One feature of the Old Poor Law which attracted criticism was the practice (adopted by some parishes) of using the able-bodied poor as a pool of cheap labour. People who did not have enough work might be sent around to different employers in a parish to be given occupation (with a daily wage being paid partly or wholly out of the poor rates). Alternatively the workhouse poor might be sent out of the house each day and allocated to specific employment where their pay was then given to the parish. These types of work for the poor were often deprecated, for reducing the wages of the non-parish poor and/or for giving some employers unfair access to cheap or free labour.
Ninfield parish is important for our project, but not just because it has some surviving overseers’ vouchers. In fact the number of vouchers is minimal, unusually for East Sussex, but it did have a very rigorous approach to setting the poor to work. From at least 1821 and possibly earlier, the poor of Ninfield workhouse were listed and systematically allocated to work for parish landowners, in direct proportion to the value rate-payers’ parish property. In other words, wealthy residents could expect to be given paupers to employ, and were required to pay a going rate for the work completed. This ‘pay’ was collected by the parish officers to offset the cost of accommodating the workhouse inmates.
Who were the workhouse poor, and what work did they do? Ninfield was determined to make the most of its human resources, and typically included children in the work rota. The workhouse population was dominated by ‘boys’ rather than adult men or girls/women, which may have reflected a parish policy of control (ie to house young, unoccupied and potentially-disruptive males). Work included hop-picking, sometimes allocated to girls, and bark-shaving (which could be very heavy work).
This must all have made an impact on the poor who needed to seek relief in Ninfield, but it probably made an impression on others including the parish officers. One overseer in particular seems to have taken his experiences in Ninfield and applied them elsewhere with dramatic effect.
Thomas Abell was a small-scale farmer who took on the job of paid overseer of the poor in Ninfield in 1825: he later took on the same job in Brede. It seems likely that he transplanted the strict work ethic of his first parish to his second, and to have added some severity of his own. We know this because his habits in working the poor (and their consequences) featured in the British press in the autumn of 1830.
British Museum Prints and Drawings 1948.0214941 Copyright Trustees of the British Museum
The newspapers ran a lot of stories in 1830 about the exploits of the fictional ‘Captain Swing’ who was credited with inspiring rural labourers to riot against their working conditions. Paid overseers of the poor were particularly targeted by rioters, and Thomas Abell was one of the men who felt the backlash. He was said to have worked the poor in Brede in punishing and degrading ways, such as compelling them to drag a cart (loaded with wood) to a wharf some miles away: therefore we can see why, when rioting reached the parish, Abell was forcibly put on the Brede parish cart with a noose around his neck and hauled to the parish boundary by a determined group of poor women.
Abell might have richly deserved this humiliating treatment, but in the longer term the linkage of records at Ninfield with the later newspaper reports gives us further insight into the careers of parish officers, which have been opaque for so long: violence at Brede had its origins in another parish’s determination to work the poor.
Sources: The Keep, PAR 430/12/1/1, Ninfield vestry book 1821-3; PAR 430/31/1/3-4 Ninfield pauper ledgers 1821-7; PAR 430/31/3/1-3 Ninfield workhouse work books 1825-7; PAR 430/31/7/1 Ninfield overseers’ notebook 1828-9; PAR 430/37/4/1-2 Ninfield workhouse inventories 1829; Morning Post 11 November 1830 (and other newspapers thereafter).
In the 19th century, the fear of a pauper’s
funeral, as expressed in the poem The Pauper’s Drive, was real, and
prompted the setting up of burial clubs and specialist insurance policies. In 18th and early 19th
century East Hoathly, by contrast, overseers’ accounts and vouchers suggest
that the poor could expect a certain level of dignity in their passing-on at
the expense of the parish ratepayers.
Burial of the Dead by James Taylor (1745-1797)
Care began with laying out the body, often, though not exclusively, by women. Widow Slarkes performed the laying out of John Streeter in July 1777 and received the same attention from Dame Roase when she herself died ten months later. The usual payment was 2s 6d. The examples found of laying out all relate to adults suggesting that, unlike most children, they did not have relatives to perform this service for them. In the 18th century, the same women were often also paid to attend on the day of interment and to travel to get an affidavit to prove that the shroud being used was made of woollen. This was a hangover from an Act of 1667 which was aimed at protecting the woollen industry, and which remained on the statute books until 1814, although it was rarely enforced after 1792.
East Hoathly Overseers’ accounts: East Sussex Record Office, PAR378/31/3/1/1
The accounts also mention the supply of shrouds and coffins
for funerals of the parish poor. The
shroud for Sinden’s child (Ann aged two) cost 2s in 1774 and for Dame Thomas 5s
in 1776. By 1821, when the burial in
woollen laws no longer applied, the parish was buying calico for shrouds. In 1822 the coffin for Cornford’s child, James,
who was buried on 4 March aged 3 weeks, cost 3s, while the adult coffin
supplied for James Sinden set the parish back £1 4s 0d. There is little detail about the nature of
the coffins, although thy were likely to have been quite basic. There are references to one coffin being
‘plained and oyled’ and to another being made of elm. In the 1820s pillows were provided for the
coffin.
