Howden and the poll tax of 1379 - Overview

Howden and the poll tax of 1379

The tax was granted by Parliament on 27th May 1379. It was though the assessments could be completed within a month - presumably because they were using the 1377 data and simply had to work out who should pay more than 4d.

From the Calendar of Fine Rolls 1377-83 pps 144-5, we know who the assessors were for East Yorkshire -

Ralph de Hastynges, ' chivaler,' He was almost certainly the Sir Ralph Hastings who was Sheriff of Yorkshire 1376-7 and 1380-1. He was also knight of the shire for Yorkshire in 1378 and 1380 and Governor of York Castle. He was born in 1322 and died at a good age in either 1397 or 1398.

Thomas Ughtred, ' chivaler,' From Scarborough, son of a more famous father. Born 1325, died 1401. He married into the Mauley family and his wife was a relative of the Constables of Flamborough (below).

Robert Conestable of Flaynburgh, ' chivaler,' MP and Sheriff of Yorkshire from Flamborough. His mother was buried in the church at Holme-on-Spalding-Moor. His biography can be found here.

John de Sancto Quintino, ' chivaler,' From Harpham, between Driffield and Bridlington. Probably yet another long-lived assessor, he may have died in 1397 aged 87 - this could be his son. His grandmother was a Constable.

Walter Faucomberge, ' chivaler ' from Skelton in Holderness

and from p 148 we have the names of the collectors

Thomas Saltmerssh, of Saltmarsh - an esquier rated at 20/-. More details in the Families of Howdenshire page (at some future date)

John de Huthom, ' chivaler,' of Scorborough. Born 1341, died 1414. Knight of the shire for Yorkshire in 1378. The family was originally from Hotham and may still have had a claim to it. Mini-biography here.

William de Erghom, ' chivaler,'

John de Botheby,

John de Bukton of Setryngton, Served on a commission in 1379 to investigate the crimes of the bailiff of Harthill wapentake

Robert de Twyer, from the Ganstead/Preston area of Holderness. Apparently a knight, but not so described here.

Edmund de Kyllyngwyk

William de Swynflet - presumably from Swinefleet village on the south bank of the Ouse - which was in the East Riding at this time. Served on a commission of Oyer and Terminer in 1375 to investigate crimes at Selby, and in 1379 on a commission of sewers for the Isle of Axholme.

It's noticeable that while the assessors all came from the North and East of the Riding, the collectors are more widely dispersed.

The assessments have survived largely intact, and can be found online here

The E179 database has a description of the documents

This East Riding document is evidently an individual assessment for a Poll Tax in the wapentake of Howdenshire.

There is no indication on the document as to its date or the relevant grant, but comparison with similar documents, the notes for this grant, and the information given in C. Fenwick (ed.), |The Poll Taxes of 1377, 1379 and 1381|, pt. 1, clearly identify this document as relating to the Poll Tax granted to Richard II in 1379.

The majority of sums recorded are for the 4d minimum, while various other amounts also appear as specified in the graduated scale (see notes for this grant). Occupations are given on the return, and wives are recorded alongside their husbands, but are not taxed.

This piece was presumably one of the indented assessments ordered to be compiled before the collection of the tax, and which were to be used to 'control' the assessments and submitted to the Exchequer. It was presumably compiled after the date of the grant (27 May 1379), but before the first collection was due the following 24 June.

The heading on rot 1 explicitly says 'Howden et Howdenshire'.

However, it is clear from the settlements listed that the roll actually relates to places within the rather larger Liberty of Howden, rather than just the wapentake of Howdenshire. A number of places listed here were actually within the neighbouring wapentakes of Harthill and Ouse and Derwent.

The township heading on rot 3 is partially torn, but would appear to be that of Hemingbrough.

The missing place name at the head of rot 4 is evidently Ellerker, and that on rot 4 is for Brantingham (identified by Mr John Ellerker and Dr Carolyn Fenwick).

The entries for Riccall and Lockington (rot 10 and 10d) both specify the places as of the fee of St. Cuthbert (i.e. the bishopric of Durham).