Returns of Poor Livings 1708 and 1720
Before the Reformation a clerical tax, called Annates, or First Fruits and Tenths (the whole of the first year's profits of a benefice) was paid to the Papal Treasury in Rome. Following the Reformation they were paid to the Crown. In 1703 Queen Anne was persuaded to divert the income of the First Fruits and Tenths to Governors who would use the income some £17,000 per annum at that time, to augment the income of the poorer clergy.
Following the establishment of Queen Anne's Bounty by the The Queen Anne's Bounty Act 1703 (2 & 3 Anne c 20), all the parishes in the Diocese of York were surveyed to see if they could benefit from the Bounty.
The returns for Ellerton were as follows:
1708
| Property, Goods, Chattels, Dues and Oblations | £ | s. | d. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid in Aughton at ye Audit | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| A house & yard | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Churchyard | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Paid in Ellerton at ye Audit | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| A hemp garth | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Churchyard at Ellerton | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| A close at Wheldrake | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Half an acre of land at Wheldrake | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| A close at Sandholm | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| One close & 3 acres & half of meadow at East Cottingwith | 5 | 10 | 0 |
| 2 pasture gates | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| 8 acres of arable land | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| One house | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 5 Mens Parts of 4 half acres of meadow | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Surplice Fees | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sum | 32 | 12 | 6 |
1720
Yearly value £10
John Sandsby & John Browne both of Ellerton aforesaid husbandmen Do joyntly & severally make oath That they do believe the yearly value of the vicarage of Ellerton which is in the Donation of Alice Bethell widow amounts to ten pounds per annum or thereabouts & that the same ariseth in manner following viz: the sume of five pounds per annum payable out of the Exchequer And the further summe of five pounds or thereabouts payable immemorially out of severall small parcells of land & that William Storr clerke is the present Minister And they do further say that they do not know of any other improvements or augmentation belonging to the vicarage of Ellerton aforesaid.