Ancestry UK

Anno Regni GEORGII III. Vicesimo Secundo.

CAP. LXXXIII.

An Act for the better Relief and Employment of the Poor. [1782.]

"I. WHEREAS notwithstanding the many Laws now in being for the Relief and Employment of the Poor, and the great Sums of Money raised for those Purposes, their Sufferings and Distresses are nevertheless every grievous; and, by the Incapacity, Negligence, or Misconduct of Overseers, the Money raised for the Relief of the Poor is frequently misapplied, and sometimes expended in defraying the Charges of Litigations about Settlements indiscreetly and unadvisedly carried on;

And whereas, by a Clause in an Act, passed in the ninth Year of the Reign of King George the First, intituled, An Act for the Amendment of the Laws relating to the Settlement, Employment, and Relief of the Poor, Power is given to the Churchwardens and Overseers, in the Manner therein mentioned, to purchase or hire Houses, and contract with any Person for the Lodging, Keeping, Maintaining, and Employing the Poor, and taking the Benefit of their Work, Labour, and Service, for their Maintenance; and, where any Parish, Town, or Township, should be found too small, to unite two or more for those Purposes, with the Consent of the major Part of the Parishioners or Inhabitants, and the Approbation of a Justice of Peace; which Provisions, from the Want of proper Regulations and Management in the Poor Houses or Workhouses that have been purchased or hired under the Authority of the said Act, and for Want of due Inspection and Controul over the Persons who have engaged in those Contracts, have not had the desired Effect, but the Poor, in many Places, instead of finding Protection and Relief, have been much oppressed thereby;"
For Remedy of these Grievances and Inconveniences, and in order to make better and more effectual Provision for the Relief and Employment of the Poor, and to introduce a prudent Oeconomy in the Expenditure of the Parish Money; may it please your Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That from and after the twenty-fifth Day of March, which shall be in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, so much of the said Clause as respects the maintaining or hiring out the Labour of the Poor by Contract, within any Parish, Township, or Place, which shall adopt the Provisions of this Act, shall be, and is hereby repealed, and every Contract or Agreement made in pursuance thereof, for either of those Purposes, shall become, and is hereby declared to be, null and void.

II. Provided nevertheless, and be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the Visitor and Guardian, or Visitors and Guardians, appointed as hereafter mentioned, of any Parish, Township, or Place, or Parishes, Townships, and Places, which shall have adopted the Provisions, and complied with the Requisites of this Act, and shall have a Visitor appointed, from Time to Time to make Agreements with any Person or Persons for the Diet or Cloathing of such poor Persons who shall be sent to the House or Houses to be provided under the Authority of this Act, and for the Work and Labour of such poor Persons, so that no such Agreement shall be made for any longer Time than twelve Months, and so that the same shall be, and every such Agreement is hereby declared to be, under the strictest Inspection and Controul of the Visitor, Guardian, and Governor of such Poor House, and also of the Justices of the Peace for the Limit where such Poor House shall be; two of which Justices, upon Proof of any Abuse, shall have Power to dissolve such Contract.

III. And be it further enacted, That whenever two third Parts, in Number and Value, according to the Poor Rate, of the Owners or Occupiers of Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments, within any Parish, Township, or Place, qualified as hereafter mentioned, shall, at any Time after the passing this Act, at a publick Meeting to be holden pursuant to the Directions of this Act, signify their Approbation of the Provisions herein contained, and their Desire to adopt them, in the Form contained in the Schedule hereunto annexed, No. I, and shall at such Meeting nominate and recommend to the Consideration of the Justices of the Peace of the County, Riding, Division, District, City, Town, or Place, where such Meeting shall be holden, three able and discreet Persons qualified for Guardians of the Poor for such Parish, Township, or Place, and three other fit and proper Persons qualified to be Governors of the Poor House for such Parish, Township, or Place, and fix the Salaries to be paid to such Guardian and Governor respectively, and shall procure the Consent and Approbation of two Justices of the Peace acting for that Limit, to such Agreement and Salaries, by Writing under their Hands, in the Forms contained in the Schedule, No. II, and shall cause such Agreement the be registered pursuant to the Direction of this Act; every such Parish, Township, or Place, shall from that Time be entitled to all the Benefits, Privileges, Powers, Authorities, and Advantages, which can arise or be derived from this Act.

IV. And be it further enacted, That where two third Parts, in Number and Value as aforesaid, of the Owners or Occupiers of Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments, within two or more Parishes, Townships, or Places, so qualified as aforesaid, shall think fit, with such Approbation as aforesaid, signified in like Manner under the Hands of two Justices of the Peace, and subscribed at the Foot of the said Agreement, in the Form expressed in the said Schedule, No. II, at the End of the Form of the said Agreement, to unite for the Purposes of this Act, and shall signify their Inclination and Desire so to do at a publick Meeting holden in each of such Parishes, Townships, and Places, in the Manner herein-before directed concerning a single Parish, in the Form contained in the said Schedule, No. III, an Agreement shall, as soon as conveniently may be after such publick Meetings shall have been holden, be enacted into by the Guardians of the Poor of every such Parish, Township, and Place respectively, or the major Part of them, in the Form or to the Effect set forth in the said Schedule, No. IV, which Agreement shall be binding upon the several Parties; and every such Agreement shall specify the Place where such House or Houses shall be situate, and the Terms upon which such Agreement is made, and shall be entered with the Clerk of the Peace or Town Clerk of the County, City, Town, or District, in which such Parishes, Townships, or Places, shall be situate, and a Copy thereof lest with him within three Calendar Months after the Time of making such Agreement, in the Form or to the Effect mentioned in the said Schedule, No. V, for which Entry every such Clerk shall receive one Shilling, and no more; and from that Time every such Parish, Township, and Place, so agreed to be united, shall be entitled to all the Benefits, Privileges, Powers, Authorities, and Advantages, which can arise or be derived from this Act.

V. Provided nevertheless, and be it further enacted, That no Parish, Township, Hamlet, or Place, which shall be situate more than ten Miles from any Poor House or Workhouse to be provided under the Authority of this Act, shall be permitted to be united, for the Purposes aforesaid, with the Parishes, Townships, Hamlets, and Places, which shall establish such Poor House or Workhouse.

VI. And be it further enacted, That the Notice for every publick Meeting directed by this Act, shall be given in the Church or Chapel of every such Parish, Township, or Place, on three successive Sundays before the Time of such Meeting, immediately after Divine Service, or on such of the said Sundays as Service shall be performed there, and also fixed in Writing on such Church or Chapel Door, or if no Church or Chapel, at some publick Place within any such Parish, Township, or Place, where Notices of Parish Business have been usually given, fifteen Days at least before he Day to be appointed for such Meeting, in the Form or to the Effect mentioned in the said Schedule, No. VI;
and that no Person shall vote at any publick Meeting to be holden for the Purposes of this Act, unless he or she shall be the Owner or Occupier of Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments, which shall be assessed to the Poor's Rates, within such Parish, Township, or Place, after the Rate of five Pounds per Annum, at the least; nor shall any such Person vote as Occupier, unless he or she shall be assessed or pay to such Poor's Rates: Provided always, That in all Parishes, Townships, or Places, wherein there shall not be ten Persons possessed of the Qualification aforesaid, it shall and may be lawful for every Person who shall be assessed, or shall pay to such Poor's Rates, to vote at every such Meeting.

VII. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for two Justices of the Peace of the Limit where such Poor House shall be, or be so agreed to be situated, and they are hereby required, as soon as conveniently may be after such Agreement shall have been made as aforesaid, upon Application to them by two or more of the Persons who shall have signed such Agreement, and upon producing the same to them, to appoint one of the Persons so recommended to be Guardian of the Poor for each of such Parishes, Townships, and Places, in the Form contained in the said Schedule, No. VII, or to that or the like Effect;
and every such Guardian shall attend the Monthly Meetings hereby directed to be holden, and execute the several Powers and Authorities given to Guardians by this Act, and shall have, and is hereby invested with, all the Powers and Authorities given to Overseers of the Poor by any other Act or Acts of Parliament, and shall to all Intents and Purposes, except with regard to the making and collecting of Rates, be an Overseer of the Poor for the Parish or Township for which he shall be so appointed Guardian, and shall be liable to such Forfeitures and Penalties for Neglect of Duty as Overseers of the Poor are mad liable to by this or any other Act of Parliament; and all Notices or Applications directed by this or any other Act of Parliament to be given or made to the Overseers of the Poor, with respect to the Care and Management or Removal of the Poor, shall be given and made to the Guardian of the Poor, where any such Guardian shall be appointed under the Authority of this Act; but in case any Orders of Removal or Notices shall happen, by Mistake, to be given or sent to the Churchwarden or Overseer, the same shall be as valid and effectual as if given to the Guardian; and such Churchwarden or Overseer shall, and is hereby required forthwith to deliver the same to the Guardian, or shall forfeit forty Shillings for his Neglect: And in all Cases where such Guardian of the Poor shall be appointed as aforesaid, neither the Churchwardens or Overseers of the Poor shall interfere or intermeddle in the Care and Management of the Poor, but shall continue to have and be invested with the same Powers of making and collecting Poor's Rates as they have at present, and shall be subject to the like Penalties for Neglect or Misbehaviour in making and collecting such Rates as they were at the Time of passing this Act.

