Compton census (1676)

Post date: Dec 13, 2012 3:41:59 PM

Compton census, 1676

Edited by C.W. Chalklin

From A seventeenth century miscellany

Kent Records, 1960

The census was a return of number of communicants, recusants and non-conformists in England and Wales.

Compton was Bishop of London and acting under instructions of Archbishop Sheldon.

Nettlestead is missing.

Probably intended to cover all inhabitants over 16. The figures are too large to be households and too small to be total no of inhabitants. There seem to be some very round numbers, e.g. Wateringbury's number is a very round 200, although if broadly accurate might imply a total population including children of 300-400.

Mereworth had some of highest no of papists for county (along with Eltham and Benenden).

Some believe that the number of non-conformists is deliberately underestimated: a large number of non-conformists might bring parish into disfavour with ecclesiastical authorities. West Malling had 2/5ths of population as non-confomists- Weald had high no.(100 dissenters out of 210 adults in Smarden). Walloon population of Kent also had high number of non-conformists.