The Vestry and Poor Relief in Stanford Rivers

The Vestry and Poor Relief in Stanford Rivers

The vestry was originally the room where parish meetings were held. Membership of the vestry comprised the Rector, churchwardens and leading parishioners, who were either co-opted (under a ‘close’ or ‘select’ vestry system), or elected (‘open’ vestry). In the 16th and 17th century the vestry assumed many of the functions of the manor court by appointing the constable(s) as well as taking on new responsibilities for the poor by appointing overseers. In addition the vestry was responsible for the maintenance of the highways in the parish.

The vestry lost these responsibilities during the 19th century and in 1894 the civil functions of parishes were then transferred to parish councils and parish meetings.

The administration of poor relief during most of the 17th century was entrusted to the churchwardens and constables. Records of the overseers handling money appear first in 1670. During the 18th century the duties of the overseers became increasingly heavy as the cost of poor relief rose.

Period
Average cost per year
1724 – 1754
£130
1754 – 1764
£180
1764 – 1774
£260
1774 – 1784
£360
1784 – 1794
£440
1794 – 1804
£840

The parish spent ten times as much in 1800-1 as in 1726-27. The poor rate levied between 1801 and 1817 was rarely below £1000 in any year.
Two overseers were appointed and each acted independently of the other and rendered separate accounts. When the balance of both accounts had been struck at the Easter vestry the surplus in the hands of the outgoing officers was shared between their successors.

Each overseer apparently acted for a different end of the parish, either Toot Hill or Hare Street (Little End).

The poor in the 18th century formed two classes. About two dozen received regular weekly doles and the rest, varying in number with the season and the price of food, received casual aid. The recipients of the regular dole were enjoined by the orders of 1724 and 1732 to wear badges.

The decision to build a workhouse was taken at a meeting of the vestry on the 27th April 1769.

Be it remembered – At a public meeting of the inhabitants of the said Parish for the purpose hereafter mentioned, assembled upon due notice thereof given, it is now, to wit, on this 27th day of this instant, April in the year 1769 agreed and determined that a Workhouse shall be forthwith built for the employment and maintenance of the poor of the said Parish, and that it shall be erected upon that land near to the church which belongs to the Parish and is in the occupation of Mr. Matthew Playle of the said Parish, which land is commonly called Press Gardens.

That it is agreed and determined that a Committee shall be chosen to take upon them the management of the said building and to agree with some builders or builder touching the same. And that the persons to be constituted to be the of that committee shall be:
Mr. John Archer
Mr. John Plumb
Mr Matthew Webb
Mr. Stephen Jones.

To the above agreement of the inhabitants of the said Parish do herby set their hands, the day and year above written.

Nathaniel Lancaster – Rector
Samuel Playle and Matthew Webb, churchwardens
Thomas Watkinson – Overseer of the Poor
And 21 others.

The cost of the workhouse was £300 and it was agreed to borrow the money in order for the work to be undertaken. The money was borrowed from James Grove, Miller, of Shonks Mill, Navestock.

From 1770 payments for wool and spindles indicate that the inmates were engaged in spinning. From 1771 this work brought income, the weekly sums were usually greatest in the winter.

1776 – 28 August – ‘received of Mr Clapton for workhouse yarn £15.18.6d,’ and 6 November ‘received of Mr. Clapton for workhouse yarn, £17.4.6d.’

This income later declined. Another source of income was the hiring of paupers’ labour.

At this Vestry held on the 8th April 1774, Mr John Plum hath agreed with the parishioners here assembled to take into his service James Dawkins, a Parish boy from and of the Workhouse, to serve him to Michs next ensuring in consideration whereof the Parish have agreed to find and provide unto the said James Dawkins sufficient cloathing and all wearing apparel for and during his service and also to pay unto the said John Plum the sum of one shilling for and towards his maintenance, until the said service is expired.

At this Vestry held on the 8th April 1774, Mr Matthew Webb hath agreed with the Parishioners here assembled to take into his service one Samuel Crawley, a Parish boy from and of the Workhouse to serve him to Michs next ensuring in consideration whereof the Parish have agreed to provide unto the said Samuel Crawley sufficient cloathing and all wearing apparel for and during his service and also to pay unto the said Matthew Webb the sum of one shilling for and towards his maintenance, until the said service is expired.

At a meeting of the Vestry on April 17th, 1775:-

An agreement made between the Parishioners of Stanford Rivers and William Blackwell and his wife that is to say that the said William Blackwell and his wife has promised to take care of our Workhouse at £13.13s a year. If either party do disagree for to give six months notice.

