On the inside cover of the first minute book we find this wording:

"I do hereby declare my willingness to hold at least one share of one pound for the time being in the Rushden Industrial Co-operative Society Ltd to be paid not less than 3/- per quarter, but must be paid in advance".

On the first page of this old school exercise book we have minutes for the first meeting.

OCTOBER 7th 1876
Meeting held in the Temperance Hall Rushden decided to form a co-op in the village. Officers elected were:
Secretary - Thos. Brightwell, Treasurer - Geo. Perkins, President - James Bull.
Committee: Joseph Lambert, - Denton, William Green, Jos. Sherwood, Chas Green, Joseph Sherwood, Chas Wright.
The above to remain in office for three months unless removed by resolution.

OCTOBER 14th 1876
Resolved to have a lecture on co-operation. New members this week: William Skinner, John Button, David Darnell (D. Darnell added to the committee). Resolved to commence to pay on shares on Saturday.

OCTOBER 21st 1876
Added to the committee: Wm. Packwood, Wm. Clarke, Fred Knight and John Ward. The president to meet Mr B. Hemmings (who was to give a lecture on 28th Oct) at the station and arrange bed if required.

OCTOBER 28th 1876
5 new members added and agreed to have the Temperance Hall for committee meetings for the next 3 months. The expenses for Mr Hemmings to be left until next meeting. (No mention of the lecture.)

NOVEMBER 1st 1876
First full meeting of RICS Ltd held at the home of Mr James Bull. Considered a place for a store. Mr Bayes to see Wm Colson about a piece of ground. Mr Perkins to see Mr Margetts about ground.

NOVEMBER 4th 1876
Resolved to pay Mr Hemmings' expenses out of funds. Each new member to pay 1/- entrance fee and part cost of share.

NOVEMBER 8th 1876
Mr Bayes reported seeing Mr Colson about land. Mr Bull reported seeing Mr Margetts about land for sale. Resolved J. Bull, Geo. Perkins and J. Bayes be instructed to arrange for purchase of land in the High Street for stores.

NOVEMBER llth 1876
An Incidental Fund be formed, each member to pay 1 d per month until resigned by resolution on first Saturday of each month. Have one copy of "Co-op News" also copy of Industrial & Provident Act. Need to report about the purchase of land to the members.

NOVEMBER 15th 1876
Report received on purchase of land. Mr Bull and Mr Perkins to wait on all members to find out how many shares they will take and money they will be able to pay by Christmas next to pay for land.

NOVEMBER 18th 1876
Pros and cons about the purchase of land.

NOVEMBER 23rd 1876
Sub committee to get out rules as early as possible, Mr Packwood and Mr Bayes to be bound for the sum of £50 each.

DECEMBER 2nd 1876
The rules to be left in the hands of committee until completed then submit to General Meeting.

DECEMBER 9th 1876
Rules as prepared be adopted. Mr Packwood to write rules out ready for registration. He be paid for same.

DECEMBER 14th 1876
The seal: what should it be? A wheatsheaf or bundle of sticks - ask General Meeting.

DECEMBER 16th 1876
General Meeting accepted wheatsheaf as seal.

DECEMBER 20th 1876
Rules ready for registration Mr Packwood to be paid 7/- for writing them. Consideration given to when to commence business in temporary stores. Now ready to supply coal to members.

DECEMBER 30th 1876
Coal list to be referred to next committee meeting. Report on seeing Mr Cave about shop in High Street, no effect.

JANUARY 2nd 1877
Send for truck load of coal as sample. This to be sold at 20/- per ton with 1/- discount if paid on delivery. Mr Perkins and Mr Bull to see Mr Margetts about paying some money for land in High Street.

JANUARY 9th 1877
Send for truck of coal at once and ask about discount for cash payment on future orders. Resolved to pay £60 on land to Mr Margetts.

JANUARY 16th 1877
Use the Temperance Hall for 3 months longer for Sat. meetings.

JANUARY 26th 1877
Reply from coal merchant - no discount allowed.

JANUARY 31st 1877
Plans for shop to be continued at next meeting.

FEBRUARY 7th 1877
Send for another truck of coal. Discussion on road and land, committee to wait on Mr Margetts about the front line of the building.

