Folio(s) 6-7. Letter from Reuben Tyler, Collector of Poor Rates for the parish of...

Folio(s) 6-7. Letter from Reuben Tyler, Collector of Poor Rates for the parish of Sutton in Ashfield, to the Poor Law Board, relating to previous correspondence received by him. He states that he was hurt and surprised that such an assertion could be laid at his charge, as for him being a habitual drinker, he is not and has never been. Tyler says that he has not been well since last June and when Mr Power [auditor] saw him at the audit he said he was sorry to see him so ill. He states that if he had been such as the charge laid by the overseers to the auditor he would not have been here now as his constitution could not have borne it, nor was he in the state as stated by the overseer on the Wednesday. He could produce plenty of witnesses to prove to the contrary. The reason he did not attend was that he did not get the rate books until the previous Monday to Wednesday and through that he was compelled to sit two whole nights, which completely exhausted him so that he could not possibly attend. He states he had no doubts that if he had attended there would not have been any of these complaints. The overseers knew by his appearance as well as him complaining to them that he was not fit to be out collecting.One of them, Mrs Beeley, made a remark that if he did not feel well enough they must do it themselves or he must get someone to assist him, but he felt anxious to carry on as long as he could. Through that he was confined to his bed as he had stated in his previous letter, but he was happy to say that he was improving every day, but has not yet been out of his room.

He states that he can say, with confidence, and his books will prove, that he is straight up to the time of his suspension as any officer in the union. He considers that it is an act of unkindness towards himself by some party or parties.

If required he was willing to send an attestation of his statements, signed by the late overseer and the most influential and respectable inhabitants of the parish.

Annotated: to send copies of letters 256/1856 and 49439/1855 to the guardians and request their observations.

Paper Number: 256/1856.

Poor Law Union Number 337.

Counties: Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.