Poor relief

Click here for the Charities section of this page, or scroll down.

The system of parishes being responsible for their own poor, appointing overseers of the poor and levying a poor rate was set up by the Poor Law of 1601.

1630 was a year of particularly bad harvest. This led to Charles I through the Privy Council issuing on 31 Dec 1630 “orders for the more plentifull fournishing of the Marketts with Corne and for the regulating of the same to bring downe the prises thereof” which were to be enforced by JPs more effectively than they had been.  On 31 Jan 1631 the Privy Council required sheriffs to appoint JPs to arrange for better enforcement of “those lawes that tend to the releeveing of impotent poore people, setting to worke those that are able and punishing such as are idle and vagrant” (i.e. primarily the 1601 Poor Law).  The report below covers both these issues. Winslow did not have a JP of its own, and the three men reporting came from Thornton, Shipton Lee near Quainton and Liscombe near Wing.

National Archives, SP16/196/64

[margin] for the 3 hundreds of Cotteslowe

To the High Sheriff of the County of Bucks

The certificat of S(i)r Edward Tyrrell knight and Barnoett  S(i)r Fleetwood Dormer knight and S(i)r Robert Lovett knight as touchinjg their proceedings at their Monethly mettings for the three hundreds of Cotteslowe in ye county aforesaid. Dated at Winslowe the xijth day of July Anno D(omi)ni 1631

According to directions which cam to us from ye Lords of his Ma(jes)tis most ho(nou)rable Prive Councell we have alredy sertified our proceedings at sundry meetings : before the begining of May last past : And nowe we doe further certifie yt we have beene carfull to survey ye markets personally : wherby forestallers and ingrossers of corne have beene inhibited and the price of corne for the benefitt of  ye poore much abated, and the Markets are well fornished: and we hope it will yett be better cheape considering there is in this country very great lijkelyhood of a plentifull harvest

Nowe concerning other articles of directions in our Monethly meetings we have beene very carefull to suppresse all such disorders touching the said directions and wee find much good hath ensued therof by reason the delinquants have beene by us punished according to the lawe : and the distresses hath beene destrebuited to the poore of every p(a)rish wher the offenders dwelt : soe by that meanes the poore hath had resonnable good reliefe : and we find that we have done very much good in reforming of drunkenesse and other disorders and in seting of Idle persones to worke : and punnishing abuses committed in Innes and Ale houses so now those that formerly have lived Idley are very willing \to/ worke and take paines wherby they may get ther maintance : we have plased a great number of poore Children and bound them to be apprentices to trades, and some to husbandrie and as oft as further information is given us (who are fitt to be apprentices & who to receive them) we take order for their placing as much as in us lieth

[signatures]
Edward Tyrrell
Fletwood Dormer
Robert Lovett

Centre for Bucks Studies, PR 237/12/1

Overseers' accounts survive for 1679-1715. They were presented annually at a "public vestry" and signed by the vicar, churchwardens and others. They record the total sums collected and disbursed, although not normally details of who received poor relief. The table below gives the annual total of disbursements and the names of the overseers, who served for a year at a time and included members of the Baptist Gyles family. The years for the accounts were "old style", beginning on 25 March. See below for Charities.

 
Disbursements
    
Year £ s d Overseers
1679/80 42 06 ? ? ?
1680/1 45 02 10 William Gyles William Hunt
1681/2 30 03 04 John Hogson John Watts
1682/3 38 07 11 Thomas Robinson John Amborough
1683/4 36 09 00 Joseph Glenister jr George Elliott
1684/5 41 08 03 Francis Dossett William Edmunds
1685/6 40 12 00 Robert Gibbs Robert Spooner jr
1686/7 39 16 02 Joseph Glenister sr Thomas Forster
1687/8 45 10 11 William Short Simon Hogson
1688/9 34 15 07 William Gyles sr John Seaton jr
1689/90 42 17 00 William Wyatt John Shelton, smith
1690/1 37 08 11 Thomas Blake Thomas Deely
1691/2 36 11 03 Joseph Gyles William Spooner
1692/3 45 06 11¾ John Henly sr Joseph Gyles
1693/4 46 03 01 John Amborough John Hearn
1694/5 64 11 06½ Henry Hughes Zachary Hamms
1695/6 62 05 02 Robert Gibbs Robert Elliott
1696/7 83 16 05 Joseph Glenister, grocer Roger West
1697/8 86 03 08 Simon Hogson Charles King jr
1698/9 94 00 00 William Townsend Thomas Wright
1699/1700 98 14 00¾ Thomas Wainwright Thomas Guest
1700/1 130 12 07 John Seaton, carrier Robert Wyatt
1701/2 115 12 07 William Shelton jr Richard Cox
1702/3 117 01 09 Thomas Blake (accounts presented by William Shelton) John Spratley
1703/4 95 15 10½ Robert Gibbs sr Peter Lowndes jr
1704/5 85 07 05 Peter Lowndes jr Thomas Henly
1705/6 80 03 10¼ Nicholas Merwin Daniel Gyles
1706/7 71 18 07½ Thomas Blake Matthew Hobbs, physician
1707/8 88 16 02½ Benjamin Dudley William Elliott
1708/9 99 18 03½ William Firth Roger West
1709/10 94 01 00 Peter Lowndes jr Robert Gibbs jr
1710/11 154 17 09½ Joseph Glenister sr William Perkins
1711/12 148 02 02¼ Thomas Watts Simon Hogson
1712/13 110 09 03¼ Robert Gibbs sr Charles Bowler
1713/14 130 02 06 Thomas Whiteaves John Henly
1714/15 155 04 00½ Robert Bowden Samuel Norman sr
1715/16 132 15 09½ Augustine Seaton Richard Gibbs
1716/17       Philip Budd Henry Townsend jr

The overseers' accounts also include a number of distributions to the poor. Under the Burials in Woollen Act of 1678, only woollen garments could be used in which to bury the dead (this was to help the wool trade). Anyone who buried their relative in a more expensive material such as linen was liable to a fine of £5, half of which was distributed to the poor of the parish. The other half went to the informant, so most people informed on themselves. The overseers kept careful records for a few years, and these are important as they list people who didn't usually get into the other written records except the parish registers.

1680: [An account ]of the distribution made amongst the Poor [of Winslow] in the County of Bucks of fifty Shillings being [the pena]lty of the Act for Burying in wollen payd by [Benjam]in Leach

This was for the burial of his wife Elizabeth on 2 May 1680

s
d
    
s
d
[Pa]yd to Widdow Hogson and her Children
4
0
   [Payd] to Richard Reddall
1
6
[Pa]yd to Widdow Porter & her children
4
0
   [Payd] to Thomas Bendbowe
1
6
[P]ayd to Anne Webb
2
0
   [P]ayd to Widdow Green
1
0
Payd to Thomas Thommes & his family
2
0
   Payd to William Powers
1
0
[P]ayd to Nicholas Miller sen(ior)
3
0
   Payd to Henry Thoms
0
6
[P]ayd to William Miller
1
0
   [Pa]yd to Thomas Bigges
1
6
[P]ayd to Christopher Willins
1
0
   [Pa]yd to John Bowyers
1
6
Payd to Thomas Swift
1
6
   [P]ayd to Thomas White
1
6
Payd to Widdowe Paradine
2
0
   [P]ayd to Widdowe Branford
2
6
Payd to Widdow Moores
2
0
   [Payd] to William Browne
1
6
Payd to Ralph Porter sen(ior)
2
0
   [Payd to] Thomas Hawkins
1
0
[P]ayd to Will(ia)m Worstley
2
0
   Payd Richard Lutman
2
0
[P]ayd to Thomas Knight
2
0
   Payd to Henry Burrell
1
0
[Pa]yd to Francis Rogers
2
0
   Payd to Elizabeth Richardson
1
0
[Payd to] Thomas Spooner & his family
1
6
    