In 1778 the following list shows the poor of the parish who were receiving money each week from the Vestry:

Dame Turner 2s.
Martin 1s.
Patient 1s
Boultwood 2s.
Finch 4s.
Conn 1s.
Smith 1s.
Godsafe 1s.
Fowler 1s.
Bakers children 2s.
Garrets child 1s.6d.
Evans 4s.
Stiles 1s.
Brewer 1s.
Wood 1s.
Green 2s.
Crosier 1s.
Wood junior 4s.
Dodson 1s.
Kings child 1s.6d.
Woolmores daughter 1s.6d.
Henry Day 1s.6d.
John King 1s.
Taffy 1s.6d
Dame White 1s.

In 1790 Mr Stanes is shown as the Governor of the Workhouse.

In 1808 the Vestry sent one,

‘Rippingale Collar aged 14years or thereabouts a poor child of the Parish, Apprentice to Richard Graves of the Parish of Harlow, Cordwainer until he reaches the age of 21.’

A sum of £10 was paid to Graves by the Overseers with a further sum of £10 paid in May 1808. This then removed any further responsibility for the boy falling on the parish. Graves had to ensure for his money,

‘and shall and will during all the term aforesaid, find, provide, and allow unto the said apprentice meet, competent, and sufficient Meat, Drink, Apparel, Lodging, Washing, and others things necessary and fit for an Apprentice.’

From 1810 until 1815 regular statements of account between the governor of the workhouse and the parishioners were recorded. The overseers made monthly or fortnightly cash payments and supplied flour to the governor. He kept the paupers at an agreed rate for each person, and received extra fuel, potatoes, and ‘hair cutting, shaving, mops, brooms, thread, worsted, tape, oil, &c.’

In 1814 John Kay is shown as the Governor of the Workhouse. The minutes of the Vestry show that the accounts from Easter 1814 to Easter 1815 show that,

‘to maintenance of 16 paupers up to March 26th at 3s9d each = £150.’

At a Vestry held on the 20th December 1814, pursuant to notice for the purpose of considering of a grant of land in the front of the workhouse from the Lord of the Manor of the Parish.

Resolved that the said grant shall be accepted with our best thanks to George Petre, Esq., the Lord of the Manor for his attention to the wishes and accommodation of the Parish.

That the said land shall be enclosed by drawing a line in a curve from the corner of the workhouse garden to the south west corner of Mr. Wilson’s Mead according to the stakes put down today.

That the best application of the said land will be:-

1. To add to the garden of the workhouse.

2. To provide gardens for the two parish houses.

3. It is proposed to erect a stable and shed thereon for the accommodation of the parishioners on Sundays. This building not to be erected at the expense of the parish but of individuals subscribing; on condition that they and their successors in their farms have a preference in the use of the said stable and shed.

Present at the Vestry
E. Dowdswell, Rector
Henry Mott
Thomas Mansfield
Jonathan Stokes
William Noakes
Robert Shorborn
John Pavitt
George Hummerstone
Edward Rayner
John Kirby
William Drew
Edward Luck
William Phillips
Timothy Phillips.

By order of the Vestry
John Osborne, Vestry Clerk.

By 1817 the workhouse was no longer being used for that purpose and the Vestry decided on October 2nd, 1817, to dispose of the old workhouse.

At the Vestry the parishioners agreed with Samuel Martin to let to him Press Garden at the rent of five guineas per annum from Lady Day last past.

By virtue of an Act of Parliament of 1782, which allowed a number of parishes to combine into a group and have one large workhouse, Stanford Rivers agreed to combine with nine other parishes in 1831, and a new workhouse was built at Stanford Rivers. With the building of the new workhouse the Vestry decided,

At a Public Vestry held in the parish church of Stanford Rivers, April 23rd,1831, pursuant to notice. It was resolved –
That the old workhouse belonging to this parish near the church yard and adjoining Stanford Rivers Hal be disposed of.

That the property in question consisting of the workhouse, two cottages and the hoppett adjoining containing about three acres, having been valued by Mr. Jon. Lewis of Bobbingworth and Mr. Jon. Stokes of Stanford Rivers at the sum of four hundred guineas.

That the same be offered to Mr. Thomas Wilson Esq., of Highbury Place, at the said sum of four hundred guineas – and on his refusal to become the purchaser that it be sold by auction.

In 1834 the Ongar Union was formed, the new workhouse being taken over by the Union.