VIII. And be it further enacted, That from and after the Appointment of such Guardian as aforesaid, one or more of the Churchwardens or Overseers of the Poor of every Parish, Township, or Place, which shall adopt the Provisions of this Act, who shall be approved at some publick Meeting to be holden as aforesaid, shall receive the Money to be collected by virtue of such Poor's Rates, and apply the same in Manner following;
(that is to say,) If such Parish, Township, or Place, shall not be united with any other by virtue of this Act, such Churchwarden or Overseer shall pay to the Guardian of the Poor such Sums, from Time to Time, as he shall have Occasion to employ for the Purposes of discharging the Bills, and all other necessary Expences attending such House or Houses, and the Poor belonging to such Parish, Township, or Place, and shall take Receipts from such Guardian for all the Money so paid, expressing in every such Receipt the Purposes for which such Money is wanted; and if the said Parish, Township, or Place, shall be united with any other Parish, Township, or Place, by virtue of this Act, such Churchwarden or Overseer shall pay, from Time Time, to the Treasurer of such united Parishes, Townships, or Places, their due Proportion and Quota of the several Expences attending the Poor and Poor House therein, under the Authority and according to the Direction of this Act, and take his Receipts for such Money; or, if it shall be found more convenient, he shall permit such Treasurer, from Time to Time, to draw Drafts upon him for such Money, in the Form contained in the said Schedule, No. VIII, and pay the same when they become due, specifying in every such Receipt and Draft the general Purposes for which such Money is to be applied; all which Payments so to be respectively made, shall be allowed to the said Churchwarden or Overseer, in his Accounts with the Parish, Township, or Place, wherein such Money shall be raised; and the Accounts, as well of the said Churchwarden or Overseer, as of the said Guardian, shall be examined at every Monthly Meeting, and shall be examined and passed quarterly by the Visitor of such Poor House, after they shall have been verified upon Oath before a Justice or the Peace.

IX. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for two or more Justices of the Peace for the Limit wherein such Poor House shall be situate, and they are hereby required, as soon as conveniently may be after such Agreement shall have been made as aforesaid for adopting the Provisions of this Act, either by a single Parish or Township, or by two or more Parishes or Townships, upon Application made to them by two or more of the Persons who shall have signed such Agreement, and upon producing the same to them, to appoint one of the Persons recommended for Governor of such Poor House (in the Form contained in the said Schedule, No. VII, or to that or the like Effect), who shall have the Care, Management, and Employment of the Poor Persons to be sent thither, and shall be allowed such Salary or Wages for his Trouble as shall be specified in the said Agreement; and it shall and may be lawful for the Visitor of such Poor House, with the Consent of the Guardians, or the major Part of them, or for two or more Justices of the Peace for such Limit where a Guardian shall be Visitor, to remove the Governor of such Poor House, upon Complaint, and sufficient Proof, of Misbehaviour or Incapacity in the Execution of his Office.

X. And be it further enacted, That the Guardians of the Poor for the several Parishes and Townships which shall be so united as aforesaid, shall meet as soon as conveniently may be after such Agreement shall have been made, to consider of three proper Persons, respectable in Character and Fortune, fit to be put in Nomination for the Office of Visitor of such Poor House; and two or more of such Guardians shall, as soon as conveniently may be after such Meeting, apply to two Justices of the Peace acting for the Limit wherein such Poor House shall be, and produce to them the said Agreement, and the Names of the Persons whom they shall desire to recommend; which Justices shall then, or within three Days after, appoint one of such Persons so recommended to be Visitor, in the Form contained in the said Schedule, No. VII, or to that or the like Effect; but if he shall refuse to accept that Office, they shall then appoint one other of the Persons so named; and if he shall decline it, they shall appoint the third Person named in such List; and if he shall decline it, the Guardians of the said several Parishes, Townships, and Places shall, and they are hereby required to serve that Office Monthly by Rotation, subject to the Controul of the Justices of the Limit where such Poor House shall be;
And every such Visitor, if not a Guardian, is hereby authorised to nominate some discreet and proper Person to be his Deputy or Assistant, if he shall think fit, in the Form contained in the said Schedule, No. IX; and every such Deputy or Assistant shall, in the Absence of such Visitor, and under his Direction, act as Inspector of the several Matters so committed to the Care of the Visitor, and shall make his Report thereof, from Time to Time, to him, for his better Information, and render him all the Assistance in his Power: And every Visitor so to be appointed shall superintend every such House or Houses, and settle and adjust the Accounts between the said Guardians of the Poor and the Treasurer of such House, if any Question or Dispute shall arise respecting the same; and also shall settle and adjust all Doubts and Questions which may arise concerning the Persons which ought to be sent to such House or Houses, according to the Intention of this Act, and by every prudent Means in his Power enforce and promote the Rules, Orders, Regulations, Directions, and Provisions established, enacted, and formed by and under this Act, for the better Accommodation and Relief of the Poor, and the preventing all unnecessary Expences and Burthens on the said Parishes, Townships, and Places;
And every such Governor, Guardian, and Treasurer, is hereby required to observe and obey the Directions which he shall from Time to Time receive from the Visitor so to be appointed, touching the several Matters aforesaid: And, where any Act shall be required to be done by a Justice of Peace, such Visitor, if not a Justice, or his Deputy or Assistant, shall apply to some neighbouring Magistrate to do the same: And every Person to be nominated or appointed Visitor or Deputy Visitor as aforesaid, as an Inducement to his undertaking and executing that Office, shall be freed and discharged from serving the Office of Constable, and all parochial Offices, and also from serving upon Juries at the Assizes or Quarter Sessions, so long as he shall continue in that Office; and a Certificate under the Hand of a Justice of the Peace acting for the Limit wherein he executes such Office, in the Form contained in the said Schedule, No. X, shall be admitted as Evidence of his serving the Office.

XI. And be it further enacted, That if two-thirds, in Number and Value as aforesaid, of the Owners or Occupiers of Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments, within any single Parish, Township, or Place, which shall adopt the Provisions of this Act in Manner aforesaid, shall desire to have a Visitor appointed, and shall nominate and recommend to the Justices of the Limit three Persons properly qualified for that Office, the Justices, upon Application to them in Manner aforesaid, shall appoint one or the Persons so recommended, in the Manner herein-before directed concerning Parishes, Townships, and Places so united as aforesaid.

XII. And be it further enacted, That the Guardians of the several Parishes and Townships united for the Purposes of this Act, shall recommend to the Justices one of their own Body to be Treasurer of the Poor House; and it shall and may be lawful for two Justices of the Limit to appoint the Guardian to recommended, or any other of the Guardians whom they shall think better qualified, to that Office, in the Form contained in the said Schedule, No. VII, or to that or the like Effect;
which Treasurer shall give sufficient Security to the Satisfaction of the Justices, to the other Guardians, and their Successors, for his duly accounting for the Money which shall come to his Hands; and shall keep the Accounts, receive the Money to be contributed by each Parish and Township, and pay or discharge the several Bills and Expences which shall be allowed and ordered to be paid by the Guardians, at their Monthly Meeting; and shall lay his Accounts before the Guardians, at every such Meeting, for their Perusal and Approbation; and shall, once in every Year, within fourteen Days before the Michaelmas Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the County, Riding, Division, City, or Place, where such Poor House shall be situate, make out, or cause to be made out, a just and fair Account of the Expences attending the same, distinguishing them under the several Heads herein specified; and also an Account of the Number of poor Persons, distinguishing their Age and Sex, with shall be contained in every such House at the Time of making such Account, and how they have been employed, and how such Money hath been earned by the Labour of the Poor in the Year preceding; which shall be laid before the Visitor, and signified under his Hand, if he approves the same, and shall afterwards be transmitted to the Clerk of the Peace, or Town Clerk, of such County, Riding, Division, City, or Place, before or at the Time of the said Quarter Sessions, and be by him laid before the Court there for their Inspection: And every such Treasurer shall be allowed, for his Trouble in executing that Office, such annual Sum, not exceeding ten Pounds, as the Visitor, if not a Guardian, shall think fit; and if no such Visitor, as two Justices of the Peace for the Limit shall appoint.

XIII. And be it further enacted, That when and as often as any Vacancy shall happen in any of the Offices aforesaid, by Death, Resignation, or Removal, Meetings shall be called, and Recommendations offered to the Justices in Manner aforesaid; and they shall proceed, so soon as conveniently may be, in the Manner before directed, to appoint a fit and proper Successor to the Person so dying, declining to act, or so removed as aforesaid.

XIV. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That the Offices of Guardian, Governor, Visitor, or Treasurer, to which any Person shall be appointed under the Authority of this Act, shall determine in Easter Week next after the respective Persons shall be appointed thereto, on the Day upon which the publick Meeting for such Parish, Township, or Place, shall be held there; when the Persons, who, according to this Act, are qualified and have a Right to recommend another Person to the Justices, to be appointed to such Office, shall either agree with the Persons who held the same to continue in such Office, or shall proceed to recommend others, in the Manner herein-before directed, as if such Person had died.

XV. And be it further enacted, That if within any such Limit as aforesaid, wherein any Poor House shall be situate, there shall happen to be no acting Justice, or only one acting Justice of the Peace, or if the Justice or Justices of the Peace who usually act in that Limit shall be absent, or by any Means incapacitated to act, it shall and may be lawful for any Justice or Justices of any other Limit to act in all such Cases.

