From "Notes on the Parish of Mylor", published by Hugh Pengelly Olivey 1907
Beware, Ongoing work - This is First Draft Only and like to contain typographic errors
Section X
The Relief of the Poor and other Parish
Charges.
Overseers' Accounts, Perambulations, Carnon Stream-Works.
BEFORE proceeding with the examination of the special accounts relating to this parish it may be well to give some general account of the history of the laws relating to Poor Law relief. Anciently the maintenance of the poor was chiefly an ecclesiastical concern. A fourth part of the tithes in every parish was set aside for that purpose. The minister under the bishop had the principal direction in the disposal thereof, assisted by the churchwardens and other principal inhabitants. Hence naturally became established the parochial settlement. Afterwards, when the tithes of many parishes became annexed to the monasteries or other religious houses - as was the case in our own parish by their being appropriated to Glasney College - those societies had some share likewise in the relief of the poor.
On the dissolution of monasteries by King Henry VIII, about 1539, the annual value of which was about one hundred and sixty thousand pounds, a large proportion of these tithes was confiscated. The greater part of this was given away or sold at a low rate to favourites of the court, and so became the private property of laymen. Thus the church was robbed and also the poor. We have an instance in our own parish. The great tithes, which are commuted at about £400 a year, being the property of Lord Clinton, whilst the vicar's tithe amounts to only £150. To compensate this the first Act relating to the relief of the poor was passed. By the statute of 27 Henry VIII, c. 25, the churchwardens or two others of every parish were to make collections for the poor on Sundays. By 5 and 6 Ed. VI, c. 2, the ministers and churchwardens were annually to appoint two able persons or more to be gatherers and collectors of alms for the poor. By 5 Eliz. c. 3, the parishioners were to choose the said collectors and gatherers for the poor. By 14 Eliz. c. 5, the justices were to appoint collectors for the poor in every parish, and were also to appoint the overseer of the poor, whose office was nearly the same as at present, except only for collecting the money, which was done by the gatherers or collectors. By 18 Eliz. c. 3, the justices were to appoint collectors and governors of the poor. By 39 Eliz. c. 3, the churchwardens of every parish and four substantial householders, to be nominated yearly in Easter week by two justices, were to be called overseers of the poor. The churchwardens did not need election as overseers, but were so by virtue of their office.
There were numerous other Acts passed relating to workhouses, etc., and finally the Act passed in 1834, known as the "Poor Law Amendment Act," by which unions of several parishes were established, thus taking the responsible control out of the hands of the individual parishes. The parish has to pay the poor rates, and that is nearly all that is left to it in relation to the matter. There is now nothing left for the overseers to do as far as concerns the administration of the affairs of the poor. Under the Act of 1834 the justices were ex-officio guardians, but in a more recent Act, called the ''Local Government Act," they were omitted, and by the same Act the Board of Guardians were made distinct from the District Council, and the old Highway Board was absorbed into the District Council.
There are many points of interest and much information to be derived from the overseers' accounts. Unfortunately those of this parish previous to 1796 do not exist. These throw much light upon the manner in which the poor were taken care of before the passing of the Poor Law Act of 1834. They show how careful the parishioners were to guard against any outsiders who might become chargeable being allowed to gain a settlement in their parish. Extreme care was taken not to ''make" parishioners, consequently all intruders were watched so as to prevent their becoming chargeable to the rates, and if through illness or any other causes they became so, they were removed to their own parish, often at very considerable expense, and the authorities were careful also to charge those parishes the full amount of any relief given.
These accounts give an insight into the old workhouse management, the old system of parish apprentices, the mode of obtaining men for the navy and militia, the large bounties often given; prosecutions for illegitimacy, the value of labour, the cost of food and necessaries; perambulations, and numerous other matters which are of interest, as comparing with the customs and usages of the present day. In many points it will show that our alterations are not always improvements in our mode of Local Government.
I purpose in the following extracts giving such as appear to be interesting and have a bearing on most of these subjects.
The following are from the Overseers' accounts and Minute books.
1796. To cash paid for a small tooth comb for the poor house
3d.
To a sheaf of Reed for the Poor house 4d.
Paid to Wm. Gen for redeeming of Sarah Potter's clothes 18s. 9d.
Paid for a shift for Sarah Potter 3s. 9d. Paid for 2 qrs. rent
for ditto 12s. 6d.