1684: Wid: Grant [= Susan Grant, buried 6 May]
May ye 13th 1684 An Account of Dystribucion made amongst the poor of Winslow in the County of Bucks of fifty shillings being the Penalty of the Act for Burying in woollen Paid by ye Churchwardens & Overseers of the poor

s
d
s
d
Paid Francis Rogers
0
6
   Paid William Lawson
1
0
Paid Widdow Smith
1
0
   Paid John Brinklow
0
6
Paid William Worsley
2
6
   Paid Widdow Branford
1
0
Paid Samuel Wilston
2
6
   Paid Widdow Paradine
0
6
Paid William Claydon
1
0
   Paid Richard Dearing
0
6
Paid William Miller
1
0
   Paid Widdow Worrall
1
0
Paid Widdow Mores
0
6
   Paid Ellin Engleden
1
0
Paid Thomas Smalbones
1
0
   Paid Robert Michel
1
0
Paid Ralph Noone
0
6
   Paid Richard Tring
0
6
Paid Thomas Tommes
0
6
   Paid An Deely
0
6
Paid Nicholas Miller S(e)n(io)r
1
0
   Paid Thomas Spooner
1
6
Paid Guddy [=Goodwife] Webb
1
0
   Paid Henry Tommes
0
6
Paid William Brown
1
0
   Paid Widdow Boyer
1
6
Paid Mary Porter
0
6
   [page 2]
Paid Widdow Hogson
1
6
   Paid Thomas Fowler
0
6
Paid Thomas Pease
1
6
   Paid Thomas Ridyard
0
6
Paid William Lovet
0
6
   Paid William East
1
0
Paid Widdow Wellins
0
6
   Paid Widdow Shelton S(e)n(io)r
1
0
Paid Thomas Prentice
0
6
   Paid Georg Cooper
1
0
Paid Widdow Greene
0
6
   Paid Widdow Bendbow J(u)n(io)r
1
0
Paid Richard Pitkin
0
6
   Paid Widdow Bendbow S(e)n(io)r
1
0
Paid Evan Griffithes
1
0
   Paid Widdow Norman
1
0
Paid William Power
0
6
   Paid William Dyer
1
0
Paid Thomas Benbow
1
0
   Paid Edward Elling
1
0
Paid Henry Tommes
0
6
   Paid William Greene
0
6
Paid Richard Reding
2
0
   Paid Widdow Allin
0
6
Paid Thomas Bigg
1
0
   Paid William Miles
0
6
Paid Richard Lutman
1
0
   Paid Thomas Knight
0
6
Paid William King
0
6
   Paid Thomas Swift
0
6
 
  Paid Joane Greene
0
6

1686: Wid. Willmat [= Frances Willmot, buried 27 March]
March ye 29th 1686. Accoun(nt)m(en)t of Distribution given amongst ye Poor of Winslow in ye County of Bucks of fifty shillings forfiture being ye Penalty of ye Act for burying in Woollen Distributed by ye Ch(urch) Wardens and Overseers of ye Poor

s
d
s
d
Widd: Smith
02
00
   Will: King
00
06
Willi: Worsley
01
00
   John Brinklow
02
06
Widd: Winston
02
00
   Widd: Branford
02
06
Willi: Claydon
00
06
   Widd: Paradine
02
00
Willi: Miller
01
06
   Widd: Dearin
01
00
Widd: Mores
01
00
   Widd: Worall
01
00
Tho: Smalbones
00
06
   Rob: Michell
01
00
Tho: Tom(m)es
01
06
   Tho: Spooner
01
06
Widd: Webb
01
00
   Henr: Tym(m)es
01
00
Widd: Hogson
01
06
   Widd: Boyer
01
00
Tho: Pease
01
00
   Tho: Fowler
00
06
Willi: Lovet
00
06
   Tho: Ridyard
01
06
Widd: Wellins
00
06
   William East
00
06
Tho: Prentise
01
00
   Georg: Cooper
00
06
Widd: Green
01
00
   Will: Greene
00
06
Rich: Pitkin
00
06
   Widd: Allin
02
00
Evan Griffiths
01
0?
   Will: Miles
00
06
Will: Power
01
0?
   Joane Greene
00
06
Tho: Bendbow
00
06
   Tho: Knight
00
06
Hen: Tom(m)es
00
06
   Mary Alinson
01
06
Rich: Redin
01
00
   Goodwife Broome
00
06
Widd: Bigg
01
06
   Rich: Tring
00
06
Rich: Lutman
01
00
   Joane Budd
01
06
        Widd: Norman
01
??

August the 26th 1687. An acco(un)t of Distribution made amongst ye poor of Winslow in ye Co(un)ty of Bucks of 50s being ye penalty of [the act] for burying in Woollen at ye funerall of Esther Henly by ye Ch(urch)w(arde)ns & overseers of ye poor of Winlow [sic] aforesaid

s
d
s
d
Wid: Smith
1
?
   Will: Greene
0
6
Will: Worstley
1
?
   David: East
0
4
Joan Budd
2
?
   Wid: Branford
0
6
Widd: Winston
1
?
   Wid: Paradine
0
6
Will: Claydon
0
?
   Widd: Dearin
0
6
Will: Miller
1
?
   Widd: Worall
0
6
Widd Mores
1
?
   Rob: Michel
1
6
Tho: Tom(m)es
1
?
   Tho: Spooner
0
6
Widd: Dandridg
0
6
   Hen: Tym(m)s
1
0
Widd: Hogson
0
8
   Widd: Boyer
1
6
Widd: Pease
1
4
   Tho: Fowler
0
6
Will: Lovett
0
4
   Tho: Ridyard
1
6
Widd: Wellins
0
4
   Will: East
0
6
Tho: Prentice
0
8
   Georg Cooper
0
4
Widd: Greene
0
8
   Wid: Allin
1
6
Rich: Pitkin
0
6
   Widd: Miles
0
6
Evan: Griffiths
1
0
   Joane Greene
0
4
Will: Power
0
8
   Tho: Knight
0
8
Tho: Bendbow
1
0
   Mary Alinson
1
0
Hen: Tom(m)es
0
8
   Good: Broom
0
6
Rich: Redin
0
8
   Rich: Tring
1
6
Widdow: Bigg
0
8
   Widd: Norman
1
6
Rich: Lutman
0
4
   Old: Savige
0
6
Will: King
0
4
   Tho: Georg
0
6
John: Brinklow
2
0
   [page 2]
Will: Fyrth
1
0
   Tho: Swift
1
6
Will: Rodes
0
8
   Widd: Baily
0
4
Will: Ashfield
0
6
   [blank]
0
6
Saml Walker
0
6
   [blank]
0
6
Wat: Harburt
0
6
   [blank]
0
6
An: Wyatt
0
8
   Tho: Bendbow
1
2
Francis Rodgers
0
4
    

March 23 1687/8. A Forfiture of 50 shillings distribu[ted to the] Poor of ye p(aris)h of Winslow by ye Min(ister), Ch[urch Wardens] Overseers &c. Levyd upon ye Execnu(tors?) of Wid. Miller of Shipton Buryd in Linen [=Dorothy Miller, buried 23 March]

s
d
s
d
Will(iam) Worstley
1
?
   Geo(rge) Cooper
0
4
Joan Budd
2
?
   Wid(ow) Branford
1
0
Wid(ow) Winston
1
?
   Wid(ow) Paradine
0
6
Will(iam) Claydon
0
?
   Wid(ow) Dearin
0
6
Will(iam) Miller
1
0
   Wid(ow) Worrall
0
6
Wid(ow) Mores
1
?
   Rob(ert) Michel
1
6
Tho(mas) Smalbones
1
?
   Wid(ow) Allin
1
6
Tho(mas) Thomes
0
?
   Hen(ry) Tyms
0
6
Wid(ow) Webb
0
4
   Wid(ow) Boyer
1
6
Wid(ow) Hogson
1
0
   Tho(mas) Ridyard
1
6
Wid(ow) Pease
1
0
   [page 2]
Will(iam) Lovet
0
4
   Will(iam) East
0
6
Tho(mas) Swift
1
0
   Will(iam) Green
0
8
Will(iam) Ashfield
1
0
   Wid(ow) Miles
0
6
Wid(ow) Broome
0
4
   Tho(mas) Knight
0
8
Tho(mas) Prentice
0
?
   Rich(ard) Tring
2
6
Wid(ow) Green
0
?
   Savidg
0
6
Rich(ard) Pitkin
0
6
   Redin
0
4
Evan Grifiths
1
0
   Spooner
0
6
Will(iam) Powers
0
8
   [blank]
0
6
Tho(mas) Bendbow
1
0
   Wid(ow) Baily
0
4
Henry Tom(m)es
0
6
   Rich(ard) Lutman
1
0
Wid(ow) Bigg
0
8
   Jam(e)s Allin
0
6
Tho(mas) Fowler
0
6
   Wid(ow) Norman
1
6
Joan Green
0
4
   [blank]
0
6
Wid(ow) Brinklow
1
0
   [blank]
0
4
Will(iam) Fyrth
1
0
   [blank]
0
6
Will(iam) Rodes
0
8
   Alce Wellins
0
4
Sam(uel) Walker
0
6
   Will(iam) Bural
0
4
Walt(er) Harbart
0
6
   Jo(hn) Tomes
0
4
An Wyett
0
6
   Fenamore
0
4
Fr(ancis) Rodgers
1
6
   [blank]
0
4

