Kirknewton And Westnewton Population : 17th - 18th Centuries

Two men, George Ogle and John Reed, with three and two hearths respectively, were listed for Kirknewton in the Hearth Tax return of 1665 (PRO E179/158/103), but no non-solvents were listed. Robert Reed, perhaps John’s son, had over 600 sheep here in 1683 and lands sown with oats, rye and bigg (Dixon 1985, II, 377).

The 1762 Militia List records seven able-bodied adult males eligible for service at Westnewton in addition to the two petty constables and five at East Newton in addition to the petty constable there. One of the individuals in the East Newton register, John Hall, is described as being ‘in a bad state of health’ and his name is crossed out. Perhaps the unfortunate Mr Hall’s health had deteriorated to the point where it could get no worse.

These totals are relatively small by comparison with some of the other constabularies in Kirknewton Parish – e.g. Lanton with 14, Milfield with 16 or Akeld with 19 – and the vast majority of these individuals listed in the two districts were engaged directly in farming, as ‘hinds’, herds or shepherds, farmers, ploughman and steward.