Skip to main content
Service phase: Beta

This is a new way to search our records, which we're still working on. Alternatively you can search our existing catalogue, Discovery.

Item

Kirkland Power Jackson Truswell Stenton Duckenfield Marriott Watkinson Duckenfield...

Catalogue reference: MH 12/9531/149

What’s it about?

This record is about the Kirkland Power Jackson Truswell Stenton Duckenfield Marriott Watkinson Duckenfield... dating from 6 January 1857 in the series Local Government Board and predecessors: Correspondence with Poor Law Unions and.... It is held at The National Archives, Kew.

Access information is unavailable

Sorry, information for accessing this record is currently unavailable online. Please try again later.

Full description and record details

Reference
MH 12/9531/149
Date
6 January 1857
Description
Name(s)
Kirkland, John William Mr Mr Mr Elizabeth Thomas John Elizabeth Joseph George Mr William Golden
Power, John William Mr Mr Mr Elizabeth Thomas John Elizabeth Joseph George Mr William Golden
Jackson, John William Mr Mr Mr Elizabeth Thomas John Elizabeth Joseph George Mr William Golden
Truswell, John William Mr Mr Mr Elizabeth Thomas John Elizabeth Joseph George Mr William Golden
Stenton, John William Mr Mr Mr Elizabeth Thomas John Elizabeth Joseph George Mr William Golden
Duckenfield, John William Mr Mr Mr Elizabeth Thomas John Elizabeth Joseph George Mr William Golden
Marriott, John William Mr Mr Mr Elizabeth Thomas John Elizabeth Joseph George Mr William Golden
Watkinson, John William Mr Mr Mr Elizabeth Thomas John Elizabeth Joseph George Mr William Golden
Duckenfield, John William Mr Mr Mr Elizabeth Thomas John Elizabeth Joseph George Mr William Golden
Spencer, John William Mr Mr Mr Elizabeth Thomas John Elizabeth Joseph George Mr William Golden
Harrison, John William Mr Mr Mr Elizabeth Thomas John Elizabeth Joseph George Mr William Golden
Allwood, John William Mr Mr Mr Elizabeth Thomas John Elizabeth Joseph George Mr William Golden
Lumley, John William Mr Mr Mr Elizabeth Thomas John Elizabeth Joseph George Mr William Golden
Occupation
Clerk to the Guardians of the Southwell Union
auditor
Clerk to the Guardians of the Sheffield Union
relieving officer
Places mentioned
North Searle, Yorkshire West Riding
Ompton
Corporations
Poor Law Board
Newark Union
Sheffield Union
Content
Folios 163-172. Letter from John Kirkland, Clerk to the Guardians of the Southwell Union, to the Poor Law Board. He acknowledges a letter of 12 December 1856 with regard to William Power's audit of the accounts, and the surcharge of £1:19:0 made on Mr Jackson, Mr Truswell and Mr Stenton, guardians, over a cheque signed from the Newark Union non-resident account for the pauper Elizabeth Duckenfield. It appears she was removed from North Searle in the Newark Union in July 1853 to the Sheffield Union [Yorkshire West Riding]. The then clerk, Thomas Marriott, asked the Sheffield Union to pay her weekly relief, but neglected to inform the Newark Union of the change so that double relief began to be paid. It is noted that the Board failed to notice the overcharge for 'so long a period', and that the auditor has overlooked it and passed the accounts. The mistake was discovered by the Ompton guardian and pointed out to the present clerk; whereupon the Southwell Board remonstrated with the Newark Union for their long oversight. It is felt unfair to charge the 3 guardians for an amount they innocently thought was correct, and so long allowed by the auditor.The letter is accompanied by some copies of relevant correspondence:
  • Date: 14 July 1853: from Thomas Marriott, Clerk to the Guardians of the Southwell Union: to: John Watkinson, Clerk, Sheffield: content: requesting weekly payment of 1/6 to widow Elizabeth Duckenfield who is to reside with her daughter in Harvest Lane, Sheffield. Place it to the account of this Union - Settlement Ompton.
  • Date: 28 July 1853: from Thomas Marriott: to: John Watkinson: content: states Elizabeth Duckenfield has received non-resident relief before. The Southwell board always pays expenses incurred by non-resident poor belonging to this union, and authorised to be paid by other unions. No expense will be charged to Sheffield.
