Folios 280-283. Letter from Joseph Knight, Clerk to the Guardians of the Newcastle...

Folios 280-283. Letter from Joseph Knight, Clerk to the Guardians of the Newcastle under Lyme Poor Law Union, to the Poor Law Board, to inform them that the poor law inspector, Mr Doyle [Andrew Doyle], has attended a meeting of the board of guardians of the union. Mr Doyle enquired into the complaint against [Edward Ellison], Schoolmaster and is to communicate with the poor law board.

Included is a report by Mr Doyle. He states that on the 15 [November] he had a conversation with Mr Bowyer, Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools, who informed him that the schoolmaster of this union intended to resign his office. In consequence of this information he attended the last meeting of the guardians. The schoolmaster was called into the boardroom and admitted that he had stated his intention to resign his office but upon consideration 'unless the inspector or the committee of council would give him a Queen's scholarship' he would not resign.

The guardians requested Doyle to ascertain the specific charges made against the schoolmaster and he obtained from the workhouse master a statement lettered A.

Doyle believes the schoolmaster is unfit for his office. Though perhaps not unskilful as a teacher he is 'so exceedingly weak and conceited that he has no control over the boys'. There was abundant evidence that the schoolmaster exercised no control over the children. It is felt that the schoolmaster and workhouse master cannot work together. The schoolmaster should be called to resign.

Also enclosed is statement A, from George Fox, Workhouse Master.

He states that on the 28 May last an orphan boy named George Clay came to him in tears complaining of the schoolmaster beating him without any just cause. After enquiry it was shown that this was correct. Also that the schoolmaster was in the habit of beating the boys very much with a knotted strap which he carried in his pocket. The guardians admonished the schoolmaster for his conduct and entered a resolution on the minutes condemning such conduct. On the 4 October the schoolmistress came to Mr Fox in tears complaining of the abusive conduct of the schoolmaster and said she should be obliged to resign her situation for she was sure it was his intention to injure her.

The schoolmaster also neglects his duty of taking the boys out to work in the garden and making sure the boys are washed before morning prayers. He also wasted a large amount of coal and threw the workhouse master out of the room when he tried to admonish him on the matter.

The following are the names of the boys who have been birched by the schoolmaster:

Henry Unsworth, running away, 25 January 1857.

Samuel Unsworth, running away, 25 March 1857.

Arthur Vickery breaking a window, 12 April 1857.

Joseph Cooper, running away, 9 June 1857.

George Owen, running away, 9 June 1857.

Michael McLoughlin, running away, 9 June 1857.

Samuel Unsworth, running away, 9 June 1857.

William McDermott, running away, 9 June 1857.

Samuel Unsworth, running away, 1 February 1858.

Joseph Cooper, running away, 1 February 1858.

Robert Chump, running away, 3 May 1858.

Joseph Cooper, running away, 3 May 1858.

George Owen, running away, 19 July 1858.

Samuel Unsworth, running away, 4 August 1858.

Robert Chump, breaking down a writing desk, 10 August 1858.

Mostyn Owen, breaking down a writing desk 10 August 1858.

William Mcdermott, breaking down a writing desk, 10 August 1858.

William Ward, bad conduct in school, 22 February 1859.

Michael McLoughlin, bad conduct in school and breaking a window, 17 May 1859.

George Owen, running away, 25 May 1859.

Charles Leech, wilfully throwing a stone at one of the other boys and cutting his face, 5 June 1859.

William Ward, disorderly conduct in bedroom, 30 June 1859.

Samuel Barlow, disorderly conduct in bedroom, 30 June 1859.

William Henry Bayley, disorderly conduct in bedroom, 30 June 1859.

John M Lannon, disorderly conduct in bedroom, 24 July 1859.

William Henry Bayley, disorderly conduct in bedroom, 24 July 1859.

Michael McLoughlin, running away, 4 August, 1859.

William, Mcdermott, running away, 4 August 1859.

George Clay, running away, 4 August 1859.

Michael McLoughlin, disorderly in bedroom, 14 August 1859.

John Barlow, climbing the wall on Sunday, 18 August 1859.

Charles Leech, striking another boy, 18 August 1859.

Samuel Barlow, burning William Bayley with a candle, 23 August 1859.

John M Lannon, breaking a window and climbing a wall, 11 September 1859.

William Henrty Bayley, climbing the boys swing pole, 18 September 1859.

John Barlow, jumping on the beds, 12 October 1859.

Thomas Smith, jumping on the beds, 14 October 1859.

John M Lannon, playing with fire, 30 October 1859.

Samuel Barlow, disorderly at supper, 1 November 1859.

John M Lannon, breaking a window in boys room, 2 November 1859.

John M Lannon, getting through the boys window into the garden, 7 November 1859.

William Henry Bayley, striking another boy, 18 November 1859.

Annotated: Mr Fleming. Inform the schoolmaster of the effect of Mr Doyle's input as to the state of the school and this lack of control over the boys. Inquire if he really intends to resign.

Paper Number: 44359/1859.

See also Paper Number: Paper Number: 42097/B/1859.

Poor Law Union Number 421.

Counties: Staffordshire.