A tax on “those people called Quakers”
Posted on November 28, 2025 by Jenny ONeill
Beginning in 1780, the Militia Act (St. 1780, Ch. 21) allowed Quakers to be exempt from military service in the Revolutionary War on the grounds of their religious pacifism. However, because of their exemption, they were required to pay the expenses for raising men in their place for military service along with an additional 10% charge to defray the expense of raising those men. This was commonly known as the Quaker tax. (https://digitalarchives.sec.state.ma.us/quakers/)
A Tax on “those people called Quakers”
To the Hon. Henry Gardner Esq. Treasurer and Receiver General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Agreeable to a Late Law of Said Commonwealth We have taxed the People Called Quakers for their proportion towards Raising the three years men, and have Committed to
John Chaffe to Collect £747 -17-4
To Christopher Almy to Collect £1460-16-6
To John Earl to Collect £802-16- 1
Sum Total in Specie £3055- 9-11
Dartmouth, July the 23. AD. 1781
Benj. [?]
Richard Kirby
Eleazer Hathaway
Assessors of the town of Dart