An Account of the Origin and Progress of the Society for the Promotion of Industry in the Hundreds of Ongar and Harlow and the Half Hundred of Waltham in the County of Essex

On the 21st of November, 1794, a meeting was held at Epping Place Inn, to take into consideration a proposal of J. Conyers, Esq., of Copped-Hall, for the better relief and employment of the poor.

Mr Conyers who was unanimously requested to take the chair, opened the business in an address to the meeting setting forth the many inconveniences sustained, as well by the poor themselves, as by the public at large, from the great decline of industry among the lower classes of the community; and the consequent necessity of adopting some plan for their relief and employment, which might be advantageous to all parties. He assured the meeting, that, anxious as he was that the poor should be better maintained, and their comfort promoted, by having their attention engaged in some active employment, he did not presume to recommend a merely speculative plan of his own, but one which had been tried with success in different parts of the kingdom.

The resolutions of a Society of Industry established in Rutland in 1785 were put before the meeting and it was agreed that they should form the ground-work of a similar establishment for the Hundreds of Ongar and Harlow and the Half Hundred of Waltham.

It was further agreed that the resolutions should be sent to the Ministers, Church Wardens, and Overseers of each parish, within the said Hundreds; and that they be requested to take the sense of their respective parishes on the propriety of establishing a Society of Industry.

The meeting was then adjourned until the 12th December at which time eleven parishes expressed their approbation of the plan. Agreed that the magistrates of the three hundreds, together with the ministers, church wardens and overseers of the subscribing parishes, be appointed trustees for the management of the Schools of Industry.

John Conyers, Esq., was appointed Chairman, and the Revd. T.A. Abdy, Treasurer of the Society. Subscriptions and donations were then received from many persons present in aid of the plan.

The meeting was adjourned to the 9th January, 1795, when two other parishes joined the association. Mr. J. Jellop, Attorney of Waltham Holy Cross was appointed Secretary.

The subscribing parishes were:
Bobbingworth
Chigwell
Chipping Ongar
Epping
Loughton
Nazeing
North Weald Basset
Shelley
Stapleford Tawney
Stondon
Theydon Bois
Theydon Garnon
Theydon Mount
Waltham Holy Cross

At a meeting on the 23 January it was decided to print ‘An Address to the Public on the propriety of establishing Schools for Spinning and other Work, &c.’

The annual subscriptions from parishes to be in proportion of one per cent of the annual amount of the poor rate of each parish. That of individuals should not exceed five shillings each, but larger sums might be received as benefactions.

The premiums in clothing be given to such children of certain ages and descriptions, as shall have produced the best specimens of industry.

That any young person at going out to apprenticeship or service or on being married, with the approbation of the committee shall receive not less than five pounds or more than ten pounds.

That premiums be given to such poor persons as shall have brought up four or more children (bor in wedlock) to the age of fourteen years without relief from the parish.

That it is recommended to the different parishes to provide a convenient place as a working room, and a proper person as teacher.

That it be likewise strongly recommended to the parish officers (as the most effectual means of preventing families from becoming chargeable) to furnish wheels gratis either to grown persons or children who are desirous to employ themselves, and to order the teachers to instruct them gratis, and to allow them free admission to the working room: and that the profits arising from work done by any persons not relieved by their parish, be considered as their own.

The committee next took into their consideration the manner in which the poor had been actually paid for the spinning work. It appeared, that, when the work was finished, a deduction in every pound of wool was made from the price, to be paid to the spinner, by the persons who supplied the raw materials, and that the poor were compelled to take the remainder in shop goods, instead of money. In order to relieve them of this hardship, the committee intended to employ persons to give out the raw materials, and to pay the value of all work in money.

As a check to wilful idleness, the committee requested the parish officers to give notice in their respective parishes, that applications would be made to the magistrate not to order relief to any poor family unless it should appear that every child above the age of six years could either spin or knit, or was actually employed in one of the School of Industry in learning to spin or knit. And in order to preserve uniformity and regularity in the accounts to be kept at the parishes, containing table for entering the names and ages of the scholars, with remarks on their attendance or absence, on the quantity of work done by them, and on their general behaviour.

At a meeting held on the 31st December 1795, the names of fifty two children were given in as candidates for the premiums offered to the best spinners and knitters and twenty-one parents were proposed as candidates of the premiums offered to those who had brought up four or more children (born in wedlock) to the age of fourteen years without parochial relief.

Resolved that premiums in clothing not exceeding two guineas, nor less than one guinea, should be given to the most industrious spinning or knitting candidate.
Likewise premiums in money, not exceeding two guineas, nor less than one guinea should be given to parents.

On the 22nd January the sum of £32.0s.6d given in money to the twenty-one parents and £23.10. in clothing to the thirty-one children.

At their meeting on the 11th April it was decided that in order to promote emulation among the poor, it was resolved to give to successful candidates, printed attestations of their merits and of the premiums given by the society, that the same might be hung up in their respective dwellings.

On the 12th September it was resolved to divide the candidates for spinning premiums into three classes:
1st class – children not exceeding the age of 14 years.
2nd class – children not exceeding the age of 12 years.
3rd class – children not exceeding the age of 9 years.

[details were then given of what each candidate was expected to produce to qualify for a premium.
For example: candidates for Jersey Spinning in the first class shall have spun ten dozen hanks during the trial months.]

On the 9th January, 1797, the committee distributed their annual premiums for the year 1796.

£37.5s.6d in money was given to 21 parents who had severally brought up four or more children to the age of 14 years, without parochial relief.

Clothing to the amount of £36.15s was given to 37 children who had produced best specimens of industry in spinning, knitting, and plain needlework.

List of Subscriptions for the year 1795

Stanford Rivers:

Lord Bishop of Gloucester 5s.
Mrs. Beadon 5s.
Mr. Beadon 5s.
Mr. S. Jones 5s.
Miss S. Playle 5s.

Stapleford Tawney:

Parochial Subscription £1.16s.
Mrs Clark 2s. 6d.
Mr. T. Glasscock 1s.
Mr. Luck 1s.
Mr. J. Roberts 2s. 6d.
C. Smith, Esq; 5s.
Mrs. Smith 5s.

Theydon Mount:

Sir. W. Smyth 5s.
Lady Smyth 5s.
Mr. W. Smyth 5s.

List of Subscriptions for the year 1796

Greensted

Rev. Mr. Warren 5s.
Mrs. Warren 5s

Stapleford Tawney

Parochial Subscription £1. 16s.
Cain 5s.
Mrs Cain 5s.
Miss E. Cain 2s. 6d.
Miss J. Cain 2s. 6d.
Mr. J. Roberts 5s.
C. Smith, Esq; 5s.

Theydon Mount

Parochial Subscription £1. 13s.

No candidates from the 4 parishes were awarded premiums for the year 1796.