FEBRUARY 14th 1877
Report on boundary line, Mr Wright (member of Comm.) asked about a piece of land to exchange between him and society.

FEBRUARY 22nd 1877
Committee to pass more money to Mr Margetts so society can commence to build stores as soon as possible.

FEBRUARY 24th 1877
Special General Meeting: Consideration given as to when and how to commence selling to members, other than coal. Promises and subs. to complete purchase of land - Mr Darnell and Mr Green to visit all members who have not paid money on shares - also solicit new members if they can.

FEBRUARY 27th 1877
Write to all bakers in Rushden to see what price they will serve all members of society. Grocery goods - to enquire about buying same.

MARCH 6th 1877
To employ Mr Simpson of Higham Ferrers as solicitors to get out conveyance on ground in the High Street. No reply from the bakers yet.

MARCH 21st 1877
Mr Perkins and Mr Bull seeing Mr Simpson. Report on soil moving fees.
Reported that a depot for bread will be set up at Mr Brightwell's house.
Temporary store for groceries at Mr Darnell's house.
Mr F J Burton accepted by the committee to supply bread.

MARCH 24th 1877
Special General Meeting. Statement of progress by the chairman.
Resolved to have a day on Easter Monday for removing soil from the site in the High Street.
Report to members: To serve members with bread from Mr Brightwell's house. Grocery in the near future from Mr Darnell's.

MARCH 27th 1877
Need approx. 160 loaves a week - be collected four times a week 7-8pm Mon, Tues, Thurs, Sat. Mr Darnell and Mr Bull to go to Leicester to arrange grocery A/c. Pay a further £25 to Mr Margetts.

MARCH 30th 1877
Consider quantities of grocery required. Deputation to use their own judgement.

APRIL 3rd 1877
Report on soil moving by Mr Perkins and the men. Groceries to be sold for the time being to members only between 3-8pm on Saturdays and 7-9pm on other days.

APRIL 10th 1877
Grocery to be sold as last week from Mr Darnell's house. Write to Hornimans for tea a/c. Sales of bread last week £3.2.8d - grocery £3.15.6d. Resolved that the deputation to Leicester be paid 6/- each for train fare. Considered plans for store. Mr Perkins and Mr Bayes to sketch out ground plan and bring same to next meeting.

APRIL 24th 1877
Bread sales £3.16.2d Grocery £4.7.1d. Reply from Hornimans - send for 60 lbs sell at 3/- per lb. Samples received of candles and cheese.

APRIL 28th 1877
Bread £3.18.11d Grocery £6.0.0d - grocery store now to be opened to members and.friends.

MAY 8th 1877
Shop stocked - bread sales £4.5.2d, grocery £7.10.0d. Arrange for butter and eggs. Consider shop plans.

MAY 15th 1877
Bread £3.16.8d, Grocery £6.16.8d. Plans for store, Mr Foskett to get out plans for same.

MAY 29th 1877
Grocery order – 15lbs butter @ 17/6, 10 score eggs @ 10/-, 14 lbs coffee @ 12/3, lump sugar, 1 cwt - white sugar, 2 cwts @ 4d, brown sugar 2 cwts @ 3d., 1 cheese, 2 tins lard, 28lbs rice, 28lbs best currants, 2 boxes plums, 1 side bacon, 14lbs sago, 18 wax candles, 2 dozen best soap, ½ cwt yellow soap, 6 lbs cap. paper, 20lbs blue paper, 1 cwt soda.

JUNE 5th 1877
Bread £4.0.0d Grocery £10.0.0d

JUNE 12th 1877
Coal - no more until September - Bread £4.8.0d Grocery £8.15.0d.
Damaged sugar to be sold at 3d per Ib. Send for better tea.

JUNE 26th 1877
Grocery £10 Bread £4.0.5d

JULY 3rd 1877
Grocery £9.10.0d, Bread £3.9.4d. Resolved to take stock before more grocery is ordered. Rules certified by registrar and sent to printers.

JULY 11th 1877
Grocery £10.0.0d Bread £3.1.3d - Mr Lambert to meet carriers about the butter.

