Genealogy Chat

I found some records today which listed my ancestors in the Overseers accounts for the poor of the parish. One was in a column marked 'common charge' or sometimes paid 'in kind'. She appeared for several years. Later her husband was paid Cash, but she still appearedin the other column. Anyone know why they were paid in different ways- what did it mean? Alice

Alice Paid in kind meant she got bread, shoes, potatoes, flour etc - but no cash because she possibly didnt need any. Any rent she had to pay would be to the 'common charge' which meant that the Overseer undertook to pay her rent out of the general rates. When cash was needed for something the parish couldn't supply (maybe rent!) this would be paid to the husband, as women couldnt be trusted with money, lol. Really, it boils down to how the household responsibilities were seen to be divided - the women took care of the household and the feeding and clothing of everybody, the men took care of business - paying the rent, buying tools of his trade etc. All parishes had slightly different ways of administering their poor laws and the above explanation may not be absolutely correct for your parish. OC

Thanks OC, That was sort of how I thought it would be - she was old so itsaved her going to TESCO too I guess lol! Alice

The old poor laws were in fact a lot more compassionate and sensible than the later Union Poor Law which was punitive and made no allowances for people getting old or sick. The old laws also allowed a family in crisis to get back on its feet and get back to work. After the Union Workhouse Act was passed, any family which fell on hard times was sent to the Workhouse, couples and their children were separated and there was often no way out for them. Many children were shipped overseas to the colonies and never saw their parents again. It was deliberately designed to be worse than any conditions lived in by the poorest of the poor who were NOT in the Workhouse. And it is debated now that the 'new' system did not save money, but cost the ratepayer more than the old system. OC

OC's comment about 'new laws not saving money, but costing the ratepayers more' sounds unhappily familiar, doesn't it?! I'm sure there was some quote to the effect of those who don't learn by the mistakes of the past being destined to repeat them! Bx