East Hoathly Overseers’ voucher 1821: East Sussex Record Office, PAR378/31/3/26/94A
Other elements of funerary equipment are also mentioned,
although less frequently. A pall – the
cloth spread over the coffin – and napkins were supplied in 1781 and palls
appear to have been hired in the 19th century at costs between 2s 6d
and 5s. There are also occasional
references to bearers for carrying the coffin to church and to supplying their
poles.
There were also fees to be paid for the funeral ceremony and
the accounts show that these too could be covered by the parish. They included the clergyman’s fee for the
service – 1s 0d in the late 18th century, 2s 6d by the 1820s – and
the clerk’s fees. Although most entries
do not detail the individual services for which the clerk was being reimbursed,
there are several which suggest that they included digging the grave and
tolling the bell.
East Hoathly Overseers’ voucher: East Sussex Record Office, PAR378/31/3/26/83
A case study of Widow (Mary) Gasson, who was buried on 23
August 1821, serves as an example of how the parish intervened at the end of a
pauper’s life. Mary was clearly ill in
early August as there were payments for her nurse and to Mrs Washer and Widow
Susans for attending to her, totalling 8s 6d.
After her death, Mrs Washer was paid 2s 6d for laying her out. Philip Turner supplied 6 ½ yards of calico
for a shroud costing 4s 4d, and was reimbursed 3s 6d for the use of a
pall. Thomas Rich supplied the coffin at
a cost of £1 8s 0d. Six bearers received
1s each to carry her to the church, the clerk 3s 6d for the burial and the
priest 2s 6d for the service. Finally,
beer worth 3s was provided for the funeral, so she did not go to her rest alone
and unmourned, and there is plenty of evidence that other pauper funerals were
similarly provided for in East Hoathly.
East Hoathly Overseers’ voucher: East Sussex Record Office, PAR378/31/3/26/61
Several pauper inventories survive for East Hoathly together
with evidence that the parish officers sold the goods after death. This was certainly the case for Edward Bab/Badcock,
who was buried in 1767 ‘upwards of 93 years old’. The parish clearly felt entitled to sell off the
goods of paupers to reimburse them for the poor relief that they had paid out
even though this wasn’t strictly legal.
However, there could also be a kinder story behind this policy – of the
parish providing poor relief so that the pauper didn’t have to sell or pawn
their goods during their lifetime in order to scrape by and of giving them the
dignity of a decent funeral.
Some of the bills that survive from Dalston Poorhouse came from Elizabeth Routledge a miller at Bishop’s Mill Dalston in the 1830s
What can be found of Elizabeth ?
Was she married or single ?
She didn’t appear in a trade directory and wasn’t at
first found in the Dalston parish registers.
But looking at the parish registers of Thursby the
baptism on 25 September 1831 of Margaret Routledge daughter of William &
Elizabeth miller of Thursby was found.
William Routledge died the following year buried 10
October 1832
A William Routledge married Elizabeth Emmerson at Great
Orton
Marriage of William Routledge & Elizabeth Emmerson Great Orton Parish Registers PR 88/4
Emmerson was a name on some of the Dalston poorhouse
bills.
Is this our Lady ?
In the 1841 & 1851 census no Elizabeth Routledge
found.
So a search was made for Margaret Routledge in 1841 &
1851.
In both censuses in Thursby was found a Margaret
Routledge step daughter of James Storrow farmer & his wife Elizabeth.
Was this the correct family ?
Searching the G.R.O. marriage indexes for a married of a James
Storrow to an Elizabeth found the married of James Storrow to Elizabeth
Routledge March quarter 1839 Carlisle registration district Volume 325 Page 33
Was this our Elizabeth ?
Looking at the Thursby parish registers no marriage
found.
So Dalston parish registers were searched and the marriage was found 21 January 1839.
Marriage of James Storrow and Elizabeth Routledge Dalston Parish Registers PR41/13
Elizabeth Routledge gave her address as Bishop’s Mill
Dalston.
Possibly more research can be done on Elizabeth as the
Emmerson name also appears on the bills.
Elizabeth on her marriage to James Storrow gave her
father’s name as John Emmerson husbandman.
SPC44/2/48/73 Thomas Watson Surgeon’s bill to the Parish of Dalston for Delivery and Attendance on Jane Gate feb 11th 1831
Jane Gate was born in Dalston and baptised there on 14 July 1795. The youngest of six children, her elder siblings were William (b.1784), Robert (b.1786), John (b.1789), and twins Elizabeth (1792-1795) and Margaret (b.1792). Her father Jonathan (b.1755) was listed as a labourer in the parish register. Jane’s mother Frances Mathews (c.1760-98) died when Jane was three years old. [ 1 ] Jane Gate’s name appears on a voucher dated 11 February 1831. A payment for 10s. 6d was made to Thomas Watson (1801-1833) surgeon: ‘to a Delivery and Attendance on Jane Gate ,Workhouse’.[2 ] This refers to Jane’s son William who was baptised in Dalston 7 April 1831. This is not the only time that her life converged with the physicians of the parish. To one encounter with Dr Daniel Wise in 1824 she may have owed her life .
