Tithe Commutation Act 1836
A source for Family Historians

Barry Kelly

The Tithes, (in theory a tenth part of a persons income), went towards the upkeep of the incumbent of the Parish Church. Under the Tithe Commutation Act of 1836, tithes could be commuted to a rent charge, and commissioners were appointed to negotiate fair land values with the inhabitants.

In villages where the tithes were commuted, a survey of the land was carried out and a large scale detailed plan was drawn up showing every house and area of land. Each plot was individually numbered.

"That's all very well, but it's not very interesting to the family historian", I hear you say.

No. perhaps not, but the really interesting bit is the written apportionment.

Here you will find:-

1. Landowners names.
2. Occupiers names.
3. Plot No. referring to plan.
4. Name and description of Land and Premises.
5. State of cultivation.
6. Area.
7. Amount of rent charge apportioned.

"Ah, now we're talking, but isn't this just another list of wealthy landowners. My ancestors weren't like that."

No, it's not like that. Let me give you a few examples from the Cudworth Tithe apportionments.

Over 400 pieces of land and holdings are recorded in the Cudworth Tithe, each with the name of the owner and occupier.

So there we are, loads of information to get stuck into, here are a few ideas to work on:-

Tracing where ancestors lived.
Is the house still there?
Tracing occupation of ancestors.
Gauging their standard of living
Contemporary census 1841.
Possible to trace enumerators route.

The original documents are in the P.R.O. Most main libraries and C.R.O's have copies. The copy plans are very large photographs (not photostats), and the written apportionment is on microfilm.

Barnsley Library (Local Studies/Archives) have copies of the tithes for the Barnsley area, don't forget also the enclosure awards which usually pre-date the Tithe Commutation Act of 1836.

Another valuable source, in the same vein, (owners and occupiers of land), are the Land Tax returns. The Cudworth returns run from 1781 to 1832.

Duplicate assessments for villages in the Staincross wapentake, (which covers most of the Barnsley area) can be found at the West Yorkshire Archive Service HQ, Newstead Road, Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

© Barry Kelly 1992

Mail for the author may be sent c/o The Secretary, Barnsley FHS, 58A High Street, Royston, Barnsley South Yorkshire S71 4RN United Kingdom, or directly to him by email at barrykelly1@compuserve.com

The above article was first published in the 'Newsletter' of the Barnsley Family History Society in October 1992. It is reproduced here by permission of the Committee & Editors.
All Rights Reserved

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This page last updated 25th April 2000