Rushden Research Group: Poor Relief in Rushden 1814

Article by Sue Comont from records in the Northamptonshire Record Office Ref: 2859/1

Payment of Poor Relief in Rushden 1814 - 1818

Click here to see Poor Relief payments in Rushden for the period 1821 - 1828

The following extracts are taken from the account book of the Oversers of the Poor for the period 1814 - 1818. The book consists mainly of lists of names of those who were in receipt of poor relief which at this time was largely paid in cash, with just a few instances of items such as shoes and stockings. A few of the lists of names of those receiving relief have been included as examples. Sometimes the parish had to help with the costs of burial so there are entries relating to payments for coffins, laying out and for food after the interment. This book also illustrates the use of the Roundsman system for dealing with unemployed labourers. Each week these men were sent to work for farmers or other tradesmen in the parish and were paid by the Overseers for that labour. The entry on 6 May 1814 "William Gilbert 6 Mr Wood Mr Stevens 6s" shows that in this week William Gilbert had worked for 6 days for Mr Wood and Mr Stevens, for which he had received 6 shillings. The book is full of further examples of this system.

Other entries of interest are for "crying the gleaning" on 2 September 1814. This was to let people know that the main harvest was finished and they could go into the fields to glean what was left.

Regular payments are also made to the Gaol and the Hospital to pay for the maintenance of Rushden parishioners in these institutions. Other payments are made for the capture of creatures considered vermin or agricultural pests such as polecats and sparrows. These payments were usually made by the church wardens.

The parish workhouse accounted for some expenditure, including the costs of shaving the men who lived there and keeping the building in repair.

The Overseers had to pay for medical attention for sick parishioners, including "the expenses of Wilmott's wife at Bedford Asylum, being a lunatic", and the cost of taking another lady to Wellingborough to have her "breast drawn."

	Disbursements of John Achurch and Wright Richards Overseers of the Poor, 1814
22 April 1814	Paid for this book		12s
	Widow Parker		3s
	Widow Sarjeant		3s
	Matthew Corby		2s
	Widow Denton		2s
	Widow Hooper		4s
	Sara Mabbott		1s	6d
	Mary Ellard		1s	6d
	Matthew Knight		1s	6d
	Widow Shott		4s
	Widow Warrington		2s
	Widow Barey		2s
	Hanr Mackness		2s	6d
	Widow Corby		3s
	Thomas Hopkins wife		2s
	Widow Belshaw		2s	6d
	Samuel Ward daughter		3s
	Widow Parker		2s
	Sara Petit		1s	6d
	Widow Bradshaw		2s
	John Packwood	£2	18s	6d
	Thomas Dickins		8s
	Elizabeth Austin		1s	6d
	Hangrs family		2s
	Samuel Clark		3s
	Jane Mackness		1s	6d
	Elizabeth Perin		1s	6d
	Mary Moriss		1s	6d
	Hanr Knight		4s
	Lenard Willmotts wife		1s	6d
	John Allin		7s
	Thomas Ward		8s
	Jane Sarjant		5s
	John Lucas		6s
	Jane Perrin		4s
	George Syer wife		5s
	For poor's warant		5s
	Expenses at Wellingboro		2s
	Thomas Hopkins 6 Mr Fletcher T Linit		6s
	Susan Moriss 7 weeks to April 24		10s	6d
	For Edward Mabbott hose		3s	9d


6 May1814	As above main list of recipients, plus
	Pd Colyer mending childs breeches		2s
	Mending Allin breeches			4d
	William Gilbert 6 Mr Wood Mr Stevens		6s
	John Hensman 6 Mr Achurch Mr Wood		2s
	Thomas Miller 1 Mr Linit		1s	2d
	Thomas Hopkins 6 Mr Wood Mr Stevens		6s


13 May 1814	Paid for sparrows			3d

10 June 1814	Samuel Cleaton being ill		6s


8 July 1814	Paid Mr Linit for vagrants		12s	7d
	Humphrey's son		4s
	Mary Ridle		4s
	For a urien bottle		1s	4d


15 July 1814	Paid for 2 chamber pots		1s	2d
	For sparrows	£1	0s	6d
	Paid William Gilbert 5 Mr Achurch Mr Stevens		5s
	Paid Thomas Knight 5 Mr Richards		5s