XVI. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the Justices of the Peace, within their respective Limits, to appoint Special or Privy Sessions for executing the several Powers and Purposes of this Act, causing proper Notices to be given of the Time and Place of holding the same, to the several Justices of the Peace, Peace Officers, and Guardians of the Poor, within such respective Limits; and also to adjourn any such Privy Sessions, to be again holden at such Time and Place as they shall judge most proper for discharging the Business required by this Act, and such other Business which may happen to fall under their Cognizance, so as to occasion the least Trouble to themselves, and to afford the greatest Convenience and Accommodation to the Publick, causing the like Notices to be given of every such Adjournment.

XVII. And be it further enacted, That the Guardians of the Poor of the several Parishes, Townships, and Places, which shall adopt the Provisions of this Act, shall provide a suitable and convenient House or Houses, with proper Buildings and Accommodations thereto, when wanted, either by erecting new ones on Land to be purchased or rented by them for that Purpose, altering old ones, or hiring Buildings for the Purpose; and shall fit up and dispose the same, with the Advice and Approbation of the Visitor, if any, in such Manner as shall be most conducive to the general Purposes of this Act, at the Expence of such Parish or Township, or Parishes, Townships, and Places respectively, in the Proportions herein-after mentioned; and shall provide such Utensils and Materials as they shall think necessary for their Employment, according to the true Intent and Meaning of this Act.

XVIII. And be it further enacted, That the several Poor Houses or Workhouses to be built or provided under the Authority of this Act, shall be situate within the Parish or Township for which they shall be used, if single Parishes or Townships, and if several Parishes or Townships shall be united for the Purposes of this Act, they shall be built or provided within one of the Parishes or Townships so to be united, and not in any other Parish, Township, or Place, without the Consent of three fourth Parts, in Number and Value as aforesaid, of such Owners or Occupiers of Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments, within the same, first had and obtained, qualified as herein-before mentioned, who shall be assembled at a publick Meeting to be holden in the Manner, and upon the like Notice, herein-before directed for publick Meetings.

XIX. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That all the Houses, Buildings, and Lands, to be hired or rented under the Authority of this Act, shall be hired or rented in such Manner, for such Term or Terms, and on such Conditions, as are specified in the Form of Agreement contained in he said Schedule, No. IV; and all such Houses, Buildings, and Lands, shall be free from all parochial and parliamentary Taxes, except such Taxes, and to such Amount, as they were assessed at the Time they were first taken and applied for the Purposes of this Act.

XX. And be it further enacted, That when any such Buildings shall be agreed to be erected, repaired, or fitted up, at the Expence of the Parish, Township, or Place, or Parishes, Townships, or Places, which shall adopt the Provisions of this Act as aforesaid, the Expences thereof, and of the Purchase of the Land necessary to be used for that Purpose, shall be paid by the Guardians of the Poor of such Parish, Township, or Place, or of the Parishes, Townships, and Places, where they shall unite for those Purposes, in the Proportions to be settled and adjusted by the Persons, and in the Manner, directed by the Agreement to be made as aforesaid;
and that it shall and may be lawful for the Visitor and Guardian of the Poor of any such Parish, Township, or Place, when such Expences, or their Proportion thereof, shall amount to one hundred Pounds or upwards, to borrow the same at Interest, and secure such Money by a Charge upon the Poor's Rates of such Parish, Township, or Place, in Sums not exceeding fifty Pounds each, for the greater Ease in discharging the same, in the Form contained in the said Schedule, No. XI, or to that or the like Effect; which Charge shall continue upon the said Rates until the Money so borrowed, and all Interest for the same, shall be fully paid and satisfied: And the said Guardians and their Successors shall, and they are hereby required duly to pay and keep down the Interest of such Money so to be borrowed, for the Use of their respective Parishes or Townships, as the same shall become due; and that when the Principal shall be called for, they may borrow it from some other Person or Persons, and the lame shall be secured to the Person advancing the same, by an Assignment of such Security indorsed on the Back thereof, in the Form contained in the said Schedule, No. XIV, or to that or the like Effect: And that the Poor's Assessments shall continue at the same Rate they were when such Poor House was first established under the Authority of this Act, until the Debt so contracted, and the Interest thereof, shall be fully discharged: And that the said Visitor and Guardian, in order to expedite such Payments, shall, as soon as the Savings in the Poor's Accounts shall amount to a Sum sufficient to pay off and discharge one of the Sums which shall have been borrowed, pay off and discharge such Sum, and in like Manner as to all succeeding Savings, until the whole Debt so contracted and secured shall be discharged.

XXI. And be it further enacted, That the Visitor and Guardian for the Time being of every Parish, Township, and Place, or of the several Parishes, Townships, and Places which shall be so united as aforesaid, from and after they shall respectively have adopted the Provisions of this Act, shall be, and are hereby respectively declared to be one Body Politick and Corporate, and be called by the Name of
Visitor and Guardian, or Visitors and Guardians, of the Poor for the Parish, Township, or Place of in the County, &c. of       or of the united Parishes, Townships, or Places of       and       in the County, &c. of as the Case shall be; and are hereby authorised and enacted by that Name to sue and be sued, and to accept, take, and hold, by Purchase or Lease, any Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments of Inheritance, or for Lives or Years, or for Years determinable on the Death of any Life or Lives, not exceeding in any City or Town one Acre, and not exceeding in the open Country twenty Acres of Statute Measure, for the Scite of a House or Houses to be built, and for Lands to be occupied, for the Purposes of this Act; and the said Corporation is also hereby authorised and enabled to accept, take, and hold, all voluntary Grants and Donations of Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments of Inheritance, or for Lives or Years, or for Years determinable on Lives, or of personal Property, which shall be made to them for the Use and Benefit of the Poor within such respective Parishes, Townships, or Places.

XXII. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for all Bodies Politick, Corporate, or Collegiate, Corporations Aggregate or Sole, Husbands, Guardians, Trustees, Feoffees in Trust, Committees, Executors, Administrators, and all other Trustees whatsoever, not only for and on Behalf of themselves, their Heirs and Successors, but also for and on Behalf of their Cestuique Trusts, whether Infants, Issue unborn, Lunaticks, Idiots, Femes-covert, or other Person or Persons, and to and for all Femes-covert, who are or shall be seised, possessed of, or interested in their own Right, and to and for every other Person and Persons whomsoever, who are or shall be seised, possessed of, or interested in any Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments, which shall be necessary to be purchased or rented for the Purposes of this Act, to contract for, sell, and convey, or lease the same, or any Part thereof, in Manner aforesaid, not exceeding the Quantity aforesaid, unto the said Visitor and Guardians, their Successors and Assigns, or to such Person or Persons as they shall nominate and appoint, for the Use and Benefit of such Poor House, and the poor Persons within such Parishes, Townships, and Places respectively, and for all other the Purposes of this Act.

XXIII. And be it further enacted, That all Sums of Money which are to be paid to any Bodies Politick, Corporate, or Collegiate, Corporations Aggregate or Sole, Feoffees in Trust, Executors, Administrators, Husbands, Guardians, Committees, or other Trustees whatsoever, for or on Behalf of any Infant, Lunatick, Idiot, Feme-covert, or other Cestuique Trust, or to any Person or Persons whose Lands are limited in strict Settlement, for the Purchase of any Lands or Buildings as aforesaid, shall, in case the same exceed the Sum of twenty Pounds, by such Bodies Politick, Corporate, or Collegiate, Corporations Aggregate or Sole, Feoffees in Trust, Executors, Administrators, Husbands, Guardians, Committees, or other Trustees, Person or Persons seised of Lands or Buildings so limited in strict Settlement, be laid out, as soon as conveniently may be in the Purchase of Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, in Fee-simple, and conveyed to or to the Use of such Bodies Politick, Corporate, or Collegiate, Corporations Aggregate or Sole, Feoffees in Trust, Executors, Administrators, Husbands, Guardians, Committees, or other Trustees, or to and for such other Person or Persons, and for such Estates, and to, for, upon, and subject to such Uses, Trusts, Limitations, Remainders, and Contingencies, as the Lands for or in respect whereof such Purchase Money shall be so paid as aforesaid were limited, settled, and assured, at the Time such Purchase was made, or so many of such Uses as shall be then existing, and capable of taking Effect; such Purchases and Settlements to be made at the Expence of the respective Parish, or of the several Parishes so uniting, in the Proportions aforementioned, and charged by the respective Guardians of such Parishes, together with the Purchase Money, in their Accounts; and in the mean Time, and until such Purchase or Purchases shall be made, the said Money shall be placed out by such Bodies Politick, Corporate, or Collegiate, Corporations Aggregate or Sole, Feoffees in Trust, Executors, Administrators, Husbands, Guardians, Committees, or other Trustees, Person or Persons, in some of the publick Funds, of on Government or real Security, in the Name of two or more Persons, the one to be named by the Party or Parties interested therein, and the other by the Guardian, if it respects a single Parish only, and by the Visitor, if it respects several Parishes, Townships, or Places, so united as aforesaid; and the Interest arising and to be produced from such Funds or Securities, and also the annual Rent, where the said Premises shall be rented, shall be paid to such Person or Persons respectively as would, for the Time being, be entitled to the Rents and Profits of such Lands or Buildings so to be purchased and settled, pursuant to the Tenor and true Meaning of this Act.

