Can anyone suggest where or what the First Fryits Office in London was? I came across it in a Newcastle Courant item of 1792. It read "Last week after a long and tedious illness, Mrs Bacon, wife of Mr William Bacon, at Louth near Carlisle; brother to John Bacon Esq of the First Fryits Office, London" I googled, but to no avail...Any suggestions would be welcome. Dorothy G New Zealand

Dorothy Gaunt writes: >Can anyone suggest where or what the First Fryits Office in >London was? I came across it in a Newcastle Courant >item of 1792. <snip> I guess this should read 'First Fruits'. The phrase 'First Fruits and Tenths' refers traditionally to the first year's income from a benefice [annates] and 10% of the income in following years. This used to be a tax paid to the Pope, but after the Reformation went to the Crown and was administered by the Court of First Fruits and Tenths and then by the Exchequer. Queen Anne relinquished this income to set up a fund for poor Clergy called 'Queen Anne's Bounty' - after 1940, administered by the Church Commissioners. So I should think that the First Fruits Office refers to the office administering this fund. But where that was I don't know - you may be able to find it by googling or by emailing the Church Commissioners. Or possibly there is a PRO leaflet on it. Chris chris@dickinson.uk.net