Sept(ember) 2th 1689. A forfiture of 50s distributed to ye Poor of ye P[arish of] Winslow in Com. Bucks by ye Min(ister) Ch(urch) Wardens & Ove[seers] of ye Poor being ye penalty of ye Act for burying in Woo[l] at ye Funrall of Edw. Boswell, &c. P(aid) as followeth

s
d
s
d
Wid: Boyer
01
00
   Wid: Paradine
00
06
Will: Worstly
01
00
   Wid: Deerin
00
06
Joane Budd
01
06
   Wid: Worall
01
00
Wid: Winston
01
06
   Rob: Michell
01
00
Will: Claydon
00
06
   Hen: Tyms
02
00
Will: Miller
01
00
   Tho: Ridyard
03
00
Wid: Mores
01
00
   Will: East
00
06
Tom(m)es
00
06
   Geor: Cooper
00
06
Wid: Dandridg
01
00
   Wid: Allin
01
00
Wid: Hogson
01
00
   [page 2]
Wid: Pease
01
00
   Wid: Miles
01
00
Tho: Prentice
01
06
   Tho: Knight
00
06
Wid: Greene
00
06
   Rich: Tring
01
00
Rich: Pitkin
00
06
   Jeffery Savidg
01
00
Evan: Griffiths
01
00
   Tho: Swift
00
06
Will: Power
01
00
   Wid: Baily
01
00
Tho: Bendbow
01
00
   Tho: Bendbow
01
00
Henry Tom(m)es
00
06
   Charity
02
06
Wid: Bigg
01
00
   Will: Fenamore
00
06
Rich: Lutman
00
06
   Daniel Hogson
01
00
Wid: Brinklow
01
00
   Tho: Fowler
00
06
Will: Fyrth sen.
00
06
   John Tomes
00
06
Will Rodes
00
06
   Susan Smalbones
01
06
Will: Ashfield
00
06
   Will: Burall
00
06
Mary Walker
02
06
   Redins Children
00
06
Ann Wyett
00
06
   David East
00
06
Fran: Rodgers
00
06
   Will: Lovet
00
06
Will: Greene
00
06
   Gibbs D noone
Wid: Branford
00
06
    

Two of the men in this list received pensions paid by the county as former Royalist soldiers in the Civil War.

Quarter Sessions, Epiphany 1697:
William Burrall of Winslowe, butcher, to be admitted to a County pension of £2 a year. He produced a certificate that he had served King Charles II "as a souldier commanded by his late Royall Highness Prince Rupert," the certificate being signed by Bernard Hagedot, "late Cornet of a Troop of Dragoons." This was increased by £1 later in 1697.

Easter 1697:
Geoffrey Savage of Winslow to be admitted to a County pension of £2 a year. He produced a certificate, signed by Captain Henry Brown of Stratford-upon-Avon, co. Warwick, "sometimes Gentleman of the horse to the late right honourable Spencer, Earle of Northampton, and afterwards to James, Earle of Northampton," that he had served King Charles I under the command of both these Earls, and was now eighty-six years of age.

Under the Relief of the Poor Act 1697, recipients of poor relief (known as "collection") were required to wear a badge. The case alluded to below was apparently referred to Viscount Fermanagh in his capacity as a JP.

CBS, M11/54 image 806: 15 July 1711: Nicholas Merwin, Winslow, to Viscount Fermanagh, Claydon
Mr Lowndes desired me to speake to Your Lordship that You would not determine the matter relateing to the Winslow Poor till You spoke with him for that he sayes ‘Tisn’t whether sufficient Collection but whether the Badge shalbe worne is the matter in dispute[.] I really forgot to mention it to Your Lordship[.]  I am therefore to beg Mr Lowndes’s pardon and Your Lordshipp’s

If people in Winslow with copyhold property were thought liable to become a charge on the parish, the overseers sometimes took over their property as a precaution, as the following entries from the court rolls show:

Manor court 1713:
Daniel Gyles and John Shelton surrendered a cottage now in the occupation of John Shelton in Winslowe with yard, garden, backyards. To the use of Thomas Wright, John Henley and Thomas Whiteeaves on trust that from the premisses they "shall save harmlesse" the inhabitants of the parish of Winslowe from all costs which they expend on behalf of the said John Shelton, Ann Shelton his daughter and the infant with which Ann is now pregnant (and also such costs already spent), permitting Ann Shelton to occupy and enjoy the premisses during her life. After her decease and the payment of the costs, to the use of John Shelton and his heirs forever, provided that Thomas, John and Thomas reimburse themselves of all just costs which are expended concerning the trust.

Manor court 1724:
John Gibbs and Ann his wife, customary tenants, surrendered their reversion expectant on the death of John's father William Gibbs of a cottage in Tinkers End in Winslowe now in the occupation of William or his subtenants. To the use of William Shelton, Richard Gibbs and William Gibbs the churchwardens and Henry Stutsbury and William George the overseers of the poor of the parish of Winslowe and their successors. On condition that if John Gibbs or any "Child or Children" of his family will not at any time in future be chargeable to or receive relief from the inhabitants of the parish of Winslowe, then the surrender will be void. William Shelton et al. sought to be admitted. Rent [blank], fine [blank].

This entry from the Chetwode overseer's accounts shows the lengths to which a parish might go to get an order about someone they wanted to remove. They must have gone to Winslow and the other places mentioned in search of a JP, which in the case of Winslow would have been Richard Lowndes (they had previously used Dr Busby at Addington):

Centre for Bucks Studies, PR46/12/2
The Disbustment of Frances [=Francis] Finch Overseer of the Poor of the Parish of Chitwood for the year 1743
Sept 20*  the 9 Expences at Mash [Marsh Gibbon] upon the count of John Dimock 5s 2d A takeing of Mary Toms from Mares [Henry Mayer’s] to Mash to be examined at Mash before the gestis [justice] for her settlement the gestis granted us auder [order] to carry her to Winslow A takeing of her from Mash to Owvin and hom again Expences 9s 2d [margin:] Churchwarden and the overseer of the parish of Chittwood
24  A going to Aylsbery to have the Auder sined and could not Expences 1s 2d    
26  A taking her from the overseer to Wendrow [Wendover?] to have the Auder sined from thence to Winslow Expence 12s 2d
Octo; 4 paid at Mares 16s 0d ...
Sept; ye 20 the \Churchwardon and/ Overseer with a cart and twoo horses and a man took Mary Toms from Mares in the morning to Mash and from Mash to Winslow and from Winslow to Owvin and home again about fore aclock the next morning
24 Took her for Aylsbery a horse back and could not carry her about a mile and brought her home again
Sept; ye 26 A man and a cart and horses a taking of Mary Toms from the overseer to  Wendrow and from Wendrow to Winslow and goot home between three and fore aclock the next morning £1 1s 0d
Mary Toms five days at the overseer house 2s 6d

Settlement case, 1723 (CBS, M11/57)

This case from the Verney papers shows how significant it was if someone could establish a settlement (which entitled them to relief from the parish) by serving for a full year as a servant.

10 Nov 1723: Charles Chaloner [Claydon steward] to Ralph, Viscount Fermanagh
We are in a great straites about Betts’s daughter by reson the fellow is runn away which she says got the child but we are indevering to gett on of Sheepton [Shipton] which lives on the parish of Winsloe to marie her and will I belive only he is afferd at present of being putt into ye coort ife he should marie her

29 Nov 1723: Ralph, Viscount Fermanagh to Charles Chaloner
If Betts’s daughter did not live a whole year at Shipton & was paid her wages & discharged but a fortnight before her year was up I am afraid tis no settlement, but if she was not paid her wages tho then spent ye last fortnight or three weeks in another place, I should think yt ought to be accounted a service till she was discharged, you say she lived at Adington, and with old Smith, but ye thing in question is only where she lived a year as a servant last, if you cant find yt out & she wont tell you fairly, ye parish should carry her before Mr Abell or any justice to give her her oath where she last served a year.

17 Dec 1723: Charles Chaloner to Ralph, Viscount Fermanagh
Betts daughter went to live at Sheepton ye beginning of May and stayd in that place tell ye 10 of Aprill following because she said that she staid [?]3 days after her dame was buried and she was buried 7 of Aprill …

Centre for Bucks Studies, PR 234/13

Removal orders were sought by a parish which wanted to get rid of someone who was liable to claim poor relief, and could show that the person was the responsibility of another parish. The following cases concerning Winslow come from the records of the Wing overseers.