XXIV. And be it further enacted, That the poor Persons who shall be sent to every such House, by virtue and under the Authority of this Act, shall be maintained therein at the general Expence of the respective Parishes, Townships, and Places, so adopting the Provisions of this Act as aforesaid, according to the Terms, and in the Proportions, directed and prescribed by this Act; and that the Treasurer, with the Assistance of the Governor of every such House, to be appointed as aforesaid, shall provide all fit and necessary Provisions for the Maintenance of such Poor, and keep an Account thereof;
and that there shall be a Meeting of the Guardians of the Poor of every such Parish, Township, and Place, at such House or Houses, on the first Monday in every Month, at the Hour of Ten in the Forenoon, or on such other Day and Hour, in the first Week of every Month, as the said Guardians shall at their first Meeting appoint, to state, examine, inspect, and adjust the Accounts for the preceding Month;
and that at such Meeting, the said Treasurer shall produce, fairly written, one Account of the Debt incurred in the preceding Month, for Utensils and Materials for the Purpose of Manufacture, and for Furniture, Alterations, or Repairs of the Buildings, and also for the Salary or Allowance to the Governor or Treasurer, and Servants (if any,) in which Account the Rent of such House or Houses, Buildings, and Premises, if the same shall be rented, shall be charged in the Month next after such Rent shall become due, according to the Terms of the Agreement for taking the same; which Account, when settled and agreed to, shall be signed by the said Guardians attending such Meeting: And the Sums to be paid by each of such Parishes, Townships, and Places, on that Account, shall be settled and adjusted at such Meeting, in Proportion to the Sums paid by each such Parishes, Townships, and Places, on Account of their Poor, on a Medium of three Years next preceding the Date of such Agreement (to be settled and ascertained at such first Monthly Meeting, in the Manner to be specified by the said Agreement so to be entered into for uniting as aforesaid, and according to the Mode or Form, and Table, contained or referred to in the said Schedule, No. XV), and in like Manner, and in the like Proportions, at every succeeding Monthly Meeting; and the Money shall be then, or within one Week after, paid into the Hands of the said Treasurer, to be by him applied in Discharge of the several Articles and Debts contained in such Account;
And the said Treasurer shall also at the same Time produce, fairly written, one other Account, of the Victuals, Beer, Firing, and other Necessaries, for the Use and Maintenance of the Poor, and of the Governor, at such House or Houses, and all other incidental Expences; which shall be then accounted for, and proportioned by the said Guardians according to the Number of Persons which shall have been sent from each of the said respective Parishes, Townships, and Places, and for the Time they shall have resided in such House or Houses, within such Month, according to the Mode or Form, and Table, and in the Manner, for that Purpose also mentioned in the said Schedule, No. XVI; and the Sum due from each Parish, Township or Place, shall be specified at the Foot of such Account, which shall, when settled and agreed to, be signed by such Guardians, or the major Part of them, and be afterwards inspected by the Visitor, if not a Guardian, and allowed by him if he shall approve thereof; and in case Default shall be made in Payment of the respective Sums so proportioned to be paid in respect of any such Parish, Township, or Place, for seven Days after the same shall be so settled and proportioned, and the Money demanded, it shall and may be lawful for any Justice of the Peace for the Limit where such House or Houses shall be situate, upon Complaint made to him upon Oath of such Default, to levy the said respective Sums, to be settled and proportioned as aforesaid, by Distress and Sale of the Goods and Chattels of any Guardian of the Poor for any such Parish, Township, or Place, making such Default; and at the End of every Year the Account shall be finally closed, and the Balances paid and received, according to the Mode prescribed by the said Schedule, No. XVI.

XXV. And be it further enacted, That the Churchwarden or Overseer of the Poor of any Parish, Township, or Place, who shall have the Custody of the Poor's Rates, Assessments, or Accounts, for such Parish Township, or Place, shall, and is hereby required to produce the same to the Persons who shall be nominated, in the Agreement contained in the said Schedule for uniting Parishes, on every Request made by them for that Purpose, after four Days Notice thereof, in order to enable them to ascertain the Expences relative to the Poor, on a Medium of three Years, according to the Directions, true Intent, and Meaning of this Act, or in Default thereof shall forfeit the Sum of five Pounds for every such Refusal or Neglect.

XXVI. And be it further enacted, That if the Guardian of the Poor for any Parish, Township, or Place, which shall adopt the said Provision as aforesaid, shall not attend each Monthly Meeting hereby directed to be holden, or send some substantial Inhabitant of such Parish, Township, or Place, to attend and answer the Payments for him, in case he shall be prevented by Sickness, or other unavoidable, Accident, from attending in Person, the Guardian for every such Parish, Township, and Place, making such Default, shall, for every such Neglect, forfeit a Sum not exceeding five Pounds, not less than forty Shillings.

XXVII. And be it further enacted, That in order to encourage the salutary and benevolent Purposes of this Act, and to afford better Accommodations for the Poor at such Poor Houses, it shall and may be lawful for the Guardians of the Poor, where any such Poor House shall be provided, purchased, or agreed to be erected, to inclose from any Waste or Common Land or Ground lying near or adjoining thereto, with the Consent and Approbation of the Lord of the Manor, and the major Part in Value of the Freeholders or Persons having Right of Common thereupon, signified under their Hands and Seals, any Part or Portion of such Waste or Common Land, not exceeding ten Acres, for the Purpose of building upon, or occupying, cultivating, and improving the same, for the Use and Benefit of such Poor House, and the poor Persons within the Parish, Township, or Place, where the same shall be, or within the Parishes, Townships, or Places which shall be united therewith for the Purposes of this Act.

XXVIII. And be it further enacted, That every Person or Persons, to be sent to any House or Houses to be provided under the Authority of this Act, shall, at the Time of his or her entering such House, deliver, or cause to be delivered to the Governor thereof, or to his Assistant, if any an Order, signed by one of the Guardians of the Poor of the Parish, Township, or Place, from which such Person shall come, for the Admission of such Person or Persons, in the Form or to the Effect contained in the said Schedule, No. XII; which Order shall be carefully kept by the Governor, and entered by him in a Book to be provided for that Purpose.

"XXIX And, to render the Provisions of this Act more practicable and beneficial," be it further enacted, That no Person shall be sent to such Poor House or Houses, except such as are become indigent by old Age, Sickness, or Infirmities, and are unable to acquire a Maintenance by their Labour; and except such Orphan Children as shall be sent thither by Order of the Guardian or Guardians of the Poor, with the Approbation of the Visitor; and except such Children as shall necessarily go with their Mothers thither for Sustenance.

XXX. And be it further enacted, That all Infant Children of tender Years, and who, from Accident or Misfortune, shall become chargeable to the Parish or Place to which they belong, may either be sent to such Poor House as aforesaid, or be placed by the Guardian or Guardians of the Poor, with the Approbation of the Visitor, with some reputable Person or Persons in or near the Parish, Township, or Place, to which they belong, at such weekly Allowance as shall be agreed upon between the Parish Officers and such Person or Persons, with the Approbation of the Visitor, until such Child or Children shall be of sufficient Age to be put into Service, or bound Apprentice to Husbandry, or some Trade or occupation, and a List of the Names of every Child so placed out, and by whom and where kept, shall be given to the Visitor; who shall see that they are properly treated, or cause them to be removed, and placed under the Care of some other Person or Persons, if he finds just Cause so to do; and when every such Child shall attain such Age, he or she shall be so placed out, at the Expence of the Parish, Township, or Place, to which he or she shall belong, according to the Laws in being Provided nevertheless, That if the Parents or Relations of any poor Child sent to such House, or so placed out as aforesaid, or any other responsible Person, shall desire to receive and provide for any such poor Child or Children, and signify the same to the Guardians at their Monthly Meeting, the Guardians shall, and are hereby required to dismiss, or cause to be dismissed, such Child or Children from the Poor House, or from the Cart of such Person or Persons as aforesaid, and deliver him, her, or them, to the Parent, Relation, or other Person so applying as aforesaid: Provided also, that nothing herein contained shall give any Power to separate any Child or Children, under the Age of seven Years, from his, her, or their Parent or Parents, without the Consent of such Parent or Parents.

XXXI. And be it further enacted, That all idle or disorderly Persons, who are able, but unwilling, to work or maintain themselves and their Families, shall be prosecuted by the Guardians of the Poor of the several Parishes, Townships, and Places, wherein they reside, and punished in such Manner as idle and disorderly Persons are directed to be by the Statute made in the seventeenth Year of the Reign of his late Majesty King George the Second; and if any Guardian shall neglect to make Complaint thereof, against every such Person or Persons, to some neighbouring Justice of the Peace, within ten Days after it shall come to his Knowledge, he shall, for every such Neglect, forfeit a Sum not exceeding five Pounds, nor less than twenty Shillings, one Moiety whereof, when recovered, shall be paid to the Informer, and the other Moiety to be disposed of as the other Forfeitures are herein-after directed to be applied.