Daniel Wise (1781-1829) was born 1 May 1781 Seaville, Holme Cultrum Parish, the son of John and Dorothy Wise. It is not known when he became a practicing doctor although he was in the Dalston area in 1815.[3 ] Three vouchers exist with a list of his expenses sent to the overseers of Dalston. Common items supplied include pills 1s 6d, powders 6d and 2s.0, a blister and ointment 1s 0d, while also including the inoculation of children at the poorhouse and attending deliveries. [ 4 ]
Part of Dr Daniel Wise bill 1817 Dalston Parish SPC44/2/51/2
In 1823 Jane Gate was living in the Townhead area of Dalston, an area near the church and the centre of the village. Various newspapers reported on the events in Jane’s house that night, although they all vary slightly in how they relate the facts. In summary, her neighbour Mary Irving like others suspecting she may be pregnant called to see how she was. Finding Jane unwell she went for Margaret Scott who brought Betty Irving, Mary’s mother, as well as Jane Irving and Mary Atkin. Quite a few neighbours appear to have been in the house trying to determine Jane’s circumstances. Eventually, after denying she had given birth, Jane when asked by Mary Atkin if if she had given birth and where it was replied ‘upon the coals in the coal hole’. There they found a male infant dead covered in coal dust. It was also revealed that Jane had a illegitimate daughter, Frances, about 5 years old living with her.
Dr Wise was sent for by the overseer and seeing the injuries to the dead infant felt it had come to some malicious harm. A subsequent inquest conducted by Richard Lowry at overseer Thomas Martin’s house, the King’s Arms, reached a verdict of ‘wilful murder’ against Jane Gate and she was committed under a coroner’s warrant for trial. [ 6 ] Jane could not be removed to prison and her subsequent trial was postponed as she was not considered well enough. The coroner bound her over to the churchwardens and overseer to prosecute. It was reported that Jane had a ‘dangerous and infectious illness’. Jane Gate had smallpox.[7 ] Her trial was postponed until the spring assizes.
At the Cumberland Assizes (9 March 1824) Jane faced an indictment of murdering her own child. Appearing before the Grand Jury, she pleaded ‘not guilty’. She was appointed council to represent her as she had none.
Jane’s daughter Frances (1819-85) was asked to give evidence. Frances, on being questioned, said she did not know how old she was or what would become of her if she told a lie. No more was asked of her.
Mary Irving, one of the first to enter Jane’s house, described where Jane Gate lived. A house with one room downstairs, one up, a kitchen, stone flags on the floor and a fire, ‘Very near the public road where anyone can see in’. Many other women also lived there who knew her well. [8]
Evidence given to the coroner was simulary repeated by some of the women who had been present. No mention was made of any employment that Jane may have had or help from the parish.
At the coroner’s inquest, Dr Wise said that the infant had injuries about the head enough to cause death. He was unable to give a positive judgement as to whether the male child was born alive, or if the injuries were deliberate or incidental. [9]
Justice Holroyd directed the jury. He pointed out that there was proof she had concealed the child, but as the law had changed, where previously the mother of a dead child born in secret would be guilty of murder Lord Ellenborough’s Act meant the circumstances had now to be enquired into. She had not dealt with the child as if she meant to murder it although there may be a strong suspicion. Jane Gate was found ‘not guilty’ of murder but sent to Cockermouth House of Correction for two years for the concealment of the child.[10] None of the newspapers give any account of anything Jane Gate may have said in her defence other than her reply, ‘Not Guilty’. One newspaper went as far as to provide judgement of Jane, calling her ‘a wretched woman’.[11]
By 1827 Jane was living in Whitehaven about 14 miles from Cockermouth. She is receiving payments from the overseers of the poor. 1s 6d per week.[12 ] Three letters from Jonathan White asking for the money paid to her to be refunded by the Overseers at Dalston exist.
Jane must have returned to Dalston before her son Robert was born in 1831. By 1841 Jane, and her children Frances and Robert were living together. Jane and Frances were working in the cotton industry. They remained in Dalston, but poverty was never far away. When not working as agricultural labourers or in the cotton industry they were listed as paupers or recipients of parochial relief on subsequent census returns. Jane died December 15 1867 while living at Whitesmith Buildings, Dalston; Frances on 4 January 1885 at Skelton’s Yard, Dalston; and William on 13 February 1900 at Dalston.
