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Catalogue

Quarter Sessions

Reference: Q/D/L detail Catalogue Title: Quarter Sessions Area: Catalogue Category: Public Records Description: Land Tax Returns: Craike (Yorkshire, North Riding)

Covering Dates: 1759-1829

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Catalogue Description

LAND TAX RETURNS

Duplicates of land tax assessments were required, by an act of parliament of 1744, to be deposited to form a record of freeholders eligible to elect members of parliament for the county. After the Reform Act of 1832 the qualification for voting changed and separate electoral registers were created.

The assessments record names of properties, name of occupiers and sums assessed. The proprietors were those whose freehold property would bring in an annual return of £2 in rents. The occupiers were chief leaseholders, not necessarily the tenants who actually lived on the property. Returns were made annually.

Unless otherwise stated the returns include all of the townships (or constabularies or smaller taxation areas) in each of the ward sub-divisions administered by Durham County. There were ten sub-divisions within the county plus three detached areas: Chester Ward East; Chester Ward Middle; Chester Ward West; Darlington Ward North West; Darlington Ward South East; Darlington Ward South West; Stockton Ward North East; Stockton Ward South West; Easington Ward North; Easington Ward South; Norham and Islandshire (Northumberland); Bedlington (Northumberland); Craike (Yorkshire).

The returns for County Durham are less informative than those for many other counties, and do not in most cases specify the name or extent of the property on which the tax was payable.

In no ward have the returns for every year survived. Some, including all those post-1832, are held by the Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections.

Physically the returns are held as boxes of hand-written papers (later ones on a pre-printed form) with each box containing one or more years worth of returns for the townships in one ward sub-division. The 1759-1760 records do not often give the occupier's name but may indicate the property; those for 1783-1830 usually give both owner and occupier but very few records give any property name.

See also EP/Stai 7/250-254 for Land Tax Schedules, 1768 - 1784

Further Historical Background

The Land Tax was introduced in England in 1692 as a means for raising government revenue and was not done away with until 1963. Land Tax records are of value to genealogists because they often list both property owners (proprietors) and tenants, placing them in both a parish and a year.

For a time, land tax records also served as voter records. The Dorset History Centre explains why this came about:

"Originally the Land Tax was a tax on personal estate, public offices and land... After 1698 it was usually levied only on land. From 1745, although in practice from 1780, it was used as a voting qualification - a land owner who paid Land Tax on freehold property worth £2 or more per annum had the right to vote. As a result the [land tax] returns had to be lodged with the Clerk of the Peace."

"The survival of the early Land Tax records is variable, but most counties have surviving assessments for the years 1780 to 1832, as these were the returns that had to be lodged with the Clerk of the Peace, and they can now be found with the records of the Quarter Sessions."

The Dorset History Centre points out that "since the assessment was written out in the same order each year it is sometimes possible to work backwards using the information of the owner or occupier, from the Tithe or Enclosure map, and the amount of tax levied to identify the property." Also, starting in 1798, land owners had the option to redeem their land from future tax by paying a lump sum. Their names may not appear on annual lists after the land was redeemed. For some smaller townships this may mean that there were no records at all.

Catalogue Contents

Land Tax Returns (Ref: Q/D/L)

The indexing of these records was carried out by members of the Australian Institute of Genealogical Studies. We are grateful for their hard work in completing this immense task.

Craike (Yorkshire, North Riding) (Ref: Q/D/L 162)

Records for the parish of Craike or Crayke (near Easingwold).