XXXII. And be it further enacted, That where there shall be, in any Parish, Township, or Place, any poor Person or Persons who shall be able and willing to work, but who cannot get Employment, it shall and may be lawful for the Guardian of the Poor of such Parish, Township, or Place, and he is hereby required, on Application on made to him by or on Behalf of such poor Person, to agree for the Labour of such poor Person or Persons, at any Work or Employment suited to his or her Strength and Capacity, in any Parish, Township, or Place, pear the Place of his or her Residence, and to maintain, or cause such Person or Persons to be properly maintained, lodged, and provided for, until such Employment shall be procured, and during the Time of such Work, and to receive the Money to be earned by such Work or Labour, and apply it in such Maintenance, as far as the same will go, and make up the Deficiency, if any; and if the same shall happen to exceed the Money expended in such Maintenance, to account for the Surplus, which shall afterwards, within one Calendar Month, be given to such poor Person or Persons who shall have earned such Money, if no further Expences shall be then incurred on his or her Account to exhaust the same. And in case such poor Person or Persons shall refuse to work, or run away from such Work or Employment, Complaint shall be made thereof by the Guardian to some Justice or Justices of the Peace in or near the said Parish, Township, or Place; who shall enquire into the same upon Oath, and on Conviction punish such Offender or Offenders, by committing him, her, or them, to the House of Correction, there to be kept to hard Labour for any Time not exceeding three Calendar Months, nor less than one Calendar Month.

XXXIII. And be it further enacted, That the Guardian of the Poor for any Parish, Township, or Place, adopting the Provisions of this Act as aforesaid, shall provide, at the Expence of such Parish, Township, or Place, suitable and necessary Cloathing for the Persons sent by him to such Poor House as aforesaid; and in case of his Neglect so to do, the Governor or one of the Guardians of every such House shall make Complaint thereof to some neighbouring Justice of the Peace; who shall summon the Guardian so making Neglect to appear before him to answer the said Complaint and direct him to provide such Cloathing as shall to such Justice appear necessary; and if such Guardian shall make Default in providing such Cloathing, within ten Days after such Direction, it shall and may be lawful for such Justice of the Peace to direct the Governor of such Poor House, or the Guardian so making such Complaint, to provide the same, and to demand from such Guardian so making Neglect, the Charges and Expences of such Cloathing; and in Default of Payment thereof, upon Demand made, it shall and may be lawful for such Justice or Justices of the Peace to levy the same, and the Costs and Charges attending the Recovery thereof, by Distress and Sale of the Goods and Chattels of every such Guardian so making Default.

XXXIV. And be it further enacted, That the Rules, Orders, and Regulations, specified and contained in the Schedule hereunto annexed, shall be duly observed and enforced at every Poor House or Workhouse to be provided by virtue of this Act, with such Additions as shall be made by the Justices of the Peace of the Limit wherein such House or Houses shall be situate, at some Special Session; provided that such Addition shall not be contradictory to the Rules, Orders, and Regulations established by this Act, and provided that the same be not repealed by the Justices at their Quarter Sessions of the Peace; and, for the Purpose of having them more generally known, and more strictly attended to, the Governors of every such House or Houses shall, and are hereby required to cause the same to be printed in plain legible Characters, and fixed up in some conspicuous Part of every such House or Houses.

"XXXV. And whereas, by the said Act of the ninth of King George the First, Directions are given touching the Application to be made by poor Persons, and the Manner in which they are to be relieved, by Orders from Justices of the Peace; but, from a Want of proper Descriptions of the Poor, who are to be the Objects of such Relief, from a Want of proper Accommodations in many Parishes, Townships, and Places, and from a Want of the Means of enforcing the Orders of the Justices for such Relief, the said Act hath not had its proper Effect, and the Poor have been frequently reduced to Hardships and Distresses;" For Remedy whereof, be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for any Justice of the Peace, on Complaint made upon Oath, by or on the Behalf of any poor Person belonging to any Parish, Township, or Place, that the Guardian, upon Application made to him, hath refused such poor Person proper Relief, and after enquiring into the Condition and Circumstance of such poor Person upon Oath, either to order him or her, by Writing under the Hand of such Justice, some weekly or other Relief, or direct such Guardian to send such poor Person to the Poor House, in case he or she shall appear a fit Object to be kept and provided for there, according to the true Intent and Construction of this Act; which Order shall be complied with, or sufficient Cause shewn to the contrary, before such Justice, by such Guardian, within two Days after he shall receive the same (and every Person receiving weekly Relief shall wear the Badge directed by the Act made in the eighth and ninth Years of the Reign of King William the Third, unless directed otherwise by a Justice of the Peace, upon Proof of very decent and orderly Behaviour); or if it shall appear to such Justice, that the Person so complaining, or on whore Behalf such Complaint is made, is able and willing to work, but wants Employment, in that Case it shall and may be lawful for such Justice to order the Guardian to procure him or her Maintenance and Employment in the Manner herein-before directed; and if any Guardian shall, upon due Notice of any such Order, refuse or neglect to obey the same, he shall, for every such Refusal or Neglect, forfeit the Sum of five Pounds;
or if it shall appear to such Justice, that the Person making such Complaint, or on whose Behalf such Complaint is made, is an idle or disorderly Person, and has not used proper Means to get Employment, it shall and may be lawful for the Justice, after examining such Person, and hearing the whole Circumstances of the Case, to commit such Person to the House of Correction for any Time not exceeding three Calendar Months, nor less than one Calendar Month; or if it shall appear to such Justice, upon Enquiry as aforesaid, that the Husband or Father of such Person making Complaint, or on whose Behalf Complaint shall be so made, for Want of Relief, is an idle or disorderly Person, able to work, but by his Neglect of Work, or for Want of seeking Employment, or by spending the Money he earns in Alehouses, or Places of bad Repute, does not maintain his Wife or Children, and suffers them to be reduced to Want, it shall and may be lawful for such Justice of the Peace, in like Manner, to commit the Husband of such poor Woman, or the Father of such poor Child or Children, to the House of Correction, for any Time not exceeding three Calendar Months, nor less than one Calendar Month.

XXXVI. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That when any Complaint or Application shall be made to a Justice of the Peace, for the Relief of any poor Person, within any Parish, Township, or Place, for which a Visitor shall be appointed, such Justice shall not summon the Guardian to appear before him, unless Application shall have been first made, by the Person so complaining, to the Guardian, and, if he refuses Redress, to the Visitor (it being Part of his Duty to adjust Matters of that Sort), who shall orders Relief if he thinks it necessary, either within or out of the Poor House, as he Shall judge right; but if sufficient Relief shall not be so given or ordered, the poor Person complaining, or on whose Behalf such Complaint shall be made, shall be redressed by such Justice in the Manner herein-before directed.

XXXVII. And be it further enacted, That out of the Penalty hereby inflicted upon the Guardian for disobeying the Order of a Justice of the Peace for the Relief and Maintenance of any poor Person, so much thereof as the Justice of the Peace who shall convict such Offender shall direct to be paid to such poor Person to whom such Relief was ordered, shall be paid to him or her accordingly, and the Remainder applied in such Manner as the other Penalties are hereby directed to be disposed of.

XXXVIII. And be it further enacted, That if any poor Person shall be retarded on his or her Passage through any Parish, Township, or Place, in which he or she has no legal Settlement, by Reason of his or her meeting with any Accident, or being afflicted with any dangerous Sickness or bodily Infirmity, without the Means of Subsistence, or of proceeding to the Place of his or her Settlement, the Guardian living near the Place where such distressed Object shall be, shall, and is hereby required, upon Notice thereof, forthwith to provide Lodging, and suitable Nourishment and Assistance (and also Cloathing if necessary) for such Person, until he or she can be removed with Safety; and when such Pension shall be in a State of Health fit to be removed, shall take such Person to some neighbouring Justices of the Peace of the County, Riding, Division, City, or Place, where such Person was found, who shall examine him of her upon Oath, touching the Place of his or her Settlement, and make an Order for his or her Removal thither, if they think fit: And the Parish Officer who shall so receive and provide for such Person or Persons as aforesaid, shall make a Charge of the Expences attending the same, which, on being allowed and certified by the Justices before whom such poor Person shall be so taken, or some other neighbouring Justices within the Limit where such Person was found, the same shall be paid by the Guardian of the Parish, Township, or Place, where such poor Person shall be settled, in case the same can be discovered, and shall happen to be within that County, on Demand made thereof, and on the Production of such Allowance and Certificate as aforesaid, or in Default of Payment, the same shall be levied upon the Goods and Chattels of any such Guardian so making Default, after due Summons, by Warrant from a Justice of Peace having Jurisdiction there; and if any poor and sick Person circumstanced as aforesaid shall die before he or she can be so examined, or if any poor Person shall be found dead in any Parish or Place to which he or she did not belong, the Guardian of such Parish or Place respectively shall, and is hereby required, in every such Case, to cause such Person to be buried in the Parish, Township, or Place, where he or she so died, or was found dead, and shall make a Charge of the Expences attending the same respectively, which shall be allowed and certified by a Justice of the Peace, after examining into the Place of his or her Settlement, and shall be paid by the Guardian of the Parish, Township, or Place, where such Person shall appear to have been settled, if the same shall be within that County; but in case the Settlement of such poor Persons respectively cannot be discovered, or shall not be within that County, the same shall be paid by the Treasurer of such County, Riding, Division, City, or Place, where such Person was so relieved, on the Production of such Allowance and Certificate, out of the County or Publick Money to be collected within his Limit, and allowed to such Treasurer in his Accounts.

