Poor relief petition, Yorkshire

Petition, [1720?], to the justices of the peace for the West Riding of Yorkshire on behalf of Abraham Bean, a farmer of the parish of Cantley, near Doncaster, and signed by John Fox, Vicar of Cantley, Samuel Crabtree, William Morehouse and John Leetham, parishioners. The petition 'Sheweth That your Petitioner is an honest and labourious Person And hath maintain'd himself and family (since he had one) reputably on a Small Farm in This Parish...', and appeals for further aid - the Justices had granted £10 immediate relief the previous August at Rotherham. He had lost 16 head of 'Great Cattle' in the winter, and his house had been burned down. Both he and his wife had suffered from burns, and they and their two children had been forced to enter an alms house 'and are there now barely kept from starving by the Parish'. A note is added at the foot: '29 1. as Charity to be paid by the Treasurer'.

From the 16th century onwards, Justices of the Peace dealt with the administration of the Poor Law, and, following the Poor Law Act in 1601, had responsibility for appointing the overseers for each parish. Overseers of the poor were appointed annually and were responsible to ensure the sick, needy poor and aged were assisted either in money or in kind, distribution of which took place in the Vestry of the Parish Church.

Single item.

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Bought from Jabez Elliott in 1966.

Collection level description.

12½" x 8¼"

Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

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