To a coffin for Jas. Parker 12s. To a shroud 6s. 6d.
Sundry articles, Liquor at House 4sTo the shifter 5s.
To liquor at the funeral 6s. 6d.
To the Minister, Clerk and Sexton 7s.
Annie Palmer for a Glister for Gwin's Child 6d.
1797.
Expenses and bounty on an average for procuring three Navy men at
£18 13s. 1d. - £55 19s. 3 1/2d
Trouble at Helston in very bad weather in getting the Navy men
7s. 6d.
Paid John Teague's bounty drawn in Militia £ 5.
During the time of the war, each county was obliged by act (37
Geo. III), to raise a certain number of men for the militia. The
number to be raised by Cornwall was 828. These were apportioned
to the several hundreds, and again to the parishes. Fifteen
pounds per annum was paid by the parish for each man in default.
The numbers required were usually drawn by ballot, but the
churchwardens and overseers of any parish, with the consent of
the parishioners in vestry, were permitted to produce any
volunteer or volunteers, who were then sworn in and enrolled, and
they might give to such volunteers out of the poor rate a sum not
exceeding £6 each. They took an oath of allegiance to the king
that they would faithfully serve in the United Kingdom for five
years, and that they were Protestants. They were liable to be
drafted off for active service in case of invasion or rebellion.
The parish was compelled to relieve their families, if unable to
support themselves, at the rate of not exceeding one shilling per
week for each child and one shilling per week for the wife.
Paid Wm. Stephens at 6d. per week for 9 Sundays board for Saml.
Richards 4s. 6d.
To an old bellows repaired for the Poor House 2s.
Doctor Street a bill for the Poor House 9s. 6d.
Doctor Street was a medical practitioner of some repute at
Penryn.
Generally the doctors were paid a contract fee, frequently very
small, for attending the poor of the parish only. Should any not
legally chargeable to the parish require attention, they had an
extra fee, which was charged to the parish to which the pauper
belonged. For broken limbs they also had extra fees, which were
fairly high for the period.
Paid the Governess 2s. per week for 9 weeks for supplying John
Griffiths with Liquor and other nesscaries he being a bed Liar
18s.
1798. To cash to buy Brimstone and Treackle to do for the Ague
2d.
It is curious to find ague existing in this parish. It was
probably caused by the decaying vegetation in the course of the
river. Very simple medication was resorted to, and probably
quinine, the great specific, was unknown (see p. 9).
6 Poringers for the Poor House 10d. To salve for Jeney Stephens's
wound 2d.
To liquor for Jeney Stephens 1s.
For a pint of Brandy for Philip Webb sick 1s. 3d.
From these and other entries it will be seen that stimulants of
all kinds were freely given, and that teetotalism did not prevail
(see p. 50).
For a lace for Susanna Snells stays 1/2d
1799. Coffin for Jane Stephens 13s. 6d.
Shroud for ditto 3s. 10d.
Parson 3s., Clerk is. 6d., Sexton 2s. 6d., fees 7s
Liquor for burial and watching 6s. 8 1/2d.
Soap to wash the Clothes 2 1/2 d.
Striping 2s. 6d.
To a sheaf of read for a bed for Sally Trethewey 4d
Paid Doct. Kramar a bill cure Itch Samuel Richards 6s. 6d.
for clombe (earthenware) for the Poor House 9d.
To one bushel of coal for the Poor House 1s. 9d.
For a boat for William Holman £5 1 5s. 6d.
To 700 furse faggots for the Poor House at 9d. £3 3s.
To 19 sheaf of read at 4 1/2 d. for thatching 5s. 3d.
To two men making up and thatching 6s.
To ropes and expenses for plowmen and rick makers 10s. 5d.
John Moor for Medicine for the Itch 2s.
for a furse crook for the poor is. 6d.
1800. for a bellows for the poor house 5s.
Postage of a letter to Falmouth 3d.
A quarter's rent for the poor house £1 5s.
To a hour glass for ditto 1s.
For fairmaids for ditto 7s.
Fermades, furmadoes, or pilchards. Fuller, speaking of pilchards,
vol. i, p. 206, says : '' Their numbers are incredible, employing
a power of poor people in polling (i.e. beheading), gutting,
splitting, powdering, and drying them, and then (by the name of
fumadoes) with oyle and a lemon they are meat for the highest Don
of Spain."