Dr Wise died on 13 March 1829 aged 46 years. He and his wife Ann Hayton had three children, Joseph (1810-1830), Dorothy Wilson (b.1812) married to Dr James Allen (who died in Bedlam Hospital, London 1877) and Ann (b.1816). [13]
References [1] Cumbria Archives. PR 41 Dalston St Michael Parish Register, 1570-2016 [2] Cumbria Archives. Dalston Overseers’ Voucher, SPC44/2/48/73 line 1 24 march 1831 [3]Cumberland Pacquet and Ware’s Whitehaven Advertiser, 12 September 1815, p3 col a [4] Cumbria Archives, Dalston Overseers’ Voucher, SPC44/2/51/1, June 1817; SPC44/2/51/2, 15 February 1816 – 24 April 1817; SPC44/2/51/3, 22 August 1814- April 1815, bills to the Overseers of the Poor from Daniel Wise [5] Carlisle Patriot, 12 July 1823 p 4 col. d [6]Bell’s Life, 20 July 1823, p4 col b (accessed 19 August 2019 at Find My Past.co.uk) {7]Westmorland Gazette, 16 August 1823, p3 col e [8]Carlisle Patriot ,13 March 1824, p1 col e,f [9] Carlisle Patriot 13 march 1824, p2 col a
10]Cumbria Archives. Q/4, Conviction Books 1791-1891, Lent 1824 [11] Cumberland Pacquet and Ware’s Whitehaven Advertiser, 15 March 1824, p2 col e [10]Cumbria Archives, Q/4, Conviction Books. 1791-1891, Lent 1824. [12] Cumbria Archives, SPC 44/2/66/30, 19 August 1827; SPC 44/2/66/32 22 September 1827; SPC 44/2/66/38, 5 December 1837.
SPC44/2/52/3 John Sanderson Nov 29 1836 to Feb 28 1837 2s 6d
Schooling had been available in Dalston from the late 1600s. Jonathan Rowland, who died in Dalston on 28 August 1742, had been a schoolmaster for 50 years.[1]
With the development of local industry the population of Dalston grew along with the need for children to receive tuition. This could have provided Joseph Shields with the opportunity to increase his income by combining the roles of schoolmaster and grocer with yeoman. Alongside Dalston’s Grammar School (rebuilt in 1815) available to the poorer children of the parish, there were 16 further schools by 1831.[ 2]
Joseph Shields name appears on four overseers’ vouchers for Dalston Parish. [3] They are dated between 1835 and 1837 and concern the schooling of four boys: George and Thomas Roddick, John Sanderson and John Hind. A charge of 2s 6d was made for each boy for a fixed time span of one quarter per year. John Sanderson’s tuition lasted from 30 November 1835 to 1 March 1836.[4] Three girls from the local factory were also tutored for thirteen weeks each at 1d a day. The bill for them amounted to 3s 3d.[5] The 1d may have been deducted from their pay at the factory. The payments were made by James Finlinson, at one time Governor of the workhouse, and later Overseer and Surveyor of Dalston.[6]
SPC44/2/52/1 [c.1836] Dalston Parish Joseph Shields for tuition of John Sanderson, Ruddock brothers and 3 Girls from the Factory
Joseph Shields was born on 30 April 1795 in Kirkoswald, Cumberland. He was the son of Joshua Shields (1762-1841) and Margaret Boustead (1762- 1821).[7] Joseph moved to Wetheral and then to Dalston where he married Isabella Crozier, the daughter of Edward Crozier (1798- 1860) and Isabella Lambert (1795-1836) on Christmas Eve 1823. Both Joseph and Isabella signed the register suggesting they had had some education. When their son, Edward, was baptised on 11 June 1826, Joseph’s occupation was given as yeoman at Fountainhead, Near Dalston, but records for the subsequent baptisms of daughters Margaret (7 September 1827) Sarah (10 April 1830) and Isabella (14 August 1831) describe him as a schoolmaster.[8]
In 1834 Shields was listed as the teacher of boys and girls at Buckhowbank, Dalston. Others who also taught there were a Mr Monkhouse, Joseph Thomlinson, Thomas Stubbs, John Richardson’s wife, Esther MacLean (Cumdivock) John Davidson (Gaitskill),Widow Bailey (Raughton) Ann Blaylock (Stockdalewath), Mrs Twentyman and Miss Dugdale. [9 ]
The 1841 Census shows Shields’ occupation as a grocer. When his wife Isabella died (September 13 1845). [10] When the marriage details of his daughters Sarah and Isabella appear in the local papers, he is noted as a schoolmaster. [11] Mannix and Whellan’s directory(1847) lists him as a grocer and schoolmaster. [12] This switching between occupational titles was commonplace. Sometimes it reflected the social status connected with a particular trade or profession; at others it may have reflected the economic importance attached to their different occupations.
The overseers’ voucher does not make any reference to where the children were taught. Dalston Monumental Inscriptions notes refer to Joseph as ‘Keeping a hedge-school at Corsica’.[13] This refers to Corsica Cottage at Buckhowbank, Dalston. It could be that Joseph taught from a room in his own house. He later owned Sunny Vale near Stockdalewath.
