274 



Notes on the History of Mere. 



The payments to the " Clarke of the Markett " are still continued! 

 of varying amounts; this year (1627) it is x s -, but there is no 

 record showing who this official was or what his duties were. The 

 payments to soldier^ poor Irish folk, and others who travelled witln 

 passes, for many years about this time are too numerous to give 

 here, but they are full of interest as bearing on byegone customs. 



1636. In an inventory amongst other things is included : — 



" One barrell of Gunpowder weyinge ii. c. weighte and more of Gunpowder of 

 severall pounds made up in papers xiiii 11 ." 



1674. Item gave the officer who Collected the ffire hearth money 1 s 

 for signeinge a Certificate to excuse the poore people from payinge 00, 01, 00 "1 



At this period is given a list of briefs collected in the parish for 

 various sufferers (principally for losses by fire) . They are annually 

 recorded up to 1707, when they cease. 



Terrier of Church Lands, &c, circa 1640. 



(Copied by T. H. B., 1890, from a document written on paper in the Muniment 

 Eoom of Salisbury Cathedral. The values printed in italics are interlineations 

 in a later hand.) 



" Valuation of lands at Meee. 



"One Cottage in Rooke street in Meere with A Garden, Orchard, and Twoi 

 Acres of Meadow in the Tenure of Johnathan Bowles, the yearly is 6 1 ' a yeare- 



" One Close of Meadowe, and A Close of pasture in the Ty thing of Woodlands; 

 in Rook street aforesaid in the Tenure of Woolstan fHoster. the yearly valy is: 

 8 1 ' a yeare. 



" One Cottage in Church Street, with A Garden and Outhouse neere adjoyningi 

 in the possession of the sayd Woolstone fBoster. 



" One Cottage in Castle Street and one plott of meadow in the tenure of the 

 Widdow Burt. 



" One other Cottage in A Street called Church Street with outhowsing and am 

 Orchard thereunto adjoyning and 4 Acres of Arrable Land in the Comon feildsl 

 of Meere in the tenure of William Crompe. the yearly valy is 5" a yeare. 



"One Cottage or tenement called Blackhouse and fiveteen Acres of Land, 1 

 Meadow and pasture, the yearly valy is 14 n a yeare. 



1 Fire-hearth money was a duty payable to the crown on houses. By Statute 

 14, Car. II., cap. 2, Every fire hearth and stove of every dwelling and other 

 house within England and Wales (except such as pay not to Church and poor) 

 shall be chargeable with 2s. per annum payable at Michaelmas and Lady Day tc 

 the King and his Heirs and Successors, which payment was called Chimney 

 money. This tax, being much complained of as burdensome to the people, was 

 taken off and that of windows imposed in its stead, 7 and 8 W. III. 



