Alehouse Licencing and Hearth Tax

In July 2000, Derek Wrathall sent some records relating to property ownership in divisions of the west third (Thriding, or Riding) of Yorkshire that included parts of Wharfedale called Wapentakes (from the Anglo-Saxon word Weapon-taking). This was an old form of voting, where a count was taken of weapons held aloft at a meeting place, as a sign of the number of adherents. See WRATHALL ANCESTRAL VILLAGES for a list of villages in Upper Wharfedale and their associated Wapentake (east-division of Staincliffe). The Wapentake of Ewecross adjoined the northwest boundary of the west-division of Staincliffe. Derek had this to say about the records:

The following are extracts from the "Alehouse Calendar of Recognizance for the Wapentakes of STAINCLIFFE and EWECROSS in the WEST RIDING of YORKSHIRE", but first some notes of explanation.
From the mid-16th century persons who were allowed to keep alehouses obtained a licence at the Quarter Sessions from the Justices of the Peace, at which time a bond of surety (or recognizance) was also submitted for order to be kept in the alehouses. By the 17th century licences were required to be renewed on an annual basis at many of the Sessions and from 1729 special Licencing sessions were held for the purpose of annual licencing. A person keeping an alehouse had, from the mid-18th century onwards, to take out recognizances each year, registers of these being kept by the Clerks of the Peace.
The registers of recognizance named the alehouse keeper together with his or her place of abode and the name of the individual who stood surety. Later registers also gave the name of the alehouse.

For the village of Grassington in 1771 the Innholders Francis SIMPSON, Thomas SUMMERS, Mary FELL, Elizabeth BUCK and James HAWORTH were each licensed for the sum of ten pounds and Lupton WRATHALL stood as surety for each in the sum of ten pounds.

In 1781 Issabella WRATHALL was licensed in the sum of ten pounds and John CONSTANTINE stood surety in the sum of ten pounds.

In 1803 in the village of Buckden James ROE and Stephen WILKINSON were licensed in the sum of ten pounds and Robt. WRATHELL stood surety for each in the sum of ten pounds.

In August 2001, Derek sent the following data, extracted from "The Hearth Tax List for Staincliffe and Ewcros (sic) Wapentakes, West Riding of Yorkshire, Lady Day 1672", published by Ripon Historical Society and Ripon, Harrogate & District Family History Group:

Grisington Taxpayer Hearths

Robt Wrathe 1

Francis Wrathill 1

John Wrathill 1

Willm Wrathill 3

Threshfield Taxpayer Hearths

Willm Wrathell 1

Grisington	Taxpayer	Hearths
	Robt Wrathe	1
	Francis Wrathill	1
	John Wrathill	1
	Willm Wrathill	3

Threshfield	Taxpayer	Hearths
	Willm Wrathell	1