Alice Smith (1711)

PR 234/15/6b
The Examinac(i)on of Alice Smith late of Old Parke in the Parish of Wing in the County of Bucks Singlewoman Taken upon Oath this 23rd day of Aprill Anno Dmni 1711 Before me Rich(ard) Rose Esqr One of her Ma(jes)ties Justices of the the [sic] Peace for the sa(ai)d County
This Examinant Saith Upon her Oath that she is with Child of A Bastard Child, & is gone in her Reckoning about \Twelve/ weeks, & has about Eight, & Twenty weeks of her time to come. And This Examinant also saith that William Orchard of the same place, & p(ar)ish her fellow Servant is the father of the s(ai)d Bastard Child And has had the Carnall Knowledge of her Body at two sev(er)all times the first time \whereof/ was upon a Cutt of a hay Cocke in \A/ Close com(m)only called New Close at Old Parke af(oresai)d about a fortnight before Srovetide last past, and the second & last time he \the sd Wm Orchard/  had the Carnall knowledge of her this Examinants body was about a month after in a Barn at Old Parke abovesaid  And this Examinant further saith that noe other p(er)son ever had the Carnall Knowledge of her this Examin(an)ts Body And further deposeth not
Sign(um) Alice [mark] Smith
Taken before me Rd Rose [signature]

PR 234/15/6a
The Examinac(i)on of Alice Smith Single woman Aged 20 yeares & upwards taken upon Oath this 31st day of August Annoque Dmni 1711 Before me Richard Rose Esqr One of her Ma(jes)ties Justices of the Peace for the County aforesaid.
And first this Examinant Saith that about Four years since she was hired to one John Sprattley of Winslow in the s(ai)d County, Grocer, with whom she Lived One Whole Yeare & Received a Yeares Wages of the s(ai)d John Sprattley for the s(ai)d Yeares Service
And that since she hath not Gained any Legall Settlement Elsewhere by Service or otherwise
Sign(um) Alice [mark] Smith
[Latin text] Taken & heard the day & year abovesaid before me
Rd Rose [signature]

PR 234/13/26           
To the Churchwardens & Overseers of the Poore of the P(ar)ish of Wing in the s(ai)d County of Bucks
and also to the Churchwardens & Overseers of the Poore of the P(ar)ish of Winslowe in the Same County & to all & Every of Them.
Upon the Complaint the Churchwardens & Overseers of the Poore of the sd P(ar)ish of Wing upto us whose Names are Subscribed two of her Majesty’s Justices of the Peece for the County of Bucks & one of us of the Quorum that Alice Smith completely to dwell in the s(ai)d p(ar)ish of Wing not haveing Gained a Legall Settlem(en)t there according to the Laws in that case made & provided nor Produced a Certificate to them Owning her to be settled Elsewhere. And that she the s(ai)d Alice Smith is likely to be come chargeable to the sd p(ar)ish of Wing. Wee upon examinac(i)on thereof & of the s(ai)d Alice Smith do adjudge the same to be true And that the last place of her Lawfull Settlement was at Winslow aforesaid. Wee doe therefore require you to convey the sd Alice Smith from Wing to the sd parish of Winslow And Wee doe also hereby Require you the s(ai)d Churchwardens & Overseers of the Poore of the Parish of Winslow to receive and provide for her as an Inhabitant of yo(u)r Parish. Given under our hands and Seales this 31st day of August 1711
R(ichar)d Rose  [&] Bern(ard) Turney [names in left margin]

Winslow parish registers
27 Nov 1711: baptism of Elizabeth daughter of Alice Smith, traveller
7 Jan 1712: burial of Elizabeth Smith, vagrant child

Martha Reading (1808)

PR 234/13/25
[The text in italics shows handwritten additions to a printed pro forma]
To the Church-Wardens and Overseers of the Poor of the Parish of Winslow in the County of Bucks
and to the Church-Wardens and Overseers of the Poor of the Parish of Wing in the County of Bucks
Whereas Complaint hath been made unto us, whose Names are hereunto set, and Seals affixed, being two of His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Bucks aforesaid (one whereof being of the Quorum) by the Church-wardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish of Winslow That Martha Reading    
Hath lately intruded and came into the Parish of Winslow and hath actually become chargeable to the same: We the said Justices, upon due proof made thereof, as well upon the examination of the said Martha Reding         
upon Oath, as other Circumstances, do adjudge the same to be true, and do also adjudge the place of the legal Settlement of the said Martha Reading to be in the Parish of Wing in the County of Bucks
These are therefore in His Majesty’s Name to require you the said Church-wardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish of Winslow on sight hereof, to remove and convey the said Martha Reding    
from and out of your said Parish of Winslow to the said Parish of Wing and her deliver to the Church-wardens and Overseers of the Poor there, or to some or one of them, together with this our Order, or a true Copy hereof, who are hereby required to receive and provide for her according to Law
Given under our Hands and Seals, the fifth Day of December in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and eight
[signed] H.J. de Salis, Tho Le Mesurier

William & Elizabeth Worsley (1808)

PR 234/13/28
[The text in italics shows handwritten additions to a printed pro forma]
To the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the Parish of Wingin the said County
and to the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the Parish of Winslow in the said County and to each and every one of them        
Upon the Complaint of the churchwardens and overseers of the Poor of the Parish of Wing aforesaid, in the County of Bucks unto us, whose names are hereunto set, and seals affixed, being two of his Majesty’s Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Bucks and one of us of the Quorum, that William Worsley and Elizabeth his wife                                 
Have come to inhabit in the said Parish of Wing not having gained a legal settlement there, nor produced any certificate, owning them to be settled elsewhere and that the said William Worsley and Elizabeth his wife have become chargeable to the said Parish of Wing We the said Justices, upon due proof made thereof, as well upon the examination of the said Worsley upon oath, as otherwise,
and likewise upon due consideration had of the premises do adjudge the same to be true; and we do likewise adjudge, that the lawful Settlement of them the said William Worsley and Elizabeth his wife is in the said Parish of Winslow in the said County of Bucks     
We do therefore to require you the said churchwardens and overseers of the poor of the said Parish of Wingor some, or one of you, to convey the said William Worsley and Elizabeth his wife from and out of your said Parish of Wing to the said Parish of Winslow and them to deliver to the church-wardens and overseers of the poor there, or to some, or one of them, together with this our order, or a true copy thereof: and we do also hereby require you the s(ai)d churchwardens and overseers of the poor of the s(ai)d Parish of Winslow to receive and provide for them as inhabitants of your Parish Given under our hands and seals, the nineteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight
[signed] Wm Lowndes, Tho Le Mesurier

Winslow parish registers
30 July 1786: baptism of William Worsley, son of William & Eleanor
4 Feb 1787: baptism of William Worsley, son of Ralph & Rebecca
23 June 1808: baptism of John, son of William and Elizabeth Worsley
10 March 1811: baptism of Thomas, son of William and Elizabeth Worsley (buried 14 Sep 1812)
10 March 1811: baptism of John, son of William and Elizabeth Worsley, aged more than 12 months
3 May 1815: baptism of Caroline, baseborn daughter of Elizabeth Worsley of Workhouse, pauper
25 Oct 1840: burial of Elizabeth Worstley aged 53

Frederic Morton Eden (The State of the Poor, 1797, III, cccliii) gives the poor rate for 1795 as £795 14s 3d, having been £601 13s 7d for the 3 years to 1785. Parochial expenditure was £801 16s 1½d. He also provides (II, 31) a list from Sep. 1795 of indigent persons who receive regular weekly pensions from the parish:

    Ages Weekly
Pensions
No. of persons     s. d.
1 A groom's widow; a lace-maker 48 1 0
1 A single woman 35 1 0
1 A labourer's widow 57 2 0
5 A saddler's wife, and four children: her husband deserted her 37 4 6
1 A whitesmith's widow 57 1 0
11 Eleven bastards, (at 1s. 6d. weekly each.) - 16 6
1 A labourer's widow 57 1 6
2 A labourer's widow and daughter; the former 70 3 0
1 A tanner, paralytic 60 5 0
1 A baker's widow, lame 60 2 6
1 A labourer's widow 65 1 6
1 A labourer's widow 75 2 6
1 A single woman, sick 30 0 6
1 A labourer's widow 60 2 0
2 A butcher and his wife; the former aged 70 5 0
1 A labourer's widow 80 2 6
1 A butcher's widow 58 2 0
1 A widow 80 1 6
6 A labourer's widow, and 5 children 40 6 0
1 A bricklayer's widow 56 1 6
1 An orphan boy - 1 6
1 A labourer's widow 70 2 0
1 A labourer's widow 55 1 6
1 A gardener's widow 80 1 6
1 A single woman 70 1 6
2 A shoemaker, and his wife; the former 60 3 0
2 A labourer's widow, and son; the former 70 2 6
1 A labourer's widow 70 2 0
1 A woman at Buckingham - 1 6
1 A blacksmith 65 1 6
1 A woman, bed-ridden 70 3 0
1 An orphan 20 1 0
----     ---------------------
55     £4 5s 6d
Besides these weekly pensioners, many receive occasional relief, whose names are not inserted in the regular list. During the late dear season, the Poor of the parish went in a body to the Justices to complain of their want of bread. The Magistrates sent orders to the parish-officers to raise the earnings of labourers, to certain weekly sums, according to the number of their children [= the Speenhamland system]; a circumstance that should invariably be attended to in apportioning parochial relief. These sums were from 7s. to 19s.; and were to be reduced, proportionably with the price of bread.