JULY 17th 1877
Bread £3.18.10d Grocery £10.0.0d. Pay Mr Brightwell 1/- per week for selling bread.

JULY 24th 1877
Agreed storekeeper be paid 9d in the £ for nine months service. £2.10.0d

JULY 30th 1877
General Meeting; pay 1/- in the £ dividend to members and add this to their share capital.
Pay 5% interest on share capital.

AUGUST 7th 1877
Bread £4.4.7d Grocery £9.10.0d. Order one truck of coal.

AUGUST 14th 1877
Bread £5 Grocery £10. Pay salary for quarter. Storekeeper 1d in £, Grocery salesman 7d in £, Bread 5d in £ . Secretary £1 per quarter. Treasurer and committee - gratis. Mr Bull and Mr Green sign conveyance with secretary at Mr Simpsons.

AUGUST 24th 1877
Bread £5 Grocery £10.10.0d. Order butter for next week 30lbs. Eggs 6 score. Also more Tea.

AUGUST 28th 1877
Order a small set of scales. Let out earth moving to tender at cubic yard.
To move all earth and clear away. Tenders to be opened on 3rd Sept.

SEPTEMBER 4th 1877
Bread £5 Grocery £11. Lowest tender price for earth 9d per cubic yard.

SEPTEMBER 11th 1877
Bread £5 Grocery £11. Report on earth moving - Plans needed for store urgent.

SEPTEMBER 18th 1877
Bread £5 Grocery £11. Storekeeper to send for biscuits and sweets as required. Plans presented for approval. Contract in 3 parts - Building, carpentry, plumbing.

SEPTEMBER 25th 1877
Bread £5 Grocery £ 16. Advert in Wellingborough News for erection of new store.
Tenders to be in by 8th Oct 1877.

OCTOBER 2nd 1877
All coal sold by the society shall be at least 7½% profit and not more than 10%. Resolved that Mr Perkins see Mr Foskett and take measurements of ground, if both agree pay Mr Williams for excavation carried out.

OCTOBER 9th 1877
Bread £3 Grocery £11. Resolved to have the best green tea for the store. Discontinue use of Temperance Hall as soon as store is built. Tenders received for carpentry and plumbing but not masons. Advertise in Northampton Mercury with extension of time until 1st Nov 1877.

OCTOBER 16th 1877
No 2 store to be supplied with bread. Bread £3.10.0d Grocery £10.

OCTOBER 23rd 1877
Bread No.1 £4.10.0d. No.2 10/6 Grocery £11.
Tenders opened: Masons (Jos. Bayes £220), Carpenter (Foskett £238), Plumbing (A.Laughton £48), above accepted. Other plumbing quotes: J. Fountain £50, Margetts £52.10.0d, Woodward £56.4.8d

OCTOBER 31st 1877
Bread No.1 £3.10.0d. No.2 12/8 Grocery £9. Sell Lard and Butter at reduced price of 1d per lb.

NOVEMBER 1st 1877
Second Quarter Meeting:
Speech by Jos.Darnell on progress of society. Present committee to work gratis for this quarter. Divi 1/3 in £. Non members to have divi amount to be decided.

NOVEMBER 6th 1877
Checks now arrived - be brought into use at once. Order a ferkin of Butter and large box of plums. Well for store - Mr Jos. Bayes to sink well 8ft from wall - same with brick and cover. To have public tea in Temperance Hall 20th Nov.

NOVEMBER 13th 1877
Obtain hair oil, biscuits, tallow candles. Send for die for checks. Tea next Thursday to be a plain one @ 6d each.

NOVEMBER 16th 1877 Special meeting.
Tea for 100 persons, invite friends from Irchester, mainly committee and storekeeper. Evening meeting to be a homely one for encouragement of members - to explain Co-operation and what it may lead to.

NOVEMBER 12st 1877
Mr Bull and Mr Green be sub-committee to ascertain from members what they can pay about Christmas on shares for first instalment of the building.

DECEMBER 4th 1877
Grindery - sell as soon as possible - obtain samples for next meeting.

DECEMBER 11th 1877
Grindery to be sold at Mr Brighwell's house to commence Jan 1878.