The Carlisle Journal of 1853 [14] has a notice for a house , barn and outbuildings to be let at Sunny Vale. Stockdalewath. The same property was again advertised for rent in November 1857, with three acres of land attached being occupied by a Mr Waugh.[15] Further income for Joseph. This property was subsequently put up for sale after Joseph’s death (21 May 1858).[16]
Joseph’s will of 19 May 1858 gave instructions that his money (less than £20) and that from the sale of his property Sunny Vale should be divided between his 4 children: Edward who was living in Australia, having emigrated in 1857; and daughters Margaret (Brown) in Whitehaven, Isabella (Carlile) in Buckhowbank, and Sarah (Wannop), in Liverpool.[17]
Corsica Cottage Buckabank Dalston 2019
Sources [1] Cumbria Archives, DRC/2/95, Wilson, J., 1890, The Monumental Inscriptions of the Church, Churchyard and Cemetery of St Michael’s Dalston, Beck, W., (1890) [2] Cumbria Archives, PR 41/52, Schools in the Parish of Dalston. [3] Cumbria Archives, SPC44/2/52/1-4, Dalston Overseers’ Vouchers, 30 November 1835 to April 3 1837, Joseph Shields to James Finlinson for tuition of children. [4]Cumbria Archives, SPC44/2/52/2, Dalston Overseers’ Vouchers, 30 November 1835 – 1 March 1836. [5] Cumbria Archives, SPC44/2/52/1, Dalston Overseers’ Vouchers, May 31 to July 21 undated year [6] Cumbria Archives, Vestry Notices Dalston Parish PR 41/152 List of schools and teachers, 1834. .[7] Cumbria Archives, PR 9/2, Kirkoswald, St Oswald Parish, Baptism, Marriages and Burials 1659- 1809. [8] Cumbria Archives, PR 41/8, Dalston Parish Register, 8 Baptisms 1813-1832; PR 41/10, Marriages, 1813-1837. [9] Cumbria Archives, PR 41/152, Vestry Notices Dalston Parish List of schools and teachers, 1834. [10] Carlisle Journal, 20 September 1845. [11] Carlisle Patriot, 18 March 1854, (Isabella Shields); Carlisle Journal, 20 June 1856, (Sarah Shields). [12] Mannx and Whellan, Directory of Cumberland, 1847. [13] as [1] Notes et the end of the book with regard to headstones transcribed. [14] Carlisle Journal, 8 January 1853. [15] Carlisle Journal, 6 November 1857. [16] Carlisle Journal, 13 July 1858 [17] Cumbria Archives, PROB 1858/W985b 19 May 1858.
Research is a work in progress and subject to change.
Any information about ‘Hedge Schools’ in England is welcome
SPC 44/2/53 Dalston Workhouse Account book Payment to Eleanor Gate 1786
A voucher dated 1786 has a payment to Eleanor Gate (nee Carrick) for £1.7s.6d. It does not stipulate what this is for but it may relate to the role that she carried out for St Martin’s Church, Dalston, in the years prior to this.[1]
The marriage of John Gate to Eleanor Carrick was registered in Dalston on 10 June 1725.[2]
Amongst the payments and supplies of clothes and clogs for the poor in Dalston Poorhouse’s account book each May from 1753 appears a payment to first John Gate then Widow Gate for £1.0s.0d for ‘whipping ye dogs out of ye church, opening & shutting ye sashes, sweeping ye church &c for 1 year’. John Gate first received the payment when Isaac Snowden was the master of the poorhouse when he was paid £5.0.0 a year. After John Gate’s death (buried 5 February 1763), his widow Eleanor took over the role. The payments usually appeared at the same time as those to the master of the poorhouse. Eleanor continued to appear in the account book receiving payments until just after John Mark was appointed master of the poorhouse on 3 February 1771. By 1774 ‘Whipping ye dogs out of the Church’ no longer appears to have been a paid task, however, Eleanor received the same payment for the other previously listed tasks. [3]
Dog whippers were engaged by the church to keep order at a time when dogs were perhaps not welcomed but tolerated when they accompanied their owners to church. The role may have also extended to controlling misbehaving children, waking those who had fell asleep or dealing with anything that disrupted the service. This was carried out at other churches. Some dog whippers were provided with a whip, wooden tongs and a uniform. [4]
SPC44/2/37 Payment May 6 1764 to Eleanor Gate for whipping ye dogs out of the church
References [1] Carlisle Archives, Dalston Voucher, SPC44/2/37 line number to be assigned. June 12- October 5 1786 [2] Carlisle Archives, PR 41/3 Dalston St Michael’s Parish Register of Baptism’s Marriage’s and Buriel,s 1679-1749 [3]Carlisle Archives, SPC 44/2/53 Dalston Workhouse Account Book 1746-1776 [4] Daniel Scott, Bygone Cumberland and Westmorland (1899)
Brown was a joiner and undertaker. According to James Wilson
he had ‘a wooden shanty in the small garth by the Grammar School, belonging to
Mr Jackson … “He [X] dropt down dead when screwing down a coffin at the New Rookery:
Dr Watson tried to blood him, but without effect”’.[3]
The question that arises is whether the Richard Brown (deceased) named in the voucher is the same Richard Brown whose details are recorded on the memorial, even though there is a discrepancy of a year in the dates. It might simply be that the person who wrote the bill, put ‘1830’ instead of 1831, or that James Wilson made an error when transcription error in his Monumental Inscriptions.
[1] Cumbria Archives, SPC44/2/39/5, Richard Brown, 31 August 1830.
[2] James Wilson, The Monumental Inscriptions of the Church, Churchyard and Cemetery of St Michael’s, Dalston, Cumberland (Dalston, W. R. Beck, 1890), 6.
