Epping Workhouse and the case of Mary Ann Reid

Epping Guardians Minutes - Minute of 21-8-1846
The following letter relating to the Case of Mary Ann Reid - received
from the Poor law Commissioners having been read to the Board was
ordered to be entered upon the Minutes.

Poor Law Commissioners Office. Somerset House.
1st August 1846

Sir,
I am directed by the Poor Law Commissioners to inform the Board of Guardians of the Epping Union that the Commissioners having received a Report from their Assistant Commissioner Sir John Walsham in which he has communicated to the Commissioners the facts as ascertained by him on the 10th ult when he in pursuance of their instructions held an enquiry into the circumstances of the case of Mary Ann Reid, who whilst an inmate of the Epping Union Workhouse was stated to have become pregnant and to have
given birth to a bastard child, which child died, and was buried in the
churchyard at Matching on the 22nd of April last without having been previously baptized - the main facts of the case as gathered from the witnesses examined by Sir John Walsham are the following

Mary Ann Reid aged about 32 years, who ‘tho deaf and dumb, has not any appearance of being an Idiot as alleged, was sent into the Workhouse between five & six years ago by her parents because according to her Mother's statement they could do nothing with her, from her being deranged in her mind after a bad fit of illness.

In the Workhouse Mary Ann Read was generally employed in household work from the time of her admission until it was known
that she was pregnant. Up to the 28th of April 1845 it appears to have been the custom in the Workhouse to ring a bell at 6 o'clock. p.m. in order that an inmate from each ward should go to the mouth of the coal cellar and receive the supply of coals required for consumption in each ward from that time until a similar hour on the following day. On the 28th of April and for some time previously, William Robinson who is above 60 years of age and who had been a Gentleman’s Servant, was employed in the Workhouse and amongst other duties he was required to hand up the coals from the cellar to the persons who came for them when the bell rang. Sir John Walsham informed the Commissioners that the coal cellar in question was in the Females Yard not at all out of the way, immediately accessible from the Union building and that the Master and Matron were continually in the habit of superintending the delivery of the coals themselves, and that the Inmates who had to fetch the coals were generally all together at such delivery. On the 28th of April however the Matron being engaged in the Kitchen, Mary Ann Read, who had to fetch some coals, and who happened to be the last person to whom coals were to be given out, was induced by Robinson to get down into the cellar and have connexion with him - She consequently became pregnant - and was ultimately delivered of a Bastard Child.

As regards the omission to baptize this child - a complaint which involves the conduct of the Chaplain as well as of the Master and Matron /in as much as it was alleged that the child had been long enough dangerously ill to have been baptized. Sir John Walsham reports that the Medical Officer was himself ill and could not attend the Enquiry when it was made, but it was shewn that the Medical Officer had seen & prescribed for the child on a Saturday for diarrhoea & that the child died on the Sunday Morning, there having been no previous reason to apprehend any danger at least not until 3 o'clock on the Sunday morning & then only by the Nurse /a relative/ who did not communicate with the Matron until after the death had occurred.

On a review of these circumstances the Commissioners have merely to observe that in the case of Mary Ann Read, her pregnancy took place under such circumstances as to warrant the Commissioners in acquitting the Officers of any blame on the ground of a want of ordinary vigilance: and in the case of Mary Ann Reeds child, the Commissioners likewise acquit the Officers of the Workhouse of any blame, because it seems that the Child died somewhat suddenly, that no danger was apprehended except at a short period before its decease and then no communication on the subject was made to the Matron or other Officers, who seem to have been aware what their duties are as regards the baptism of a Child who is known to be dangerously ill – the Commissioners have only to add that they think the Master may very properly request any Clergyman who baptizes a child in the Workhouse to give a certificate to the effect that the child has been so baptized, which should be produced at the funeral for the satisfaction of the Clergyman performing the service for the Burial of the Dead.
I am Sir
Your most obt Servant
E. Chadwick
Secretary

John Windus Eq
Clerk to the Guardians
Epping Union Secretary
From the Greensted Registers

A search of the registers for St Andrew’s, Greensted for Births, Deaths and Marriages can often reveal some interesting entries.

Nathan Lacy, the son of Nathan Lacy, Rector, and Sarah, his wife, was borne the seventh of March, Tuesday, about seven a clock in the morning, in Candlewick Street in London, and baptized the seventeenth in his Grandfather Hawes his house, by his father in the
yeere 1653.

Zachariah Shrapnel, son of the Revd W. Hamilton Warren, Rector of
this Parish, & Elizabeth, his wife, was born in this Parish April 2nd, 1796, five minutes after eight in the morning, upon a Saturday, & was afterwards baptiz'd at Bradford, in the County of Wilts, where his name is register'd.

Mother Milton, of ye age of 105, was buried 1 maij.1600.

John Gray & Zachee Pigot, drowned together, were buried together, 10th August, 1606, 4th Ja.

Richard Sweeting, of the parish of Greenstead, in the county of Essex, maketh oath that Susan Sweeting, of Greenstead, in the county of Essex, lately deceased, was not put in, wrapt, or wound up, or buried but in sheeps wool only, according to the act dated the 28 of may, in the two and thirtieth of yeare of the reign; &c., and was buried the same weeke anno dni 1680.

Thomas Piggot, who was unfortunately killed by an unruly Horse on the first was buried on the third day of July, 1735. And Affidavit made & brought in due time of his having been buried in woollen only.
The Rev' M' William-Tredwell Bull, late Rector of this Parish, died October y 19th, & was buried Oct. 21, 1738, in the South Side of the Chancel (not far from the Door) in the Church-yard.

Samuel King, an Infant (from the Foundling Hospital), was Buried the
Thirtieth Day of January, 1760.

Sarah Warren, Daughter of the Revd W. H. Warren, Rector of this Parish, & Sarah Sindry, his Wife, was buried in the Chancel under the communion Table, April 5th, 1799, died April 2nd, aged 8 months.

Mary Smith Ord, Wife of Craven Ord, Esc'', of Greensted Hall, aged 39, was buried March 7*, 1804, in the Chauncel, close to the Door, in a Wall Grave, died March 1st.