22 July 1814	Thomas Knight 5 Mr Manin		6s	8d
	Thomas Hopkins 6 Mrs Smith Mann		6s


29 July 1814	Elizabeth Perrin being ill 3		2s
	Paid Thomas Blufield 2 Mr Achurch		2s	4d
	Thomas Hopkins 6 Mr Richards Mann		6s
	For Sara Branson coffin		16s
	For a shroud etc		4s	6d
	For beer, bread and cheese		7s
	For bell, grave and affidavit		2s	10d
	For layers out		2s	6d


5 August 1814	Thomas Miller 5 Mr Richards		5s	10d
	Thomas Hopkins 6 Mr Richards T Smith etc		6s
	For mending a bed		1s
	William Hensman 6 Mr Smith		10s
	Thomas Knight 3 Bolton		4s
	George Syer 6 I Smith		6s


12 August 1814	Elizabeth Childs coffin		16s
	For bread, cheese and beer		7s
	For bell, grave, affidavit and layers out		5s	10d


19 August 1814	For thread and yarn			10d
	Mary Ridle examined 1st		4s
	For sparrows		10s


2 September 1814	Crying the gleaning			8d


16 September 1814	Paid William Margets for work and brick at the Workhouse		7s


23 September 1814	For sope and flanl		2s
	William Langley 2 gowns alteration		1s	3d
	For 13 ells cloth for 3 sheets @ 2s 3d per ell	£1	9s	3d


30 September 1814	For a close stool pan and T kettle exchanged		2s	4d


14 October 1814	Paid Samuel Achurch for flowers for Wilmott	£1	0s	0d
	Paid Edward Waren shaving old men		9s
	A pair of hose		3s
	For shoe ioyl and brush		3s
	Willmott nurse attendance		10s
	For shees taken Willmotts wife etc Bedford	£2	5s
	Paid at Wellingborough expenses		3s	6d
	Paid at Bletsow expenses		1s
	Tole gates		4s	6d
	For dinners at Bedford		5s	6d
	Hostler at Bedford		2s
	At Masons		1s	9d
	Coachman		4s	6d
	Bleaching 13 ells of cloth		4s	10d


28 October 1814	For making 3 sheets			9d
	William Gilbert for his wifes coffin		16s


4 November 1814	For making 2 smocks		1s


11 November 1814	For lime at the school house			9d
	For a pair of hose stockings		1s	4d


18 November 1814	For making 2 smocks and 2 shirts		3s	10d
	For making an apron and strings thread			6d

25 November 1814	For sparrows			10d
	For mending and washing Allin's coat			9d

2 December 1814	For making Militia List		3s

9 December 1814	For mending a kettle		1s	6d

30 December 1814	For 2 pole cats			8d
	For sparrows			5d
	Thomas Waren for carrying James Ward to the Hospital		10s	6d
	Paid into the Hospital with James Ward	£1	0s	0d
	For Jonathan Curtis examination		2s

