Among
Doncaster Archives’ material on Tickhill is a book containing
records of the Overseers of the Poor and the Churchwardens.
Meetings, minutes, resolutions and accounts from the 18th
Century to the mid 19th Century are contained in the
Township Book (Ref. No.: P56/6/A1). Some examples are included
here to show two aspects of the Book’s contents: first, extracts
dealing with paupers and vagrants, then those concerned with
alterations to St Mary’s Church.
30
January 1773
It is
unanimously agreed at a meeting of the Vicar, Churchwardens and
principal inhabitants of Tickhill [the last five words then have
a line through them] this Memorandum of an agreement made
amongst the principal inhabitants of Tickhill, to allow twenty
pounds, to Geo Carr’s wife and her three children, for their
passage from London into Maryland in America – As witness our
hands this Thirtieth day of Jany 1773. [Thirteen names follow]
27
April 1819
[Vestry
Meeting]
It was
resolved
1 That the
influx of persons under the description of vagrants into the
Parish of Tickhill has become such as to require that some
efficient steps be immediately taken for ye prevention thereof.
2 It was
resolved that Samuel Kemp be appointed a Special Constable with
a salary of five shillings per week for three months next
ensuing the date hereof to be paid out of the Poor Rate for the
purpose of visiting ye lodging houses each night and morning in
order that he may take and keep a written account (according to
a form given) of all persons he may find in such lodging houses
and in case he should find any vagrants to have been lodged two
successive nights in any such house he be instructed not only to
apprehend and take such vagrant before a magistrate but that he
be also instructed to lay an information against the keeper of
such lodging house in order that the penalty may be levied.
3 Resolved
that Sam Kemp be instructed to apprehend and take before a
magistrate every person that he may find begging in the Parish
or that otherwise comes under the description of a vagrant.
4 Resolved
that the Constable be desired to get struck off 200 handbills to
be distributed about this Town requesting that the inhabitants
will not only entirely refrain from giving relief at their
doors, but will also refrain from purchasing matches, tapes,
cotton balls, books &c which are usually carried about with a
view to evading the laws at the same time as exciting
charity….
28
May 1770
[Meeting in
the Parish Church between Mr Hopkinson, representing the Earl of
Scarbrough, the Vicar and 3 Churchwardens]
It is
agreed that the loft or gallery intended to be erected in the
said church shall be made as nearly as may be to the plan given
in by Mr Billington….
1
May 1826
[Vestry
Meeting attended by the Vicar, 2 Churchwardens, 3 Overseers of
the Poor and 8 others]
Resolved
1 That
the alterations of ye North Chancel and the repairs as begun be
proceeded with a shed roof and parapet wall being made instead
of a pitched roof as formerly.
2 Mr
Laughton is claiming ye property of ye said Chancel but that he
pays ye usual fees for burial there though he refuses and
objects to any alterations being made.
3 That the
Churchwardens be directed to apply to Mr Laughton to know if ye
upholding of ye said Chancel is vested in him.
4 That ye
Vicar.…write to ye Archbishop respecting the sum of money £1000
being borrowed to finish ye repairs.
5 That ye
Churchwardens be empowered to solicit subscriptions of ye owners
and proprietors of this parish towards the repairs of this
Church. Edw. H. Brooksbank, Vicar
Thanks are due to the following for permission to publish these
extracts: Doncaster Archives and the owners of the Township
Book, the Vicar, the Revd. Canon Gordon Taylor, and the
Parochial Church Council of St Mary’s, Tickhill
|