Land Tax returns, Craike (Yorkshire, North Riding), 1759 Property of Henry (Esq.) THOMPSON Property of Right Honourable Earl of FAUCONBERG Property of Stephen (Esq.) CROFT Property of Philip (Esq.) HARLAND Property of Mr. (Gentleman) BOWMAN Property of Alexander (Rector) JEPHSON Property of Mr. LITCHFIELD Property of Mr. (heirs of) HARRISON Property of John THURNAM Property of Anthony EMPSON Property of George RAPER Property of James COATES Property of Margaret MORTIMER Property of Thomas SPARLING Property of Thomas COOPLIN Property of Simon ELLERTON Property of William LOCKWOOD Property of Samuel LOCKWOOD Property of James MORTIMER Property of Peter BAYSTON Property of William KNOWLES Property of Edward GROVES Property of William HODGE Property of Joseph BELL Property of Mr. NELSON Property of William PYBUS Property of Elisha DENHAM Property of Thomas PROUD Property of George COOPER Property of William BLAND Property of Thomas BURNET Property of Francis SWALES Property of Richard SMYTHE Property of Richard (clerk) ELLA Property of Mr. (heirs of) SPOLDEN Property of Hannah (heirs of) NICHOLSON Property of John (Jr.) DENHAM Property of John RUSLING Property of William DUFFIELD Property of Thomas SWALES Property of Mr. RICHARDSON Property of Mr. SWALE Property of Mrs. (heirs of) KING Property of John LIEFF Property of Thomas LIEFF Property of John STILLINGFLEET Property of Edward LEAF Property of Mary JOHNSON Property of William BELWOOD Property of William (heirs of) HOBSON Property of Margaret BULLOCK Property of Mr. PROUD Property of John RICKABY Property of Mrs. MARSHAL Property of Mr. BAXTER Property of Mary ROBINSON Property of Francis (heirs of) THURNAM Property of Timothy COOKSON Property of Thomas (Gentleman) WIND Property of Widow (heirs of) BARWICK Property of John RICHARDSON Property of Roger SHAKLETON Property of William MORREL Property of Michael CARTER Property of Thomas MASON Property of William LINTON Property of Mr. (assignees of) EWBANK Property of John BLYTHE Property of John MORTIMER Property of Charles WARD Property of Lancelot WALKER Property of John WALKER Property of Valentine SWALES


Land Tax returns, Craike (Yorkshire, North Riding), 1760 Property of Henry (Esq.) THOMPSON Property of Right Honourable Earl of FAUCONBERG Property of Stephen (Esq.) CROFT Property of Philip (Esq.) HARLAND Property of John (Mr.) (Gentleman) BOWMAN Property of Alexander (Rector) JEPHSON Property of Mr. (Gentleman) LITCHFIELD Property of Mr. (heirs of) HARRISON Property of John THURMAN Property of Anthony EMPSON Property of George RAPER Property of James COATES Property of Margaret MORTIMER Property of Thomas SPARLING Property of Thomas COOPLIN Property of William LOCKWOOD Property of John LOCKWOOD Property of James MORTIMER Property of Peter BAYSTON Property of William KNOWLES Property of Edward GROVES Property of William HODGE Property of Joseph BELL Property of Reverend Mr. NELSON Property of William PYBUS Property of Elisha DENHAM Property of Thomas PROUD Property of John PROUD Property of Francis SWALES Property of Richard SMYTHE Property of Valentine (Jr.) SWALES Property of Mrs. (heirs of) SPOLDEN Property of Hannah (heirs of) NICHOLSON Property of J. RICKEBY Property of Thomas BURNETT Property of William BLAND Property of George COOPER Property of Reverend Mr. ELLA Property of John RUSLING Property of William DUFFIELD Property of Thomas SWALES Property of Mr. RICHARDSON Property of Mr. SWALE Property of Mr. (heirs of) KING Property of John LIEF Property of Thomas LIEF Property of John STILLINGFLEET Property of Edward LIEF Property of Mary JOHNSON Property of William BELLWOOD Property of William (heirs of) HOBSON Property of Margaret BULLOCK Property of Mr. PROUD Property of John RICKABY Property of Mr. MARSHALL Property of Mr. BAXTER Property of Mary ROBINSON Property of Francis (heirs of) THURMAN Property of Timothy COOKSON Property of Thomas (Gentleman) WIND Property of Widow (heirs of) BARWICK Property of John RICHARDSON Property of Roger SHAKELTON Property of William MORREL Property of Michael CARTER Property of Thomas MASON Property of William LINTON Property of Mr. (assignees of) EWBANK Property of John BLYTHE Property of John MORTIMER Property of Charles WARD Property of Widow (Sr.) WALKER Property of John WALKER Property of Simon ELLERTON