XXXIX. And be it further enacted, That nothing herein contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to alter or affect the Settlement of any person or Persons whomsoever, or to give any illegitimate Child, who may be born in any Poor House or Workhouse established under the Authority of this Act, a Settlement in the Parish or Place in which such Workhouse or Poor House shall be situated (but every such Child shall be considered as settled in the Parish or Place to which the Mother belongs), or to alter or affect any of the Provisions, Directions, Rules, Orders, or Regulations, established by any Act or Acts of Parliament for the Management and Government of any particular House of Industry, or Workhouse, in any Part of this Kingdom; any Thing herein contained to the contrary thereof in any-wise notwithstanding.

XL. And be it further enacted, That if any poor Person, who shall be sent to such House or Houses, shall embezzle or wilfully waste any of the Goods or Materials committed to his or her Care, or shall take or carry away, without Permission of the Governor, any Goods or Materials provided for the Use of such House, or belonging to any Person residing there, Complaint shall be made thereof upon Oath to some neighbouring Justice of Peace living ear such House; who shall hear the same, and the Party accused; and such Justice is hereby authorised, upon Conviction, to commit such Offender to the House of Correction, there to be kept to hard Labour for any Time not exceeding six Calendar Months, nor less than two Calendar Months, as the said Justice shall think fit and direct.

"XLI. And whereas it frequently happens that poor Children, pregnant Women, or poor Persons afflicted with Sickness, or some bodily Infirmity, are enticed, taken, or conveyed by Parish Officers, or other Persons, from one Parish or Place to another, without any legal Order of Removal, in order to ease the one Parish or Place, and to burthen the other with such poor Persons;" For Remedy whereof, be it further enacted, That when any Guardian, or other Person or Persons, shall so entice, take, convey, or remove, or cause or procure to be so enticed, taken, conveyed, or removed, any such poor Person or Persons from one Parish or Place to another, which shall adopt the Provisions of this Act, without an Order of Removal from two Justices of the Peace for that Purpose, every Person or Persons so offending shall, for every such Offence, forfeit a Sum not exceeding twenty Pounds, nor less than five Pounds.

XLII. And be it further enacted, That if any Visitor, Guardian, or Governor, shall sell or furnish any Materials, Goods, Clothes, Victuals, or Provisions, or do any Work in his Trade for the Use of any Workhouse, Poor House, or poor Persons, within any Parish, Township, or Place, for which he shall be so appointed to act, or be concerned in Trade or Interest with any Person or Persons who shall sell, provide, do, or furnish the same, he shall, for every such Offence, forfeit a Sum not exceeding twenty Pounds, nor less than five Pounds, on being duly convicted thereof by a Justice of the Peace.

XLIII. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the Guardians of the Poor of any Parish, Township, or Place, which shall adopt the Provisions of this Act, with the Approbation of the Persons within such Parish, Township, or Place, qualified as herein-before mentioned, obtained at a publick Meeting, held for that Purpose, to sell or dispose of any House, Cottage, or Building, which shall have been erected or purchased for the Use of any poor Person or Persons, at the Expence of such Parish, Township, or Place, and apply the Money arising therefrom for the Purposes of this Act; and also to remove, by Order from a Justice or Justices of the Peace, the Person or Persons who shall inhabit the same, or any other House or Dwelling rented or provided at the Expence of such Parish, Township, or Place, if he, she, or they refuse to quit, after receiving fourteen Days Notice for that Purpose.

XLIV. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That nothing in this Act contained shall extend to or affect, or be deemed, construed, or adjudged to extend to or affect, any Parish, Township, or Place, which shall not agree to adopt the Provisions herein contained, in the Manner hereby directed and prescribed; any Thing herein contained to the contrary thereof notwithstanding.

XLV. And be it further enacted, That all Penalties inflicted by this Act shall be recovered before one or more Justice or Justices of the Peace of the Jurisdiction where the Offender dwells; who shall, upon Conviction, in Default of Payment, after due Summons, and Demand made, cause the same to be levied by Distress and Sale of the Offender's Goods and Chattels, by virtue of a Warrant under the Hand and Seal of any Justice of the Peace having Jurisdiction where such Offender shall dwell, rendering to the said Offender the Overplus (if any) after the Charges of such Distress any Sale shall be deducted; and in case sufficient Distress shall not be found, then, and in every such Case, it shall and may be lawful to and for any such Justice of the Peace to commit such Offender to the House of Correction, there to remain, without Bail or Mainprize, for any Space not exceeding six Calendar Months, nor less than one Calendar Month; and that every such Penalty and Forfeiture, if not hereby otherwise directed to be disposed of, shall be paid to the Treasurer of every such House or Houses, where any such shall be established under the Authority of this Act, to be applied by him towards defraying the monthly Expences of Victuals, Beer, Firing, and other necessary Provisions for the Poor within such House or Houses.

XLVI. And be it further enacted, That any Person aggrieved by the Act of any Justice or Justices of the Peace out of Sessions, in or concerning the Execution of this Act, may appeal to the next General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the County, Riding, Liberty, Division, Precinct, or District, wherein such Act was done, giving eight Days Notice thereof to the Party against whom the Complaint shall be made, and giving Security, by Recognizance, to be acknowledged before a Justice of the Peace, with a sufficient Surety, to pay the Costs attending such Appeal, if the Matter shall be determined against the Appellant; and the Justices or such Quarter; Sessions are hereby authorised to hear and determine such Appeal, and to award Costs, for or against the Appellant, as they shall see just Cause so to do; which Determination shall be final, and shall not be removed by Certiorari.

XLVII. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall be deemed and taken to be a Publick Act; and shall be judicially taken Notice of as such, by all Judges, Justices, and other Persons whomsoever, without specially pleading the same.

SCHEDULE, containing the FORMS of PROCEEDINGS referred to by the aforesaid ACT.

No. I.

FORM of AGREEMENT at a Publick Meeting, for a single Parish or Township to adopt the Provisions, Rules, and Regulations, of an Act, made in the twenty-second Year of George the Third, for the better Relief and Employment of the Poor.

IT is agreed, at a publick Meeting duty holden this       Day of       at       in the County of       pursuant to the Directions of an Act made in the twenty-second Year of King George the Third, for the better Relief and Employment of the Poor, That the Parish [or Township] of [as the Case shall be] shall from henceforth adopt, in all Respects, the Provisions, Rules, Orders, and Regulations, and comply with all the Requisites prescribed by the said Act; and that our Workhouse [if there is one] shall be immediately fitted up and accommodated for the Purposes mentioned in the said Act. [If there is none] We will forthwith provide a proper Workhouse, either by erecting a new one, or hiring, altering, and fitting up Buildings suitable to the Purpose, at some convenient Place within our Parish, etcetera And we recommend to the Consideration of the Justices       and       as fit and proper Persons for Guardians of the Poor; and       and       as fit and proper Persons for Governors of the Poor House, for the said Parish, Township, etcetera [as the Case shall be].

Given under our Hands, etcetera.

No. II.

FORM of CONSENT and APPROBATION of the Justices.

WE A. B. and C. D. Esquires, two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County, etcetera, of       [as the Case shall be] considering the Parish or Township, etcetera, of       within the said County, etcetera, to be of Magnitude sufficient to have a Workhouse provided within it for the Reception and Employment of the Poor, and to adopt the Provisions of the Act (for the better Relief and Employment of the Poor) passed in the twenty-second Year of the Reign of King George the Third, do hereby give our Approbation and Consent thereto, pursuant to the Directions of the laid Act; and we do also agree to the Salaries fixed by the said Agreement to be paid to the Guardian and Governor.

Given under our Hands, this       Day of

No. III.

FORM of AGREEMENT, at the Publick Meeting, for two or more Parishes, Townships, or Places, to unite in adopting the Provisions of the Act, made in the twenty-second Year of King George the Third, for the better Relief and Employment of the Poor.

IT is agreed, at a Publick Meeting duly held this       Day of       at       in the County of       pursuant to the Directions of the said Act, That the Parish [or Township] of       [as the Case shall be] shall, from henceforth, in Conjunction with the Parishes or Townships of       and       [as the Case shall be] adopt in all Respects the Provisions, Rules, Orders, and Regulations, and comply with all the Requisites prescribed by the said Act for Parishes uniting for those Purposes; and that a convenient Workhouse, and other Buildings and necessary Conveniencies, shall be immediately provided at or near       and properly fitted up and accommodated for the Purposes mentioned in the said Act: And we recommend to the Consideration of the Justices of the Limit wherein such Workhouse will be situate, A. B., C. D., and E. F., as fit and proper Persons qualified for Guardians of the Poor; and G. H., I. K., and I, as fit Persons to be Governors of the Poor House for the said Parish [or, Township, as the Case shall be]; and do agree to allow the Person who shall be appointed Guardian a Salary of       per Annum for his Trouble in executing that Office; and to the Person who shall be appointed Governor of the Poor House a Salary of       for his Trouble in executing that Office.

No. IV.

FORM of AGREEMENT for uniting the Parishes [or, Townships, as the Case shall be] of A, B, C, and D, for the Purpose of providing a House, or Houses, and the better maintaining and employing their Poor, pursuant to the Statute of the twenty-second Year of King George the Third.

