Article
Overseers Book of Stapleford Tawney
The office of Overseer was established by the Poor Law Act 1597/8 and made compulsory by the Poor Relief Act 1601. It superseded the less formal office of Collector of the Poor.
At least two persons were appointed yearly by each vestry, subject to the approval of the Justices of the Peace, to levy a poor rate and supervise its distribution. They were unpaid and selected from among the parishioners.
Most of their duties were transferred to the Guardians of the Poor in 1834, leaving the Overseers with the duty of assessing and collecting the rate, although the legislation enabled the parish to appoint paid collectors under the control of the Overseers. The office was abolished by the Rating and Valuation Act 1925.
The Overseer was required to keep accounts and present them at each meeting of the vestry in order that the latter could keep strict control of the money that was being spent. The following is an example of the accounts kept by the Constable and also the Overseer for Stapleford Tawney in 1745.
A paper book bound in vellum, 16 inches by 6, and 2 inches thick – “This book was bought by John Harris, in the year 1746, for the use of the parish of Stapleford Tawney,” – is written on the first page.
Thomas Franks, Constable of Stapleford Tawney, 1745
His disbursement for the year was £1 15s 6d, including “a return to Epping 1s 6d or to Ongar 2s 6d”. Another item was “for searching for Arms, 2s”.
John Harris, Churchwarden, 1745
April ye 30
| Entry | £ | s | d |
|---|---|---|---|
| At ye vey (vestry) | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Paid to ye Parater | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| For my joney | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| For ye Brad and ye Wine | 0 | 3 | 7 |
July ye 13
| Entry | £ | s | d |
|---|---|---|---|
| At ye Insitaison | 0 | 3 | 0 |
October ye 12
| Entry | £ | s | d |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Prockelemaison (possibly of Charles Edward the Pretender) |
0 | 2 | 6 |
| Releved 5 Slaves | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Releved a woman and 2 children | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Releved three Pore Man | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A Bitch Fox | 0 | 6 | 8 |
| A Bock (Badger) | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| Paid the Church Clark wife for washing ye Sirplis and clening ye Church and Oyle for ye Bels | 0 | 9 | 6 |
Note that one shilling to the Apparite for citing to the Visitation at Rumford, April 18, 1746, is charged above.
1745 Overseer’s Account
April 21
Relieved the widow Taylor for 50 weeks at 2s per week.
| Entry | £ | s | d |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Louder (allowed her) for a nus to nus her one weak | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| A Louder Saben for his Grand Dafter1 — 2s a weak for 4 weaks | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Paid widow Read for Bread and Bear | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Relieved Him | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Paid Widow Read for cleaning of him | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| For My Going to Epping | 0 | 1 | 0 |
1746
| Entry | £ | s | d |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid Donford for 7 weaks Board | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| For a shurt to Oyntgin (possibly anointing) | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| For a Sheat and things to Lay him in | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| James Pavley for Dressing of Him | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| For a New Pear of Sheus and nailing | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| Paid Wm. Felested for his Oath for his Setiffiket | 0 | 1 | 6 |
June 19
| Entry | £ | s | d |
|---|---|---|---|
| For County Bridge Money | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| For ye Warrant | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| For 8 Badges (possibly Badgers) | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Ann Turner for 5 Els of Clorth | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| A form of prayer &c. | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Church Clark | 0 | 10 | 6 |
| A Coffin for Ednd. Bowles | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Affidavit &c. | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Wool2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Both “County Bridge Money” and “ye Warrant” occur for several years.
To be continued.
1 “Daughter” is spelt “dafter” by most of the officials throughout the book.
2 The Burials in Woollen Act was passed in 1665; the Act of 1677 was repealed in 1814.
