35. Relief of the Poor

The items concerning the relief of the poor form a large part of the township accounts. There were several ways of giving help. One was by monthly or weekly allowances of money.

In 1729 there were eight persons who were receiving monthly pay.

The list from the book is :-

"Widdow Harrison	1/-
Widdow Clayton	1/-
Widdow Clough	3/6
Widdow Barrett	1/-
Mary Norfolk	4/-
Thos. Greenwood	4/-
Willm. Harrison	1/-
Deborah Brigg	2/-"

This goes on month by month throughout the year with very little alteration. All these people received pay for several years. In 1738 Widow Barrett had 4/- monthly pay. The next year shows "Charges when went to see Widdow Barrett 3/-". Evidently the widow was ill. Later - "Paid for funeral expense for Widdow Barrett 8/-". This woman had probably been dependent on the township for help since the death of her husband. Perhaps at first she was able to earn a little, for in 1729 she had 1/- per month while in 1738 the amount was four shillings. During the last year she was evidently quite dependent on the township and was buried at its expense.

It is seldom that a name disappears from the list until the death of the person concerned. Sometimes the name stays for years. For example, Wm. Harrison appears regularly from the first list in 1729 to 1743. His allowance is gradually raised from 1/- to 6/-. In the later year he is buried at the expense of the township.

Whe the distress was not likely to be so permanent, smaller occasional allowances were made. For example "April 17th Payd Mary Shackleton 4d a week from April 12th 1754 to 18th of April 1755".

People were helped through special distress caused by illness and acciden. On Aut 28th 1754, John Bottomley was given 10/- "to pay doctor when thigh broken". In the year 1762 is the entry "Jan 14th Pd, for washing and waiting on Mary Robinson when badly 1/-".

When money was given by the township. Almost invariably food and clothing were also given. In some cases house rent was paid.

One way of giving and example of township relief will be to trace the history of one family through the documents.

In the year 1764 Robert Hudson received £1 as rent for the township, for John Ambler. The latter did not then live in Sutton, but had taken his wife and children to live with his mother "Widdow Ambler" at Steeton. The money was probably paid to clear debt when he left the village. The widow had also several unmarried children living with her. In the same year she had received money from the township for her rent. Her settlement was at Sutton, but it was thought unnecessary to remove her, Steeton being so little distance away.

On Feb 2nd in this year John Ambler's wife had 5/- in money, on Fe 6h is "paid to John Ambler 2 Peck of Meal 8/- also in cash 2/6". Altogether during this month John Ambler received 36/- in cash, clothing and food. At the same time Widow Ambler was getting help for her family, for example Mar 11th 1764 "Widd. Ambler 10 yds of cloth at 1/0½ - 10/5". On of John Ambler's sons died and he was given 12/- towards the funeral expenses. Up to 1769 the widow and her married son both received weekly allowances varying from 1/- to 2/6 and also special help for necessities - Aug 25th 1766 12/2½ "Clothes for Widd Ambler lass".

In 1769 we find "Gave John Ambler going to sea 3/-". Evidently he left his family to try his fortunes elsewhere. In the same year the widow died of smallpox. The township paid for her funeral, this cost 10/6. Afterwards a sale of her goods was held, this realised 8/5.

By 1774 Ambler had returned from the sea. In this year the entries are: - "August 4th to John Ambler wife lying in 6/0: to Ambler to go to Leeds Infirmary 8/-". "September to Ambler's wife at twise 15/6", and in November the family has 30/- and was given raw linen and wool to the value of 14/10.

Ambler died at Leeds. For his funeral the township paid 15/-. His widow survived him for three years only, she also was buried at the expense of the town. Sixpence was paid "for meat for Widd Amblers children till the burial was over".

The orphans were now left to the charge of the parish. As was the custom they were put out as apprentices. The mother died in April 1778. During the next month are numerous items which show that the children were fed and clothed at the expense of the township. The children must have been in a bad condition in regard to dress for both the two boys and also the girl needed almost every kind of clothing when the township took charge.

On June 18th - "Paid for Jonothan Ambler indentures 5/-. Giving Ernest, and spent ad filling up &c. 3/-". The girl went to Utley to a family called Horsfall. The township still kept responsibility for the children On Aug 10th is the entry "Going to Utley when Ambler lass was in Small pox 8d - and to Doctor Corner for Widow Ambler daughter at Horsfalls 8d".

This record is not uncommon. Several other families in the village were equally destitute, and many families seem at some time or other to have had relief given.

While the children of the poor were sent out as apprentices the older people were given work to do in their homes. In 1842 a committee was appointed to find work for able-bodied paupers. Six of the chief men of the village sat on the committee. The Chairman offered 30/- an acre for breaking up, and reclaiming the moorland allotted to him in his enclosure. Work on the roads for a low rate of pay was also done by these men.

Another way of helping the poor was by giving them a pass. They could then go about the country looking for work, and might get help from the towns through which they passed. Entries such as these are common - 1732 July 15th - "to a man with a pass 6d". 1733 "Feby 4th Paid to two passengers 6d". Another common entry is as on Aug 1st 1743 "To three sailors with a pass 6d". The sailors seem to have gone through the village in small groups, perhaps they were making their way home from some port.