Records of the Society for the Relief of Persons Confined for Small Debts

The minutes contain reports of visits of inspection as well as names and numbers of prisoners assisted.

There are brief accounts of the Society in books on English Philanthropy (e.g., David Owen, English Philanthropy, 1660-1960, published 1965) but the information seems to be derived from Neild's own history of the Society published in 1799/1800 and from various annual reports; there are no references to the original minutes and accounts.

The death of the Secretary, and subsequent resignation of the Treasurer, in 1827, led to a check on the records. 13 minute books were then noted, of which 12 are extant. Of the remaining 26 vols. of accounts and other classes, none appears to have survived; the series of vols. other than minutes date only from the reorganisation that followed the check, or later.

1 1772-1872 Minutes

2 1859-1879 Draft minutes

3 18th-19th.c. Items from minutes, etc.

4 1818-1826 Extracts of proceedings, etc.

5 1773-1865 Legacy books

6 1773-1834 Draft legacy books

7 1830-1879 General expenditure books

8 1827-1879 Income books

9 1827-1879 Dividend book

10 1865-1879 Subscription book

11 1858-1871 Donation payment register

12 1857-1876 Surplus account book

13 1827-1834 Miscellaneous accounts

14 1763, 1768 Receipts for payments

Received in the Greater London Record Office, County Hall, London, SE1 7PB, 24 July 1973

(Ac.73.54) (Ac.74.89)

The Society, established in February 1772 on the initiative of James Neild, jeweller, of London, drew its first funds from the proceeds of a sermon preached in the Charlotte Street Chapel, Pimlico, by the Rev. Wm. Dodd (later notorious for his trial and execution for forgery). William Wilberforce was one of its early supporters. The Society was popularly known as 'The Thatched House Society' from its regular meeting place, The Thatched House Tavern in St James's Street.

The Society was at first concerned with London prisons only and the greatest number of debtors relieved came from them, but by the 1780s prisoners from gaols in other parts of the country were also being assisted. Neild was troubled about the bad state of the prisons and