Letter addressed to Thos. Ramsay

Church warden

Penrith

 

Carlisle 24^th of 1^st Mo. 1824

Respected friend,

I feel a pleasure in answering the enquiries respecting the duties, usefulness, Salary etc. of the permanent Overseer of the poor of St. Marys, within the liberties of the City of Carlisle.

The Manager of the of the Work house, John Routledge and his Wife have a Salary of £30 a year for discharging their duties of this Office exclusive of their board in the family. When a permanent overseer was employed Separately a Salary of £25 was given but about two or three years ago, finding that John Routledge has sufficient leisure time and was well qualified for the Office of permanent Overseer, he was engaged for this purpose, for which he received and addition of 10£ a year to their former salary making the total £40 a year. With respect to his Duties in the Workhouse, I may briefly state that he purchases or looks after all the provisions and other articles which are purchased for the use of the family, pays all Bills after being passed, collects Debts due for bastardy sums from other Parishes for of which he renders a correct Account and of the House Expenses at each Meeting of the Select Vestry and receives from them a check in the Banks for the exact amount of Bills passed. The collections being all paid into the Bank when brought in by the Overseer, he has in fact the whole of the business to transact which attaches to this Office under the direction of the Select Vestry and appointed overseers, visits the poor at their own Houses whenever it seems to be required, grants temporary relief to fresh applications, looks after Bastardy enquires respecting settlement of Paupers, assists the other Overseers in getting up the arrears of Rates, summons those to appear before the Magistrates when it is required, pays the Weekly Paupers after the account has been allowed, answer all letters after having had the sanction of the Vestry, and produces Memorandums of all that requiring their attention at each meeting of which Minutes are made and such directions given as each case may require. From which it is obvious that it must be greatly to the advantage of any Parish of considerable population to have such a permanent Overseer, being that he becomes thoroughly acquainted with the Duties required and having to render an account of all he does to the vigilant Select Vestry a compleat pick is kept upon him and consequently is considered here to be a great saving to the Parish indeed this has been very satisfactory proved to be the case.

If any further information is required, I shall be glad to give it and remain respectfully

Thy friend,

Thos. Stordy.

Source of this letter:

Cumbria Archives, Carlisle

PR 110StA/97