IT is agreed, this       Day of       by and between the Guardians of the Poor of the Parishes of       and       and of the Townships of       and       in the County of       (which maintain their own Poor separate and distinct from the other Parts of their respective Parishes) whore Names are hereunto subscribed, pursuant to the Opinion of two third Parts, in Number and Value as aforesaid, of the Owners or Occupiers of Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, assessed to the Poor's Rates within such respective Parishes and Townships, at Meetings duly held for that Purpose, qualified according to the Directions of the Act passed in the twenty-second Year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the Third, and with the Approbation of A. B. and C. D. two Justices of the Peace, according to the Directions of the said Act, That the said respective Parishes and Townships shall be united for the better maintaining and employing their Poor; and that a convenient House or Houses, with proper Buildings and Accommodations thereto, and with Land fit for Gardens, Orchards, and the keeping of a Cow or Cows, shall be built [purchased, or hired, as shall be found most suitable], at or near       for the Reception and Accommodation of the Poor, as soon as conveniently may be, and if hired, the same shall be rented upon such Terms as shall be agreed upon between the Guardians of the Poor of the said (several Parishes and Townships, or the major Part of them, and the Person or Persons owning or being authorised to let such Buildings, Lands, and Premises; but no such Agreement shall be made for a longer Term than twenty-one Years, unless the Guardian or Guardians shall have an Option to vacate it at the End of that Term, on giving twelve Months Notice in Writing of his or their Intentions so to do, not for a shorter Term than three Years; and such Houses shall be fitted up and made convenient for the Purposes aforesaid, at the Expence of the Landlords [or Tenants, as shall be agreed between them]; That the Rents of the said Houses, the Expences of fitting up, making Additions or Alterations [where they shall be agreed to be paid by the Tenants], and of the Furniture thereof, and also the Utensils and Materials to be used for the Purpose of employing the Poor, and the Wages and Allowances to be paid to the Governor of the House, shall be paid by the said several Guardians in their due Proportions, according to the Amount of the Money raised by the Poor's Rates for their several Parishes and Townships, in respect of their Poor, on a Medium of three Years preceding such Agreement; and that such Proportion shall be ascertained by       and       whom we have nominated for that Purpose, and shall be paid by the Guardians of the Poor of the said respective Parishes and Townships, to the Person who shall be authorised to receive the same, within seven Days after the same shall be so ascertained; and that the Money earned by the Labour of such Poor shall be brought to the Credit of that Account at the End of every Year: That the Expences of Victuals, Beer, and Firing, for the Poor and the Governor [and for the Assistants, when any shall be found necessary] in every such House or Houses, with all other small incidental Expences, shall be proportioned, at the End of every Month, according to the Number of Poor which shall be sent from each of the said respective Parishes, Townships, and Places, and for the Time they shall have resided there within such Month: That the Guardians of the Poor of any of the hid Parishes, Townships, or Places, shall be at Liberty to withdraw from this Agreement at the End of the first three Years, or any succeeding three Years, on giving twelve Months Notice of such their Intention, if it shall be so determined by three fourth Parts of the Owners or Occupiers of Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments, assessed to the Poor's Rates, and qualified as aforesaid, at a Publick Meeting, summoned by due Notice as aforesaid, specifying the Occasion of such Meeting; and in such Case, they shall receive one Half of their due Proportion, to be ascertained by the Persons above named, or such other Persons as the Parties shall agree upon for that Purpose, of the Value of the Furniture, Stock, Utensils, and Implements, then remaining at such Poor House, after paying their Proportion of the Rent, and of the Salaries to the Governor and other Officers, to the End of the then growing Year: And that the Guardians of the Poor of each Parish, Township, and Place, shall provide suitable and convenient Cloathing for the Poor, to be sent to the said House or Houses, from their respective Parishes, Townships, or Places, and charge the Expences thereof in their Accounts. And we recommend to the Justices of the Limit where such House is to be situated, A. B., C. D., and E. F., as Persons duly qualified for the Office of Visitor of the said Poor House, and I. K., L. M., and N. O., as Persons duly qualified for the Office of Governor of the said Poor House.

We, A. B. and C. D. the Justices of Peace mentioned in the within-written Agreement, do hereby give our Approbation to the Parishes and Places herein named being united for the Purposes of the Act within-mentioned.

Witness our Hands, this       Day of      


No. V.

FORM of ENTRY to be made by the Clerk of the Peace or Town Clerk.

BE it remembered, That on the       Day of       A. B. deposited in my Hands a Copy of the Agreement made between the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the Parishes or Townships of and [as the Case shall be] in the County, etcetera, [as the Case shall be] of       for uniting in hiring, purchasing, or building Houses, at or near       in the said County, etcetera, and providing for the Maintenance and Employment of a certain Description of poor Persons belonging to the said Parishes, Townships, and Places, pursuant to the Statute made in the twenty-second Year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the Third.

No. VI.

FORM of a NOTICE for the Meeting.

NOTICE is hereby given, That a Publick Meeting, to consult the Owners or Occupiers of Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments, assessed after the Rate of five Pounds per Annum, about hiring, purchasing, or building [as the Case shall be] a House or Houses, and providing for the Maintenance and Employment of the Poor, pursuant to the Statute of the twenty-second Year of George the Third, will be held at       the       Day of       at       in the Forenoon.

No. VII.

FORM of APPOINTMENT of a Guardian.

WE A. B. and C. D. two of his Majesty's Justices of Peace for the County of       acting for the Hundred, etcetera, of       in the said County, do hereby appoint E. F. of       to execute the Office of Guardian of the Poor for the Parish, etcetera, of within the said Hundred, etcetera, for one Year, to be computed from       to which he has been recommended at a Publick Meeting holden the       Day of       pursuant to the Directions of the Act passed in the twenty-second Year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the Third, for the better Relief and Employment of the Poor.

Given under our Hands, this       Day of      

[The like Form for Visitor, only varying the Description of the Office, and when appointed for united Parishes, etcetera, name them.]
[The like Form for appointing a Governor and Treasurer, only varying that of a Treasurer, by adding, to which he has been recommended by the Guardians.]

No. VIII.

FORM of a DRAFT by the Guardian on the Churchwarden or Overseer appointed to collect the Poor's Rates.

To A. B. Collector of the Poor's Rates of the Parish [or Township] of       [as the Case shall be.]
YOU are hereby authorised and directed to pay to C. D.the Sum of       for [Here describe the Occasion of the Payment, whether for House Rent, Cloathing, or for Weekly Relief of poor Persons, etcetera, etcetera, as the Case shall be] and take his Receipt for the same, which will be your Discharge for such Payment. Dated this       Day of      

E. F.

Guardian of the Poor for the Parish [or Township] aforesaid.

No. IX.

FORM of APPOINTMENT of a Deputy Visitor.

I A. B. Visitor of the Poor and Poor House for the Parish, Township, etcetera, of [or for the united Parishes, Townships, etcetera, of       and       in the County of       do hereby nominate and appoint C. D. to be my Deputy Visitor and Assistant, during my Will and Pleasure, pursuant to the Power given to me by an Act, passed in the twenty-second Year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the Third (intituled, An Act for the better Relief and Employment of the Poor), and authorise him to discharge the Duty required of him by the said Act.

Witness my Hand, this       Day of      

No. X.

FORM of CERTIFICATE of serving the Office of Visitor.

I A. B. one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County, etcetera, [as the Case shall be] of       do hereby certify, That C. D. of       in the said County, hath been appointed to, and is now serving, the Office of Visitor of the Poor for the Parish or Township of [or for the Parishes and Townships of ] in the said County, [as the Case shall be] pursuant to the Direction of the Act passed in the twenty-second Year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the Third.

Dated this       Day of      

No. XI.

FORM of SECURITY for Money borrowed.

BY virtue of an Act made in the twenty-second Year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the Third (intituled, An Act for the better Relief and Employment of the Poor), we A. B. Visitor, and C. D.Guardian of the Poor, for the Parish [or Township, as the Case shall be] of E. in the County, City, etcetera, of       in Consideration of the Sum of       to us in Hand paid by       for the Purpose of purchasing, building, erecting, repairing, fitting up, or furnishing, etcetera, [as the Case shall be] a convenient House, Buildings, and Offices, for the Reception, Accommodation, and Employment of the Poor of the said Parish or Township, and for providing suitable Stock and Utensils for that Purpose, do hereby charge the Poor's Rates to be hereafter made, and the several Sums of Money to be raised thereupon, within the said Parish, [or Township, as the Case shall be] with the Payment of the said Principal Sum, and Interest after the Rate of       per Centum per Annum, half-yearly, as the same shall become due.

No. XII.

FORM of ORDER for Admission of Paupers.

To the Governor of the Poor House at E.

YOU are hereby ordered and required to receive A. B.[Describe his or her Age, and whether married or single] a poor Person belonging to the Parish [or Township, as the Case shall be] of       in the County of D. into the Poor House at E. and to accommodate and provide for such Person in a proper Manner, according to the Rules and Establishment of the said House.

Given under my Hand, this       Day of      

F. G.

Visitor, [or Guardian, as the Case shall be.]

No. XIII.

FORM of the JUSTICE's Direction to excuse the Badge.

