Other Unusual Shropshire Sources.
My various transcriptions of less common documents can help fill out the picture of a community or a family.
1543 Muster Roll. A Muster Roll for 1543 survives for part of south-east Shropshire. This lists able-bodied men in each community and the weapons/horses they had at their disposal.
16th Century Lay Subsidies. Some sixteenth century Lay Subsidies (a tax) have now been published by M. Faraday. These date between 1524 and 1527. I have transcribed and indexed other south Shropshire subsidies e.g. October 24 1544 (Hundred of Stottesdon); April 3 1551 (Hundreds of Stottesdon & Brimstree); April 2 1571 (Hundreds of Stottesdon, Brimstree, Overs, and the Towns of Ludlow and Bridgnorth); September 20 1571 (Hundreds of Stottesdon, Brimstree Overs and the Towns of Ludlow and Bridgnorth). [Sample Lay Subsidy Extracts]
1661 Free and Voluntary Gift to Charles the Second. After the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Charles the Second was allowed to ask for contributions from individuals. Many people in south Shropshire contributed and their names and amount given are listed. My transcription is for the Hundred of Stottesdon - 600+ names. [Sample Extract]
1657-1691 Cleobury Mortimer Vicar's Book. Robert Goodwin was the Vicar of Cleobury Mortimer from 1657 until his death in 1691. During his time at Cleobury Mortimer, he kept a 'Vicar's Book' containing yearly lists of money received from his parishioners. Each year he collected 'Easter Dues', and 'small Tithes'. He also educated boys at the Vicarage, and his book sometimes records payments for these pupils. Included in his Book are draft or copy letters he sent to people in the area; records of his payments for building work; signed agreements; household accounts etc. In short, his Book, which has survived amongst the Parish documents, is a mine of information about people and finance in the latter part of the seventeenth century. I have transcribed all 600+ pages of his book, and indexed all people, places, occupations, types of crop and animals etc. mentioned in the document.
1696 Association Roll for parts of south Shropshire. This Roll was signed in each parish in 1696 by men of standing pledging loyalty to the Crown (and others too if they wished). The Roll for south Shropshire is well-preserved and legible. It seems that most men in each parish in the area signed.