Postage of a letter from Poole 9d.
By an act, 24 Geo. III, c. 57 (1784), the rates for the carriage
of letters were the following : For every single letter not
exceeding one whole post stage from the office where it was put
in, 2d., double letter 4d., treble 6d., an ounce 8d., and so on
in proportion. Above one post stage and not exceeding two, a
single letter 3d., double 6d., treble 9d., an ounce 1s., and so
in like proportion. Above two post stages and not exceeding 80
miles from the General Post Office, a single letter 4d., double
8d., treble 1s., an ounce 1s. 4d. Above 80 miles, and not
exceeding 150, a single 5d., double 10d. treble 1s. 3d., an ounce
1s. 8d. Above 150 miles, a single letter 6d., double 1s., treble
1s. 6d., an ounce 2d. Every quarter of an ounce was reckoned as a
single letter.
for a new save alls for Susanna Pearce 1s. 6d.
Message to Flushing and Strangwidge (Restronguet) 6d.
for liquor Thomas Beadons burial £1 5s. 10 1/2 d.
to the striper in money and liquor 7d.
for a spare shroud 5s.
Paid Mr. O'Brian for an apprentice not clean 10s.
1812. To a quart of Rum for the use of the poor House and Wm.
Rashleigh 4s. 3d.
Paid Wm. Rashleigh's funeral expenses, Parson and Clerk 5s.,
Sexton 4s.
Expenses at Church Town 5s. 6d. Paid for shaving Wm. R. 6d. Paid
for stripping ditto 2s. 6d.
6 Gallons of potatoes at 6d. per gall. 3d.
Paid to 18 Militia men at £2 2s. each f37 16d. This appears to
be a large demand on the parish for men for the militia, but the
bounty paid them is less than in 1797, when it was £6.
Gave Sally Thomas to buy some Pork and liver for their dinner
this day 7d.
Gave E. Givin to buy some worsted to vamp her stockings 10d.
1814. Paid Joseph Richards per order of John Gould Esq. for
relief of Mrs. Calder wrecked in the "Queen" Transport
as per bill £12 6s. 6d.
The sad event here referred to, namely the wreck of the
"Queen" transport ship, is recorded on a stone in the
churchyard (see p. 134). Nearly two hundred lives are said to
have been lost, of whom the parish registers record the burial of
one hundred and thirty six. It is fortunately very rare to have
to record such a calamity in Falmouth harbour.
To 8 yards of Callico 8d.
Paid Anthony Pascoe for a boat for John Welsh £7.
1815. Paid Richard Tallacks bill for the Goal and Marshal money 4S. 8d.
1816. Paid Goal and Marshal rates £6.
This was for the county gaol, and the " Marshal money,"
or rather for the Marshalsea, which was the prison of the King's
Bench and Marshalsea, for which there had to be sent out of every
county 20s. at least for each of the said prisons, to be paid by
the high constable out of the general county rate. This was paid
over to the Lord Chief Justice of England. The sum here named,
£6, seems to have been an unusually heavy demand. A charge for
the same appears regularly in the accounts.
Paid postage on a letter from Bristol 11d.
paid Captn. Dennis for Perrins family passage to Bristol £2.
To my expenses to and from Bristol coach hire, etc., with Perrins
£9.
Here is shown a considerable expense incurred in the removal of a
person becoming chargeable. Many of such cases occur.
Paid Mr. Odgers for a constables batt 7s. 6d.
paid Mr. Williams for 2 1/2 Bush. of Potatoes £1 5s.
1817. The half year's accounts for relief amount to £769.
There appear to be eighty-six names in receipt of regular relief.
The total amount given in July is £78 16s. Besides the
eighty-six, there are a great number receiving casual relief.
Total for the year £ 1,092 9s. 11d.
The population then was about 1897. The regular paupers were
therefore one in twenty-two of the inhabitants. The amount here
stated was almost solely for relief.
1818. Paid Sexton for burying skelitons 4s. 6d.
Paid for copying 17 years disbursements on the Poor by order of
Government £2 10s.
