Various Notes of the Workhouse St. Mary’s Dover
January 24th 1802.
At an assembly of the parishioners of the said parish in the vestry room pursuant to notice having been given as usual, for that purpose this day after evening service in order to take the following case into consideration.
Whereas Mary Williams a vagrant on the fourth day of January instant, was sent by George Stringer, Esquire the Worshipful the Mayor of Dover, from out of the parish of St. James the Apostle in Dover aforesaid to the guardians of the poor of the said parish of St. Mary to be received into the workhouse to be there provided for and to be examined but it being to late for an examination that night she was to prevent suffering during the inclement weather taken proper care of in the said workhouse.
And upon examination the next day taken before the Mayor it clearly appeared that she was a vagrant and had only the night preceding the day on which she was examined slept in a stable in said parish of St. James the Apostle and that as the examination so taken by and before the Mayor proved her to be a vagrant and the visitor and guardians in execution and discharge of their duty being fully satisfied that she was a vagrant delivered her up to be dealt with according to the law.
That notice withstanding was as before stated the vagrant was by said Mayor again suffered to be examined and the guardians summoned in court to show cause why the said vagrant was so delivered but not being satisfied there with not the examination taken as before mentioned under the hand of the said chief magistrate but a proper or a second examination was given again read over and the pauper again sworn in which last examination it was set forth that for the space of six months and upwards last past she had resided in the parish of St. Mary’s aforesaid and then resided there which the said vagrant denies to be the fact and that the last paper or examination so taken as aforesaid was and is utterly false for that she positively declared that she had not any fixed residence for some months past but she lodged in different parishes wherever she could find shelter.
And the Mayor thought proper to and did make an order writing under her hand the 12th instant for the said vagrant to be admitted in the said work house and therein to be provided for. Whereupon the parish officers thought proper to lay these proceedings before a vestry for their detraction. When as the Mayor does not think proper to withdraw his order such steps shall be pursued by the visitor and guardians to enforce the same or whether the vagrant is still to be maintained by this parish.
When it was resolved that the visitor and guardians be empowered and are hereby authorised to take such steps as they by their council or solicitor shall deem necessary to enforce this.
Thomas White.
April 22nd 1793
To cash left unpaid 1/6d.
24 weeks keeping his wife from this till June 11th 1794 @ 2/6d per week. £10-10s
November 19th. To 23 weeks to this on which day she died £2-17s-6d.
Lost 13/9d.
George Saunders.
April 23rd 1792.
To keeping his wife and family from this day to March 12th 1794 £43-5-0d.
Expenses fetching from Littlebourne 1/6d.
March 12th 1794. To keeping John and Thomas Saunders 13 weeks from this day to June 11th 3/5d.
To John 4 weeks to July 11th @ 2/6 = 10/-
Lost £48-0s-6d.
William Brett.
August 1st 1791.
To keeping his wife from this day to January 28th 1793 @ 2/6d per week £10-2s-6d
To keeping his daughter from this day to June 18th 1793. £14-17s-6d.
Clothing his wife 7/6.
Clothing his daughter £1-5s-4d.
February 15th 1794.
Keeping his daughter from this day till June 14th £2-2s-6d.
Keeping his wife from January 1st 1791 to March 14th 1794 58 weeks @ 2/6
£7-5s-0d.
Keeping his daughter Ann from June 14th 1794 to March 31st 1795 @ 2/6
£5-2s-6d.
1795 March 31st Ann Brett continues in the house.
1797 October 19th Brett’s wife admitted.
Old debt £41-2s-10d.
1797 April 7 weeks to 25th May £1-12s-0d.
To July 10 weeks to 27th July £1-0s-0d.
To August 31st 5 weeks £1-0s-0d.
Abraham Shrewsbury.
1791 August 1st to keeping his wife from this day to April 1794 £17-11s-0d.
1794 May 5th to keeping his wife to March 30th @ 2/6d per week £5-17s-6d.
To 21 weeks from March 30th 1795 to 24th August following to which day she died £2-12s-6d.
Jonathan Dowdle.