Charities

William Hardwick by his nuncupative will of 1611 "did give unto the poore people of Winslowe five poundes to remaine as a stocke for their benefitt  and to be imployed as the monie given by one John Burt is employed". Thomas Overing's will of 1622 explains this: "I stand charged as a Feeffee appointed by John Burt who did dwell in this p(ar)ish with five pounds w(hi)ch he gave to the poore of the p(ar)ish to remaine to them as a stocke so long as the world doth endure And to be lett forth for the best use for them that the profitt thereof may be distributed among them everie New yeares day after Evening praier by the Churchwardens and one of my Executors or Overseers of this my will And them or some of them to distribute the profitt thereof being x s to the said poore of the said p(ar)ish the next New Yeares day after my decease whensoever it shall happen. And the said five pounds being in my hands my will is that when my Executors doe pay the same to the Churchwardens or if they doe keepe it themselves to give Securitie for the same And that one of them everie yeare the next Sabbath day before New years Day doe declare it att morening praeis In whose hands the said money doth remaine And I Could wish that the Vicar or minister there everie year for the time being would sett downe in the Church booke in whose hands the said money doth remaine that both the stocke and the proffitt thereof may remaine forever and be bestowed according to the good intent and meaning of him that gave it"

John Chinnall by his will of 1619 gave "vli to remaine in the hands of the Churchwardens of Winslow successively as a stocke for the use of the poore in the same m(an)ner as that w(hi)ch was given by one William Hardwicke".

The will of Joan Mitchell, nee Spooner alias Lunt, of Stony Stratford in 1621, left "to the poore of Winslowe fortie shillinges to be set fourthe every yere by the Churchwardens of the sayed Towne for the tyme beyng and the use thereof every yere beyng fower shillinges to be bestowed every good frydaye after evening prayer in breade as farre as yt will goe uppon the poore of the sayed towne that have most neede so long as the worlde doth endure." The bequest would have required a return of 10% on the £2 capital, so is unlikely to have lasted long.

Joan Forde's will of 1644 established a charity, and her executor Thomas Wendover bought some land in 1648, whose income was to be distributed annually to the religious poor. After Enclosure, the land was replaced by what is now called Poor's Piece.

Charles II on 1 July 1676 set up a commisson for Bucks (under an Act of Parliament of 1601) to report parish by parish on what charities there were and whether they were being correctly administered (National Archives, C 93/36/20). This is the report for Winslow, delivered in 1677:

And the Jurors aforesaid Alsoe present that there is in the parish of Winslowe in the said County of Bucks given by Mrs Joan Foard one hundred poundes to buy Land at Five poundes per Annum for a dole amongst the poore of Winslow which Land was accordingly bought and yields five poundes a yeare which is in the occupacion of Edward Tomlin and hath bin ever since disposed of by the minister and Church wardens to the poore according to the direction of her will  And that there is one towne house called the Church house at the rent of Four poundes per Annum now in the occupacion of Jane Gibbs and that the said rent is imployed for the repaire of the Church And hath bin soe Imployed above the space of twenty yeares and that there is a house given for the habitacion of twoe persons in widowhood in the possession of Widdow Shawe and Widdow Porter  And the Jurors aforesaid Alsoe present that there is in the parish of Winslowe aforesaid a towne stocke of Fifty Five poundes which is in the hands of Mr Edmund Paxton upon Mortgage the Interest whereof is yearly distributed according to the direction of the severall donours and that there are publique Accompts given by the Church wardens and overseers of the poore of Winslow in the Church of Winslow every Easter Tuesday and have been Above twenty yeares Last past after morning prayres of the receipts of the said moneys And of the disposeing and disburstment thereof

Thomas Bishop's will of 1692 left £30 to buy land from which an annual distribution would be made to the poor by the vicar and churchwardens.

Lord Wharton's Charity was established in 1696 to distribute bibles in Buckinghamshire and elsewhere, and people in Winslow received them until well into the 20th century.

Painted board with details of Rogers and Wharton charities
This board was set up in the Church in 1848 to record the Wharton and Rogers charities

At the manor court in 1714, John Henley and Richard Phipps, the surviving trustees, surrendered various copyhold properties in Winslow to 9 new trustees, the leading Anglicans in the town:

Browne Willis in 1730 compiled a list of charities including some otherwise unknown ones.

Mary Bigg's will of 1745 left 30s a year to be paid to six poor widowers or widows who were not receiving poor relief, but this must have died out as it is not mentioned by Arthur Clear or in the 1863 report by the Charity Commissioners.

Edmund Cox, who made his money as a cooper in London, left in his will proved in 1820 £300 whose interest was to be used "in the purchase of good wheaten bread and [his executors would] divide and distribute such bread twice in each and every year at such seasons and in such shares and proportions as they shall think proper unto and among all and every the necessitous poor people for the time being belong(in)g to and residing in the Parish of Winslow".

The Enclosure Award of 1767 allocated to the poor 7a 3r 24p of land in place of the pieces of land listed above. This is what is now known as Poor's Piece. This was initially let to a farmer and the rent was distributed to the poor. There was a change of policy in 1839, in response to a petition from 100 poor men:

CBS, PR 237/8/1: At a vestry held by adjournment at the Vestry room at Church on Wednesday 9th of January 1839
Present: The Revd Thomas Henry Walpole, Vicar, Chairman
Mr Saml G Dudley, Mr John Cowley, DT Willis, Daniel Grace, John Dover, John Bull, George Mayne, Alfred Barton, Grant King, Thomas Lomath
4 It was agreed that all the persons who had claimed to participate in the occupation of the poors land as appears in the list prepared by Mr Abbott be permitted to do so.
Resolved that at the end of five years a fresh allotment of the land among the poor shall take place.
5 Resolved that all the male paupers be required (except in case of sickness or infirmity) to cultivate their own allotments if they neglect so to do, or any of them be convicted before a Magistrate for stealing from either of the other allotments, their portions to be forfeited and either let or allotted to other paupers by the parish officers

Bucks Herald, 9 May 1846
The Rev. W. W. McCreight, vicar of Winslow, with feelings which evince his regard for the temporal as well as the spiritual welfare of his parishioners has signified his intention through the medium of his steward, Mr. Charles Monk, of letting allotments of land to the labouring poor and working mechanics of that parish, which appears to meet with a sanguine reception by the parties for whose benefit the worthy vicar is actuated in the movement. [This was known as Van Diemen's Land, Verney Road.]
Buckingham Advertiser, 6 March 1886
  Mr. Neal said [in a speech to the Bucks Chamber of Agriculture] … At Winslow they had 400 charity allotments of eight poles each.  Persons paid a shilling entrance fee, and then had an allotment all their life.  Many of them, however, re-let their allotments to small tradesmen and others, which was contrary to the rules.  If the holder was an able-bodied man they objected to his re-letting his allotment, only allowing this to be done in the case of widows and those who were disabled.  Some of the allotment holders had even tried to claim the land. (Laughter.)…

Elizabeth Miles, nee Burnham (d.1871) left £200 invested in Metropolitan 3½% stock producing £7 p.a. to be distributed to the poor of Winslow at the Vicar's discretion.
1906: Buckingham Advertiser, 29 Dec
  MILES’ CHARITY.- The usual distribution of coal, flannel, and blankets in connection with this charity took place on St. Thomas’ Day, December 21.
1907: Buckingham Advertiser, 19 Jan
  THE MILES CHARITY.- Eighteen gifts of flannel, twenty-two of coal, and eight blankets, were given away on St. Thomas’ Day, December 21, at 2.30, in Mrs. Greaves’ Iron Room.