[3] James Wilson, The Monumental Inscriptions of the Church, Churchyard and Cemetery of St Michael’s, Dalston, Cumberland (Dalston, W. R. Beck, 1890), 140.
Benjamin Holland submitted quarterly bills amounting to 12s each to the overseers of St Mary’s, Lichfield, for dressing hair and shaving the poor.[1] The earliest surviving bill is dated 1822; the last dates from 1837. The wording of the bills does not make it clear as to whether Holland went to the workhouse in Sandford Street or whether the inmates went to his premises in Tamworth Street. Given the limited opportunities during the day for inmates to leave workhouses, it was probably the former. The bills were drawn up by Benjamin. The money was either collected by Benjamin or by his first wife Sarah. After Sarah’s death, the bills were signed by Benjamin only.
Figure 1: LD20/6/6/ no item number, Lichfield, St Mary’s, Benjamin Holland, Michaelmas the 29, 1827
When Holland started his business is unknown, but he is
listed in Parson and Bradshaw’s directory of 1818 and in Pigot’s directory of
1828–29.[2]
Holland was the son of George and Mary Holland, and was
baptised at St Chad’s, Lichfield, on 24 January 1796.[3] By
his first wife Sarah, he had three children: Thomas, baptised 22 February 1824;
Mary, baptised 25 May 1828; and William, baptised 27 June 1830.[4]
Figure 2: LD20/6/6/ no item number, Lichfield, St Mary’s, Benjamin Holland, 1828.
Sarah (b.1792) died in 1832 aged 40 and was buried on 12 January at St Michael’s.[5] This was common for the city. St Mary’s had no burial ground whilst St Michael’s extended to seven acres.
Benjamin Holland married subsequently spinster Mary Collins at St Chad’s on 20 March 1834. The register was signed by Holland: Mary with her mark.[6]
At the time of the 1841 Census the Holland household
consisted of Benjamin, his second wife Mary, his three children by his first
wife, and a female servant Catherine Sawyer, aged 20.[7] A
Catherine Sawyer, daughter of paper maker William Sawyer and his wife Sarah of
Stowe Street, was baptised 9 December 1821 at St Chad’s.[8]
Figure 3: LD20/6/6/ no item number, Lichfield, St Mary’s, Benjamin Holland, 1829.
Ten years later, the household consisted of Benjamin and Mary, son William, aged 19, a cordwainer; and William Sawyer, aged seven, described as a nephew.[9] Searching parish registers shows that a William Sawyer was baptised on 19 October 1843 at St Michael’s. His mother was Catherine Sawyer, spinster, was a workhouse inmate.[10] Were these William and Catherine Sawyer the same people who later became part of the Holland household? Their ages fit.
The Lichfield Poor Law Union Minute Book for 10 November 1843 contains the following entry: ‘Ordered that proceedings be taken against the Putative Father of Catherine Sawyer’s Bastard Child chargeable to [the parish of ] St Chad.’[11]
By 1861 the Holland household had contracted. Aside from Benjamin and Mary, the only other person resident at the time of the Census was nephew William, now a clockmaker.[12]
By 1871 the household consisted of just Benjamin and Mary.[13] Throughout this time the Hollands were resident in Tamworth Street.
Benjamin died in 1877 aged 83. He was buried at St Michael’s on 25 March.[14]
[1] SRO, LD20/6/6/, no item nos., Lichfield, St Mary’s Overseers’ Vouchers, Benjamin Holland, 1827, 1828, 1829.
[2] Parson, W. and Bradshaw, T., Staffordshire
General and Commercial Directory presenting an Alphabetical Arrangement of the
Names and Residences of the Nobility, Gentry, Merchants and Inhabitants in
General (Manchester: J. Leigh, 1818), 174; Pigot and Co., 1828, National Commercial Directory for 1828-9, Cheshire, Cumberland&c (London and Manchester: J. Pigot and Co.),
716.
CAS, DCL P/8/55, Butcher’s cash book, 1836-1837, Charles Thurnam label
Parish vestries utilized printed documents and books to record the business they carried out. These were supplied by stationers including Charles Thurnam.
There is evidence that Thurnam supplied Dalston Parish with Registration Manuals at 2s. 6d, and Notices for County Voters 6d. [1] He also supplied memo books 2s 6d. [2] From 1820 onwards, he supplied Hayton parish with Apprentice Indenture forms. [3] Local business were supplied with cash account books.[4] He directed some of his advertising at Parish Councils in the following manner:-
To Magistrates, Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor This day is published price 9d per pair the new form of Orders and Indentures for binding parish Apprentices. [5]
and
To the members of the Select Vestries, Parish Overseers &c. Just published 12s A Summary of the Law of Settlement by Sir Gregory Lewin also by the same auther price 14s a Treatise on the maintenance of the poor’. [6]
CAS, SPC44/2/47/16 Dalston Overseers voucher, Charles Thurnam, 1837
Charles Hutchinson Thurnam was born on 15 April 1796 in Edinburgh. He was the youngest of three brothers. His father Timothy Thurnam (c.1770- 1798) a surgeon married Dorothy Graham (b1768) at Grey Friars, Edinburgh, on 11 January 1819. Her father William Graham was also a surgeon and apothecary who had married Dorothy Brisco in 1762. He died in Carlisle in October 1782 aged 45.[7] Charles Thurnam’s brother Timothy became a surgeon in the Army. In 1798 when Timothy was 28 he died when the ship carrying him to India sank. At some point after this, Charles along with his two brothers William Graham Thurnam (b.1792) and John Dodsworth Thurnam (b.1794) moved to Dalston, a village 4 miles from the city of Carlisle. Their mother may have been with them, however, a death did occur of a Dorothy Graham married to T. Thurnam in St Cuthbert’s Parish, Edinburgh, in 1799. [8 ] This Dorothy Graham might be the mother of the three Thurnam boys.