1791 to keeping this child by Elizabeth Oatley from this day to March 31st 1794. 14/4d
John Clark.
1792 August 27th to cash allowed his wife and family from this day to November 30th 10/6d
December 1st from this day to January 28th 1793 8/-.
To cash to rent to Mrs Dowers £1-5s-0d.
1793 April 22nd to cash to this day 15/-.
April rent to Mrs Dowers £1-5s-0d.
July 5th rent to Mrs Dowers £1-5s-0d.
July 15th cash to Mrs Dowers 2/-.
To cash during her and the child having the smallpox 13/-
Paid the nurse 8/-
Funeral expenses of the child 11/-
August 3rd to cash paid for 1d week from this day.
1794 to cash June 14th 1794 £2-5s-0d
June 14th to cash 41 weeks from this to March 28th 1795 £2-1s-0d.
April to cash paid his wife and family from this till June 15th 1794 £16-16s-0d.
1974 June 15th to 41 weeks to March 1795 @ 3/- a week.
Lost 6/3d
At a meeting of the Cinque Ports Auxiliary Bible Society committee held in the Guildhall Dover the 5th day of July 1814. Thomas Mantell Esquire in the chair.
I have been represented to this committee that the poor house of St. Mary’s is very deficient in the supply of bibles and that many of the persons in the house are desirous of an opportunity of reading the holy scriptures which from a want of books they are at present unable to do.
Resolved that the guardians of the poor of the said parish presented gratuitously with six bibles and testaments for the use of the poor house.
September 13th 1778.
At an assembly of the parishioners this day after evening service notice having been first given as usual.
The Church Wardens and Overseers informed the parishioners present that Elizabeth McQueen a poor woman is now in the workhouse and having a bad leg. Mr Virrill surgeon has reported that her leg must be taken off. And it being presumed this settlement of the said Elizabeth McQueen is in the parish of Buckland near Dover. It is therefore ordered that the said Elizabeth McQueen be forthwith removed to the parish of Buckland and all the expenses attending the same be allowed. The said Church Wardens and Overseers in their accounts and they are hereby indemnified from all expenses attending the same.
January 13th 1782.
At an assembly of St. Mary the Virgin there on Sunday 13th day of January 1782 after evening service. Notice having been given as usual the Church Wardens and Overseers of the said parish informed the parishioners present that Jane Smith had lately been delivered of a bastard child and having refused to having the same hath by warrant of removal from two of His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the Town and Port of Dover been committed to the gaol of the said town and port.
It is therefore ordered that the said two Justices of the Peace who signed the said commitment and the Church Wardens and Overseers of the said parish shall be kept harmless and indemnified from the said commitment and all expenses relating thereto. And that five shilling per week from this time shall be paid for the maintenance of her and her child until further orders relating thereto and in the mean time the opinion of Charles Robinson Esquire shall be taken in this case.
- Appeal to remove Page family back to Patrixbourne.
- Agreement to defend the parish overseers indicated at Quarter Sessions for removing two children without warrant who were illegally brought into the parish.
William Hodgeman lunatic ordered to be continued at St. Luke’s Hospital.
- Removal of Elizabeth McQueen to Buckland by Dover sick in workhouse.
- Bastard child of Jane Trimble.
- Family starving near St. Mary’s Dover.
Suggestion to save money by farming out the poor.
St. Mary’s Dover August 27th 1769.
At an assembly of the parishioners of the said parish in the church of St. Mary the Virgin there this day after evening service notice first having been given as usual. The Church Wardens and overseers informed the parishioners present that in about the month of February last Thomas and Ann Howard? two children were illegally and without warrant brought into the parish by two persons their relations from Eastry and left them in this parish.
Whereupon Ash persons and John Marsh the overseers of this parish unconditionally and also without warrant of removal conveyed and carried the said two children back to Eastry and left them at the house of one of the persons who so brought and left them in this parish aforesaid for which said removal to Eastry the said Ash persons and John Marsh now stand indicted and are bound over to appear and try the said indicted at the next Quarter Sessions of the peace to be held at the Old Castle in the city of Canterbury.