6 January 1815	George Syer wife		2s
	Ditto 2 days Mannin and being ill 3		5s
	Widow Parker		3s
	Widow Sarjant		3s
	Matthew Corby		2s
	Matthew Knight		1s	6d
	Widow Denton		2s
	Widow Hoper		2s	6d
	Sara Mabbott		1s	6d
	Elizabeth Perin		2s
	Widow Barey		2s
	John Willmott		4s
	Lenard Willmott wife and children		2s
	Widow Corby		3s
	Thomas Hopkins wife		2s
	John Ridle wife		2s
	Widow Dickins		3s
	John Packwood	£2	8s
	Samuel Clark		3s
	Elizabeth Austin		1s	6d
	Hanr Knight		1s	6d
	Widow Belshaw		2s	6d
	Samuel Ward daughter		3s
	Widow Parker		2s
	Sara Petit		1s	6d
	Jane Sarjant		3s	6d
	John Allin		7s
	Thomas Ward		7s
	John Lucas		3s
	Widow Perin		4s
	Mary Ellard		1s	6d
	Widow Warington		2s
	Widow Shott		4s
	Hanr Mackness		2s	6d
	Widow Bradshaw		2s
	Mary Lovil		4s
	For sparrows			3d
	For 3 shirts for Knights boy and 1 for Hensmans boy		15s	8d
	James Persiful 3 Mr Richards		3s
	Henry Hanger 3 Mr Richards		5s
	William Gilbert 6 Mr Achurch Mr Stevens		6s
	Samuel Cleaton 3 T Linit Mr Flet?cher?		3s
	Thomas Hopkins 6 Mr Mann Mr Richards		6s
	John Cleaton 3 Mr Bolton		3s
	Samuel Colson 5 Sharman Mr Richards		6s
	George Goods 6 Mr Achurch Mr Linit		6s
	Joseph Clark 3 Mr Hill		4s
	Edward Campion 6 Mr Fletcher		6s	4d
	John Elstow 1 Mr Fletcher		1s
	James Cleaton 5 Mr Fletcher Smith		5s
	Thomas Blufile 6 Mr Achurch Mr Stevens		6s
	John Hensman 6 Mr Smith		2s
	Joseph Hensman 5 Mr Hill Mann		2s	6d
	John Willmott 5 Mr Hill		5s	10d
	Joseph bayley 6 Mr Achurch and Mr Bolton		2s
	Thomas Miller 6 Mr Smith, Hill and Grang		6s
	John Hull 5 Mr Manning		6s	8d
	Thomas Miller		1s
	Thomas Hariss		6s	6d
	For gin for Jackson			6d
	For Samuel Ward child coffin		7s
	For bell, grave and affidavit		2s	4d

13 January 1815	For making 4 shirts for Knight boy and Hensmans boy		2s	4d
	For the thread and buttons for the same			8d

8 February 1815	Paid the money for Ann Willmott at the Bedford Asylum up to 31 Dec 1814	£6	14s
	Paid Codgebrook carrying the money to the Asylum			6d

10 February 1815	For mending a gown body and slevin and linen thread		2s	2d
	For a pole cat			4d
	John Cook for wood		1s
	For John Cooks wife bord 2 days and the boy 3 days		4s
	For tin kettle for the same		2s	3d
	Ditto lodging at Corby			6d
	Mrs Cooper bed mending and blanket			8d
	For thread and yarn			7d

17 February 1815	For shees going to Desbrow with Curtis	£1	12s
	For flanl and calico for ditto		3s	2d
	For biskit			6d
	For Jonathan Curtis orders		6s


10 March 1815	For a childs frock making and trimmings		4s	1d
	For Widow Sanders shoes		6s

17 March 1815	For mending Henry Corby's coat			4d

29 March 1815	3 petticoats making and 6 yds binding		2s
	For Knight boy coat making, buttons and thread		4s
	For Robert Jacksons coffin Samuel Knute		16s
	For bread cheese and beer		7s
	For bell, grave, affidavit and layers out		5s	4d
	William Young for moving Knight and Mackness		3s	6d
	Thomas Hopkins carrying Mackness' goods		1s
	Mr Barnby delivering Hanr Knight		10s	6d
	Mending beds and bed quilts		2s
	Paid Jaol and Hospital	£5	17s

21 April 1815	Kathrine Tomson nursing Bayley wife		3s

5 May 1815	William Young for doing Hanr Macknes stairs		8s

28 July 1815	Paid at Bedford Asylum to 1 July 1815 on Willmott wife account being a lunatick	£18	2s
	Paid a nurse for Bayleys wife		3s

4 August 1815	Expenses with the boys that went to Jaol	£3	12s	8d

11 August 1815	For crying the gleaning			8d

8 September 1815	Ann Hull nursing Bayley's wife 3 days, 3 nights		4s
	Matthew Hensman 2 nights nursing ditto		1s	4d
	Hariss wife 2 days nursing ditto		1s	4d
	Ann Hull 1 day			8d
	For Mabbott stockings		4s
	For Widow Sarjant smock making			6d
	For Perin and Mabbott smock making		1s	4d

