Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust

1765 Smallpox Census

1765 Smallpox Census

In 1765, there was fear of an outbreak of smallpox. The Stratford authorities wanted to establish the cost of inoculating the townspeople who were at risk of catching it. They therefore needed to work out how many of these there were. Those who had already had smallpox could be discounted as they were immune to another attack. Those people living in the town but legally settled in other parishes could also be left out of the equation because it was not the Stratford’s responsibility to look after them. The investigation carried out to establish these facts resulted in a unique 'census'. It lists the names of the householders and the numbers in their household, with information entered under a further seven headings to provide the statistical information needed. It is invaluable not only for identifying the names of Stratford families but also for the evidence it provides of family size, the incidence of smallpox and the migration of poorer families, as indicated by their place of legal settlement.

For ease of reference, details under five of the headings have not been incorporated into this database as their interest lies only in the totals. These came to:
Number of people legally settled in Stratford Borough : 619
Number of people legally settled in Old Stratford : 192
Number of those who had not had smallpox : 166
Number not legally settled either in Stratford Borough or Old Stratford : 461
Number of those who had not had smallpox : 228

Place of Settlement Household size Number not had smallpox Ward Forename Surname  
Borough of Stratford 5 3 High Street George Garwood More
Borough of Stratford 7 5 High Street Salisbury Goode More
Borough of Stratford 7 0 High Street Samuel Jarvis More
Borough of Stratford 4 0 High Street Barodale More
Borough of Stratford 7 1 High Street John Meacham More
Borough of Stratford 2 2 High Street Sarah Higgins More
Borough of Stratford 7 5 High Street Baylis More
Butlers Marston 5 5 High Street Richard Hiron More
Borough of Stratford 8 2 High Street William Burbage More
Borough of Stratford 7 1 High Street William Eaves More
Borough of Stratford 4 1 High Street Samuel Heritage More
Borough of Stratford 8 4 High Street John Tissell More
Borough of Stratford 5 0 High Street Mary Jarretts More
Borough of Stratford 4 0 High Street James Keating More
Borough of Stratford 4 1 High Street Nathaniel Cookes More
Borough of Stratford 4 0 High Street Thomas Nott More
Borough of Stratford 9 7 High Street Francis Parsons More
Borough of Stratford 10 4 High Street Levi Hickley More
Borough of Stratford 10 8 High Street William Judd More
Borough of Stratford 7 5 High Street John Satchwell More
Borough of Stratford 4 0 High Street Pershouse More
Banbury 5 2 High Street Webb More
Borough of Stratford 6 1 High Street Edwards More
Weston upon Avon 1 0 High Street Charles Weston More
Borough of Stratford 9 3 High Street John Izod More
Wellesbourne Mountford 6 2 High Street Martin Bagg More
Borough of Stratford 3 0 High Street Richard Walls More
Borough of Stratford 10 2 High Street William Lees More
Borough of Stratford 2 0 High Street William Gurney More
Borough of Stratford 4 1 High Street Jeacocks More
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