And the Church Wardens and the Overseers desiring the order and direction of the parishioners on their behalf.
The parishioners to bring the said into consideration and finding that the said Ash persons and John Marsh carried the said children back to Eastry to prevent their being chargeable to this parish. It is therefore ordered that the Church Wardens and the Overseers and their successors do and shall at the expense of this parish defend the said Ash persons and John Marsh the said indictment and that such expenses shall be allowed to the said present Church Wardens and Overseers and their successors in their accounts.
Thomas Bradley, Thomas Wood, William Bradley, Thomas Elve, John Coleman, Edward Rutter, Robert Finnis, Thomas Clement, Read, T. Solly, J. King, J. Finnis.
September 17th 1769.
At an assembly of the parishioners of the said parish in the church of St. Mary the Virgin that of this day after evening service notice been given as usual.
The Church Wardens and Overseers informed the parishioners present that William Hodgeman a parishioner of this parish and a lunatic was in St. Luke’s Bedlam and that they had received advising that unless he was ordered to continue in St. Luke’s Hospital as incurable on or before Friday next and the usual security given towards the fraying the expenses of the same he would be discharged and permitted to go at large.
The Church Wardens and Overseers therefore desiring the directions of the parishioners on this behalf and the parishioners taking the same into consideration and finding that if the said William Hodgeman is permitted to go at large he may do a great deal of mischief as well as cause a great expense to this parish.
It is therefore ordered that the Church Wardens and Overseers do and taking the necessary step for the continuation of the said William Hodgeman in St. Luke’s Hospital as an incurable and pay all the expenses attending the same out of the parish money. Which id hereby ordered to be allowed them in their accounts.
John Coleman, Mayor
M. Russell
Thomas Hadley.
24th February.
At an assembly of the parishioners of the said parish in the church of St. Mary the Virgin there this day after evening service notice first given as usual.
The Church Wardens informed the parishioners present that they had been applied to on behalf of Thomas Penn sexton a poor parishioner of this parish who had long been afflicted with a dropsy and thereby rendered incapable of working and maintaining himself and family as usual and from there they had inquired into the previous and found that the said Thomas Penn and his family real objects of charity and in the want of common necessaries of life and therefore the said Church Wardens desired the direction of the parishioners how and in what manner to relieve the said Thomas Penn and his family. It is therefore ordered by the parishioners present that a collection be made in the church on Sunday next after morning and evening service of that day and the Church Wardens do stand at the church door to receive the same and that the money’s arriving from such collection shall be given to the said Thomas Penn in such manner and form and at such times as the said Church Wardens shall think when and convenient. And it is further ordered that Mr Thomas Edwards the Minister of this parish that give notice in this church on Sunday next after morning and evening service that the said collection is ordered to be made as aforesaid.
January 16th 1785.
At an assembly of the parishioners of the said parish assembled the day after due notice given for that purpose. The Vestry Clerk of the said parish informed the parishioners present that the pursuant to the order of vestry made on the ninth instant he has applied to the master and wardens of the Society of Fellowship of Pilots of the Cinque Ports received at Dover and inspected the tithe deeds of the land and premises a place called Above Wall in Dover aforesaid whereby it appears that the land and premises in question are in the parish of St. Mary the Virgin in the town of Port Dover aforesaid. In consequence which report it is ordered that the parish officers of this parish give notice to parish offices of Hougham to meet and settle the boundaries of the said parishes and after such meeting to report to the vestry to be here assembled.
Deaths 1801.
April.
Paid carrying Mrs Wills to the ground 2/-.
June.
To Burials.
Mary Holyman aged 57 years. Brought in ill got better and died suddenly.
Jane Polling aged 56 years. Disorder many years worn out. 9/6d.
July.
Steven Simmons aged 66. Complained by pain.
Steven Dennis aged 50. Suddenly. 15/-.
August.
The burial of a pauper out of house. 18/-.
September.
Martha Hampton 72 years old.
Burial for Brett out of house £1-7s-0d.
To Mr. Moys as per bill £1-6s-0d.
October.
To burials as for No. 6. 7/6d.