DECEMBER 18th 1877
Orders: 2 bags sugar, 2 buckets lard, 2 cheeses, 1 ferkin Butter, 1 best soap. 1doz assorted jams, ½doz marmalade, 2 rolls bacon, ditto best bacon, 1 tin biscuits, half gross best candles, 14lbs coffee, 14lbs paper, 14lbs Everton toffee. Cough lozenges, nuts, 1 box blacking, 1 best ginger, mustard, matches, washing powder, skin soap, lemon peel, white pepper, black pepper, hair oil, sweets, 60lbs tea.

JANUARY 8th 1878
Grindery - Meeting with traveller at Mr Bull's house.

JANUARY 15th 1878
Window of stores to be put in the end and not in back as planned. Pay Jos Bayes £50 for building.

JANUARY 22nd 1878
Building to be insured according to plans and spec, before any more money be paid to builder.

JANUARY 29th 1878 Quarterly Meeting
Divi be 1/4 in the £ resolved that committee be granted power to obtain loan for building work.

FEBRUARY 12th 1878
Mr Bayes' application for £50 be allowed.

FEBRUARY 19th 1878
Gas fittings - tender for £12.12.0d be accepted. Hooks and Bars be provided for shop to hang goods on. Pay Mr Bayes £10 on building work.

FEBRUARY 26th 1878
Conveyance of land brought to committee by Geo. Perkins, him to take same with him tomorrow to the bank and leave if required as bond. Secretary to see D. Darnell about selling grindery from his home until store is built.

MARCH 12th 1878
Mr Bayes to put drain from well to street - tender for same £2.5 .0d

MARCH 20th 1878
Advertise in the Stamford Mercury for the supply of butter about 50lb per week. Gas - resolved that only one meter be provided - salesman to pay £1 per year for gas in private rooms.

APRIL 2nd 1878
Applications for salesman at the new store were opened. Three received: T. Brightwell, Chas. Parker, D. Darnell. All nominated and seconded. To be dealt with at special meeting.

APRIL 10th 1878

 David Darnell duly elected.

Conditions: That he shall have the two down stairs rooms at the back, with three up stairs rooms. Large front room to be given up if needed at a later stage. Rent £10 per year. That he shall be given and receive 1 months notice to leave. Misconduct by the salesman - 1 week notice. Shop to be open 8am to 8pm, Saturday 8am to 10pm. Shop to close on Christmas Day and Good Friday and when allowed by the committee. Commission: 6d in the £ on all retail sales. He shall find two bonds of £25 each and himself £40. He shall be so punctual to attend stores and give time to his duties.

APRIL 16th 1878
D. Darnell asked to close the shop on Easter Monday - granted.
Out building to be more or less 24' x 9'.

APRIL 23rd 1878
Store to be fitted out at once.

APRIL 30th 1878
General Meeting. Divi to be 1/4 in £. Resolved to have tea to open new store. Mr Hemmings to be invited.

MAY 15th 1878
Tender from Mr Forcett be accepted for fitting out the shop with shelves and counter. To be completed by 29th May. Full name to be printed on shop front. Marble ground and good paint. Shading as required. Letter to be sent to Mrs Gresswell saying the butter this week is very good quality and to state her scale of payments be accepted on condition that she send 50lbs a week.

MAY 28th 1878
Business to commence in the new store on 3rd June. Butter arrived lb short lock broken on hamper. Sec. to write to Station Master. Mr Burton to make cake for the tea - take goods from stock.

(No report on the opening)

JUNE 4th 1878
Grocery had been moved to the new store. Not yet moved the grindery. Bread not yet moved.

JUNE 11th 1878
Bread now on sale in the new store.

(I shall now only include details of importance)

JULY 30th 1878
Large room at new store used for members meeting: Divi to be 1/4 as accounts not yet completed due to move.

AUGUST 24th 1878
Buy weighing machine from Mr Green if weighing correctly. Purchase 30lbs. of Honey.

SEPTEMBER 3rd 1878
Butter order be increased to 60lbs per week.

SEPTEMBER 10th 1878
Mr Wm Childs No. 32 applied to take out his money on account of illness of himself and wife. Committee resolved to take charge of share and he be paid £2 for transferable share.

