- The Law -
Churchwardens of every parish shall oversee the poor in their
parish. They shall, with consent of the Justices of the Peace, set
to work children whose parents cannot maintain them and also set
to work married or unmarried persons who have no trade and no
means to maintain themselves. Churchwardens shall tax every
inhabitant, including parson and vicar and every occupier of land
and houses as they shall think fit. There will be a convenient
stock of flax, hemp, wool, thread, iron and other necessary ware
and stuff to set the poor on work. There will be competent sums of
money for the relief of the lame, impotent, old, blind, and others
not able to work, and also for the putting out of children to be
apprentices. Child apprentices may be bound until 21 years of age
or until time of marriage. They shall account to the Justices of
the Peace for all money received and paid. The penalty for absence
or neglect is 20s. If any parish cannot raise sufficient funds,
the Justices of the Peace may tax other nearby parishes to pay,
and then the hundred, and then the county. Grandparents, parents,
and children of every poor, old, blind, lame, or impotent person
not able to work, being of sufficient ability, shall at their own
charge, relieve and maintain every such poor person in that manner
and according to that rate as Justices of the Peace of that county
determine, or forfeit 20s.
Pages:
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744