Page 31.
THE OVERSEERS OF THE
POOR.
HOW THE RATEPAYERS MONEY WAS SPENT.
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SETTLEMENT AND REMOVAL.
Under the "Poor Law" each small Parish was obliged to look after its own Paupers.
Therefore it became essential for the Overseers, who administered the system, to know which people they were responsible
for.
On behalf of the other ratepayers,they would go to great lengths to avoid giving "relief" to those who did not qualify.
Everyone had a Parish of "Settlement", which was usually where they were born.
To move from Parish to Parish required a certificate. Settlement rights in a different Parish could only be
acquired by:-
serving an apprenticeship there; working there for over a year;
owning or renting property with a rateable value over £10.
Women took the Parish of their husband on marriage.
If at any time a non-qualified person became reliant on Poor relief, the Overseers would apply to the magistrates for a
"removal order", which sometimes required a long examination of the claimant's life history. |
Journey to Guisbro' to meet Castleton Overseers to hear the case from Counsel relating G Elliott's Settlement
Paid for removal of Stephen Kitching and wife to Growman Bridge
Journey to Guisbro concerning Stephen Kitching returning from his Parish to Skelton again after his removal
Paid Mr Clarke for a Summons for Elizabeth Binks removal
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1s 6d
£1 3s 0d
1s 6d
2s 0d
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APPRENTICESHIPS.
It was part of the Overseers duties to arrange apprenticeships for the children of paupers.
A legal agreement was made by which Indentures were signed binding the child to a period of training of seven years or more.
The tradesman undertook to feed and clothe the Apprentice in return for his labour to the age of 24. |
Journey to Guisbro to bind Robert Jolly's son Apprentice.
Paid sundry expences with Indenture concerning binding James Mawer apprentice to Jacob Honeyman
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1s 6d
13s 6d
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PASSENGERS.
There are many references to payment for "passengers", people who were "legally" moving from place to place.
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Paid to 3 women and 7 children, soldiers wifes with a regular pass.
Paid William Watson, Constable, for relieving passengers
Paid to James Crusher for a disabled seaman
Paid relief to a traveling woman being sick
Paid to 3 ship-wrecked sailors
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1s 6d
3s 0d
2d
5s 6d
1s 6d
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Paid William Lynas for keeping watch over William Emmerson 7 nights
Paid William Bouteman for conveying William Emmerson to York Asylum
Paid to the Governors of the York Asylum for William Emmerson
Paid Mary Emmerson expenses to York to look after her husband
Paid to Lunatic Asylum at York for William Emmerson funeral
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10s 6d
£3 0s 0d
£5 10s 6d
7s 0d
£14 0s 0d
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INCOME FROM THE DECEASED.
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Received by Sale of the late Newark Pearsons Goods
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£3 5s 6d
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Paid to Thomas Boulton of Guisbro when his Horse died
Paid relief to Richard Morgan's wife when he was soldiering
Paid Ralph Weatherill Window Duty
Paid for Ralph Weatherill cow being twice in the penfold
Paid to Robert Lengs children when he was from home
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£1 1s 0d
19s 6d
3s 6d
1s 4d
2s 0d
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On the 21st December 1836 after the start of the Workhouse System the following letter was sent to Overseer, Joseph Tate
by Jane Robinson of Moorsholm, which was then part of Skelton Parish.
Dear Sir,
As the time is now advanced and cold winter begins to blow, that a promise was made by the Vestry of your township to lay on the shilling per week that was taken off my pay when winter came.
I therefore make bold by writing a note to you to have the goodness to lay my complaint before the Vestry to solicit their kindness to lay on the shilling again for which I shall be greatly obliged and ever in duty bound to pray for thee.
Yours,
Jane Robinson.
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