Folios 177-181. [Continued from MH 12/9364/114.] Also enclosed is a copy of a certificate,...

Folios 177-181. [Continued from MH 12/9364/114.]

Also enclosed is a copy of a certificate, from J Gardiner, Inspector of Poor, Neilston, Scotland. The document states that the John Tallons, being unable, through body infirmities to maintain himself and having acquired no legal settlement in Scotland, is hereby in virtue of his own petition, removed or forwarded to Fleetwood in England, on his way to Mansfield, the place of his birth, and as he believes, the place of his legal residence.

Also enclosed is a statement taken by Robert Weale, of Sarah Chantry, wife of George Chantry, who states that last Friday week she was going up the field near her house and she met John Tallents, who told her he had been in a damp and cold place in the workhouse. He said that he was almost starved to death with the cold and he shook very much. She advised him to make haste to his sister's house and get to the fire.

Also enclosed is a statement taken by Robert Weale, of Elizabeth Tallents, spinster, who states that she is the sister of John Tallents and that a fortnight last Saturday she applied to Mr Winter, Relieving Officer, if he could do anything for her brother. Winter asked who her brother was and she informed him that it was John, who had been before the guardians that day. Winter informed that he could do nothing but treat him as a vagrant. She asked if he could tell her brother where he belonged to, and he asked why he had not stopped where he had come from. She informed him that he had not been in one place long enough in Scotland to gain a settlement. He again told her that he do nothing but treat him as a vagrant, the guardians had told her brother, that morning, that they would not have him in the workhouse. She told him it was a hard case, he had only herself and another sister in town. Winter then told her that if the guardians issued an order to go into the house, he might do so and that as she had applied to Mr Hardwicke once, she might apply again. She states that at the interview she was treated with civility. She further states that last Saturday she applied to Winter for an order for the doctor, which he gave her, but before doing so said her brother had told Mr Linwood a lot of lies, but it would do him no good.

Also enclosed is statement taken by Robert Weale, from John Bingley, Porter of the Mansfield Poor Law Union Workhouse, who states that it was 24 June 1847 that John Tallents first applied to the workhouse. When he opened the door Tallents asked to see Mr Winter, to apply for relief. At this time, he says Tallents was in liquor, he was tipsy. He told him that Winter was not at home, if he was to call in the morning he might see him. He states he offered Tallents a night's lodging, he came into the vagrant yard, which was not filthy or dirty and did not smell badly. Tallents rapped on the door after a few minutes, saying that if this was the best accommodation I could give him, he should go away. He states he saw Tallents go out of the gate the next day, but Tallents didn't speak to him nor him to Tallents. Tallents came to the workhouse again on Saturday morning and said he was to go before the guardians, by the direction of Mr Hardwicke, one of the guardians. On the following Thursday, he states, Mr Winter came to the lodge with Tallents, who was placed in the vagrants yard, before 12noon. Mr Winter, Workhouse Master, told him to take Tallents in and set him to work. He states he went with Tallents into the yard and turned the handle of the mill and told him that was what he had to do, it was very easy work. He said that he should not, he did not say that he was suffering from severe rheumatic pains. He did not say that he was ill at all. He states that Mr Winter then asked him to work, Tallents said that he was not able. He says that he did not hear him say that if he was examined by a doctor, he would do what the doctor said. He states that he did not hear any bad language used by Mr Winter towards Tallents.

Under cross examination Bingley stated that he was not aware of any other person, who had been admitted to the workhouse had been called to turn the mill before being examined by the doctor.

He also stated that Tallents had no dinner on the Thursday Winter brought him down to the vagrant's ward, he had nothing to eat until 8pm, when he served him with supper. He states that when Tallents was placed in the vagrant's yard the door to the vagrant room was locked, it was opened at 5pm. From the time he came into yard until the vagrant's ward was opened, he had no seat, other than the privy. He stated that he thought it was 6pm on 24 June 1847 that Tallents applied to him, he doesn't know of anyone else present.

[Continued at MH 12/9364/116.]

Paper Number: 15123/B/1847.

Poor Law Union Number: 337.

Counties: Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.