Legal Definitions - hundredpenny

Hundredpenny

Historically, hundredpenny referred to a specific type of tax or dues that was collected within a "hundred." In medieval England, a "hundred" was an administrative division of land, typically comprising several villages or manors, used for purposes like taxation, military organization, and local justice. The hundredpenny was therefore a payment made by the inhabitants or landowners within such a district.

• Example 1: Imagine a farmer in 12th-century Wessex who cultivated land within the administrative area known as the "Hundred of Amesbury." Each year, in addition to other feudal obligations, he would be required to pay a sum of money, known as the hundredpenny, to the local lord or the Crown's representative for the privilege of living and working within that hundred. This payment contributed to the upkeep or administration of the local district.

  Explanation: This illustrates the hundredpenny as an annual due paid by an individual within a specific "hundred" for their presence or activity there, highlighting its nature as a localized tax.

• Example 2: In the 14th century, the residents of the "Hundred of Blackbourne" might have collectively contributed to a hundredpenny levy. This could have been a special assessment to fund a local project, such as repairing a bridge or maintaining a common pasture that served multiple villages within that hundred. The total amount would be apportioned among the various communities or landowners within the Blackbourne hundred.

  Explanation: This example shows the hundredpenny as a collective contribution from a community within a hundred, demonstrating its application for local infrastructure or shared resources.

• Example 3: A medieval charter from the 13th century might grant certain lands to a monastery, explicitly stating that these lands are "free from all hundredpenny and other customary dues." This clause would signify a significant privilege, exempting the monastery and its tenants from a common local tax that would otherwise be levied by the hundred's administration, thereby reducing their financial burden.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates the hundredpenny as a recognized and customary due, whose exemption would be a notable legal and financial benefit, further solidifying its historical existence as a specific type of tax.