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Optional Print Course Material: English: Poor Law and Parish Chest Records
*Course material will only be sent to students who are registered in the course.
Family history is more than just collecting names, dates and places. In their efforts to recreate the lives of their ancestors, diligent researchers will follow the economic and social ups and downs of individual ancestors and of their family units. There could be considerable movement within an individual’s lifetime and certainly over a few generations. This course concerns itself mainly with the lows of life—and it is a very rare family indeed that will not have some of these. Some of your ancestors may feature in the parish administration or early ‘welfare system’ records. They may have been recipients or donors of charity, or serving their turn administering parish affairs. Equally important were those who did not need assistance but provided aid, were contracted to work or supply the church or workhouse and thus be mentioned as their accounts are rendered to the church.
This course discusses how to access records giving details of their daily lives, whether they were ‘on the parish’ or on the payroll. The highs and lows of life tend to be the best documented and material on the poor is in archives, libraries and the FamilySearch website.
Course Length: 7 weeksMODULE 1
INTRODUCTION
The Poor Law
History of the Care of the Poor
Monasteries
Early History of the Poor Law
New Poor Law
National Health Service
POOR LAW RECORDS
What will these documents tell you?
MODULE 2
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS IN THE PARISH CHEST
Parish Registers
Vestry
Churchwardens
Churchwardens or Church Rates
Tradesmen’s Agreements
Churchwardens Presentments
Other Churchwarden Activities
MODULE 3
CHARITY
Sources of Charity Income
Charity Disbursements
Tithes
Other Ecclesiastical Records
Ecclesiastical Visitations
List of Excommunicated & Absolved
Parish Magazines
Renovations of Church Buildings
Seating & Pew Rents
MODULE 4
CIVIL RECORDS IN THE PARISH CHEST
Parish Constables
Poor Law Administration
Overseers & Guardians
Poor Rates
Overseers Accounts
Billing to Parish of Settlement
Workhouse Out-Relief Accounts
Guardians Accounts & General Ledgers
Settlement
Removal Orders & Passes
Settlement Disputes
Vagrants
Vagabond Examinations
Vagabonds Passes
MODULE 5
ILLEGITIMACY
Bastardy Examinations
Bastardy Bonds
Bastardy Affiliation Orders
Bastardy Books
Putting the Story Together
Miscellaneous Bastardy Records
Orphans & Foundlings
Boarding Out Registers
Pauper Apprentices
Indexes & Lists
Apprentice Indentures
Workhouse In-Relief
Workhouse Birth & Death Registers
Workhouse Baptism & Burial Registers
Militiamen’s Dependents
Delinquent Fathers
Magistrates Orders
MODULE 6
MISCELLANEOUS POOR LAW RECORDS
Record Types
Highways
Surveyors Rates or Assessments
Open-Field Agriculture Enclosure
Land Tax
Parish Councils
Water Supply
Miscellaneous Civil Records
Historical Notes
Militia Lists & Musters
Records of Other Taxes
Relevant Acts of Parliament
How to Find Poor Law & Parish Chest Materials
Indexes to Poor Law Records
Recommended Reading & Resources