Fordington

Extracts  from the Overseers Accounts for the parish of St George Fordington 1782-1792
 transcribed by Michael Russell

Background to Overseers of the Poor: An honorary parochial post. Before the Reformation the care of the poor was the responsibility of the Church, i.e. of the monasteries and the parish clergy. In fact one-third of the parson’s tithes were intended to be given by him to the poor. When the monasteries were dissolved, the problem of relieving poverty became acute, and the clergy were ordered to collect alms for poor people. An Act of 1572 created Alms Collectors and Supervisors of the Labour of Rogues and Vagabonds in each parish. People who would not give alms voluntarily could be compulsorily assessed. In 1597 the two offices were combined under the title of Overseer of the Poor, an official whose appointment required the approval of the Justices of the Peace. By the great Poor Law Act of 1601 churchwardens became ex-officio Overseers of the Poor, together with those approved by the Justices. One of their number was appointed executive officer of the Overseers and looked after the funds raised by parochial rates. From 1691, the Overseer was obliged to keep a record of his disbursements and distribution of clothing etc. His rate books list sums collected from parishioners according to the value of their properties. In 1772 an Act was passed enabling parishes to buy or rent premises for workhouses, and to employ a workhouse-keeper. From 1790,such workhouses had to submit to inspection by Justices of the Peace. In 1834. parochial responsibility for the poor was ended. Parishes were amalgamated for such purposes into Poor Law Unions, governed by elected Poor Law Guardians with a property qualification. At National Level the system was controlled by Poor Law Commissioners.

Surviving Records: Overseers of the Poor Accounts for Fordington  have been filmed by the Church of Latter day Saints for the period 1725-1764 and 1782 – 1822 and can be ordered and viewed locally through their Family History Centres by members of the public – film 1526124. Their Poor Rate Books have also been filmed for the period 1755-1867 Film 1517701.

Extracts only: These records are highly repetitious and so far it has only been possible to transcribe a few individual pages as shown below

Note: many of these records are very difficult to read so I have tried to verify names from the marriage register already shown on the OPC website or, because the records are repetitive, from later months returns. Where in doubt I have added a question mark but as always individuals should verify from original records. Where appropriate I have added an explanation in brackets in italics as many words are abbreviated or spelt differently.

March 3 1782

At a meeting of the present Vestry it was then agreed for Jerramiah CLARKE a poor old man a wastcote [waistcoat] Mack [Makias] BRINE a Great Coat John HARVEY a wastcote [waistcoat] Charles CHRISTOPHER a shirt David PHIPPARD a shirt Mary ALLEN a pair of shoes Leonard WINZAR’s girl a shift NORRIS boy a pair of breeches

Signatures

John MORGAN                   Ch Warden [churchwarden]
Willm CAVE                         Overseer [Overseer of the Poor]
Jos: [Joseph] BENNETT                
John INGRAM
James BENNETT

March                                                                                                 Extra
[Note: Extra payments made during the month in addition to weekly support for paupers] 

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VESTRY April 6 1783

At a meeting of all vestry according to notice given it was then agreed for POWELL’s coat to be mended, Likewise a truss to be provided for him John WINZAR a shirt Sus [Susanna] GIBBSON a shift? Charles CHRISTOPHER a pair of shoes HODGES? Boy and Will LOCK’s wife apt [a pair of ] shoes each BURNETT to have a Lincy [assume this means linen?] petticote May LUCKAS the shepherdess a Great Coat

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VESTRY February 6 1785

At Vestry this day held agreeable to notice it is ordered that Enoch LESTER is to have 2s a week, Charles CHRISTOPHER a shirt Wm [William] LOCK a shirt

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VESTRY May the 3 1789

At a meeting of the present Vestry it was agreed that Mr Jno [JOHN] applen [application] to innoculate* the poor now residing in this parish for the Sum of Twelve pounds and Ten shillings Likewise to give William LUCKAS 2 children a gown each

*Genealogical Note: Edward Jenner[1749-1823] the English Physician is regarded as the father of immunology and to have developed smallpox vaccine from cowpox germs. His famous experiment was carried out on a small boy called James Phipps in 1796. There is an excellent account on “thedorsetpage.com”  website under the history tab that shows that the first recorded smallpox vaccination actually happened some 20 years earlier when in 1774 a farmer Benjamin Jesty of Yetminster inoculated his wife and children. See abbreviated version on Yetminster OPC page. Benjamin Jesty moved to Worth Matravers in 1797 where there is clear evidence that he was still carrying out vaccinations. Despite a review by medical commission he never received credit for his pioneering work. The entry above shows that the Mr John [recently appointed as surgeon to the workhouse in Fordington] had sufficient confidence in the process to get it approved by the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor. The cost at £12 is considerable given the general  level of expenditure and speaks well for care of the poor in this parish.

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VESTRY June 7th 1789
At a Vestry meeting this day but according to notice it was agreed to give Susanna GIBBONS a shift, Mary INGRAM a shift, Charles CHRISTOPHER a shirt, Jas [James] PEATY a pair of Breeches, Mac [Makias] BRINE a Blanket, Jack CLARK a shirt

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VESTRY July 4th 1792
At a Vestry this day held according to notice it was agreed that Susanna GIBBONS should have a petticote Wm CHURCHILL 2s a week during his illness and a blanket and bed tick, Charles CHRISTOPHER additional 6d a week & Susanna PARKER a gown that Sarah HOLFORD and her children shall be conveyed by the wagons to [illegible] Stafford & be allowed a pair of shoes & 5d to redeem her goods in pawn

                                                          
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Feby 6 1791[February - looks like July but next is March]
At a meeting of this Vestry it was agreed to give Widw: LOYD a shift William NORRIS son a pair of shoes and a slip for his daughter May CLARKE a spinning turn? Widw PARKER a shift Will LUCKAS John CLARKE and John WINZAR a close bodied Coat each. Sally LUCKAS a petticote & shift Widw CHURCHILL be allowed six pence a week more.

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March 6th 1791
At a Vestry this day held according to notice it was agreed to give Elizth [Elizabeth] BENNETT a sheet Jane CLARKE a shift Susanna GIBBONS a shift SEAL’s girl a pair of shoes Susan LUCAS, Willm LUCAS’s daut [daughter] a Gown 3d a week in addition to the pay of FUDGES blind child Old Mary LOCK a petticoat Betty TAYLOR a shift  Betty CHRISTOPHER 2s a week in lieu of 3s paid her & her husband who is dead ----- And that 1d a week to be taken away from LEGGS family ------ And to let Mac [Makias] BRINE have a shirt
Also that it is necessary to collect some additional Jan [January] Rates and that the overseers are impowered [empowered] to do the same

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Jan fifth 1792

At a Vestry now held it was then agreed for Enoch LESTER to have two shillings a week BISHOPS Wife to have a shilling a week for taking care of Ed [Edward] TAYLOR

                       
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Jany 1792 The Weekly pay continued

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