Piece
See MH 82/12
Catalogue reference: MH 82/46
Date: 1950 Jan 19-1951 Jan 18
See MH 82/12
Item
Folios 291-294. Letter from W and E Willoby [William Willoby and Edward Willoby],...
Catalogue reference: MH 12/8976/175
What’s it about?
This record is about the Folios 291-294. Letter from W and E Willoby [William Willoby and Edward Willoby],... dating from 8 Jan 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 12/8976/175
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Date (When the record was created)
- 8 Jan 1840
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Description (What the record is about)
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- Content
- Folios 291-294. Letter from W and E Willoby [William Willoby and Edward Willoby], Clerks to the Guardians of the Berwick-upon-Tweed Poor Law Union, to Edwin Chadwick, Secretary to the Poor Law Commission. It concerns the misconduct of Daniel Morrison, Master of the Berwick-upon-Tweed Workhouse and encloses copies of: 1. Resolution of the board. 2. Minute of workhouse committee. 3. Auditor's report. 4. Explanatory letter from Daniel Morrison, Workhouse Master. Resolution of meeting held on 7 January 1840 - after taking into consideration the minute of the workhouse committee and auditor's report they resolved that: Morrison had been guilty of extreme negligence in the management of the workhouse and was incompetent to fill the situation of master 1. that the resolution and papers listed above be sent to the Poor Law Commissioners 2. that Morrison be given a copy of the first resolution. Minute of the workhouse committee held on 23 December 1839. Present were Adam Tait and William Young. The purpose of the meeting was to examine the accounts for provisions for the previous quarter. All were correct except for those of Crosby, contractor for bread. For the quarter ending on Michaelmas 108 loaves, and for the present quarter 201 loaves, more than that contained in the orders agreed by the board had been delivered at a cost of £7 14s. extra. The committee from examining the pass books were satisfied the bread was delivered and Morrison had admitted this. They also examined the master's provisions book, which only accounts for the amount ordered by the board, leaving the extra loaves unaccounted for. Auditor's Report, dated 6 Jan 1840 and signed by Donald Sinclair, Auditor. He audited and passed all accounts for the quarter except for those relating to the provision of bread. From the master's provision book 1,101 loaves were consumed, only one more than the Board's order. The bill from Crosby, the contractor was £35 4s 6d whereas bread ordered would amount to £27 10s. Crosby's pass book showed 1,301 loaves delivered, exceeding the Board's order by 201 loaves and in the previous quarter by 108 loaves. These had been provided on the master's verbal order. John Crosby had queried this with Morrison and was told to make out their account so that it tallied with the board's orders. They did so, but were concerned about payment and put a note at the foot of their account of the full amount. He questioned Morrison who immediately admitted that the quantity charged by Crosby was correct. It had all been consumed by the inmates of the workhouse and he had inadvertently omitted to enter the extra in the provision book or account for its consumption. Sinclair says this explanation does not rectify his action in firstly not explaining to the board the need for the extra order and secondly in keeping a false account. He acknowledged his error and said he would pay for the extra supply. Sinclair demanded that Morrison provide the board with a written explanation. He points out that Morrison, not the board, is responsible for paying for the extra bread. He then passes to other matters. The cost of provisions was less during the last quarter and the charge for in maintenance was five pence farthing per week per head, which requires their consideration. He also encloses a statement of bread, beef and oatmeal consumed in the last quarter with the number of days [not attached]. He then says it is not easy to check the clothing accounts and asks for a simpler system. He suggests they contract for ready made clothing, this would lead to greater exactness and allow for better control of quantity and quality and suggests a committee inspect the stock in hand at the end of each quarter. He finally says that he is glad they have changed the shoemaker, who is to be paid for the work he does. Letter from Morrison, dated 4 January 1840, giving reasons for the extra bread. 1. Wastage in cutting the bread. He suggests the bread is baked to different weights as required. 2. The loaves are repeatedly under weight. That morning he received 35 loaves which were 19 oz underweight. He has always given the paupers the benefit of the scale. He mentions the frequent changes in the dietary and says he may have miscalculated the legitimate consumption. He says he is willing to do whatever the Board requires. Annotated: Sir John Walsham [Assistant Poor Law Commissioner] for his observations. Paper Number: 263/A/1840. Town and County of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland and North Durham [detached].
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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/C10564100/
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Series information
MH 12
Local Government Board and predecessors: Correspondence with Poor Law Unions and...
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Folios 291-294. Letter from W and E Willoby [William Willoby and Edward Willoby],...
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