Marriage Duty Act 1694

IX. A further Duty on Bachelors and Widowers above. 25 Years, being

And bee it further enacted by the authority aforesaid That from and after the said First day of May all and every person and persons of the several orders ranks degrees and qualifications herein after mentioned inhabiting and residing or which shall happen to inhabit and reside in the Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales and Towne of Berwick upon Tweed being Batchelors above the age of Five and twenty yeares or Widdowers without any Child or Children shall pay to his Majesty his Heires and Successors yearely dureing the said terme of Five years or for soe long time thereof as they shall continue unmarried and noe longer the several and respective duties and su[m]ms of money hereinafter mencõed over and above the said yearely su[m]m of One shilling (that is to say.)

a Duke;

Every person of the degree of a Duke of England Scotland or Ireland the yearely su[m]m of Twelve pounds and Tenne shillings

a Marquis;

And every person of the degree of a Marquesse of any of the said Three Kingdomes the yearely su[m]m of Tenn pounds

an Earl;

Every person of the degree of an Earle of any of the said Three Kingdomes the yearely su[m]m of Seven pounds and Ten shillings

a Viscount;

Every person of the degree of a Viscount of any of the said Three Kingdomes the yearely su[m]m of Six pounds and Five shillings

a Baron;

Every person of the degree of a Baron of any of the said Three Kingdomes the yearely su[m]m of Five pounds

eldest Son of a Duke;

Every eldest son of a Duke of any of the said Three Kingdomes the yearely su[m]m of Seven pounds and Ten shillings

younger Son of a Duke;

Every younger son of such Duke the yearely su[m]m of Six pounds and Five shillings

eldest Son of a Marquis;

Every eldest son of a Marquesse of any of the said Three Kingdomes the yearely su[m]m of Six pounds and Five shillings

younger Son of a Marquis;

Every younger son of such Marquesse the yearely su[m]m of Five pounds

eldest Son of an Earl;

Every eldest son of an Earle of any of the said Three Kingdomes the yearely su[m]m of Five pounds

Every younger son of such Earle the yearely su[m]m of Three pounds and fifteen shillings

younger Son of an Earl;

Every eldest son of a Viscount of any of the said Three Kingdomes the yearely su[m]m of Foure pounds seven shillings and six pence

younger Son of a Viscount;

Every younger son of such Viscount the yearely su[m]m of Three pounds six shillings and eight pence

younger Son of a Viscount; eldest Son of a Baron;

Every eldest son of a Baron of any of the said Three Kingdomes the yearely su[m]m of Three pounds fifteen shillings

younger Son of a Baron;

Every younger son of such Baron the yearely su[m]m of Three pounds

a Baronet;

Every person of the degree of a Baronett of any of the said Three Kingdomes or of Nova Scotia the yearely su[m]m of Three pounds and fifteene shillings

Knight of the Bath;

Every person that is a Knight of the Order of the Bath the yearely su[m]m of Three pounds [X1 and] fifteene shillings

a Knight Bachelor;

Every person who is a Knight the Batchelor the yearely su[m]m of Two pounds ten shillings

Bachelor:

Every Serjeant att Law being the Kings Serjeant the yearely su[m]m of Five pounds

The King's Sergeant;

Every other Serjeant att Law the yearely su[m]m of Three pounds fifteene shillings

a Sergeant at Law; an Esquire

Every Esquire or reputed Esquire or owning or writing himselfe to bee such the yearely su[m]m of One pound five shillings

a Gentleman;

Every Gentleman or reputed Gentleman or soe owning or writeing himselfe to bee such the yearely su[m]m of Five shillings

an Archbishop:

Every person of the degree of an Arch-Bishopp the yearley su[m]m of Twelve pounds and ten shillings

a Bishop;

Every person of the degree of a Bishopp the yearely, su[m]m of Five pounds

a Dean;

Every person of the degree of a Deane of any Cathedral or Collegiate Church the yearely su[m]m of Two pounds and ten shillings

an Archdeacon;

Every person of the degree of an Arch-Deacon the yearely su[m]m of Twelve shillings and six pence

a Canon or Prebendary

Every Canon or Prebendary of any Cathedral or Collegiate Church the yearely su[m]m of Twelve shillings [X2 and] six pence.

Doctor of Divinity, Law, and Physic;

Every person of the degree of a Doctor of Divinity Law or Physick the yearely su[m]m of One pound and five shillings

a Son of an Archbishop, &c.

Every son of an Arch-Bishopp Bishopp Dean Arch-Deacon Canon Prebendary Doctor of Divinity Law or Physick the yearely su[m]m of Five shillings

Persons of Real Estate of £50 per Ann. or of Personal Estate of £600 and upwards; Sons of such Persons,

Every other person haveing a real estate of the value of Fifty pounds per annum or upwards or a personal estate of the value of Six hundred pounds or upwards and not charged under any of the orders ranks degrees or qualifications aforesaid the yearely su[m]m of Five shillings

Sons of such Persons; Duty to be paid Half-yearly.

And every son of such person haveing such real or personal estate the yearely su[m]m of Two shillings and Six pence which said several and respective yearely su[m]ms hereby charged shall bee paid by Two equal halfe yearely payments att the Two most usual feasts in the yeare (that is to say) att the feasts of Saint Michael the Arch-angel and the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Editorial Information

X1 interlined on the Roll.

X2 interlined on the Roll.