Tithing Man

A collector of tithes, a tax of one-tenth. An overseer of tenants during the Middle Ages.

"The frankpledge or tithing system common at the time divided the tenants into groups (originally of ten), each group being responsible for the conduct and discipline of its individual members. Once a year the lord of the manor held his 'view of frankpledge', at which minor offences such as brewing without licence, assaults between neighbours, neglect of cleansing ditches and abuse of communal rights were dealt with. The tenant responsible for his group was known as the tithing man, and he reported cases such as the above, or told of boys who had now reached twelve years of age, or of newcomers to the manor who ought to be formally placed in his tithing. The members of the tithing were held responsible one for another to a considerable degree and could be fined for not reporting offences, or for neglecting to make inquiries as ordered by the court."

Six Medieval Men & Women, "Richard Bradwater," H. S. Bennett (1955).