Charles was to see both his brothers die at a young age. William joined the army in 1807 and died from wounds received at Doola (Doolia) near Malligaum, India, while serving in the army of the East India Company on March 14 1823 aged 31.[9] John Dodsworth died as a result of illness on 20 May 1829 aged 26. [10]
Charles moved to Carlisle and began his stationary business at 5 English Street in 1816, selling books and journals as well as patent medicines.[11]. It was common at the time for booksellers to sell medicines. A year later he established a subscription circulating library lending ‘best sellers’ and other popular works that reflected public demand. Probably beyond the reach of the poor, it was particularly popular with middle-ranking women, although some raised concerns about the effect the books would have on their morals and manners.[12]
On 11 January 1819 Charles married Ann Graham (1800-1857) daughter of John Graham, surgeon, in Carlisle. While they went on to have a large family, many of their children died at a relatively young age. William and Harriet as infants , Mary Elizabeth (1840-1843) aged 3, and Charles (1821-1840) aged 19.[13]. Margaret Dorothea (1819-1879), Isabel (1829-1878) and Ann Harriet (1834-1917) remained unmarried and compared with others in the family lived to a good age. Ann Harriet ran part of the stationery business that had expanded into music. Her sister Katherine (1826-1875) married Henry Edmund Ford (1821-1909) organist at Carlisle Cathedral who also was involved with the music side of the business.[14]
Charles expanded the business by becoming an insurance agent. Charles’ own life insurance helped pay off mortgages after his death. [15] The Circulating Library continued to grow. By 1827 it had 1000 books on its list, and continued in exostence until the 1950s.[16]
Other traders in the city benefitted from Charles’ patronage. An account with a city butcher to whom he supplied a cash book, shows some of the items he bought in April 1837, beef 7s 9d, kidney 1s, a calf’s head 3s, as well as a lot of mutton.[17] The bill for 1837 totalled £5.7s.9d. John Robson, a chemist, also provided him with supplies: 2 oz Olives and 1 oz Cinnamon in September 1832 as well as turpentine, glue, vinegar and six books of gold leaf.[18 ]
DCL P/8/55 Charles Thurnam account in Butcher’s cash book 1837
Charles seems to have been driven to succeed being regularly seen in English Street collecting parcels in the early hours from the coaches that ran between Edinburgh, Carlisle and London. In August 1835 the Proprietors of the Carlisle Patriot asked Charles to take over the printing of the newspaper from the old Patriot Office. This became inconvenient for Charles and soon afterwards he removed the presses and other materials to his own premises. On the 16 August 1836 a meeting of the newspaper proprietors was called at the Bush Inn, Carlisle. An order was issued to return the press which belonged to the Patriot Committee. An altercation followed this meeting between Charles and Dr John James. At some point Dr James sustained some injuries and issued a writ for assault against Charles Thurnam 29 August 1836. There were no witnesses to give evidence as to the cause of his injuries although William Nicholson Hodgson, pawnbroker, gave evidence at the Christmas Sessions 1837 to the effect that he heard the ‘scuffle’. [19] The matter seems to have been resolved and Thurnam’s business prospered.
After Charles’ death on 28 April 1852, the business was taken over by his widow Ann and trustees (their sons William Graham (1836-1859) and James Graham (1837-1872) were under 21).[20] Charles left annuities to his daughters in his will including his second eldest daughter Anna Maria Brisco (1822-1872) who married Josiah Foster Fairbank (1821-1899) in 1854 and moved to Scarborough. The same year family history repeated itself on 29 June another son Dodsworth John (1828-1854) died at sea. With the death of their mother Ann on 31 January 1857, the business continued in the hands of William Graham and his brother James Graham.[21]
In 1859 William had become ill and, seeking to improve his health, he went to Rome but died whilst there on 8 August.[22] With the death of James Graham in 1872 the ownership of Charles Thurnam and Sons by a member of the family ceased. Later owners continued to trade under the Thurnam name. The name Thurnam perhaps now having a proven brand recognised in the city.
