TUDOR SUBSIDY ROLLS - EAST STOKE TITHINGS
Extracted from "Dorset Tudor Subsidies Granted in 1523, 1543, 1593", edited by T. L. STOATE available on CD-Rom at www.thebookshop.org.uk
In 1523 Parliament granted King Henry VIII a subsidy to finance the war in France, taxing everyone on lands, goods or wages down to a lower limit of £1, collected over a four-year period. In 1543 another widespread subsidy was granted to permit the King to assert his right to the title of 'King of Scotland', with a lower limit of £1 on land and £5 on goods, although this time wages were not taxed. Queen Elizabeth I's subsidies tended to be constant as to amount, charging 4 shillings (/-) in the pound (£) on yearly income from land with a lower assessment limit of £1 and 2/8 in the £ on the capital value of goods with a lower limit of £3.
The assessments are expressed in pounds and fractions of pounds, with 'L' denoting land, 'G' denoting goods and 'W' denoting wages. People were taxed on one revenue stream only, being that which would yield the highest amount of tax to the Exchequer. The wealth of a married women formed part of her husband's assessment, but widows and spinsters were taxed in their own right. Aliens and denizens (foreigners with the right of residence) were taxed double. They are usually denoted as "alien", but occasionally their national origin is given (e.g. 'Norman', 'Frensheman', 'Ducheman', etc.).
EAST STOKE TITHING
1525 East Stoke
| Name | Type | Assessment Value (£) |
| Ann CHEVERELL widow | L | 30 |
| Robert MASY | G | 4 |
| Francis BOYE norman | G | nil |
| Walter TROBLEFILD | G | 3 |
| John CHENY | W | 1 |
| Thomas SYMMES | W | 1 |
| Robert KEYSYER | W | 1 |
Total: £ 1.15.2
1544 East Stoke
| Name | Type | Assessment Value (£) |
| Thomas HARRYSON | G | 5 |
| William BLANCHARD | G | 5 |
| John FORDE | G | 2 |
| Thomas SYMME | G | 1 |
| Edward TAPPE | G | 1 |
| Robert COCKE* | G | 1 |
| John RUSSELL* | - | nil |
Total: £ 0.2.3
* alien born
1594 East Stoke (Not in roll)
WEST HOLME TITHING IN EAST STOKE
1525 Westholme
| Name | Type | Assessment Value (£) |
| Henry FOKE | G | 6 |
| John GODRICH | G | 5 |
| John COLYFORDE | G | 2 |
| Robert MORYNG | G | 6 |
Total: £ 0.9.6
1544 Westholme (Missing)
1594 Westholme
| Name | Type | Assessment Value (£) |
| William GOOLDE | G | 16 |
| John FOWKE | G | 3 |
Total: £ 2.10.8