Because prisoners often died before trial and the poor prisoners
became instructed in the practice of thievery in prison, they were
set to work on materials provided to them at public expense. No
parish was rated at more than 6d. per week for such. The president
and governors of corporations oversaw rogues, vagrants, sturdy
beggars, and idle or disorderly persons working in corporations or
workhouses.
Assessments were made for building and repairing gaols in order to
maintain the health and safe custody of the prisoners. Also, gaol
fever, a virulent form of typhus, was so prevalent in the large
prisons for criminals and debtors that it frequently spread
through the adjacent towns. During some assizes, it killed
sheriffs, lawyers, and justices.
In 1692, London lands were taxed for the relief of orphans.
Churchwardens could seize the goods and chattels of putative
fathers and mothers deserting bastard children.
From 1691 to 1740, Societies for the Reformation of Manners
prosecuted poor people for moral offenses.
All hackney coaches and stage coaches in all the realm became
required to be licensed. The turnpike system came into use. Tolls
were paid for road upkeep and repair by private companies. The
local parishes ceased to have this responsibility. John Ogilby
wrote the first road book based on actual surveys of the roads.
Stage coaches cost a shilling for every five miles and went 40-50
miles a day.
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