The question of heavy rates and excessive relief to the poor is
now becoming a very serious one, and the whole country and
parliament are beginning to give attention to it. The return here
noted was in consequence of an act passed about this time, which
authorised the sending to all parish overseers a paper of
questions on the condition of the poor. This enquiry appears to
have been the precursor of the Poor Law Act of 1834. So long does
it appear to take to work out a reform. The country was in an
alarming condition owing to the war, and the great scarcity of
money, and the enormous drop in its value, besides bad harvests,
rendering the price of provisions enormously high, and quite out
of proportion to the labourer's earnings, which were rarely above
seven shillings per week. The deficiency was partly remedied by
adding an allowance from the poor rates to supplement those
earnings, on which it was impossible that a family could live.
Food riots occurred throughout the West of England. The
ratepayers were crushed under the ever increasing burden of the
rates, and it was universally felt that something must be done.
The quartern loaf was about 1s. 8d., butter, cheese and bacon
1s., beef 9d.
4 years wages due to Thos. Laurence for superintending the
working poor of the P. of Mylor 65.
Catherine Simpson subsist for sick child 2s. 6d.
Ditto by order of justices for sick child, Brandy 2s. 6d., Wine
5s., Coal 1s. 1d. - 8s. 7d.
The overseers had not full power over the matter of giving
relief-one exception was made ; and this was the cause of
subsequent abuses in the poor law. This exception enabled a
justice of the peace to order relief, and the churchwardens and
overseers were bound to obey such order. It gave to individuals
uncontrolled power to spend, without any responsibility, the
money of other people, and who were without the necessary means
of judging possessed by the parishioners themselves. Innumerable
ills and abuses arose from this cause. An old constitutional
principle was forgotten, which stands recorded in the rolls of
parliament of four centuries earlier, that " more trust is
to be placed in the opinion of the men of the neighbourhood than
in the bare word of any one man " (Rolls of Parliament, 21
Edw. 1, A.D. 1293). We shall see by these accounts that large and
extravagant orders were made by the justices. If an application
for relief had been investigated by the parishioners in vestry,
or by two overseers, and refused, the applicant had power to
summon the officers, and one justice could reverse the decision.
Persons relieved were "badged," that is "shall
upon the shoulder of the right sleeve of the upper most garment,
in an open and visible manner, wear a large Roman P, together
with the first letter of the name of the parish cut either in red
or blue cloth." If he refused to wear such badge, his
allowance was to be withdrawn, or otherwise committed to the
house of correction to be whipt and kept in hard labour not
exceeding twenty-one days. And "if any churchwarden or
overseer shall relieve such person not wearing such badge, and he
be convicted before one justice, he shall forfeit 20s., half to
the informer and half to the poor." (8 and 9 W., c. 30, s.
2.)
Paid for two hundred weight of Cable Junk for the Work House £2
2s.
1819. To half year's rent for the Work House paid to Charles
Goodfellow £ 12 .10s.
The workhouse at this time appears to have been private property,
and rent was paid for it. A "Governess" was appointed,
as is shown by an item of payment further back. There were
various means of finding house accommodation for the poor, as was
said "to supply comfort and accommodation for those who
cannot work, and employment for those who can." To this end
the parishioners could contract with some person for the supply
of a house, with sufficient lodging, meat, drink, and clothing
for all poor entitled to be so relieved, and the contractor was
entitled to take unto himself the benefit of the poor people's
work, labour and service, during such term as was agreed upon.
They could build cottages on any waste land, by consent of the
lord of the manor, to house one or more families, or could
purchase or hire any house or houses.
For Baptizing Uren's child, Minister 2s. 6d., Clerk 1s. 6d.,
Sexton 1s.
It is strange, and contrary to ecclesiastical law, that a
minister should claim a fee for baptism.
Aug. 23. pd. for 1 Gall Wine for John Distin '' as pr.
order" 12s. 6d.
Large amounts are paid for the same as per order, i.e.
order of justices.
Aug. 21. Expenses to justices 1s. 1d. and 8s.
23rd. 7s. 6d. and
12s. 6d.
26th. 8s. 6d.
30th. 10s., and
Wine 12s. 6d.
Expenses going to Falmouth for do. 8d. Oct.
John Distin and family this month paid for the Parish of
Blacktawton
as per account
£7 12 10
Novr. A similar entry £5 8 8
Decr. Do. £5 11 10
In this year the total expended in relief is £ 1011 16s. 1 0d.
