This is a page from the Hairpowder Tax of 1797 relating to Hexham Parish. Those recorded would have had this taxation paid for them by their employer. Entry 9 relates to John Bell who is recorded as a housekeeper. Unfortunately the entry does not state who her employer was.
Fear of invasion by the French led to increases in taxation to pay for the army and navy. The Hairpowder Tax was introduced in 1795 and was levied upon the employers of those people in their service who were required to wear hairpowder. These lists are commonly found amongst Quarter Sessions records.
The Quarter Sessions were the quarterly meetings of Justices of the Peace who met to hear some criminal cases and to deal with some local administrative issues.