To funeral for Brett 4/2d.
To Castle Bell for No. 9. £1-6s-0d.
November.
To burial of Thomas Hodgeman aged 63 years. Catched his death under the hedges.
December.
To carrying Hanson to the ground and Hodgeman.
Burial fee Elizabeth Anson and affidavit 10/6.
Elizabeth Anson aged 34 years. Venereal.
To burial of Ann Parr 9/-.
Deaths 1802.
January.
To two strangers 10/-.
To Mr. Moys for coffins. £2-2s-0d.
To burial fees and affidavit and carrying Jenkins to the ground
To Mr Friend as per bill No. 6. 18/6.
February.
Hester Stalkart 56 years. An abscess in her side.
John Shrewsbury 3 years. Consumption.
Priscilla Simmons aged 65.
To cash for burials as by governors No. 6. 12/6d.
To Ashman and poor 4/6d
March.
To cash for burials as per No. 6. 15/-.
To cash for coffins as per bill £1-5s-6d.
George Marsh aged 75 years. Died of a fracture and an abscess in his thigh.
To burial of out poor. 8/9d.
April.
Funeral expenses for several out poor as per No. 6. 18/-.
May.
To amount to coffins £2-12s-0d.
June.
To amount as per bill coffins 18/-.
To amount as per governors No. 6. Strangers. 7/6d.
July.
Mary Dobbins aged 53 years. An obstruction.
Burial fees and carrying to the ground. 9/-.
To a coffin No. 9. 13/-
August.
To burying a stranger 7/6d
To a coffin for a stranger 11/3d.
September.
To coffins as per No. 9. 15/9d.
To burying a traveller 4/6d.
To burying Mr Smithett aged 84. Worn out 8/-.
October.
To coffins as per No. 9. £1-9s-10d.
December.
To burials of vagrants found dead. 13/-.
To burials as No. 9 coffins for vagrants found dead £1-2s-6d.
Deaths 1803.
January.
To carrying a stranger to the ground 2/6d.
To burial a stranger 5/6d.
February.
Mrs Vincent of a cancer.
Mary Simmons a lunatic.
Burial fees and affidavit 5/6d.
Carrying her to the ground 2/6d.
To coffins as per bill No. 9. £2-5s-0d.
March.
Ann Anderson aged 69. The catarrh and cold weather.
John Fish aged 62. Dropsy.
April.
To funeral expenses 16/-
To coffins as per No. 9. £1-5s-6d.
To burial of a stranger name unknown 6/6d
To burial of Castle 14/-.
June.
To a coffin for a man. 9/-.
July.
To burial of Elizabeth Morrison an out poor. 7/6d.
August.
Susanna Hopper aged 75. Died suddenly in the sheet.
Coffin for above £1-4s-0d.
September.
To burial of Hopper. 9/-.
To burial as for No. 6. 9/-.
November.
Thomas Brown aged 83 years. Childish old age and drinking many years.
Bills to April 1823.
Kingsford – Millers £54-3s-6d.
William Back – Butcher £45-17s-9d.
George Dean – Grocer £19-7s-9d
Robert Bond – Brewer £10-6s-0d.
George Igglesden – Draper £11-3s-9d.
William Standen – £4-18s-8d.
Dellany – Surgeon 8/11d
Dyer – £5-12s-6d
J. Eastes – Druggists £3-18s-1d
Humphreys – £5-5s-0d.
Charles Corbett – £1-13s-7d.
Sample of Cash Ledger Workhouse April 1820.
Mr Page. 18 gallons beer = £1-8s-0d
Mr Hart. 2 Bulls = 6/6d
Funeral Ann Mills = 4/6
Christening Brisley’s child = 1/6d
Christening Colthorps child = 1/6d
200 Bobbins = 8/-
Mr Hart 2 bulls = 6/-
Mut? / and Co. = £8-12s-0d.
Bell at Canterbury = £2-0s-0d.
Removal of Newton = 19/6d.
Killing two hogs = 3/-.
Funeral for Baldwin = 4/6d.
Funeral for F. Corbyans child = 1/-
Catherine Gilesby removal = £1-0s-0d.