SEPTEMBER 17th 1878
Send for samples of tobacco.

OCTOBER 28th 1878
Divi for half year 1/- Resolved to pay salesman 6½d in £ until sales reach £50 per week.

NOVEMBER 5th 1878
Resolved to have 25lbs pork pies. Send back rivets as not needed in new store.

DECEMBER 17th 1878
Resolved to give one chest of oranges to members children for Christmas.
Send for rules of CWS at Manchester and enquire how to become a member.
Tender received from Edwin Knight for the supply of fat pigs - accepted.

DECEMBER 31st 1878
Resolved the draymen have 6d each as Christmas box.
Accept shares in CWS - Nos. 16281 - 162933.

JANUARY 7th 1879
Send for price list from CWS and to place orders with them.

JANUARY 14th 1879
Buy weighing machine from Wm Green for £4. (£1 share - £3 cash)

JANUARY 21st 1879
The salesman came before the committee and asked for more money. He was not satisfied with what he had and hoped the committee would consider same.

(By June he had given in his notice and a new salesman was appointed, a Mr Whitaker)

OCTOBER 1879
Resolved to bake Sunday dinners - bakehouse to close by 2pm - baker to be Mr Edward Coles and to start work Nov 1879. Bakehouse to be insured for £200.

JANUARY 1880
To purchase 2000 tin checks of 3d, 6d and 1/-. Divi up this quarter to 1/6.

MARCH 1880
Resolved that the extra rate for the bakehouse be not paid and the society ask for reduction.

MARCH 16th 1880
Appeal against extra rates - Mr Wilkins to represent society at hearing.

MARCH 23rd 1880
The baker was seen stopping at a Public House while on his rounds, the committee requested him not to do this any more.

MARCH 30th 1880
The baker be given an extra 4/6 for baking Hot Cross Buns on Good Friday. Salesman asked for half a day off during the summer months. To be discussed later.

MAY 11th 1880
Sub-committee formed to discuss half a day off for salesman.

JUNE 1st 1880
Half a day off for salesman before the General Meeting - not granted.

JULY 29th 1880
Discussion on the Society not being able to give divi this half year. Many questions asked. Send for competent man from Central Board to go through the accounts. Mr P. Wood to be asked if he was at liberty to come and take charge of shop. Think it advisable to have new manager, salesman and baker. The baker and salesman were given notice that night.

NOVEMBER 22nd 1880
Pay subs to Central Board at rate of 2d per member (149 members)
Mr P. Wood is brought before the committee about being drunk on duty. Given notice at once and be out of the house in one week.

DECEMBER 20th 1880
Special General Meeting to appoint new manager and salesman.

DECEMBER 21st 1880
Mr Wood still not out of house - called to committee room and asked why not - will be out in two weeks time. Mr D. Darnell to take charge of shop again and be paid 26/- per week. (We have no record when Mr Darnell gave up the job prior to this time but in the local paper when he was 90 years old it stated that the work became too much for him and he returned to the shoemaking trade.)

DECEMBER 29th 1880
Special General Meeting. Mr Wood was given £1.10.0d and signed that he had no further claim on the society.

JULY 1881
Mr D. Darnell is still in charge.

OCTOBER 18th 1881
Special application from Mrs Thos. Knight for 10/- from share account to send daughter to London Eye Hospital - granted as case of need.

OCTOBER 1881
Divi now 1/-

JANUARY 1882
Divi now up to 1/4 as trade was improving.

JUNE 30th 1882
Mr D. Darnell to be treasurer as well as salesman. (He kept this post as treasurer for the next ten years).

JULY 1882
Divi now declared at 1/8.

OCTOBER 1882
Quarterly meeting - 55 sat down for tea - divi now 2/-. D. Darnell's wage to be 26/- per week plus 6d in the £ for sales of over £55 per week.

FEBRUARY 1883
Resolved to write to Mr Butler for rules for starting penny bank.

APRIL 24th 1883
Quarterly Meeting - Divi 2/2. Approved plans for cottages. Mason Mr. C. Bayes; Carpenter Mr. W. Foskett; Painting Mr. C. Spencer. Geo J. Perkins to move earth at 1/- cu.yard.