1820. Sundry law expenses for J. Distin and on Jany. 8th
expense carrying Distin's clothes and chest to the Coach Office
at Falmouth passages etc. 2s. and 20th Removing Distin and family
to Blacktawton £ 12 15s. 1 1/2 d.
On the credit side is : By paid by the P. of B. T. £31 4s. 0d.
June. Second rate at 2S. Value £1527.
Rate assessed
£152 14s. 0d.
7 Rates at 2s.
for 1 year £1069 6s. 9d.
This was nearly all given in poor relief. We may be thankful we
do not live in those "good old days."
1821. April. 85 persons in receipt of regular relief £49 16s. 8d.
1822. Jno. Hackett for timber to make the chairs 8s. 7 1/2d.
Do. as per bill for labour and paint 16s.
Expense taking population 2193 at 1s. 6d. per hundred £1
12s. 10 1/2d.
for a bed ward for the Poor House 3d.
August. This account sent to the House of Commons
Total amount of money levied
£873
1 4
Total amount of money expended
£879 18 8
Amount paid for other
purposes £102
7 0
Remd. expended for relief of Poor £777 11 8
1823. Jno. Uren's child a Bunnett as pr order 1d. 1 1/2 d
pd. for Wine for George Miller as per order from Sherborne Sept.
9th to Oct. 6th as per acct. £3 14s 3d.
pd. expense from Falmouth to Sherborne with Geo. Miller with Wife
and 4 children and Thos. Laurence £5 4d. 0d.
My expense at Sherborne and back £3 5d. 0d.
By Cash recd. from Sherborne for G. Miller £14 1 5 d. 0d.
1824. Decr. 7. pd. for finding the Parish Neddy 6d.
1825. 100 Paupers (June) receiving about £50. J
uly. Thos. Rowe for 4 shoes for the Neddy 1 d. 4d.
Oct. pd. the poundage for the Parish Neddy 2d.
1826. Mr. Lake for 5 Volumes of Burns' Justice for the Parish
use [one volume remains] £4 4d.
March. expense on the Parish Neddy 1d. 6d.
Mr. Symons Surgeon 1825 and 1826 £5 5d. 0d.
pd. Mr. Street Surgeon by order of the Vestry for
his attendance on Elizth Greenway £5 0d. od.
pd. Geo. Yeoman to go out of the Parish 3d.
pd. to put a distressed woman away 3d.
pd. a postage of a letter from Maiden Newton 1d. 9d.
pd. expense renewing the boundaries of the Parish June 24th as
under.
pd. for Beer as per
acct.
£2 10 0
do. for beef do.
1
2 6
do. for cups do.
3
1 1
do. for cheese and going to
Falmouth 12 1
do. for Rum as per account
9
0
do. for Bread do.
17
0
pd. for cart higher
4
6
do. for bread cheese and beer for men
in the Cart
1 3
1/2
do. for messengers and giving money
to the
people
14 8
do. 1 forke
broke
1 0
£6
15 2
This does not appear to be an annual charge. They seemed to have
enjoyed themselves and at the expense of the Rates. (See Parish
Boundaries, Appendix G).
PERAMBULATIONS.
Before maps were used to clearly define parish boundaries it was customary every year to perambulate the parish. This ceremony was anciently a religious one, and took place on one of the three days before Holy Thursday or the Feast of our Lord's Ascension, when the minister, accompanied by the churchwardens and parishioners, was wont to deprecate the vengeance of God by a blessing on the fruits of the earth, and preserve the rights and properties of the parish. It became in many places to be less commonly performed. Young and old joined to keep alive tradition clear and well defined. The old who knew the bounds were accustomed at certain spots, ill-defined, to impress what they knew upon the youngsters by some act which would have a lasting effect on their memory and so carry on the tradition. In many places in England there are ancient trees or places where they once stood. They went by the name of "Gospel Oaks," because when the bounds were being traversed the people halted at such spots, and a religious sanctity was given them by the denunciation there of curses upon him who would remove the landmark. At the time of the Reformation, when superstitious ceremonies were so strongly censured, the ceremony of perambulation was expressly excepted (18th and 19th Injunctions of Elizth. A. D. 1559), and an Act of Victoria (7 and 8) c. i01, s. 60) makes the poor rates chargeable with all expenses and "keeping in proper repair the boundary stones." From the account of charges made in this account they appear to have degenerated into something very different. The following is from Brand's Popular Antiquities, vol. 1, p. 116.