  • Date: 26 Sept 1856: from: John Kirkland: to: Joseph Spencer, Sheffield: content: regarding Elizabeth Duckenfield and settlement Ompton. Notes this pauper has been receiving weekly relief on their non-settled list for some time, and also from the non-settled list of the Newark Union stating her residence as North Searle. Presumes an error and requests enquiries into the matter.
  • Date: 26 Sept 1856: from: John Kirkland: to: George Harrison, Newark: content: similar letter as above, requesting enquiries into the matter.
  • Date: 3 Oct 1856: from: Joseph Spencer, Clerk to the Guardians of the Sheffield Union: to: John Kirkland: content: Claims he has visited Elizabeth Duckenfield who has lived in Ompton a long time and been paid relief on the Southwell Union account. She states she visited North Searle and discovered that the relieving officer there was paying the relief previously given to her before leaving the Newark Union to a man claiming to receive it for her. Therefore the fault must lie with the relieving officer.
  • Date: 22 October 1856: from George Harrison, Clerk: to: John Kirkland: content: states he has spoken to the relieving officer who claims the relief was paid regularly until it was recently discovered the pauper now resided in Sheffield. Claims it was paid to a Mr Allwood, deputised to collect it by Duckenfield to save her the trouble of going herself. As it was paid regularly and 'repaid without any Comment' it was thought to be all right. Payment was stopped as soon as the fraud was uncovered.
  • Date: 26 November 1856: f They acknowledge John Kirkland: to: George Harrison: content: enquires how long has the relieving officer been paying the pauper's relief to Allwood; and if he alone has reaped the benefits of the fraud. Also stresses the position of the relieving officer in the blame for the matter as he is supposed to visit the non-settled poor in his district, and as Duckenfield left the area 3 years ago, the fraud has been going on a long time. The matter is to be investigated, and the 19/6 charged on the non-settlement account to Michaelmas last not allowed.
  • Date: 3 December 1856: from: George Harrison: to: John Kirkland: content: the Newark board of guardians have looked into the matter fully and found payment to Allwood was made regularly and kept for his own use. They accept their relieving officer was neglectful in not visiting the pauper's residence; but also blame Thomas Marriott for not noticing the double relief and calling attention to the case. He offers every assistance in further enquiry, but declines to refund any money repaid.
There are detailed annotated notes:9 January 1857: to point out the proper way to appeal. Also to write to the Newark guardians for their observations and to request a written explanation from the relieving officer specifying various dates.10 January 1857: 'WGL'[William Golden Lumley], to add that the Board think the guardians should ascertain if fraud was committed by the pauper or Allwood so that a prosecution can be made.A note suggesting fraud may have been committed by the Newark relieving officer.
Held by
The National Archives, Kew
Legal status
Public Record(s)
Language
English
Closure status
Open Document, Open Description
Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/C9726853/

Series information

MH 12

Local Government Board and predecessors: Correspondence with Poor Law Unions and...

See the series level description for more information about this record.

View series description

Catalogue hierarchy

Over 27 million records

This record is held at The National Archives, Kew

378,368 records

Within the department: MH

Records created or inherited by the Ministry of Health and successors, Local Government...

90,136 records

Within the series: MH 12

Local Government Board and predecessors: Correspondence with Poor Law Unions and...

615 records

Within the piece: MH 12/9531

Southwell 341. (Described at item level).

You are currently looking at the item: MH 12/9531/149

Kirkland Power Jackson Truswell Stenton Duckenfield Marriott Watkinson Duckenfield...

Related records

Records that share similar topics with this record.