MAY 22nd 1883
Letter from Mr C. Wright about moving earth from near his house. See G. Perkins and C. Bayes at once and arrange for foundations be put in and all be made safe.

JUNE 1883
Mr Packwood requested to improve the closet and shed.

JULY 3rd 18 83
Sec. write to Mr Scotten of Derby asking him to give lecture on The Green, weather permitting.

JULY 24th 1883
Mr Scotten to attend on 11^th. August - Divi for quarter 2/2 - rent for new cottages set at 7/6 per week large, 6/- per week smaller. Committee to ensure that 5% clear be made. Mr Lewis to fit out houses with gas - 3 rooms £1.14.9d per house or four rooms at £2.4.9d.

AUGUST 1883
Complaint about the baker swearing - baker to meet with committee.

SEPTEMBER 4th 1883
Baker to be asked why he did not attend meeting.

SEPTEMBER llth 1883
Baker attended and warned about swearing.

OCTOBER 25th 1883
Temperance Band to be paid £1 for parading village for lecture in August.
Divi to be 2/2 resolved to have a Plum Pudding Club.

JANUARY 1884
Best quarter yet - divi to be 2/6 for members and 1/- for non-members.

FEBRUARY 1884
Resolved to start a coal club.

APRIL 1884
Quarterly Meeting with tea. Divi 2/6, resolved to enquiry about readymade clothing and furniture by patterns.

JULY 1884
Quarterly meeting. Committee reported on progress in drapery. Resolved to have a picnic for members and friends and a band to play for dancing. Committee to be paid 4d per meeting. No bills for picnic but village to be cried on Saturday and Monday. Tea for 250 tickets 8d each. Mr Linnet offered field for tea and 10/- be given to cart forms etc. Temps to be paid £2. [to carry forms (bench seats) etc. Temperance band to be paid £2]

AUGUST 27th 1884
Resolved to have copy of Co-op News for each committee member.
Tea was very satisfactory.

SEPTEMBER 2nd 1884
Write to CWS for patterns for sheeting, towelling, stockings, flannels, (bold and plain).

OCTOBER 14th 1884
Drapery to be open next Saturday at 2pm until close of business. Also Mondays and Thursday until further notice. Mrs Darnell to be paid 1/3 in the £ on all sales.

NOVEMBER 1884
Need for a warehouse - discussed and reported.

DECEMBER 30th 1884
A letter from Mr Coleman asking committee to take back his shares as he was leaving Rushden. Committee would not; he was told to sell them himself if he wished to part with them.

JANUARY 17th 1885
Divi set at 2/6 - resolved to buy new tea boards and seats.

MARCH 18th 1885
Mr D. Darnell made application to build a larger shop for his son in law, Fred Knight, at back of cottages as he said he did not have enough room. Laid to members present: Yea 17 Nea 23

MARCH 24th 1885
Clothing Club - write to Earls Barton for a copy their rules. Buy tea tables at once. Divi 2/6 this quarter.

MAY 1885
Member asked to use room for a productive meeting. Write to Mr Scotten to come and talk on same.

JUNE 16th 1885
Resolved to buy pony and trap for deliveries of bread.

JUNE 23rd 1885
Buy pony and trap as offered for sale by Mr G. Warren of Higham Ferrers for £13. Also new harness and cart.

OCTOBER 1885
Divi 2/6 agree to apply for shares in Manchester Ship Canal. Ask the baker to get round earlier - should not be out delivering at 8pm. Mr Wright to look after pony for time being.

JANUARY 1886
Quarterly Meeting - Divi 2/6. Resolved to have tea in new hall. Send £2.2.0 to Pytchley Soc. See report of their problems in congress report for 1886.

APRIL 1886
Quarterly Meeting - Divi 2/6. Discussion about land to be left to committee.

MAY 18th 1886
Members met at store to discuss land and drapery. 26 members present.

MAY 26th 1886
30 members present to discuss land and alterations to drapery.

JULY 1886
Divi 2/6. Discussion about new baker’s cart - do we need a stronger one.

OCTOBER 26th 1886
Divi still 2/6.

SO ENDS THE FIRST TEN YEARS OF THE SOCIETY.