Buckingham Advertiser, 20 Dec 1879
A SOUP KITCHEN AT WINSLOW is a good movement.  The large amount of distress prevailing in the neighbourhood of Winslow, has caused the union workhouse to be uncomfortably filled, and the ratepayers may look forward to a heavy poor rate.  The hard frost, which has now set in, has thrown a number of men out of work, and is the precursor of severe sufferings, which, even in the present early part of winter, are felt to no small degree by tradesmen and farmers, but more especially by the working classes.  It is well that the poor are so well cared for as they are.  In Winslow benevolent sympathy is shown in a substantial form, both by many well-to do inhabitants, and by the public societies which abound for the alleviation of the extreme necessities of mankind.  A soup kitchen is under organisation, which, although a small charge per quart will be made, should be thankfully greeted by the poorer of the community, as a laudable step for their benefit.   The promoters will, of courses, do their best to avoid imposition being practised on them by false tales of assumed necessities.

The Bicester Herald of 2 Dec 1887 reported that Mrs Willis had opened her soup kitchen again at "The Old Gas House". The Buckingham Advertiser of 5 Jan 1889 said she had re-opened it (no venue given).

Bicester Herald, 11 Jan 1884
DISTRIBUTION OF CHARITY BREAD AT WINSLOW.
On Friday, January 4th, the distribution of bread among the poor of Winslow, took place in accordance with the wills of Mr. Edward Packer, of London, who, in 1814, gave £100 in the 3 per cents., and of Mr. Edmund Cox, of Winslow, who, in 1815, bequeathed £300, “the interest to be given in good wheaten bread twice every year to the poor.”  About 550 loaves were given away.

The provision of allotments became a major issue in the 1880s following national legislation. Small plots were available at Poor's Piece and larger ones on glebe land at Van Diemen's Land. More land was provided in 1890:

Buckingham Advertiser, 12 April 1890
  We are glad to be able to state that the long-felt want of more allotments for Winslow has been met by William Selby Lowndes, Esq., of Whaddon Hall, who has just let 14½ acres of land at Shipton for the working men of Winslow.  The land is good and conveniently situate.

Article by Glenys Warlow on poor relief in Winslow and the history of the Workhouse: workhouse.pdf

Northampton Mercury, 7 Feb 1795

Some few days ago the Right Hon. Lord Eardley, in his return from Broughton-Castle, near Banbury, to Town, left a donation of Twenty Guineas with Mr. Burnham, of Winslow, to be distributed amongst the poor of the parishes of Winslow and Mursley, Bucks, which was on Monday last distributed accordingly in bread and money; a subscription has likewise been raised by the inhabitants of Winslow, amounting to 60 l. and upwards for alleviating the present distresses of the poor of the said parish, a donation of Five Guineas has also been sent from Mrs. Norman, of Henley-upon-Thames, to Mr. John Dudley, of Winslow, to be laid out in fuel, and distributed amongst the poor of that place.

Bucks Herald, 2 Jan 1841

WINSLOW BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION – ESTABLISHED, 1830. – This institution commenced its charitable object by selling to the poor coals at very reduced prices on Thursday, the 24th of December.    A meeting was a short time since held in the vestry-room to audit the accounts of last year, when a balance of £6 was declared to be in hand.    Messrs. Barton and French were re-appointed Treasurers for the ensuing year.  The subscriptions for this year have begun by Wm. Selby Lowndes, Esq., having ordered the sum of £20 to be placed at the disposal of the Society’s Fund.   Miss Lowndes £10, &c. &c.  This indeed is most cheering as well as gratifying to the poor partaking of its bounties.

Bucks Herald, 10 Dec 1853
WINSLOW BENEVOLENT SOCIETY, - We are happy to inform our readers this good and charitable society will be continued during the winter months for the distribution of coals at a cheap rate to the poor of the town, under the satisfactory and laudable management of Mr. Joshua French and Mr Alfred Barton, the present treasurer and hon. secretary, who will collect the subscriptions in aid of the funds forthwith.  The amount disbursed last year was £47 8s.1½d., thus enabling the poor through the means of this society to obtain coals delivered at their homes at 5d. per cwt. [This appears to be what was later referred to as the Coal Charities]

Oxford Journal, 2 Dec 1854
BENEVOLENT SOCIETY. – The accounts of this excellent Society, established in 1830, for the distribution of coals, supplied to the poor at a cheap rate during the winter months, have been audited and passed, and ordered to be printed; nearly 90 tons were delivered at the homes of the poor at 6d. per cwt. last winter.  The Society’s funds and general management were again entrusted to the generous exertions of Messrs. Alfred Barton and Joshua French, Honorary Secretaries and Treasurers, who will collect for the benefit of the funds without delay.  The meeting was presided over by Mr. S. G. Dudley, and at the termination of the proceedings a vote of thanks was tendered to him for his courteous and impartial conduct.

Buckingham Advertiser, 18 Dec 1855
Winslow, Dec. 5th, 1855.
MY DEAR SIR, - As the value of your Advertiser is affected by the accuracy of its statements, will you give me space in your columns to correct an error in last week’s issue, where I am referred to as treasurer of the “Winslow Provident Fund,” – I beg to assure your readers that I have not held that office for some years past;  all my engagements in that office might be performed by a boy, which is merely to accompany Mr. Barton from house to house once in the year to collect subscriptions.  Mr. Barton acts as treasurer and keeps the accounts, and I should be unwilling to take credit for services I do not render; the whole credit and thanks are due to Mr. Barton, for I am totally ignorant of the state of the funds only so far as I have had enlightenment from your report.
            I am, my dear sir, yours faithfully,
                                                J. L. FRENCH.

Draft letter to the Charity Commissioners(?), 1862 (St Laurence Room archive)

July 10th 1862

In reply to your inquiries I beg to submit the foll(ow)ing in Mr Packer’s legacy
                recd       Distributio(n)                     recipients
1859       3£           480 1lb loaves @ 1½d = 3£            190 families recipients
an average of 3¾ - 15 each but the quantity is varied according to the number in family
                recd      
1860       3£           411 1lb loaves @ 1¾  = 3£             178 182 recipients
average 4d. each family.
\We have not rec(eiv)ed any dividend [illegible] has been any given since owing to the transfer of the trusteeship/

Mr Cox’s legacy
recd      
1860       £8-5-0              720 2lb loaves @ 2¾  = 8£ 5-0 - 186 recipients
average 10d.½ p(er) fam(ily) [??]
1861       £8-5-0              551 566 2lb loaves @ 3½  = 8-5-1 184
average 10.¾ d each family
1862       £8-5-0              565 2lb loaves @ 3½  = 8-4-9½ 182
average 10¾

Church Houses
Mrs Gilbert’s House and Cottages Rent £4 Rates 4-1-3
Mr Kellands house & Mr. Ingrams Close Rent 3£ Rates £2-10-7¾

I find there is a legacy of 20 shillings per ann(um) left by Egerton which I understand is mixed up with the Poor land, and the poor have \occupy/ the land themselves which is equally divided into 183 allotments. I cannot find of any Charity by Foord and others.

10 Bibles 12 Catechisms and 1 Prize Book are \annually/ are received from Lord Wharton’s charity and duly distributed and a full account \regularly/ sent by the Revd. W. W. McCreight to Lord Wharton’s Trustees.