Poor pence money = £1-4s-1d.
Poor pence money as for day book = 2/10d
Beer = 15/6d
Provision as for month = £3-14s-5d
Total £22-16-10d.
May 1820.
Killing 3 hogs = 4/6d
For a basket = 2/6d
5 dozen brooms = 5/-
Sweeping 14 chimneys = 10/6d
2Ibs. Butter = 2/2d
Books = 1/4d
Fish = 3/-
Charlton poor = 6/-
Potatoes = 6/-
Stamp = 1/-
Bread = 4½d
Funeral of Mr Midling = 4/6d
2Ibs. Butter = 2/2d
Milk – 13/7d
Removal of Partridge and family = £18-14s-6d.
Beer = 15/6d
Poor pence money = £5-1s-9½d
Yeast = 9/-.
January 1823.
7th
Clothes to the Poor.
Ann Hackett. 2 skirts – 5 yards cloth 5/6 – Stockings 1/4 = 6/10
Ann Quested. 2 skirts 5 yards cloth 5/6 stockings 1/6 = 7/-
Ann Daines 2 skirts 5 yards cloth = 5/6
Hannah Wood 2 skirts 5 yards cloth 5/6
Sarah Plune 2 skirts 5 yards cloth 5/6
Mildred Woodward 2 skirts 5 yards cloth 5/6
Jane Powell 2 skirts 5 yards cloth 5/6
Sarah Birch 2 skirts 5 yards cloth 5/6
Mary Hogg 2 skirts 5 yards cloth 5/6 stockings 2/- = 7/6
10th.
A. Noon. Hose 1 pair 1/6
Handkerchief 1 pair 1/3
Apron 1 yard cloth 1/6
Cap 1/7d
J. Hosborn. Shirts 5 and a quarter yards 1/3 = 5/3¾ – Breeches 1 pair 4/=
Total £3-10-3¾d
E. Mills. Coat 1 and three quarter yards @ 2/- = 3/6
Mary Browning. Stockings 1 pair = 1/6 Stays 1 pair 3/-
Samuel Morris. Trowers 1 pair 4/- Jacket 2 14/- Drawers 1 pair 3/4 Mittens 1 pair 7d.
Britches 1 pair 6/- Blanket 1 2/-. Shirt 12 yards @ 1/10 3/8. Cap for sea 2/6.
Elizabeth Gordon. Bonnet old-6d. Cloak 1-9/-.
Cloak old 1/6.-Hatt 1. 1/6.
Stays old – 1/6.
E. Bowles. Bed tick 3 and half yards @ 1/- = 3/6.
E. Johnson. Apron check 1 yard cloth 1/7 Peteycoat 2 yards @1/6 = 3/-.
M. Goldup. Sheeting 1 yard 1/-. Lincey 1 half yards 1/6 = 2/3. Camblet 4 yards 2/4
Musling half yard 9d
Cash for 1 bushel of apples 6/-
Cash for killing two hogs 1/3
Cash received of Mr Wright – board of wife £4-13s-4d.
Cash received of Mr Bass 13Ib pork 9/2½d.
1803.
Poors Earnings.
1st week £1-10s-9d
2nd week £1-18s-3d
3rd week £1-15s-0d.
4th week. £1-8s-0d.
5th week £1-9s-11d
1804.
January.
Cash for 2 yards flannel 4/-
Cash for 2Ibs thread 9/6
Cash paid for Lincey, check £2-2s-0d
Cash paid Powell for sand 5/7½
Cash paid for killing hogs 1/3
Expenses journey to Adisham 4/6
Cash for wine as per bill 7/5
Cash for killing hogs 1/3
Expenses journey to Maidstone with Mrs Johns and family 27 days £4-2s-3d – extra trouble at 2/6 per day 6/3.
Expenses journey to Grafton in Line? £12-8s-10d=150 miles with Finn and family.
Extra trouble 2/6 per day 7 days 17/6
Beer and yeast this month 8/2
Pence money paid to poor £3-3s-7½.
February.
