Piece
See MH 82/12
Catalogue reference: MH 82/49
Date: 1954 Sept 16-1956 Nov 15
See MH 82/12
Item
Folios 278-284. Letter from Joseph Lowndes, Clerk to the Guardians of the Wolstanton...
Catalogue reference: MH 12/11196/152
What’s it about?
This record is about the Folios 278-284. Letter from Joseph Lowndes, Clerk to the Guardians of the Wolstanton... dating from 19 November 1840 in the series Local Government Board and predecessors: Correspondence with Poor Law Unions and.... It is held at The National Archives, Kew.
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Full description and record details
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Reference (The unique identifier to the record described, used to order and refer to it)
- MH 12/11196/152
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Date (When the record was created)
- 19 November 1840
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Description (What the record is about)
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- Content
- Folios 278-284. Letter from Joseph Lowndes, Clerk to the Guardians of the Wolstanton and Burslem Poor Law Union, to the Poor Law Commission, concerning the death of Abraham Tatton. Enquiries made indicate that no application for relief was made until 23 October 1840, when an application was made by Samuel Goddard, Medical Officer, although Tatton had been ill for a fortnight. The family had rejected Goddard's earlier suggestion that they should go into the workhouse. Immediately following the application, Elias Barlow, Relieving Officer, sent 20lbs of bread, and shortly after visited and provided wine and other necessities to the value of 2s 6d. On 30 October 1840 a further 20lbs of bread and wine value 1s was provided. On the 31 October 1840 further wine was provided but Tatton died on Sunday 1 November 1840. A coffin was ordered by the relieving officer and the case brought before the guardians on Tuesday 3 November 1840 who confirmed the actions of the relieving officer and ordered outdoor relief for the widow, Elizabeth Tatton and children, 2s 6d in money and 16lbs of bread a week. The widow declined an order to enter the workhouse. Abraham Tatton had not had regular employment for 12 months during which period he had applied two or three times for relief when he was offered an order into the workhouse, he being able bodied, which was refused as he wished to keep the family together. The guardians are aware of a strong prejudice against the workhouse due to unfounded and exaggerated statements concerning its management but they have the satisfaction of knowing of several cases where there have been beneficial results following the entry of parties into the workhouse where their needs have been met and they have left with the unfounded prejudices removed. The statements of Elias Barlow, Relieving Officer, Samuel Goddard, Medical Officer and Elizabeth Tatton, widow, are enclosed. Statement of Elias Barlow, Relieving Officer: he confirms that on 23 October an application for relief was made on behalf of Abraham Tatton and a note received from Mr Goddard, Medical Officer, he immediately sent five 4lb loaves and shortly after visited and provided wine and other necessities to the value of 2s 6d. On 30 October 1840 a further 20lbs of bread and wine value 1s was provided. On the 31 October 1840 further wine was provided but Tatton died on Sunday 1 November 1840. The case was regularly brought before the guardians who awarded outdoor relief to the widow and children on 3 November 1840, together with coffin and fees. He does not recollect receiving any application for relief before these dates. Signed and dated 11 November 1840. Statement of Elizabeth Tatton, widow of Abraham Tatton. Mrs Tatton confirms that her husband died on 1 November 1840 and states that he had been ill for about three weeks but up to that time had enjoyed pretty good health. By trade a potter, a plate maker, he had been out of work 12 months, his last regular employment being at Mr Alcock's at Burslem. Since then he had worked odd days at Samuel Allin's at Burslem. He had applied two or three times for relief, lastly about four months since, but had always refused an order into the workhouse as he did not want to be parted from his family. He said he would rather die. Just before he was taken ill he worked a day at Adam's, Greenfields, Tunstall and earned 2s 6d which paid the rent although at the time there was no food in the house. When Abraham Tatton was taken ill application was made to Mr Troutbeck of Tunstall, the Club Surgeon, to the Society of Gardeners, but as Tatton's subscription was in arrears no help was forthcoming although the officers permitted the surgeon to attend out of charity. Troutbeck attended for about a week but when Tatton's condition deteriorated Mrs Tatton's sister applied to Goddard to attend which he did until he died. Mr Goddard gave her a note for the relieving officer which resulted in the relief noted above being given. Relief had not been applied for prior to Mr Goddard's note as Mr Tatton and the neighbours said they would be taken into the workhouse as soon as they applied. There were no friends who could assist. Mrs Tatton is 27 years old and has three children, Joseph Tatton aged about five years, Mary Tatton aged about three years and Enoch Tatton aged about 12 months. Mrs Tatton has given up her house and is now living in lodgings with her mother, a widow, and is in receipt of parish relief. Dated 1 November 1840 with the mark of Elizabeth Tatton. Signed in the presence of Joseph Lowndes. Statement of Samuel Goddard, Surgeon. This confirms that Abraham Tatton died 1 November 1840 after being reduced to a debilitated state previous to the illness which was the cause of death. Goddard first visited him on 18 October 1840 and continued to do so until Tatton's death. He was affected by severe ulceration of his mouth, violent diarrhoea and great prostration of strength. He had suffered much through lack of food and had been three days without bread. Privations of this nature together with want of proper apparel and firing etc. and an ill ventilated dwelling were the remote causes of death. On his first visit he made clear the advantages of going into the workhouse but he was opposed, he then provided the note for the relieving officer giving details of the nature of the illness and the miserable circumstances. The following were prescribed, 'quinine with acid sulph', combined with opium and an allowance of wine, sage etc. from which he derived some relief but this did not prevent his death. It appears he received some sustenance from charitable relatives during the course of his illness. Signed Samuel Goddard, Burslem 12 November 1840 Annotated: acknowledge and thank for information. Paper number: 12985/B/1840. Poor Law Union Number 415. Counties: Staffordshire.
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Held by (Who holds the record)
- The National Archives, Kew
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Legal status (A note as to whether the record being described is a Public Record or not)
- Public Record(s)
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Language (The language of the record)
- English
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Closure status (Whether the record is ‘open’ (available to the public) or ‘closed’ (not available due to a legal exemption))
- Open Document, Open Description
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Record URL
- https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C10384281/
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MH 12
Local Government Board and predecessors: Correspondence with Poor Law Unions and...
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Folios 278-284. Letter from Joseph Lowndes, Clerk to the Guardians of the Wolstanton...
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