The Will of the late Wm. Selby Lowndes Esqr. has been registered at the Bank.
The Bank Mark
Bank Regr
G/O 32686
J/a ANZ

trusting these replies will be satisfactory.
I am Your Obedient Servant
Jno Grace

Vestry minutes, 1863 (CBS, PR 237/8/1)

At a Vestry held in the Vestry room at Church on the 10th of April 1863
Present: Mr DT Willis  Chairman
Messrs James King, Wm Neal, J. Corkett, Henry Monk, R.W. Jones, T.P. Willis, George Cross, John Grace, Chas Mayne, J. Hathaway

It was proposed by Mr Monk and seconded by Mr T P Willis that the accounts of the Church wardens for the past year be allowed and passed.
The Reverend W.W. McCreight appointed Mr George Cross to be his Churchwarden for the ensuing year
It was proposed by Mr Monk and seconded by Mr R W Jones that Mr John Grace be re-elected churchwarden for the parish and resolved unanimously.
It was proposed by Mr Neal and seconded by Mr James King and Resolved unanimously that Messrs Willis be empowered to prepare a statement of the Charities, in the Parish of Winslow, for the Charities Commissioners, following viz Egerton’s Charity, The Poor’s Allotment, Packer’s Charity, The Church House and Bishop’s Charity and submit the same to the Vestry previously to its being sent to \the/ Charity Commissioners. 
Messrs Daniel Grace, John Brise and Samuel William French tendered for the appointment of Collector of Rates for the Parish.
It was proposed by Mr Monk and seconded by Mr Cross that Mr Daniel Grace be recommended as a proper person for the office of the Collector of Rates. The other candidates not having been put in nomination, the proposition was declared carried.
[signed] D.T. Willis, Chairman

At a vestry held in the Vestry room of the Church pursuant to public Notice for that purpose given on Thursday the 30th day of April 1863

Present
Mr George Maydon        Chairman
Messrs D.T. Willis, Henry Monk, Jas King, Charles Mayne, Wm Neal, John Grace, Danl Grace, & T.R. Brown

Resolved that an Application be signed and transmitted to the Charity Commissioners, for an order of the Board, giving suitable directions by way of a scheme, for the future regulation and management of the undermentioned charities and appointing trustees thereof viz :

Bishopp’s Charity – An allotment of 1a 1r 35p of Land adjoining Poor’s Allotment & received in exchange for a close at Shipton formerly called Robinson’s or Poor’s Close.

Ford’s Charity - An allotment containing 7a 3r 24p

Packer’s Charity - £100 Reduced £3 per cent anns

Church Houses & Land - Two Houses in Market Square & two allotments of 1r 3p & 1r 23p allotted and received in exchange for the Church Headland & Buildings thereto belonging in Old Mill Fields in the Parish of Winslow.

The above statement of the Charities of this parish having been submitted to the Ratepayers in Vestry was approved and the application signed accordingly by all present.
                                                                                [signed] George Maydon, Chairman

Charity Commission Report, 1863

Following the Vestry decision above, an application to reorganise various charities in Winslow was made in 1863 by George Maydon, Daniel Grace, Henry Monk, John Grace, Charles Mayne, James King, William Neal and Thomas Rayner Brown. The Charity Commission produced two schedules, one outlining the existing positions of the charities and the other recommending a scheme for future management. Click on the image for the whole document:

Heading of the Charity Commission report

At a vestry held in the Vestry Room of the Church pursuant to public Notice for that purpose given on Friday the 22nd day of May 1863
Present: Mr George Cross Chairman
Messrs Geo: Mayne, Geo: Maydon, Wm Neal, D.T. Willis, Jno: Grace, T.P. Willis, and Henry Monk

The draft scheme received from the Charity Commissioners for the management of the following Charities belonging to this Parish viz. – Thomas Bishopp Charity, Joan Forde Charity otherwise The Poor’s Allotment, William Packers Charity, and The Church Houses was produced read and considered and it was resolved to submit the following alterations to the Charity Commissioners.

The following Gentlemen were nominated to be the four Trustees : -
Edward Selby Lowndes Esq
Mr William Neal
  “    Henry Monk
 “     Thomas Price Willis

It was resolved that the Scheme when approved by the Charity Commissioners should be deposited at the offices of Messrs Willis & Willis for inspection in the usual way. –

                                                                                                Chairman

Coal fund for the poor

1875: Buckingham Advertiser, 27 Nov

COUNTY COURT
  This monthly Court was held on Tuesday last, before W. H. Cooke, Esq., when about 30 cases were entered, and the following were heard:-
YEULETT V. FRENCH.

  John Yeulett, of Winslow, coal dealer, v. J. L. French and A. Barton, of Winslow, treasurers of the coal fund.  The claim was for £3, for coals supplied in 1871, to the poor of Winslow.

  Plaintiff said- Barton alone gave me the order for the coal, and on the Judge’s direction, Mr. French’s name was thereupon struck out of the summons, and the action went on against Barton only.

  Cross-examined- I gave up business in 1872.  Mr Abbott does not keep the books of the coal account.  The coal was delivered by me to the order of Abbott, who went round with me.  Abbott collected the money from the poor and paid it to me.  The poor paid 6d. per cwt., and the other 6d. was paid by the committee.  If the poor paid 5d. per cwt. in 1871, the committee should have paid 7d., and there must be more due to me than I now claim.  I have not paid Mr. Barton anything on my own account since this claim was due to me.  I never paid Mr. Barton £1 17s. 1d. for spirits, &c.  I only served the coal once on my own account, and that was in 1871.  My father had supplied it before then.  I have continually sent bills to Mr. Barton between 1871 and the present year, asking for the account to be paid.  I received from Abbott £2 12s.  Abbott’s book was handed in, showing a receipt for £2 3s. 7d.

  Plaintiff then handed in his ledger, containing an account of the transaction, and from it the Judge observed that only Mr. Barton’s amount of five tons was entered, and not the total amount as supplied to the poor.  Plaintiff ought to have entered the total amount as supplied, and given credit for what was paid, and then shown the balance due, and therefore, the book evidence was against plaintiff himself.

  J. Abbott spoke to the mode of sending out the coal, and of paying the money for the same.

  James East, of Winslow, brother-in-law of plaintiff, said- I went to Mr. Barton for plaintiff, to try to get the money for him.  I asked Mr. Barton for the amount, and he said he thought he had paid it, and if he had not paid it he would do so.

  Alfred Barton said- Myself and Mr. French were joint treasurers of this coal fund for over thirty years, and never had any mistakes in the accounts.  The first time I heard of this debt was from East- and afterwards in March of this year.  In 1871, I paid £15 11s. 2d. to coal merchants at that time, and I then paid James Yeulett £3 0s. 11½d.  Plaintiff owed me small bill which I deducted.  Since 1871 he has had goods of me and paid for them.

  Cross-examined- I told you to go to Mr. Willis, and he must pay, being a trustee, if it was for coal before I acted.

  His honor said he must look upon it as a mistake by the plaintiff.  It appeared that he had not been very successful in business on his own account, and had been away from Winslow, and it was probable, therefore, looking at the lapse of time that he had forgotten the exact circumstances connected with the affair.  Judgment therefore for the defendant.

Arthur Clear: A Thousand Years of Winslow Life (1888)

pp.10-11 on benefactions and charities

Benefactions. - In all ages men have shown a desire to create for themselves some memorial, or to perform some meritorious act, whereby their names might be handed down to posterity and their memories so kept from utter oblivion. Various have been the methods by which they have striven to accomplish this object, a favourite mode being that of a charitable bequest to the poor. Generally this has been done with a pure motive, in others it has only been an effort to obtain a place in the list of benefactors of their native town at a very cheap rate, as an instance of the latter we may call attention to the bequest, now lost, of William Hardwicke of Winslow, who died in 1612.

"Memorandum.  - One William Hardwicke at the time of his death, bequeathed ye summe of five pounds in such manner that the Churchwardens yearly for the time being, would see the same put forth to the best use, and the interest thereof to be distributed yearly among the poor of this parish. And the said summe of five pounds was delivered by the executors of the said William Hardwicke, into the hands of the Churchwardens, the first day of May, Anno Dni, 1612."

Joan Forde by her will dated in 1644, bequeathed £100 to purchase land for the use of the poor of Winslow; nothing is definitely known respecting this bequest, but probably it was swallowed up at the general Enclosure of the Parish in 1766.

In 1722, Mrs. Sarah Egerton gave two houses to the poor of Winslow. In the Parliamentary Returns of 1786, these houses are mentioned as producing £5 a year, but it is not stated for whose benefit the money was applied. An account of certain outgoings payable in respect of these houses, appears by the Churchwardens Books to have been allowed to the tenants out of their rents, and it frequently happened that the repairs exceeded the rent. These cottages would seem to have been situate in the Buckingham Road, and with other parish property were sold about the time the New Poor Law came into operation. Mrs. Egerton is also stated to have left the annual sum of 20s. to the poor parishioners of Winslow.

In 1772 [=1722], Joseph Rogers, carrier [=currier], bequeathed the sum of £600, to be laid out in the purchase of land, the yearly rents and profits thereof to be expended in educating and instructing such a number of poor people's children belonging to the parish of Winslow, as his trustees would find the same would answer. The property now consists of a house, outbuildings, and 23 acres of land, in the parishes of Great and Little Kimble. According to a return made to the Charity Commissioners in 1884, the net income of this charity after deducting necessary expenses was £42, with which sum twenty children are educated in the Public Elementary Schools.