15 September 1815	William Young for mending the Workhouse door		6s	6d

13 October 1815	For making 2 gowns		4s
	For moving Goods furniture		1s
	For thread and yarn			10d
	For a man and a horse going to Kettering Coroner		5s	6d
	Free holders list		1s
	At Wellingborough with Ann Willmott		2s

3 November 1815	Drawing Ann Willmott's brest		3s

10 November 1815	For a pair of patens		1s	6d

8 December 1815	For a warrant for James Ward		2s
	For making a shift for Jane Sarjant			6d
	For Hariss commitment		2s
	For flanl for Edward Mabbott		2s	4d
	For meat for Bayley's wife			11d

5 January 1816	Widow Sarjant		3s
	Widow Parker		3s
	Matthew Corby		2s
	Widow Denton		2s
	Sara Mabott		1s	6d
	Elizabeth Perin		2s
	Matthew Knight		1s
	George Syer wife		1s
	John Ridle		6s
	Widow Shott		3s	6d
	Widow Warrington		2s
	Widow Corby		3s
	John Packwood	£2	8s
	Thomas Miller 3 Mr Achurch 1 Linit last week		3s	4d
	For a pair of stockings Mabott		3s	6d
	John Allin		5s
	Thomas Ward		4s
	Jane Sarjant		3s
	Widow Dickins		2s	6d
	Samuel Ward daughter		2s
	John Denton wife		6s
	Hanr Knight		2s
	Hanr Mackness		2s	6d
	Bayley wife		1s
	Ditto's nurse		3s
	Widow Belshaw		2s
	Widow Barey		2s
	Ann Parker		1s	6d
	Widow Bradshaw		2s
	Ann Willmott		1s
	Widow Hooper		2s
	Widow Perin		4s
	Sara Petitt		1s	6d
	For Susan Moriss gown slevn and mending		1s
	Elizabeth Jakes 1 week		6s
	Bayleys wife being ill		2s
	William Clark 2 Linit 3 Mr Fletcher		3s	4d
	George Sykes 2 Hill		1s
	Thomas Tomson 2 Stevens		1s
	James Persful 2 Chapman 4 Manin		3s
	George Syer 4 Mann 2 Smith		4s
	Thomas Paslow 1 Mann 3 Chapman		2s	8d
	Perin boy 6 Sharmen		1s
	John Hull 3 Blott 2 Gross 1 Fletcher family		7s
	Samuel Clark 1 Pack 4 Smith		2s	6d
	George Goods 4 Smith 1 Peach 1 Bolton		4s
	Joseph Clark 6 Mr Smith		6s
	Samuel Cleaton 1 Hill 3 Blott 2 Gross		4s
	John Margetts 4 Manin 2 Smith		3s
	Joseph Hensman 3 Stevens 2 Achurch 1 Bolton		1s	6d
	John Hensman 2 Smith 1 Peach 3 Bolton		1s	6d
	William Hensman 6 Hill family		6s
	William Sykes 3 Blott 3 Hill		3s
	James Underwood 2 Gross 3 Blott 1 Fletcher		3s
	Thomas Knight 2 Linit 4 Mr Fletcher		6s
	Joseph Cleaton 1 Stevens 3 Bolton 2 Achurch		2s
	Field Cater 3 Bolton 3 Stevens		4s
	Green Cater 1 Peach 2 Smith 3 Bolton		1s
	Thomas Hopkins 4 Chapman 2 Manin		3s
	John Dickins 1 Mr Achurch			10d
	Brnd Sarjant 4 Mr Achurch 2 Linit		3s
	William Gilbert Senior 1 Fletcher 2 Linit 3 Achurch		3s
	William Gilbert 3 Blott 2 Sharmen 1 Gross		5s
	Mr Linit vagrants		10s	6d
	Jaol and Hospital	£4	15s
	Constable expenses	£2	11s	6d
	Samuel Ward son 2 Gross			4d
	Benjamin Baker 3 Hill 3 Chapman		4s
	John Lucas 4 Manin		2s
	John Willmott 2 Linit 4 Fletcher family		7s
	John Clark 3 Blott 2 Hill		4s	2d
	Thomas Lichfield 4 Hill 2 Blott family		6s
	Dittos son 3 Smith 1 Peach 2 Bolton		1s	6d
	James Cleaton 4 Manin 2 Chapman		3s
	Thomas Miller 2 Mr Achurch 1 Stevens		2s	6d
	Thomas Stevens 4 Mr Achurch		4s	8d
	Parker boy 4 Mr Fletcher 2 Linit		1s
	James Huitt 3 Mr Smith		1s	6d