Cash for sand 3/-
By cash for weaving 3 pairs socking? £1-4s-6d
Cash for warping three chains 1/6
Cash to Sharp for clothes as per bill £1-9s-4d
By cash paid for 2Ibs thread 7/-
Paid cash for trousers 5/-
Cash for letters 11d
Cash paid for brewing 3/-
Cash paid Mrs Butt for wine as per bill 7/5
Cash for Mr Buss horse hire 10/-
By cash paid burial fee and affidavit Mrs Flowers 5/6. Carry to grave 2/-
Burial fee and affidavit for Walker and carriage to grounds 7/6
By cash 15 birches 15/-
11 Ditto
Cash for 3 bonnets 2/3
Cash for 3 aprons 2/-
Cash for 45 hats @12d £2-5s-0d.
Cash for 20 coats @ 5/- £5-0s-0d
By cash paid for 18 yards thicksett 2/9
Cash for 42 pair shoes @ 12d £2-2s-0d
Cash for twist 2/6
Paid for 5 hogs £7-15s-0d
Paid for 1 carpenters plane 8d
Paid for warping 4 chains 2/-
Cash for 11 yards ribbon 4/7
Cash for 1 cwt salt fish
March.
Cash for Mr Finnis for sacks £3-13s-0d
Cash for Mr Dilman for spinning £9-2s-0d
Cash for 2 days work in garden J. Crofts 4/-
Cash for baptism 2 children 3/-
Cash for yeast this month 1/8
Cash for 5 yards baize 10/10
Cash for beer 6/10
Cash for letters 2/3
To cash received for washing clothes £1-5s-6d
To cash received for Sarah Maxoys board 6/-
April.
Cash for 6Ibs sugar 4/3
Sweeping chimney 2/6
Cash for moving Mrs Thornton to the parish of Minster £1-4s-0d
Cash for Mrs Swain by order of the guardian’s 5/-
1805.
February.
By cash for baptising Ann Birch 1/6
By cash for weaving 58 yards shirting @3d 14/6
By cash for wrapping ditto 6d.
1794.
January.
3rd. Paid for Robert Redwoods funeral 11/10
9th. Paid for Edward Gullfords funeral 11/10. 2 affidavits 2/-
9th. Burial of Stephenson 4/6
February.
27th Paid towards Susan Pottersons burial 5/6
Part of Ann James funeral expenses 12/10
March.
Part of Ann Booths funeral 12/10
To Mr Sutton for 5 coffins £2-5s-6d
To George Finnis for 14 coffins £6-11s-6d.
April.
2nd. Year ended by overseers and guardians
To part of Mary Bells funeral 12/10
May.
Nil.
June.
To part of Thomas Saunders funeral expenses 4/6
Affidavit 1/-
July.
To the burial of Chadwells child 4/6
August.
26th For the carriage of Mrs Culmer to the grave 7/4
To Minister and fees 4/6.
September.
Carriage of Bushell to the grave 7/4
Affidavit 1/- Burial fees 4/6 = 5/6
John Reads funeral 5/6
Paid carriage ditto to the grave =7/4.
October.
Carry Ann Knight to the grave 7/-
Part of Peter Adlers funeral expenses 4/6
Affidavit for Adler 1/-
Part of Ann Knights funeral 7/-
Part of Larkings child 4/6
November.
Part of Thorts funeral 12/10
Part of Mary Ladds funeral 12/10
Mary Forths burial and porters 11/10
December.
Part of Dilnots funeral 5/6
1796.
January 7th
Burial of a still child 1/-
Mrs Moorhouse died of old age.
April.
The number of persons carried from the house from the 1st April 1796 – 1st April 1797.
William Hicks 76 of old age.
John Bailey aged 76 a bad leg mortification.
Benjamin Dawkins 13 months consumption.
Henry Spain died of old age.
May.
Thomas Simmons died of intemperance.
July.
Mary Dennis consumption.
John Bulmer died of mortification.
1798.
January.
Mrs Grinsdell venereal.
February.
Stillborn child.
March.
Harry Adams consumption.
April.
Mary Gilbert suddenly as she woke.