Land Tax returns, Craike (Yorkshire, North Riding), 1829 Property of T. (late) COUPE occupied by [not given] HOGG Property of T. (late) COUPE occupied by [not given] LECK Property of Mr. HARWOOD occupied by Thomas MORTON Property of James (Esq.) SHEPHERD occupied by William THOMPSON Property of Sarah BAXTER occupied by Thomas (late) KITSON Property of William BLAND occupied by William BLAND Property of John LIEF occupied by John LIEF Property of Edward LIEF occupied by Edward LIEF Property of William LINTON occupied by William LINTON Property of Francis KIRBY occupied by Francis KIRBY Property of William LOCKWOOD occupied by Widow AGAR Property of Mrs. WALKER occupied by Thomas RANDALL Property of William (heirs of) LOCKWOOD occupied by William LOCKWOOD Property of John HUMBLE occupied by John HUMBLE Property of Mr. (late) PROUDE occupied by Thomas JOHNSON Property of Robert PROUDE occupied by Richard PAPE Property of Richard (Esq.) THOMPSON occupied by John PECKETT Property of James FOSTER occupied by James FOSTER Property of Joseph MEEK occupied by Silvester MEEK Property of John LINTON occupied by William TOASE Property of Doctor WHYTEHEAD occupied by [not given] [not given] Property of John PARKINSON occupied by John PARKINSON Property of John STILLINGFLEET occupied by John STILLINGFLEET Property of Benjamin WARD occupied by John RUSSELL Property of Mr. PIERSON occupied by Thomas STABLER Property of James ATKINSON occupied by Doctor COCK Property of Richard (Esq.) THOMPSON occupied by John PECKETT Property of James (Esq.) SHEPHERD occupied by William THOMPSON Property of John BOSOMWORTH occupied by John BOSOMWORTH Property of Thomas RICKABY occupied by Thomas RICKABY Property of William RICKABY occupied by William RICKABY Property of William LOCKWOOD occupied by Joseph JEFFERSON Property of Thomas LOCKWOOD occupied by Joseph JEFFERSON Property of Reverend (heirs of) NELSON occupied by Joseph JEFFERSON Property of William (Jr.) LOCKWOOD occupied by Joseph JEFFERSON Property of Thomas MEEK occupied by William THOMPSON Property of Richard (Esq.) THOMPSON occupied by Richard JEAROME Property of Richard (Esq.) THOMPSON occupied by William JUDSON Property of Richard (Esq.) THOMPSON occupied by Thomas MEEK Property of Richard (Esq.) THOMPSON occupied by Philip ABBEY Property of Richard (Esq.) THOMPSON occupied by William BLAND Property of Richard (Esq.) THOMPSON occupied by John PECKETT Property of Richard (Esq.) THOMPSON occupied by John DUNNING Property of Richard (Esq.) THOMPSON occupied by George APPLEBY Property of Richard (Esq.) THOMPSON occupied by Mark IBBITSON Property of Richard (Esq.) THOMPSON occupied by Edward SIMPSON Property of William LINTON occupied by William LINTON Property of John LINTON occupied by John LINTON Property of Miss WHYTEHEAD occupied by Edward WILEY Property of Robert FRANK occupied by Robert FRANK Property of Robert FRANK occupied by Robert FRANK Property of Richard (Esq.) THOMPSON occupied by William DENNYSON Property of Richard JOHNSON occupied by William DENNYSON Property of P. C. (Reverend) GUISE occupied by P. C. (Reverend) GUISE Property of P. C. (Reverend) GUISE occupied by P. C. (Reverend) GUISE Property of Stephen (Esq.) CROFT occupied by Richard BROWN Property of [not given] (exrs. of) BAYSTON occupied by James (Esq.) SHEPHERD Property of Richard PAPE occupied by Richard PAPE Property of Joseph SEVER occupied by Henry SEVER Property of William (maltster) BLAND occupied by William (maltster) BLAND Property of William (Jr.) BLAND occupied by William (Sr.) BLAND Property of John BLAND occupied by William (Sr.) BLAND Property of Thomas HALL occupied by William THORNTON Property of [not given] (heirs of) NELSON occupied by William BLAND Property of Samuel JOHNSON occupied by Samuel JOHNSON Property of Robert WALKER occupied by Robert WALKER Property of John WALKER occupied by John WALKER Property of James (Esq.) SHEPHERD occupied by Thomas DOBSON Property of [not given] (heirs of) BAYSTON occupied by Thomas DOBSON Property of John JOHNSON occupied by John JOHNSON Property of Thomas (Esq.) SMITH occupied by Richard JEAROME Property of [not given] (heirs of) NELSON occupied by Thomas JOHNSON Property of [not given] DODSWORTH occupied by Thomas JOHNSON Property of Thomas PROUDE occupied by George BARKER Property of James (Esq.) SHEPHERD occupied by William MORLAND Property of Elizabeth DUNNING occupied by Anthony WILKINSON Property of George RYMER occupied by George RYMER Property of Richard JOHNSON occupied by Robert MORTIMER Property of Richard (Esq.) PRICE occupied by William DENNYSON Property of Robert MORTIMER occupied by Robert MORTIMER Property of John (Jr.) LIEF occupied by John (Jr.) LIEF Property of Samuel (Esq.) CROFT occupied by Andrew BROWN Property of William (Esq.) CROFT occupied by Andrew BROWN Property of Henry (Esq.) CROFT occupied by Andrew BROWN Property of William FOUNTAIN occupied by William FOUNTAIN Property of Richard HORSEMAN occupied by Richard HORSEMAN Property of William SUNLEY occupied by John WILEY Property of Widow COATES occupied by Simon DAWSON Property of Francis STEWART occupied by Francis STEWART Property of William KILVINGTON occupied by William KILVINGTON Property of Robert SWALES occupied by Robert SWALES Property of George (Esq.) DUNDAS occupied by William GIBSON Property of George (Esq.) DUNDAS occupied by Elizabeth GIBSON Property of Francis (Esq.) CHOLMLEY occupied by William GIBSON Property of Francis (Esq.) CHOLMLEY occupied by Elizabeth GIBSON Property of [not given] (heirs of) NELSON occupied by William GIBSON Property of [not given] (heirs of) NELSON occupied by Elizabeth GIBSON Property of James (Esq.) SHEPHERD occupied by William GIBSON Property of James (Esq.) SHEPHERD occupied by Elizabeth GIBSON Property of Robert (Esq.) CHALONER occupied by William KILVINTON Property of George (Esq.) MEYNELL occupied by William KILVINTON Property of Roger SHACKLETON occupied by Richard HAYES Property of Thomas RICKABY occupied by Thomas RICKABY Property of Mr. (maltster) LIEF occupied by William THOMPSON Property of Thomas NAWTON occupied by Thomas NAWTON Property of Doctor WHYTEHEAD occupied by William COATES Property of [not given] (heirs of) NELSON occupied by Thomas (Sr.) BRITTON Property of Timothy COOKSON occupied by Richard BLAND Property of William (Sr.) COATES occupied by William THORNTON Property of William (Jr.) COATES occupied by William THORNTON Property of Widow COATES occupied by William NAWTON Property of William RICKABY occupied by William RICKABY Property of Thomas RICKABY occupied by Thomas RICKABY Property of Mr. ESHELBY occupied by John KNOWLES Property of Thomas DUFFIELD occupied by Thomas DUFFIELD Property of Jonathan BELWOOD occupied by William DENNYSON Property of Mr. (late) COUPE occupied by [not given] LECK Property of Mr. (late) COUPE occupied by [not given] CARLTON Property of William WHEATLEY occupied by William WHEATLEY Property of William BURNETT occupied by William BURNETT Property of Thomas STABLER occupied by Thomas STABLER Property of Widow GIBSON occupied by Widow GIBSON Property of George RYMER occupied by William CLARK Property of Widow DALE occupied by Widow DALE Property of James (Esq.) SHEPHERD occupied by William MORLAND Property of William HALL occupied by Robert FOUNTAIN Property of William HALL occupied by Thomas HALL