Charles and Ann Thurnam had one more son, George (1825-1868). He was never mentioned in his parents wills although he did start working with his father. After 1841 he appears to have moved away from Carlisle. An engraver by trade first marrying Mary Ann Mayne in Lambeth, London, on 14 June 1846 then after her death Margaretta Long in Hammersmith, London, on 4 January 1863.[23] Both Isabel and Margaret Dorothea left a legacy of £100 each to his children George Charles Thurnam and James Edward Thurnam. [24]
Margaret Dorothea and her sisters Ann and Isabel had shares in properties at Brownelson and Lingyclose Head near Dalston and properties once occupied by Thurnams and Sons at English Street, Kings Arms Lane and Peascod Lane, Carlisle. In 1916 Ann lived at 22 Hartington Place, Carlisle, which had been purchased by Margaret Dorothea. Margaret Dorothea and Isabel left shares of their estates not only to each other but to their named nephews and nieces. Margaret Dorothea also left legacies to various charities and the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.
This is a work in progress subject to change with ongoing research. .
Sources [1] Cumbria Archives SPC44/2/47/16 Dalston Overseer Voucher 1 February 1837-20 January 1838; SPC44/2/48 no line number Dalston Overseers Voucher April 13- May 21 1831. [2] Cumbria Archives, SPC44/2/48 no line number Dalston Overseers Voucher April 13- May 21 1831 [3] Cumbria Archives, PR102/126 Apprenticeship Indentures ,1783-1833, St Mary Magdalene, Hayton (Charles Thurnam (1820 onwards). [4] Cumbria Archives DCL P/8/55 Butcher (T Mitchell?) meat sold book 1836-1837. [5] Carlisle Patriot, 2 August 1817. [6]Carlisle Journal, 25 April 1829. [7] www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk accessed 8 July 2019. Cumbria Archives St Cuthbert’s Monumental Inscriptions [8] www.scotlandspeople.cov.uk accessed 8 July 2019. [9] www.Books.google.co.uk Alphabetical List of Officers of the Indian Army 1760-1834 Bombay Presidency, Edward Dodwell. Accessed 7 July 2019. [10] Headstone at St Cuthbert’s Church, Carlisle, Cumbria 1 July 2019. [11] Cumberland News 4 November, 1916, p. 5. [12] Carlisle Patriot, 5 April 1817 [13] Carlisle Journal, 3 June 1843 [14] Cumberland News, 5 July 1991 [15] J. Pigot and Co. National Commercial Directory Cumberland & Westmorland and Lancashire Pigot Directory 1829 (London and Manchester, 1828), Charles Thurnam, English Street, Carlisle. [16]Carlisle Patriot 10 March 1827
[17] see 4 [18] Cumbria Archives, DB 138/1 Accounts John Robson Chemist 3 Account Books goods bought by named customers, 1834-1845. [19] Cumbria Archives, DHOD/13/153 Papers Assault, Dr James Surgeon of Carlisle. [20] Carlisle Patriot, 1 May 1852. [21] Cumbria Archives DRC/22/95, J. Wilson. 1890 The Monumental Inscriptions of the church Churchyard and Cemetery of St Michael’s Dalston W Beck (1890). [22] Carlisle Journal, 20 May 1859. [23] www.ancestry.co.uk accessed, 1 July 2019. [24] Cumbria Archives, PROB 1879/W880, Will of Margaret Dorothea Thurnam, 1879.
Footnote Charles Thurnam and Ann Graham were buried at St Michael’s Church Dalston Cumbria Archives (Dalston Monumental Inscription of the church of St Michael 1890) When Thurnam and Son’s celebrated its 100th anniversary. It was reported she was the last survivor of the family along with her nephew Dr William Rowland Thurnam (1868-1941) son of James Graham Thurnam and Elizabeth Irving. A survivor of Tuberculosis he specialised in it’s treatment Others were found while researching this blog amongst hem Edmund Brisco Ford (1901-1998) an Ecological Geneticist, Grandson of Henry E Ford and Katherine Thurnam as well as the descendents of Josiah Fairbanks and Anna Maria Brisco Thurnam.
William Snape died in 1833 (see entry for William Snape, 9 July 2019). He left no will. His widow, Ann, applied for letters of administration to the Bishop’s Court in Lichfield by which she would gain the authority to administer her husband’s estate.[1] The papers state that William died on 22 March 1833. His personal estate amounted to no more than £600. As was customary for the time, those wishing to administer the estate of a deceased entered into a guarantee or bond to carry out all necessary duties in relation to it. In this instance, those entering the bond, calculated at twice the value of the estate, were Ann Snape and John Dadley, gentleman, of Edgbaston, Warwickshire.
One of the responsibilities in dealing with a deceased’s
estate was to ‘make, or cause to be made a true and perfect inventory of all
and singular the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased’.[2] To do this involved calling in all debts, and
settling accounts with creditors. Although it came after probate was granted, Ann
Snape placed the following notice in Aris’s Birmingham Gazette:
‘Persons having any claim or demand
upon the estate of Mr. WILLIAM SNAPE, of Lichfield, Draper, deceased, are requested to send the particulars
thereof and the nature of their securities, if any there be, to -Mrs. Ann
Snape, his Widow.’[3]
[1]
SRO, P/C/11, Admon William Snape, 30 August 1833.
[2]
SRO, P/C/11, Admon William Snape, 30 August 1833.
