POOR LAWS. 



Where there is no nomination of over- 

 seers, P. 51. on every justice of the divi- 

 sion. R. by distress from the sessions, to 

 be levied by the churchwardens and over- 

 seers. 43 Elizabeth, c. 2, s. 10. 



Parish officers, with consent of two 

 justices, shall set children to work, whose 

 parents cannot maintain them, and all 

 persons, married or single, who cannot 

 maintain themselves, and have no regu- 

 lar trade or calling ; and one justice may 

 send persons to the house of correction 

 who will not work ; and the parish offi- 

 cers, not having an excuse, to be allow- 

 ed by two justices, shall meet once in a 

 month, at least, in the church, on a Sun- 

 day after evening service, to consult. P. 

 20s. R. distress, and in default, commit- 

 ment till paid. J. 2. A. the poor. Ap. 

 sessions. Ibid. s. 1, 2, 6, 11. 



Overseers, within four days after the 

 end of their year, shall account to two 

 justices for all sums received and paid, and 

 pay over what remains to their successors; 

 who, in default, may levy it by distress, 

 under warrant of two justices ; who, in 

 default of distress, may commit till paid. 

 Ibid. s. 2, 4. 



Every parish officer, neglecting to obey 

 the regulations of the above act, P. 40s. 

 to 51 R. distress. J. 2. A. the poor. 17 

 George II. c. 38, s. 14. 



Parish officer neglecting his duty, or 

 disobeying the warrant of a justice, P. 

 40s. R. distress, and in default, commit- 

 ment not exceeding ten days. J. 2- A. 

 the poor. Ap. sessions, giving ten days 

 notice. 33 George III. c. 55, s. 1, 2. 



Rate. Parish officers shall raise, by a 

 rate on all the inhabitants, a stock of flax, 

 &c. to set the poor to work, and sums 

 for the relief of the old and lame, who 

 are not able to work, and for apprenticing 

 poor children. Rate to be made by con- 

 sent of two justices. 43 Elizabeth, c. 2, s. 1. 



Parish officers shall cause notice to be 

 given publicly in the church, of such con- 

 sent of the justices, the next Sunday; 

 and no rate shall be collected till such 

 notice is given. 17 George II. c. 3, s. 1. 

 They shall permit the inhabitants to in- 

 spect such rates at all seasonable hours, 

 on payment of Is. ; and give copies on 

 payment of 6cl. for every twenty-four 

 names. P. 20s. A. to the party ag- 

 grieved. Ibid. s. 2, 3. 



Persons aggrieved by assessment. Ap. 

 sessions. 17 George II. c. 38, s. 4. 



R. the mode of recovering it ; A. the ap- 

 plication ; Ap. the appeal ; J. 1 or 2, and 

 W. 1 or 2, justices or witnesses. 



Goods of persons refusing to pay, may 

 be distrained in any part of the countv : 

 and of any other county, on oath made 

 before a justice of such other county, 

 which oath shall be certified in the war- 

 rant. Ap. to the sessions of the county 

 where the assessment was made. Ibid. s. 7 



If two justices perceive that the inha- 

 bitants of any parish are not able to levy 

 money sufficient for the relief of the 

 poor, they shall assess any neighbouring 

 parishes within the hundred, in aid ; and 

 if the hundred shall not be of sufficient 

 ability, then any parishes within the 

 county. 43 Elizabeth, c. 2, s. 3. 



Father, grandfather, mother, or grand- 

 mother, of persons wanting relief, shall 

 maintain them ; P. 20s. per month. R. 

 distress, and, in default, commitment till 

 paid. J. 2. A. the poor. Ibid. s. 2, 11. 



Fathers leaving their wives and chil- 

 dren, and mothers their children, charge- 

 able to the parish, having ability to main- 

 tain them, the parish officers, where such 

 are left, may, by warrant of two justices, 

 seize so much of the goods and chattels, 

 or receive so much of the annual rent, as 

 such justices shall appoint, to reimburse 

 the parish ; and such order to be confirm- 

 ed by the sessions. 5 George I. c. 8. s. 1. 



Parish officers, with consent of the lord 

 of the manor, may, by order of two jus- 

 tices, erect cottages on waste lands, for 

 the poor. 43 Elizabeth, c. 2, s. 5. 



They may also, with consent of two jus- 

 tices, set up trades, Sec. for the employ- 

 ment of the poor. 3 Charles II. c. 4, s. 22. 



Relief. Parish officers, with consent of 

 the majority of the inhabitants, may con- 

 tract with any person for the lodging, 

 keeping, maintaining, and employing the 

 poor; and persons refusing such relief 

 are not entitled to any other. 9 George 

 I. c. 7, s. 4. 



The abominable oppression of this exe- 

 crable law has, however, been removed 

 by another humane statute of the present 

 reign ; for by 36 George III. c. 25, s. 1, 2, 

 3, it is enacted, that it shall be lawful for 

 the parish officers, with the approbation 

 of one justice in writing, to relieve any- 

 industrious person at his own habitation, 

 under certain circumstances of temporary 

 illness or distress ; and one justice may 

 order such relief for any time not ex- 

 ceeding one month, provided the cause 

 be written on the back of the order, 

 which the parish officers are bound to 

 obey : and two justices may continue 

 such order from time to time, each pe- 

 riod in succession not being more than 

 one month. 



