E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Smoke Farthings.
An offering given to the priest at Whitsuntide, according to the number of chimneys in his parish.
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“The Bishop of Elie hath out of everie parish in Cambridgeshire a certain tribute called … smokefarthings, which the churchwardens do levie according to the number of chimneys that be in a parish.”—MSS. Baker, xxxix. 326.