I A. B. a Justice of Peace for the County [Riding, Division, etcetera, as the Case shall be] of       having received Proof upon Oath before me, that C. D. a poor Person receiving weekly Relief from the Parish, [Township, etcetera, as the Case shall be] of       in the County, etcetera, of       is a Person of very decent and orderly Behaviour, do hereby direct the Guardian [or Overseer, if no Guardian] of the Poor for the said Parish, etcetera, to omit putting the Badge upon the Coat [or Gown, if a Female] of the said C. D. and to excuse his [or her] wearing the same, as long as he [or she] shall continue to behave orderly and decently.

Dated this       Day of      

No. XIV.

FORM of the TRANSFER of the Security for the Money advanced.

I DO transfer this Security, with all my Right and Title to the Principal Money hereby secured, and to all the Interest now due, or hereafter to be due, unto C. D. his Executors, Administrators, and Assigns. Dated this       Day of      

A. B.

Witness, E. F.

No. XV.

MODE of adjusting the first Account mentioned in the Act respecting Utensils, Materials, Furniture, Rent, etcetera.

LET it be supposed that the Parishes or Townships of A., B., C., and D. have agreed to be united under the Authority of the Act; and that E. and F. are the Persons named in the Agreement as Arbitrators, or Referees, to settle and adjust the Proportions which each Parish or Place is to pay.

It will be necessary for E. and F. at their first Meeting, to call upon the Officers of every such Parish, Township, or Place, for their Assessments and Accounts, in order to see what they have paid to their Poor, on a Medium of three Years preceding the Agreement; who are required by the Act to produce them, under a Penalty for Refusal.

When the Arbitrators have got there Materials, it will be necessary to separate and deduct every Matter which does not relate to the Poor; for Instance, Money paid to the County Rates, or for the Expences of the Constable, Headborough, or Militia, which are all now included in the Poor's Rates; and, as some of these Parishes may have had Expences occasioned by Litigations about Settlements and Removals, and others may not, they should exclude all such Expences in the Account.

When the Accounts have been so inspected and examined, and the proper Deductions made, they may be supposed to appear:

That A. has paid for the first of the three Years£65  7  6
for the second Year 87  2  —
for the third Year 105 — —
—————
Making together257  8  6
—————
A third part of which Sum (being A.'s Medium), will be
£85 16  6
Let B.'s Payments be calculated in the same Manner, which may be supposed to amount, on the Medium of three Years, to
110  — —
C.'s Do. to
 97  — —
D.'s Do. to
140  — —
—————
The Total of the annual Payments will be
300 — —
—————

Suppose the Month's Expences paid by the several Parishes under the above Heads, according to the Directions of the Act, should amount to 300l., the Question will be, If 432l. 16s. 6d. (the Total Medium of all the Parishes) require 300l., what will 85l. 16s. 6d. require? When that shall be worked by the Rule of Three, multiplying the Third Number by the Second, and dividing it when so multiplied by the First, the Answer will be,

That A.'s Proportion amounts to£59  9  5
B.'s Proportion, when worked in the same Manner, will be 76  5 —
C.'s Do 67  4  7
D.'s Do 97  1 —
—————
Making together the whole Sum expended300 — —
—————

When those Medium Sums shall be settled and proportioned at their first Meeting, there will be no Occasion to repeat that Trouble afterwards, as the first Sum will be the same on all suture Calculations; and to prevent Trouble in adjusting the Proportions at every Monthly Meeting, at every Poor House, soon after the first Medium Proportions shall be so ascertained, there shall be a Table fixed, calculating the Proportions of each Parish, Township, or Place, to any given Sum, from the smallest to the greatest, that is likely to be expended in that District within the Month; which will make every Account clear and easy to the meanest Understanding, and will be liquidated in an Instant.

No. XVI.

Mode of adjusting the second Account mentioned in the Act, respecting the Victuals, Beer, Firing, and other Necessaries.

As soon as the Agreement is made for uniting several Parishes, &c. the Guardians shall meet and consider what will be a proper weekly Sum to be paid into the Hands of the Treasurer for every Person admitted into the Poor House, estimating it as near as they can to the probable Expence of maintaining them; the Guardians should pay to the Treasurer, at every Monthly Meeting, what shall be due for every such Person, upon that Calculation, for the Time he has been kept there in the Month preceding; and, in order to avoid Fractions, if any Person shall have been there four Days, or more, in any of the Weeks, it should be considered as a full Week, and if less than four Days, no Charge should be made for it: That, in order to avoid Difficulties in adjusting the Account, a Table should be provided, in like Manner as before, and fixed up in the House, with proper Columns for the Number of Persons, the Number of Weeks, and the Total Amount, according to the weekly Sum so agreed upon; by which that Account will likewise be settled without the least Trouble or Difficulty.

The several monthly Sums paid by each Parish on this second Account, and also the gross Sums, should be entered in the Treasurer's Books; and at the and of the Year it should be computed whether the Payments by the several Parishes have amounted to more, or less, than the Sum expended; if to more, the Guardian of each Parish should receive, if to less, he should pay his Proportion thereof to the Treasurer, to be computed according to the first Account, as directed by the Act.
 

RULES, ORDERS, BYE LAWS, and REGULATIONS, to be observed and enforced at every POOR HOUSE to be provided and established under the Authority of the Act of the Twenty-second Year of King George the Third.

First. THAT the several Persons who shall be sent to any such Poor House, who are capable of doing any Work, shall be employed by the Governor in some Labour which may be best suited to their Strength and Capacity.
Second. That the Governor shall take particular Care to keep the said House, and the several Apartments therein, and also the several Persons who shall inhabit the same, clean and wholesome; and for that Purpose he shall employ such of the said poor Persons who shall be sent thither, whom he shall think most able and best qualified for the Offices, to assist him therein, and also in the providing and dressing Victuals for the Use of such poor Persons; and if any such poor Person shall refuse or neglect to perform the Work or Labour in which he or the shall be so employed, or shall be directed to do by the Governor, every such Person shall be punished by Confinement, or Alteration of Diet, in such Manner as the Governor shall direct; and for a second Offence of the like Sort, Complaint thereof shall be made to some Justice of the Peace for the Limit, who, on Conviction, shall commit such Person to the House of Correction for any Time not exceeding two Calendar Months, nor less than one Calendar Month.
Third. That the Apartments in the House or Houses to be provided as aforesaid, shall be adapted so as to accommodate the Poor who shall be sent thither in the best Manner they are capable.--That the Governor shall place in the best Apartments such poor Persons who, having been creditable Housekeepers, are reduced by Misfortune, in Preference to those who are become poor by Vice and Idleness; and that separate Apartments shall be provided for the Reception of the sick and distempered Poor, and an Apothecary or Surgeon to be sent for to attend them when there shall appear Necessary for it, at the Expence of the Parish or Place to which such poor Persons belong.
Fourth. That such poor Persons who are able to work, shall be called up by Ring of Bell, and set to work by Six in the Morning from Lady-day to Michaelmas, and by eight from Michaelmas to Lady-day; and continue until four in the Afternoon from Michaelmas to Lady-day, and from Lady-day to Michaelmas till six in the Afternoon (Meal Times and Times for reasonable Recreation excepted); and if any such poor Person shall, refuse or neglect to do such Work as shall be allotted him or her, or wilfully spoil the same, or depart from such House without Leave from the Governor, or shall be guilty of any Disorder or Disobedience to these Rules and Orders, the Governor shall reprove such Person for the same, and punish him or her by Confinement or Alteration of Diet, as the said Governor shall think fit; and if such Person shall be guilty of the like Offence a second Time, the Governor shall complain thereof to the Visitor of such House, who is hereby authorised to order the Punishment of Confinement to be increased to such Degree as he shall think fit.
Fifth. That the Governor shall enter in a Book to be kept by him, an Account of the Household Goods, Linen, Furniture, and Utensils provided for the said House, and also an Account of the Materials bought for Manufacture, and of the Goods manufactured there; which shall be laid before the Guardians at their Monthly Meeting, and before the Visitor whenever he comes to such House.
Sixth. That the Governor shall visit the several Persons maintained in such House or Houses, and their Apartments, once at least in every Day; and shall take Care that there is no Waste of Fire, Candles, or Provisions; and shall see that the Fires and Candles are put out at the Hours fixed for such Persons going to Bed, which shall be at eight of the Clock between Michaelmas and Lady-day, and nine between Lady-day and Michaelmas.
Seventh. That when any Person shall die in the House, the Governor shall take Care that the Body of such Person be immediately removed into some separate Apartment, and be decently buried, as soon as conveniently may be; and also take Care of the Cloaths and Goods of such Person, and deliver them to the Guardian of the Poor of the Parish or Place to which such Person did belong, who is to pay the Charges of the Funeral of such poor Person.
Eighth. That no poor Person be permitted to go out of the Poor House, nor any Person permitted to come into such House or Houses, except the Persons maintained and employed there, without the Permission of the Governor; and that no Spirituous Liquors be permitted to be drank in such House or Houses; and that no other Liquors shall be brought thither, without the Permission of the said Governor.
Ninth. That the Rules, Orders, and Bye-laws shall be publickly read by the Governor to all the poor Persons kept in such House or Houses, once at least in every Month.
Tenth. That all the poor Persons able to go to Church, shall attend Divine Service every Sunday.
Eleventh. That the Governor shall dismiss from the Poor House, or Workhouse, every Person who shall, in the Opinion of the Guardian or Guardians, be thought improper to continue longer there, and upon an Order from him or them for that Purpose.

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