can be sure the family were not well off!!
Anne

**JudithM** · 03-09-14, 19:07

I agree Anne, I can't recall quite when but, although generally baptism in the Church of England has been free of charge, there was a short period of time when a tax was payable on baptisms by all except the "poor".

**keldon** · 03-09-14, 19:19

It was from 1783 to 1794. See

Population in History

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=C9_jUSQR_ooC&pg=PA385&dq=baptism+tax+parish+registers+1783&hl=en&sa=X&ei=H2gHVOeKE5XLsQS8mIHwAQ&ved=0CCgQuwUwAA#v=onepage&q=baptism%20tax%20parish%20registers%201783&f=false

This large-scale comparative endeavor, complete in two volumes, reflects increasing concern with the population factor in economic and social change worldwide. Demographers, on their side, have been focusing on history. In response to this, Population in History represents the work of two practitioners that have begun to work together, using their combined approaches in an attempt to assess and account for population growth experienced by the West since the seventeenth century.There is a long record of interest in the history of population. But the interest now displayed is likely to be both more persistent and far more fruitful in its consequences. New studies have been initiated in many countries. And because the studies are more informed and systematic than many of those of earlier periods, they are already provoking the further spread of research. A much more positive part is now also being played by national and international associations of historians and demographers. It is not unlikely that, within the next fifteen or twenty years, the main outlines of population change in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries will be firmly established for much of Europe.Previous research has tended to appear in specialist journals and academic publications. This volume is intended to provide a more easily accessible publication. It has been thought appropriate to include some earlier work, both because of its intrinsic interest and because it provided the background and part of the stimulus to the later research. Of the twenty-seven contributions to this outstanding volume, seven are unabridged reprints of earlier work; the remaining contributions are either entirely new or represent substantial revisions of work published elsewhere.D. V. Glass was professor of sociology at the University of London. At the time of his death he was a fellow of the Royal Society and a fellow of the British Academy as well as a foreign associate of the National Academy of Arts and Sciences. Most of his later work and research was focused on demography.D. E. C. Eversley was reader in social history at the University of Birmingham. Some of the books he co-authored include Introduction to English Demography from the Sixteenth to the Nineteenth Century and Social Theories of Fertility and The Malthusian Debate.

And
"An act takes place 1 October, that imposes a tax of 3d. upon the entry of every christening, marriage, and burial, except those of some poor persons, particularly circumstanced."

The history and antiquities of Hawsted

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=e_4HAAAAQAAJ&dq=baptism%20tax%20parish%20registers%201783&pg=PA73#v=onepage&q=baptism%20tax%20parish%20registers%201783&f=false

**Anne in Carlisle** · 03-09-14, 19:22

Great, thanks Phil. That's exactly the time mine are listed as poor in the PRs.
Anne

**keldon** · 03-09-14, 19:33

It's also discussed here and how paupers were identified.

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http://www.ancestrysolutions.com/FAQResearchA4.html

**Christine in Herts** · 03-09-14, 20:21

Originally posted by keldon View Post

It was from 1783 to 1794. See

Population in History

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=C9_jUSQR_ooC&pg=PA385&dq=baptism+tax+parish+registers+1783&hl=en&sa=X&ei=H2gHVOeKE5XLsQS8mIHwAQ&ved=0CCgQuwUwAA#v=onepage&q=baptism%20tax%20parish%20registers%201783&f=false

This large-scale comparative endeavor, complete in two volumes, reflects increasing concern with the population factor in economic and social change worldwide. Demographers, on their side, have been focusing on history. In response to this, Population in History represents the work of two practitioners that have begun to work together, using their combined approaches in an attempt to assess and account for population growth experienced by the West since the seventeenth century.There is a long record of interest in the history of population. But the interest now displayed is likely to be both more persistent and far more fruitful in its consequences. New studies have been initiated in many countries. And because the studies are more informed and systematic than many of those of earlier periods, they are already provoking the further spread of research. A much more positive part is now also being played by national and international associations of historians and demographers. It is not unlikely that, within the next fifteen or twenty years, the main outlines of population change in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries will be firmly established for much of Europe.Previous research has tended to appear in specialist journals and academic publications. This volume is intended to provide a more easily accessible publication. It has been thought appropriate to include some earlier work, both because of its intrinsic interest and because it provided the background and part of the stimulus to the later research. Of the twenty-seven contributions to this outstanding volume, seven are unabridged reprints of earlier work; the remaining contributions are either entirely new or represent substantial revisions of work published elsewhere.D. V. Glass was professor of sociology at the University of London. At the time of his death he was a fellow of the Royal Society and a fellow of the British Academy as well as a foreign associate of the National Academy of Arts and Sciences. Most of his later work and research was focused on demography.D. E. C. Eversley was reader in social history at the University of Birmingham. Some of the books he co-authored include Introduction to English Demography from the Sixteenth to the Nineteenth Century and Social Theories of Fertility and The Malthusian Debate.

And
"An act takes place 1 October, that imposes a tax of 3d. upon the entry of every christening, marriage, and burial, except those of some poor persons, particularly circumstanced."
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=e...201783&f=false

3d was a lot of money in those days! It would be revealing to have a look at the average labourer's wage at the time, say, to get an idea of what that meant.

Christine

**Janet** · 03-09-14, 20:32

There was also the Militia in operation mid 1700's onwards and all able bodied men age 18 to 45 had to join the Militia, but poor people were often exempt, so the church may have also had a hand in helping out its parishioners in this way. I have a book of Militia Lists for Northamptonshire 1777 and it is fascinating reading the ones who are from poor families. These lists are quite useful as all the children of the poor are named, unlike those that served in the Militia itself!

Janet

**Olde Crone Holden** · 03-09-14, 20:37

I have read that some Vicars were particularly annoyed about this tax because they felt there should be no barrier to anyone being christened. I have seen at least one PR where everyone was "poor" on the page, including my umpty Greatgrandfather, who owned a farm of 600 acres or more!

OC

**thelilradish** · 06-09-14, 12:26

Thank you for all of this information! That is also exactly the timeframe that they are listed in the parish records for my ancestors too. After that they are not listed as poor anymore so this definitely explains it.

Thank you once again!

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