Folios 274-275. Letter from Joseph Knight, Clerk to the Guardians of the Newcastle...

Folios 274-275. Letter from Joseph Knight, Clerk to the Guardians of the Newcastle under Lyme Poor Law Union, to Andrew Doyle, Poor Law Inspector, concerning the minutes of the meeting of the guardians with reference to [Edward Ellison], Schoolmaster. The schoolmaster intended to comply with the desire of the guardians and resign.

Copy minutes of meeting of 24 October 1859. The schoolmaster having made a complaint against the governor [George Fox, Workhouse Master], for having used threatening language to him the matter was investigated and it was found that there was no probability of the governor and the schoolmaster living together in harmony it was therefore resolved that the schoolmaster should resign his situation.

Copy minutes of meeting of 7 November 1859. The schoolmaster having declined to comply with the recommendation of the board that he should resign his situation it was resolved that the clerk write to the Poor Law Board with a copy of the resolution of the previous meeting and stating that the guardians are still of opinion that the schoolmaster should be called upon to resign both on the ground of the frequent disagreements between him and the governor and others and because he is unable to maintain the boys in proper order as is instanced by the fact that although he has at the present time only 14 boys under his care there have been 12 complaints of insubordination and misconduct of boys brought before the board during the past month.

Annotated: 'I presume the Board would request the guardians to make some specific charge against the schoolmaster. The complaints made in their resolutions are somewhat vague.' Signed A D [Andrew Doyle].

Paper Number: 42342/1859.

Poor Law Union Number 421.

Counties: Staffordshire.