The Ongar Union – the role of the Relieving Officer

In 1834 following the Poor Law Amendment Act, 26 parishes were grouped together to form the Ongar Union and to establish a workhouse. One of their first tasks of the Guardians was to appoint Relieving Officers

Among the main duties of a Relieving Officer were:

To receive applications for relief, and forthwith to examine into the circumstances of every case by visiting the house of the applicant, and making all necessary inquiries into the state of health, the ability to work, the condition and family, and the means of such applicant, and to report the results of his inquiries to the Guardians at their next meeting, and also to visit from time to time, all paupers receiving relief.

In any case of sickness or accident requiring relief by medical attendance, to procure such attendance from the District Medical Officer.

An advertisement was placed in the Chelmsford Chronicle for Relieving Officers on the 15th and 22nd April 1836

The Board of Guardians of the Ongar Union hereby give notice that they have divided the Union into TWO DISTRICTS for RELIEVING OFFICERS, as under-mentioned, viz.

Stanford Rivers District

Bobbingworth
Doddinghurst
Greensted
Kelvedon Hatch
Lambourne
Navestock
Chipping Ongar
Stanford Rivers
Stapleford Tawney
Stapleford Abbotts
Stondon Massey
Theydon Mount

Fyfield District

Blackmore
Fyfield
Little Laver
High Laver
Moreton
Norton Mandeville
High Ongar
Berners Roothing
Abbotts Roothing
Beauchamp Roding
Shellow Bowells
Shelley
Willingale Spain
Willingale Doe

The Board of Guardians also give further notice, that they will hold a meeting at the Town Hall, in Chipping Ongar, on Tuesday the 16th day of April instant, at 10 0’ clock in the forenoon at which meeting they will receive testimonials from candidates for the situation of Relieving Officers for the two districts, and (if found expedient) proceed to the election of the said officers.

Every person who shall be chosen such officer, must undertake to reside in such one of the parishes of the district for which he shall be appointed, as the Board of Guardians shall require of him, and to devote his whole time and attention to the duties of the office, as explained and set forth in the annexed extract for the Rules and Regulations of the Poor Law Commissioners, not following any other trade or profession whatsoever.

The salary will be £80 per annum, and each Relieving Officer will be required to give security himself in £100, and two sureties in the same amount.

Any person desirous of becoming a candidate for either of the Districts, must, previous to the 25th day of April instant, send or deliver to me, at my office, at Chipping Ongar, testimonials in writing under seal of his character, qualifications as to writing and keeping accounts, and general fitness to execute the duties of the said office.

All letters must be post paid
By order of the Board of Guardians
W. BAKER, Clerk to the Board.
Chipping Ongar, 13 April 1836.

Duties of the Relieving Officers:

The following shall be the duties of each Relieving Officer: -

Firstly. To attend all weekly meetings of the guardians, and all other meeting when summoned for that purpose.

Secondly. To receive all applications for relief, and TO EXAMINE INTO THE MERITS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH CASE and report the same to the board at their next weekly meeting.

Thirdly. In cases of sudden and urgent necessity, to give such temporary relief as each case shall require, either by placing the pauper in the workhouse, or affording relief out of the house, in articles of absolute necessity, but not in money; whether the applicant for relief be settled in any parish or place comprised in the Union or not.

Fourthly. As soon as he shall have had notice of the sickness of, or any injury received by, any pauper in any of the parishes or places for which he may be appointed to act, he shall notify the fact to the medical officer, and in the meantime furnish such relief as the emergency of the case may call for; and shall also furnish such further relief in or out of the workhouse as the case upon the certificate of the medical officer may appear to require.

Fifthly. To keep a separate, full and true account of all monies received and disbursed by him for or on account of the relief of the poor of each parish for which he shall be appointed to act, and also of all articles received and given out by him for the relief of the out-door poor, and to balance such account weekly, and present the same for inspection and approval at the meeting of the guardians.

Sixthly. To report to the board of guardians, at their weekly meeting, all cases in which relief shall have been given by the churchwardens or overseers of the poor of any parish or place for which he shall be appointed to act.

Seventhly. To keep a book in which he shall enter the name of, and other particulars relating to, the paupers relieved out of the workhouse, and the amount of relief afforded to them respectively; and to produce such book for the inspection of the guardians at every weekly meeting of the board.

Eighthly. Once in every quarter of a year, as soon as conveniently may be after the respective days following, namely – Lady day, Midsummer day, Michaelmas day, and Christmas day, he shall make out a list, for each of the parishes or places foe which he may be appointed to act, of the paupers who have received relief during the previous quarter, and of the relief afforded them in or out of the workhouse, and shall affix copies of such lists respectively upon the principle door of the parish churches of the parishes or places for which such lists are made; which copies shall remain so affixed for three successive Sundays.

Ninthly. Generally, to observe and fulfil all lawful orders and directions of the board of guardians, and likewise the rules, orders, and regulations already or to be hereafter issued by the Poor Law Commissioners.

At the first weekly meeting of the Board of Guardians (26th April 1836), Robert Eve was appointed R.O. for the Fyfield District and John Palmer for the Stanford Rivers District. It was further resolved that each R.O. should enter into a Bond of £200 each and also two sureties of £100 to the Guardians for the proper discharge of their duties.

In July 1839, Porter resigned as R.O. and Eve was appointed on a temporary basis to cover both districts. In August of that year Thomas Thompson from Stapleford Tawney was appointed to the vacancy. August 1846 – Robert Warner of Cannons Green, Fyfield is now the R.O. [in place of Eve].