Dorset Early Census Returns, 1724-1821

Index of Census Returns made by Rev Dawney 1724, 1725 and 1769.

From research of the survey plus records of the Overseers of the Poor made by M.B.Weinstock and recorded in the book Old Dorset.

The Rev Dawnay listed 156 houses with 605 inhabitants.

187 were men 98 of whom were married, 12 widowed and 78 single.

217 were women 97 of whom were married, 30 widows and 90 single

In addition there were 81 boys under 12 years of age, girls and 4 whose sex was not specified.

There were also 30 more inhabitants listed as non-parishioners.

From the accounts of the Overseers of the Poor it seems that DAVID DANAEL received a pound a year house rent monthly allowance of 6s later raised 8s 0d. He also received a coat made for him by  RUBEN RICE tailor which cost 2s 0d JOHN WELLSTREAM who lived with DANAEL received the lesser allowance of4s0d.

On one occasion he received 4yards of shirt cloth.

Rents of the cottages On the Green appear to have been a year accounts show SARAH CHILLIES and SARAH WHITTEN received this amount for the cottage they shared.

The widow CHRISTIAN DUNMAN got 4yards of linsey and an apron.

There are accounts showing money or goods given for the needy and at times of sickness.

An outbreak of smallpox in the village caused deaths in the RIGGS family living in the  house in the street near the Green. Money and nursing was given to help the family.  Sadly it would seem that 2 children of the stricken family were boarded out with ELIZABETH VINE, subsequently two of her own children died of the pox, suggesting the boarders brought the disease with them.

© Dorset FHS