SKELTON - IN - CLEVELAND
IN HISTORY
Page 29.
THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
HOW THE RATEPAYERS MONEY WAS SPENT.
WEEKLY PAYMENTS IN CASH.
The total population of Skelton village at this time was approximately 700.
The Account Book for 1822 details payments to 24 of these who were classed as being in need of poor relief.
Mark Harrison, Robert Thompson, Hannah Bell, John Briggs, John Sowerby, William Seaton, Jane Scrafton, Elizabeth Roberts, Frances Parker, Richard Morgan, Ann Wilson, James Watson, Alice Cook, Robert Tolley, Ann Lynas, Elizabeth Charter, Newark Pearson, Thomas Bryan, William Wren, Michael Lowe, William Emmerson, John Farqueson, Ann Ellis, Thomas Ellimer.
Each person received amounts varying between 1 shilling [5p] and an exceptional 7 shillings [35p] per week.
On what basis the needs of the Poor were assessed and why they varied so much is not stated.
In those days each person belonged to a certain Parish by laws of "Settlement", usually birth, but rights could be acquired by marriage, working there for over a year or property ownership.
Most Parishes did their utmost to avoid additional responsibilities.
Therefore a strange system had developed whereby each Parish was responsible for the upkeep of their poor who lived elsewhere.
Skelton ratepayers had to maintain:-
In Sunderland, Co Durham, Francis Boynton, Jane Beardshaw and John Dalton.
In Whitby, N Yorks George Dixon, Thomas Dalton, Thomas Thwaites and Hannah Starford.
In Guisborough, N Yorks George Thompson, Joseph Hindson, and George Milburn.
In Hemsley, N Yorks James Hindson.
In Norton, Co Durham Elizabeth Thompson.
In Brotton, N Yorks Ralph Witton.
In Loftus, N Yorks George Robinson, Hannah Bell, Luke Lowe and Tobias Thompson.
In Stokesley Workhouse, N Yorks Isabel Buck at 3 Shillings a week.
How these weekly payments were made and accounted for between Parishes is not clear.
CHARITIES, DOLES.
The Overseers also handed out the amounts that philanthropic local people had bequeathed to the poor in their wills.
In Skelton among others, William Hutton had left 15 shillings [75p] to be doled out at Candlemas [Feb 2nd]. "Lings Dole" was 10 shillings to be handed out at Christmas.
Christopher Swales to pay the Overseers of the Poor of Skelton 10s yearly due at Christmas, being a Dole known by the name of Lings Dole, which said sum is paid out of his land at Stanghow for ever. [4 years unpaid to 1835].

Distributed Christ Swales Dole for 2 years ending   Christmas 1824           
by   Robert Thompson      Overseer of the Poor of Skelton -       Viz
To Newark Pearson        1s 0d                  To Wm Lynas           1s 0d
RENTS.
In addition the Overseers paid rent for the poor which varied in Skelton between one shilling [5p] a week and sixpence [half as much].
As can be seen here, the Skelton ratepayers were obliged to pay the rent of people who were living elsewhere, but were classed as having Skelton as their Parish of settlement. This included Isabel Buck, who resided in the Workhouse at Stokesley, 12 miles away.
Paid Luke Lowe. House Rent for 1/2 year due Mayday 1822   1   0s    0d
Paid George Milburn's House Rent for 1/2 year, Guisbro'         1   10s    0d
Paid Stokesley Workhouse Rent for 1/2 year                             1   10s    0d
Paid to the Carrier for conveying the same.                                             4d
PAUPERS' CLOTHING
Paid for shift and petticoat for Isabel Buck                                     3s 9d
Paid for 2 shirts for William Seaton                                                 7s 0d

Paid to Robert Bell, cordwainer for clogs and repair of shoes as per bill for  
William Lowe                                                                              6s 8d
Paid Robert Jolley to get his son clothes to fit him for sea                  12s 0d
MEDICAL CARE FOR POOR.
Paid Dr McRith his bill for Hannah Bell                         1   10s    0d
Ditto for box ointment for John Sowerby                                      1s    6d
Paid extra relief to George Milburn when his family were laying ill             
in the smallpox                                                                             5s 0d

Paid by Mr Hickson to Doctor Pattison for putting in Thomas Robinson's
shoulder into its proper place                                                           10s 6d
PAUPERS' FUNERALS.
Paid by order of Mr Wharton towards John Bink's funeral      1   10s    0d
Paid Benjamin Taylor for a coffin for George Thompson.      1     0s    0d
Paid Robert Nicholsons child funeral                                  1     0s    0d
Paid for ale at Stephen Wilsons funeral                                 0     3s    0d
SICK PAY.
Paid to John Smith when of work 1 day                                        1s    2d
Paid Thos Bryan extra relief when his wife was sick.                      2s    0d
Paid Robert Leng relief when his wife was confined.                     15s    0d
Paid to a sick family by the hand of Rev'd Mr Close                    2s    6d
UNEMPLOYMENT.
Paid to Robert Battey when out of employ                                 2s    6d
HOUSE REPAIRS.
Paid for Ralph Weatherill's range mending                                    1s    0d
Paid Leonard Dixon for repairing John Briggs house                   4s    6d

Paid for 3 bushels of Lime, by Government Order, to whitewash poor peoples
houses etc                                                                                   3s   0d
HEATING.
Paid for 2 bushels of coals for Ann Wilson                                  2s    4d
Next Page.
Previous Page.
Index of E Mails Page
Main Contents Page