It appears by the parliamentary returns of 1786, that money producing £2 8 0 per annum, was given by a former Lord of the Manor, to the poor of Winslow, and was then vested in William Lowndes, Esq.

William Packer of London gave in the year 1814, the sum of £100 in the three per cents, the interest to be distributed to the poor of Winslow in bread, annually on the Sunday after July 5th.

In 1815, Edmund Cox bequeathed £300, the interest thereof to be applied in the purchase of "good wheaten bread," to be twice every year distributed among all the necessitous poor for the time being" residing in the parish of Winslow.

The Parliamentary Returns of 1827, state that two houses in Winslow, one occupied by J. Lomath, the other by S. Yeates, were built on leasehold land the property of the Parish Officers. The ground on which the latter house stands, appears by a recital in an assignment of the lease of it, to have been let in 1700, by certain persons, with the consent of the Lord of the Manor of "Winslow cum Membris," and of principal parishioners of Winslow, for 200 years on a building lease. The draft indenture of assignment was produced to the Commissioners of Charities by Mr. Willis, who stated that there was a similar draft relating to the other house. These Houses, situate in the Market Square, are now held by Mr. C. Wilford and Mr. W.H. Stevens.

In an inventory of the goods of all kinds belonging to the Parish Church of Winslow, A.D., 1757, is the following- "Two Church Houses situate by the south gate of the Churchyard, one of them in the occupation of William Dudley, of the yearly rent of Four Pounds, and the other in the occupation of William Firth, of the yearly rent of Two Pounds. The Churchwardens paying all manner of Taxes." These Houses were burnt down about 60 years ago.

In 1843, Miss Bridget Yeates gave a house adjoining the Churchyard, for the use of the Infant School, and in 1843 her executors purchased the following three per cent annuities,-£166 13 4 for the use of the Infant School, £166 13 4 for coals and wood for the Poor, £166 13 4 in aid of the Church Sunday School, and £50 to provide books for the Sunday School, the dividends whereof to be applied annually.

Painted board with details of Bridget Yeates' charity
This board was set up in the Church in 1847 to record Bridget Yeates' Charity

From these facts it would appear that the site upon which the Infant School now stands was formerly parish property, and after having been sold away for many years has now returned, by bequest and purchase, to parochial use.

There were complaints about the vicar's administration of the Yeates coal money in 1886 (read more).

In 1887 the Liberal Brotherhood established their own self-help system and looked into the administration of the charities, taking up a suggestion by Captain Verney, but no change appears to have resulted:

1887: Buckingham Advertiser, 9 April
Winslow Charities.
  A public meeting in connection with the Liberal Brotherhood was held at the Congregational School on Monday evening, April 4th, to consider the charities.  There was a very fair attendance, including Messrs. W. H. French, Saving, Collins, Orchard [=Archard], Spooner, Stonill, Watson, White, W. French, &c.
  Mr. Spooner as Chairman of the Winslow Brotherhood presided, and in his opening remarks spoke of the nature of charity, and said that he considered for it to be doled out in shillings as an acknowledgement of a man’s having attended a certain place of worship, was a gross insult to the memory of the donor, as well as a mis-application of the money, and said he knew of some of his own relations to whom the parson gave a shilling a time when he saw them at Church (laughter). [This was later corrected, presumably because it sounded as if he was referring to Winslow, to: "And said he knew a village where once lived one of his own relations whom the parson gave a shilling a time when he saw them at church."]
  Mr. W. H. French, president of the Federated Brotherhood, was the next speaker…The Brotherhood of Winslow, he was glad to say had just passed a resolution embodying the principle of true charity, and one that would be an example for the brethren of the district.  It was in case of distress to make the first appeal to members of the Brotherhood before going to the general public, and it was a very fine principle to lay down, not that they meant to become paupers, but that they would look to the Brotherhood for help before going to others, and it was a proof of the freedom every Brotherhood had, that Winslow had passed this without reference to the other branches… Mr. French then gave in detail from a book the Winslow charities, first of which was that of Joseph Rogers who in 1772 bequeathed £100 to be expended in educating certain poorer people’s children [Mr French and/or the Advertiser got these details wrong], as many as his trustees found the same would answer.  Mr. French remarked that there was nothing said about its being limited to 20.  The best thing to do with the charity would be to re-invest it.  If the land at Kimble were sold and land bought at Winslow, the poor would get 20 acres of land at a fair rent, which would pay for the education of all the boys of Winslow, and nearly make the schools free.  When Cobb’s bill was passed this could be done [The Allotments Act, 1887].  The Egerton charity and that of John [=Joan] Forde, which by some means had become lost, or stolen, for he did not believe in a thing losing itself in that way, and that of the unknown donor who gave the poor’s allotment in 1786 [this seems to be a misunderstanding of the origin of Poor's Piece in the Enclosure Award of 1767], and Mr. French remarked on the rise in the value of land since that time, when 7 acres 3 roods only produced 9 guineas per annum.  He further remarked that the squires and parsons who had the trouble of managing these charities ought to be very thankful to Captain Verney for publishing it to the world.  William Packer who left £100 for bread, and Edward [=Edmund] Cox, who gave £300 for the like purpose were referred to, and Mr. French said that during the recent beautifying of the Church, a pipe had been run through Cox’s grave, when by using one more foot of piping it might have been avoided.  He deserved better thanks from the parish than to have his grave violated in this way.  The Yeates Coal Charity was next spoken of, and the Brotherhood were recommended to inquire how much money was in hand, and how many trucks of coal it would buy for next winter.  The necessity for auditing of charity accounts was remarked on, so that people should know how much they were really entitled to.  Lord Wharton’s Bibles were the last referred to, and in answer to a question, he said there was nothing in the bequest to prevent a Dissenter’s child from receiving one of the Bibles (the questioner said the Church kept it to themselves.)
  Mr. Thomas Saving was the next speaker, and he remarked that he happened to be possessed of rather more information on the subject of Lord Wharton’s Bibles, than Mr. French, and he accordingly read out the bequest in full, which he said showed that the charity was intended for Dissenters.  Lord Wharton was a Presbyterian, the catechism which was to be learnt was a Presbyterian catechism, and the little books that were to be given with the Bibles were written by Presbyterian Divines.  Mr. Saving concluded by bearing testimony to the general impartiality and straightforwardness of the Winslow Trustees.
  Mr. Stonill read an extract from the Shipton Enclosure Act, stating that enclosures were awarded to the lay impropriator to the Vicar, and a small one to the poor.  He wanted to know what had become of the one to the poor.
  The time being late, it was decided to adjourn the meeting for a further discussion.

At the 1889 March Vestry there was criticism of the late presentation of the charity accounts and hints that someone (presumably the vicar) was using influence. The accounts presented to the Vestry in 1890 show how the charities were administered by then:

1890: Buckingham Advertiser, 19 April
Winslow Charities.
  The following abstract of accounts was produced at the Easter Vestry by Mr. Hathaway, Secretary to the Trustees:-
  Thomas Bishop’s and Joan Fords’s Charity: Receipts, balance from last year, 3s. 6d.; rent from allotment, 13s.; entrance fee, 8s.; Payment, sundries, 5s. 3d.; balance, 19s. 3d.- Edmund Cox’s Charity: Receipts, balance from last year, 11s. 10d.; dividends, £7 18s 8d.; Payments, 460 loaves at 4d., £7 13s. 4d.; balance, 17s. 2d.- William Packer’s Charity: Receipts, balance, 1889, £3 6s. 10d.; dividends, £2 17s. 6d.; Payments, transferred to coal fund, £5; secretary’s salary, £1; balance, 4s. 4d.- Charity Coal Account: Receipts, balance, 1889, £4 12s. 5d.; 17 tons 20 cwt of coal sold at 6d. per ton, £10 8s. 6d.; amount transferred from Packer’s Charity, £5; from Rev. P. H. Eliot, Mrs. Yates’ charity, £3 10s. 10d.; balance 9s. 7d.; Expenditure, paid Parish Clerk, distributing coal and collecting money, 7s. 6d.; 24 tons 6cwt. coal at 19s. 6d, £23 13s. 10d.

There is a detailed report on the Winslow charities in the Parish Council minutes for Feb 1895. The operation of the Bread Charities (Packer's and Cox's) was criticised by the Parish Council in 1903.

A full list of recipients of the Winslow Charities for 1897 was printed, following a decision by the Parish Council. It contains about 200 names. Click on the image for the full document: List of recipients of Winslow Charities 1897

See also:

Copyright 30 January, 2024