12 January 1816	For Edward Mabotts coffin		16s
	Layers out and burying		3s	4d
	For beer		3s	6d
	For bread and cheese		2s	9d
	For bell and grave		2s	9d

9 February 1816	For a pair of bellows		3s	8d

16 February 1816	For Bayley wife coffin		16s
	For bread and cheese		2s	8d
	For bell grave and burying		2s	4d
	For beer		3s	6d
	For layers out		2s	6d
	For 2 shirts for Knight's boy 6 yards @ 2s per yard, buttons and thread		13s	4d
	Thomas Bridgefort wife from 16 Feb toward her lyeing in month	£1

23 February 1816	John Corby for Thompson a vagrant expenses		2s	6d
	Going Harborough with same and expenses	£1	3s
	Going Daventry with Norman, a vagrant and expenses	£1	16s
	For Thomas Baker orders and expenses at Wellingborough		7s	6d

8 March 1816	William Marriott mending a copper grate		7s	4d
	Samuel Knight about his settlement		1s

22 March 1816	Thomas Church's bill for Workhouse windows		8s	11d

12 April 1816	For shoe ioyl and brush for the workhouse		3s	7d

19 April 1816	For Sanders stockings		3s	6d
	For mending		2s
	For thread and yarn			9d
	For Lydia Groon son a pair of shoes		3s	10d
	Thos Knight, being ill		1s
	Thomas Paslow ill		2s	6d

24 May 1816	Len'd Willmott's wife's bill at Bedford	£7	14s

14 June 1816	Len'd Willmott's wife's expenses		7s
	Chas Baker's expenses to Ireland	£2	10s
	Spparrows		1s	9d

16 August 1816	For Allen's breeches etc and mending in the Workhouse		10s	3d

23 August 1816	For Len'd Willmott's wife		4s

27 Dec 1816	Vagrants		9s	6d

15 April 1817	Edward Warren for shaving the workhouse		6s	6d

22 April 1817	For clothes for the two children at Warrens		10s	9d

6 June 1817	Thomas Hopkins a cart and horse going to Huntingdon	£2

11 July 1817	Dinah Denton's child's funeral expenses		6s	6d
	Mr Woods and my expenses to St Neots to take Thomas Bell - hired a gig	£1	6s
	For having warrant handed		2s

18 July 1817	Gave to traveller, gravely ill			6d

1 August 1817	Journey to Northampton with Bell		10s

8 August 1817	Sparrows 1 dozen			3d

22 August 1817	High shoes John Ward		4s	9d
	Samuel Clayton in distress		1s	6d
	Bread and cheese at Tur's wife's burial		3s	6d

10 October 1817	Edward Warren for shaving the poor		9s	8d
	Laying out Baker's daughter		2s	6d

15 October 1817	William Wilson, a traveller in distress		2s	6d

21 November 1817	Samuel Clayton's wife's nurse		2s	6d

28 November 1817	6cwt coals for Samuel Clayton		9s	6d
	Edward Warren for shaving the poor in the workhouse		3s	4d
	Nancy Clayton for washing the clothes, linen and beds		1s

5 December 1817	Thomas Hensman for a polecat			4d

19 December 1817	1 dozen sparrows			4d
	Journey to Wellingborough with Herbert's wife and expenses		5s

31 December 1817	Hewitt orders of removal and expenses		15s

23 January 1818	2 boys lacemaking		1s

13 March 1818	Paid Mrs Skinner to Easter for learning Hanger's boy to make lace @ 1s a week		5s
	Pd Widow Harris for Samuel Clayton's rent 5 weeks @ 9d a week		6s
	Paid for order of filiation for Daniel Baker		9s

Poor Law	accounts 1829/30	Isaac Robinson's Account	Poor relief description 1821-1828
Poor Law index	accounts 1832/34	Poor Law listed by type	Poor relief granted 1821-1828