Vestry
Book
Towcester
Parish Vestry Book is full of fascinating information about the poor of
Towcester in the early 19th century. While the basis of the book is
a list of the expenditure on the local paupers for those larger items that their
weekly Poor Relief could not be expected to cover, such as shoes, clothing for
those going as apprentices, and the provision of midwives, some entries can be
unexpected. The rules which governed the poor are seen on occasion, for
example, the able bodied boys are expected to stay in the Market Place all day,
waiting for hire, to “earn” their daily relief.
Some
paupers appear with regularity, such as Samuel Golby. Further investigation
reveals a family of 10 children, only 4 of whom were living by the close of
this book. Reference to the patients’
records of
Then
there was George French. He must have sunk to some very low depths before
applying to the parish – the first record is that “George French needs
everything”.
The
records were kept by the Overseers, and it is interesting to get a glimpse of
the educational prowess of these local traders. Spelling and capitalisation are
still somewhat lacking. Entries such as “ the Late Jinnings is House wants
Repairing” are typical – “is” appears to be how the Vestry Clerk, Richard Crow,
spelt ”his”.
There
were three responses to a need expressed by the applicants – Allowed, Not, and
Left. One wonders whether the first session was the first for a while, or maybe
with a new Vestry, as a greater proportion than normal of the cases are “Allowed”.
Those entries which are labelled “Left” appear to be those for which further
investigation was deemed necessary.
Officials
were appointed once a year, at the March meeting. There were Churchwardens, Overseers
of the Poor, the Parish Constable, Parish Clerk and the
There
were signs of the (economic) times. The Napoleonic Wars finished in 1815,
releasing many soldiers and sailors onto the labour market. The price of bread
was being kept high by the Corn Laws, while employees were laid off from
industries no longer needed to supply a war-time army. Unrest was felt all over
the country, with the march of the Blanketeers in 1817 and the Peterloo
Massacre of 1819.
Towcester
was not exempt from the economic pressures. The shoe industry was hit because
the army no longer needing boots, and the lace industry by the resumption of
the import of French lace. The Baptist Pastor reported in 1818 that “The trade
is so bad some of the poor cannot pay for their seats”, and in 1819 “The
continued falling off in those who used to pay for their sittings is occasioned
by the continued decline in the lace business”.
The
first Vestry in the book listened to 40 pleas, with 26 the following month. The
one on 6th April 1817, just over a year later, heard 54, with 56 the
following month. Many were asking for help with their rent, which was often
disallowed. By May 1817, help was being given, indicative of the hard times
many faced. By 1818, there was clear concern over how much money was being
spent on the poor, and the Poor Rates were beginning to run at unacceptably
high levels.
Even
so, some paupers seemed curiously optimistic about what the Vestry might pay
for. Thomas Webb, a middle-aged labourer with three children asked for ten
shillings to buy a clock. One rather sad entry was a request by William Worth
that his son might attend school. He was refused.
Many of the requests allowed were for items which would help a man gain or keep
employment. Smock frocks were a common request, particularly for teenage boys
starting work for the first time. Shoes were requested for men and children,
but not usually for the women.
There
were some curious items. Stephen Eales was threatened with having his relief
withdrawn if he didn’t have his dog put down. A month later, he was requested
to sell his pig to pay the rent.
For
those who do not remember the old coinage,
12d = 1s 12 old pennies in one
shilling
20s = £1 20 shillings in one £
One
shilling was the equivalent of 5p today.
In
Pre-metric measures, 1 Ell = 1 ¼ yards. 1 yard = 3 feet = 12 inches.
(1metre
= 3 feet 3 inches)
An
example of one Vestry:
At
Vestry Held on the 6th Day of October 1816
John Golston wants Sheets, 1s
& Shirt Allowd
Sarah Wilkins wants 5s for Rent Alowd
Thomas Webb wants £2 12s for Rent & shirt 3 Child 6s
Allow
William Worth wants some Linning
for Child 3 Ells
John Stamp wants 5s for Rent
& Pare Shoes Child Rent Allow
Robert Peddifer wants 1s 6d a week
more 6d Allowd
Ann Crosland wants £1 3s 6d for
Rent Allow
Samuel Golby wants Some Cloth
for is Children ü
Samuel’s
Son wants Pare
Shoes ž Shoes Allowd
Jess Hillyard wants £1 10s for Rent £1 Allowd
Joseph Smith wants £6 0s for
Rent 2 Ch Not
James Sharp wants £1 6s for
Rent Allowd
Marey Eales wants Sheet
Cover Lid Allowd
Richard Norris wants Pare Shoes Allowd
Hry Hammon wants Sheet Allowd
Gorge Sammon wants 2s a week Allowd
[Thomas] Barrett wants £1 7s 6d Rent £1
all’ed
Thomas May wants Cloth for Children 3 Ells
Richard Oxley wants 3s a week 2s
6d Allow
Samuel Powell wants Cloth for is
Children 3 Ells
John Harris wants Pare
Shoes 4 Child Allowd
Thomas Baker wants £1 10s for Rent Not
William Yatts wants £1 10s for
Rent 4 Child £1 Allowd
Thomas Hayle wants £2 7s 6d one years Rent £1 3s allow
Fanny Aburn wants 6d a week
more Not
P
Phipps,
W.
Norris, Benjamin Brown Overseers
Richard
Durham, Josiah Simco, George Gurney, Joseph Willsher