In message <4106CA72.8080105@cablelynx.com>, W H F Meeks <meeksmerge@cablelynx.com> writes >I am sure my question has been answered many times but not since I have >been on list. > >In 1524, in Northamptonshire England, my 10 great grandfather, Thomas >Beauchamp, his brother John and a Richard Beauchamp were on the tax >rolls at Cosgrave, Northamptonshire. DeBrett Ancestral Research says >that Richard was "probably" the father of John and Thomas but no proof. >I am trying to determine the age of Thomas. At that time, at what age >was one placed on the tax rolls? Thanks for any assistance. It doesm't work like that. If you are talking about the Subsidy of 1524, it was the possession of property which determined whether the subsidy was collected. Normally, a son would have to wait till Daddy was dead, or at least until he acquired property by marriage. There were special circumstances in 1524. A year or so earlier. the King had asked for patriotic help in waging a possible war against France, always a popular thing. He asked a 'Muster' for details or armour and weapons and -kind of incidentally - how much people were worth in lands and goods. They fell for it and some even boasted. Next year, a subsidy was raised assessed on these figures, and anyone with 50 pounds value or more paid a lot extra. So, quick shuffle, put some of the estate in your sons' names, to get it below 50. In this case then, the sons could be even under 21, Possibly, your searcher is comparing the Muster list with the actual Subsidy list. -- Eve McLaughlin Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society