Pauper Letters

The poor law of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was considered to be the most comprehensive system for public poor relief before the introduction of the modern welfare state. There are many records which provide a picture of the conditions of the poor. One such set of records are letters written to the overseers of the poor by the poor themselves. Some 750 such letters survive for Essex. Below are a few examples of such letters sent to the overseers of the parish of Theydon Garnon.

From Mary Howe to Mr Ranking in Coopersale (Theydon Garnon), 13th January 1731.

Jenaw 13 day 1731

Mr ranking this is to let you know that the doxtor have done what he can for me but my iees are never better but rather worse I ame to be discharged next wandsday I hope you will be so kind as to send me word how I must come home by next wandsday morning so with humble sarvis to you and your good wife.

sir I hope you will exquese me in wrighting of a letter but I did not know no other way So I rest your humble sarvant mar how patient in peter ward.

From Mary Marshall to the churchwardens and overseers of Theydon Garnon, 1 September 1736.

Gentlemen
I am very sorry I am forst to be so troublesome you were so good as to give me one Guine which I was forst to lay out I have sent word of every penrey at the Bottom I must beg your Goodnesses to send me one half Guinea more and I hope that God will bless me and in able me to geet my bread without troublesome any more I was forst to geet a small malter for bread of my Landlady for without I cant geet my bread I beg you will please to send it me as I may goe to work from your poor parishner
Mary
Marshall Sept ye 1st
1736
Expence a Sunday and Monday 0=1=0
Coach hire 0=3=0
Shoes & p for me 0=3=0
my Childs shoes 0=1=6
my Baker 0=1=6
one apron that was pledg 0=10=0
my rent 1=10=1
they are very urgent for a Certificate.

From Sarah Stone in London, 5 November 1736
Sir
My daughter now lyes ill of the Small pox, and I am now reduced to the utmost Extremity. If your Charity will Etend so far as to relieve me in this my present necessity, I Shall as in duty bound ever pray

I am Your Distressed Serv
Sarah Stone

Nov 5th 1736
P.S. I lodge at Mrs Bells in Leicester Street near Grays Inn Lane.

From Ann Wood in Bethnal Green, London, to mr. Peggrim churchwarden in Coopersale (Theydon Garnon), 1st April 1802.

Mr Peggrim
Sir
I hope you will excuse my freedom in addressing ou with these lines wich his to request you be so kind as to make me a remittance, as I have not receiv’d any, for twenty weeks therefore Sir I hope you will not forget me now, as I have a strong healthy growing Girl to maintain & being of a weak habit of body myself it is not in my power to live with What independence, wich I Should otherwise be glad to do, I should have come down but my health as been very indifferent and I have not the means of discharging expence of this nature –
Remain Sir yours with Gratitude
Ann Wood
London April 1 – north Place, bethnal Green

[Further evidence: On the 17 April 1802 the overseer paid £2-6s for 23 weeks to Ann Wood in Bethnal Green. She received a regular allowance of 2s.]
From Hannah Collesson in Rye [Sussex] to the overseers Theydon Garnon, 18 October 1819

Rye 18th October 1819
Gentelmen
Ihave not Trobled you for Sum years and now Gentlemen I am in Great Distres and Ihope you will Relieve me for Iam Widow this 14 years and Ihave not Trobled you Ihope now Gentlemen you will Send me Sum Relive for Iam in Grate want Iam now at Rye in Sussex and Iam in Grate want Ihope you will send me a Trifull of money to Relieve me to help me on Ihave got all my Famerly all of but 3 children with me and Iam Growing old and Cant do so much as Ihave don and the Times now are very Bad. Gentlemen if you don’t Send me Sum Relieve Imust Com Home to you my
Name Hannah Collesson Living Garnesh Hall with John Bishop
Direct your Letter Isaac Doust Living in Rye in the County of Sussex
So Iremain your Humble Servant
Hannah Collesson.