Overseers of the Poor - The Old Poor Law (1601-1834)
Prior to the Poor Law Amendment Act, 1834, poor relief was administered by the parish, through their Overseers of the Poor. Their role was to raise taxes (the poor rates), relieve the poor, and keep accounts. The unemployed would be given tasks to do around the parish, or sent to ratepayers who would find them work. Most relief was “outdoor”, that is, paupers lived freely in the parish, but some parishes did have workhouses. Surviving records of the old poor law are to be found amongst the parish records. We hold old poor law records for the parishes of Sedgley and Halesowen, and these are mainly bastardy bonds, removal orders, settlement examinations and apprenticeship records. They also include some records of the Sedgley parish workhouse. Unfortunately, many poor law records for other parishes are believed to have been lost.
Background
Each parish was a self-governing body responsible for its own poor, through an overseer of the poor, from the 16th century.
The Poor Law Act, 1601, was the foundation of local poor law for over 200 years, although minor amendments were made during that time. It established the means of electing overseers of the poor; and that overseers would maintain the poor and set them to work.
The poor law was funded by a local tax (the Poor Rate) on all occupiers of houses, lands, mines etc. in the parish.
Laws enacted during the 17th century controlled settlement of the poor. Paupers could only claim settlement and, therefore, relief, in a parish if they had been born there, served an apprenticeship, held a parish office, rented a tenement of more than £10, or had employment for at least a year. If a pauper planned only a short stay (e.g. for harvest) they had to have a certificate from their own parish agreeing to take them back.
All paupers, their wives and children, from 1697, had to wear a letter “P” on their outer garments, and the initial of their parish of settlement. Refusal led to the end of relief, and possibly imprisonment, whipping or hard labour.
In the 17th and 18th centuries the poor were usually given outdoor relief. This meant that the overseer provided money, food, clothing etc to paupers in their own homes, and could find work for the able bodied poor around the parish.
An act of 1722-23 authorised parish officers to build or rent workhouse and to contract with businessmen for lodging, maintenance and employment of the poor. Anyone refusing to enter the workhouse was denied further relief. Small parishes could unite or contract with larger parishes for the provision of workhouses. The use of indoor relief in this way was originally intended mainly for the sick, the elderly and orphans.
An act of 1792/3 authorised punishment of overseers and constables for neglect of duty, and masters of apprentices for ill treatment.
The Poor Law Amendment Act, 1834, changed the system of poor relief completely.
Records
Settlement certificates and examinations - give details of family and circumstances. These are some of the most important poor law records, and gave absolute proof of the parish of legal settlement, i.e. the only parish where financial help can be gained in time of need.
Removal orders
Bastardy bonds – naming the father of an illegitimate child, and providing for the child’s maintenance.
Apprenticeship indentures – for pauper children, who could be placed with local tradespeople by the overseers. Some genuinely did learn a trade in this way, but most were only engaged in agricultural labourers or housework.
Accounts - expenses incurred by overseer in respect of the poor
Records of parish workhouses: rules; stock; provisions; accounts; inventories. Not all survive.
