Prudhoe Friendly Society articles and rules

Manuscript articles and rules. Document notes that "the former articles & orders by which the society was governed are found by experience to be very defective". It was therefore "mutually and reciprocally agreed" by a "majority of the present members" that the rules should be completely redrafted. The thirty three new articles and orders are therefore here set out in full - perhaps in draft form as they are not signed. They describe the Society's administrative framework, meetings every six weeks, special meetings at Michaelmas and on each Lady Day, the role of stewards, maintenance of records and accounts, financial probity (stewards to be taken to court in case of fraud), club night meetings from 6pm to 9pm, officers to be on duty together with the club box (which held cash and club papers), fines for noncompliance, fines for allowing alcohol on club nights, a limit of 200 members in the society, new members to be under age 35 and be "in perfect health and free from deformity & lameness and of unblemished character". There were the usual fines for non-attendance at club meetings and fines for being drunk or for swearing. Good behaviour at club nights seems to have been critical: complete prohibition was put on betting, card games ("or any other game whatsoever"), quarrelling with another member or challenging any one to a fight, using "unbecoming language", or disclosing "any secret business or conversation which shall happen to have been transacted or spoken in the society on any club night". But these prohibitions were balanced by benefits: there would be a payment of 5 shillings per week for approved sickness or disability (2s 6d after six months). The caveat, though, was that "if such sickness or lameness was got by quarrelling fighting drunkenness or other vicious or infamous practices" no financial help would be allowed. Death grants were to be paid to widows of members in good standing. Folio (32 x 20.5 cms), 8 pages, including the final page with docket title.

Prudhoe Friendly Society was formed before 1770, therefore making it one of the earliest of such English mutual societies. Prudhoe is a small town just south of the River Tyne and to the west of Newcastle.

Open for research although at least 24 hours notice should be given.

Catalogue entry created by A M Williamson, 2021-12-15.