History of Taxation in Rhode Island to the Year 1790Gardner, Henry B. (Henry Brayton)
History
History of Taxation in Rhode Island to the Year 1790
Gardner, Henry B. (Henry Brayton)
Taxation -- Rhode Island -- History
This tax was collected with the greatest difficulty. Hardly any of it
seems to have been paid for several years. A "great part" remains
unpaid in October, 1669, (R.I. Col. Recs. II, 288) and we find
measures taken for its collection in certain places as late as May,
1671. (R.I. Col. Recs. II, 380-3). In October, 1666, (ditto II, 183)
it is mentioned that "several persons" are "yett behind" in former
rates.
Footnote 36:
Westerly had contributed £65 and was excused from the tax. In May,
1671, (R.I. Col. Recs. II, 380 et seq.) a great portion of this tax
had not been assessed.
Footnote 37:
This was the first percentage tax. In May, 1674, "under severall
pretences few or none paid." (R.I. Col. Recs. II, 521). Some are also
behind in former rates, (ditto 522). So far as shown by the colony
account book, the receipts from this tax amounted to but a few pounds.
Footnote 38:
In May, 1679, several towns had not assessed the rate. (R.I. Col.
Recs. III, 33) An audit in July, 1681, shows that £108 6s. 10d. is due
on this and the rate of 1680, a considerable portion of the deficiency
being for the present tax.
Footnote 39:
The sum was paid down by Stephen Arnold, who was guaranteed by the
notes of several other persons who in turn were to be paid out of the
tax. In June, 1681, certain of those who had given their notes to
Arnold petition for relief, from which it is evident that the tax had
not been paid. The delinquent towns are ordered to pay.
Footnote 40:
For delinquency in payment see notes 38 and 41.
Footnote 41:
The colony account book shows the receipt of but £59, 13s. 10d. up to
September, 1686, from the deficiency of £108, 6s. 10d. (Note 38) and
the present tax. More may have been received for the accounts were
left in an irregular manner, and the custom of offsetting debts due
from the colony against rates may have prevented some payments being
recorded at all. On the other hand it was in the summer of 1686, that
the colony forfeited its charter so that it would not be strange if
the taxes due were not collected.
Footnote 42:
I have been able to find no trace of this tax in the colony records,
but such a tax seems to have been ordered by Andros throughout his
whole jurisdiction, and it is mentioned as levied in Staples Annals of
Providence, p. 177.
Footnote 43:
This tax as assessed in Providence amounted to £37 12s. 3d. of which
£14 was poll money, giving the number of polls assessed as 178. The
number of separate property assessments was 144. In the rate of £120
levied in the same year Providence paid one sixth of the whole. Using
this as a basis of calculation the penny in the pound and poll tax
would have amounted to about £225. The other penny in the pound taxes
do not seem to have yielded quite so much. The three perhaps yielded
about £600.
Footnote 44:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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