Piece
See MH 82/12
Catalogue reference: MH 82/49
Date: 1954 Sept 16-1956 Nov 15
See MH 82/12
Item
Folios 356-361. Letter from Henry Saunders, Clerk to the Guardians of the Kidderminster...
Catalogue reference: MH 12/14019/233
What’s it about?
This record is about the Folios 356-361. Letter from Henry Saunders, Clerk to the Guardians of the Kidderminster... dating from 19 June 1848 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 12/14019/233
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Date (When the record was created)
- 19 June 1848
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Description (What the record is about)
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- Content
- Folios 356-361. Letter from Henry Saunders, Clerk to the Guardians of the Kidderminster Poor Law Union, to the Poor Law Board, forwarding a copy of the Visiting Committee's report on matters contained in the Poor Law Board's letter of 22 May 1848. Also mentioned is a copy of a resolution concerning the beds in the Vagrant Ward. Enclosed is a copy of the resolution passed by the guardians following the recommendation of the Visiting Committee that the Vagrant Ward should be supplied with straw without any covers but with sufficient rugs. Also a copy of the report of the Visiting Committee on charges contained in the letter from the Poor Law Board, dated 22 May 1848. First charge: 1. The Committee examined John Seale and heard the statements of the master, of Mr Thursfield [Thomas Thursfield], the Medical Officer, and his assistant concerning Seale's complaint about having to work the large pump. 2. After informing the medical officer that the work did not suit him, Seale was put on the small pump. 3. The Committee attaches no blame to the master. 4. A formal complaint should not have been made. Second charge: 1. The Committee examined John Bourne, the only remaining inmate of the four men mentioned in the Board's letter. Bourne stated that he saw the master kick and hit Beech [John Beech]. The master denies this. 2. The Committee claims several discrepancies [not stated] between Beech's statement to the Inspector and Bourne's evidence to the Committee. 3. The porter gave evidence [not noted] on the supply of bedclothes to the Receiving Ward. 4. The master had punished Beech for misbehaviour about a week before the Inspector's visit. 5. The Committee concludes that the charge arose from motives of ill will and that it is false. Third charge: 1. William Giles and his son are no longer inmates of the workhouse so were not examined. 2. The schoolmaster denies having repeatedly beaten the boy Giles. 3. The boy Giles was dirty in his habits and was twice punished by the master who gave him six stripes with a small birch rod. The Committee thinks this was not more than the boy deserved. 4. The daily allowance of bread was reduced by 2oz for 12 days. The matron informed the Medical Officer who 'concurred its propriety'. 5. The master states that the boy's father approved of the punishment at the time. Other charges are: 1. The Committee examined the medical officer, the nurse and the master concerning complaints about 'the Rice'. All agree that, if complaints about any of the provisions are well founded, they are changed. 2. The Committee does not believe there is any foundation in the charge of giving the inmates short weight, with an exception mentioned later. They frequently test the weight of the rations. 3. The Committee is not aware of any applications from old or infirm men for an allowance of tea, milk or butter so complaints are 'premature'. 4. The Committee, as well as the medical officer, the master and matron, are convinced of the efficiency of the nurse whose duties are onerous. 5. They say the complaints about not being able to see the medical officer and being neglected by his assistant are groundless. 6. The medical officer states that he orders indulgences of beer and tobacco on every proper occasion. He had previously been criticized by the auditor and ordered by the Board, on 2 February 1848 to reduce indulgences that are regarded as luxuries for which the ratepayers should not have to pay. 7. The Committee does not accept complaints that inmates are put to work unsuited to their strength. The master, when in doubt, always refers to the medical officer. 8. The Committee believes these complaints have been 'got up' by a disinclination to work by some inmates aided by mischievous advice from one of them named Hartley [Thomas Hartley] who wrote to the Poor Law Board. 9. The Committee enquired into the accusation of 'defrauding in the Article of butter'. They refer the Poor Law Board to the master's written explanation and regret the circumstance of what occurred but acquit the master of fraudulent intention. The report concludes with comments about Hartley. They say that he is 'not quite in a sound state of mind. He is known in Kidderminster as a 'discontented, mischievous and dangerous person' and should not be given the consideration he appears to have received in this instance. Names of the Visiting Committee are: John Law, Leonard Duncan, Joseph Wright and Richard Allport. Enclosed is a copy of an explanation of Mr Ryan [Edward Ryan, Master of the Kidderminster Workhouse] reporting the statements made by James Tolley, Edward Ryan and Margaret Ryan. James Tolley says that He is in his eightieth year and has been an inmate of the workhouse for about 4 years. On 21 April 1848, he spoke to Mr Duncan, a Visiting Guardian, to ask if he could speak to the master about the butter allowance being reduced for 3 weeks. The master, not appearing to understand the reason for the question, sent for the matron who explained that, as several inmates had been selling portions of their butter, she had reduced the quantity from 5oz to 4oz. The master seemed surprised. He ordered the proper quantity to be served. The master and matron are both very kind, particularly to the sick, aged and infirm. He, Seale, never wished any complaint to be made. The master would not intentionally defraud any inmate. Edward Ryan says that the first he heard of the butter entitlement being reduced was on Friday 21 April 1848 when James Tolley mentioned it to Mr Duncan, the Visiting Guardian. The matron, when sent for, stated that in consequence of inmates selling their butter she had given them 4oz instead of 5oz as a punishment. He, the master, ordered the proper quantity to be served and requested the matron not to take such steps in the future without counselling him. He asked James Tolley if he wished to make any complaint in the Visitors' Book but Tolley did not. No other inmate had spoken about the matter. In reference to the charge of intention to defraud, Edward Ryan lists the numbers of inmates and quantities of butter they received over 3 weeks. He further states that a total of 9lbs of butter was stopped. On 29 April 1848, the full quantity of 13lbs 12 oz was served but not charged in the Provisions Consumption Account. This resulted in a loss to him of 4lbs 12oz of butter. He was able to allow this loss as he and the matron seldom ate butter though they are allowed 14oz each weekly by the Officers' Dietary Table. Margaret Ryan says since several inmates were guilty of selling their butter, she ordered the allowances to be reduced from 5oz to 4oz. She did not consult the master or inform him of what she had done but she told most of the inmates who received butter. She did not make a secret of it. Annotation: J T G [John Thomas Graves, Poor Law Inspector] decides to retain these papers until after conferring with the guardians and another visit to the workhouse. 'See attached Minute'. Paper Number: 17870/1848. Poor Law Union Number 530. Counties: Worcestershire, Staffordshire and Shropshire.
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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/C10553661/
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Series information
MH 12
Local Government Board and predecessors: Correspondence with Poor Law Unions and...
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Local Government Board and predecessors: Correspondence with Poor Law Unions and...
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Within the piece: MH 12/14019
Kidderminster 530. (Described at item level).
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Folios 356-361. Letter from Henry Saunders, Clerk to the Guardians of the Kidderminster...
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