"That every man might keep his own possessions
Our fathers used in reverent processions
With zealous prayers and praiseful cheer T
o walk their Parish limits once a year;
And well known marks, which sacrilegious hands
Now cut or break, so bordered out their lands
That every one distinctly knew his owne
And many broils once rife were then unknown."
The parishioners were entitled to go into, through and over,
any and every man's house or land for this purpose, and to remove
anything that obstructed the passage, and care was taken to see
that the exact boundary was gone over, though ladders and other
appliances were necessary for the purpose. Where in the erection
of buildings, walls, etc., care was not taken to observe the
parish bounds, great inconvenience was caused, and it was not
pleasant either to have to remove windowsashes or pass through
such openings, but it had to be done.
Brand (vol. 1, p. 117) also gives the following account of the
" Procession Wake " and '' Ascension Day," from a
translation of Regnum Papisticum, fol. 63.
"Now comes the day wherein they gad abrode with crosse in hande
To boundes of every field and round about their neighbour's lande,
And as they go they sing and pray to every Saint aboue
But to our Ladye'specially whom most of all they loue.
When as they to the towne are come the Church they enter in
And looke what Saint that Church doth guide, the humbly pray to him
That he preserve both corne and fruite from storms and tempest great
And them defend from harme and send them stores of drink and meat.
This done they to the taverne go or in the fields they dine,
When downe they sit and feed apace and fill themselves with wine
So much that oftentimes without the Crosse they come away
And miserably theyreel still as their stomachs up they lay,
These things three days continually are done with solemne sport.
With many crosses often they into some Church resort
Whereas they all do chaunte aloude, whereby there streight doth spring
A brawling noise while every man seekes highest for to sing.
Then comes the day when Christ ascended to His Father's seate,
Which day they also celebrate with stores of drink and meate,
Then every man some birde must eate, I know not to what ende
And after dinner all to Church they come and there attende.
The blocke that on the alter still 'till then was seen to stand
Is drawne up hie above the roofe by ropes and force of hande
The Priestes about it rounde do stand and chaunt it to the skie,
For all these mens religion great in singing most doth lie.
Then out of hande the dreadful shape of Sathan downe they throw
Oft times with fire burning bright and dasht asunder tho,
The boys with greedie eyes do watch and on him straight they fall
And beate him sore with rods and breake him into pieces small,
This done the wafers downe do cast and singing cakes the while
With papers round about them put, the children to beguile.
With laughter greate are all things done and from the beames they let
Great streams of water downe to fall on whom they mean to wet
And thus the solemne holy day and bye renouned feast
And all their whole devotion is ended with a jest"
pd. 16 Goalmarshl. rates at 8s.
£6 8 0
do. 1 Bridge rate at 8s.
8
0
do. 3 Asylum rates at 8s.
14
0
£8
0 0
do. to the Constable to meet the Hundd 5s. 0d.
To expense to Carnon mine receiving the Poor rate on the Lord's
dues 1s. 0d.
for a stamp to receive the Poor rate from Carnon mine 2d. expense
7d. - 9d.
This was for the tin works at Carnon, which were adjoining
Carclew.
Polwhele thus describes the Carnon streamworks, and says they
were known before the present era. "They are situated near
an arm of the Falmouth harbour called Restronguet Creek, into
which flow a number of rivulets from the hills eastward of
Redruth. At present they occupy a portion of ground nearly one
mile in length and three hundred yards broad, and are by far the
most rich and extensive of any stream-works in the county. The
pebbles from which the metal is extracted are embedded in a marl
mixed with sand and marine shells. The whole space indeed now
occupied by the stream-works appears to have been gained from the
sea, the mud and other matter washed down by the streams having
raised a sort of embankment which by continued extension and some
assistance from art has gradually contracted the boundaries of
the tide. The bed of tin pebbles is about thirty-six feet below
the surface of the ground ; its thickness is from four to six
feet. Immediately on the bed of tin several stags' horns have
been found, one of which measured three feet from the root to the
point. Skulls and other bones have likewise been discovered here,
and what renders it apparent that these works were known at a
very early period, a wooden shovel and various picks made of
deers' horn have been found."
It is quite probable that these tin works were known to the very
early traders-the Phoenicians, described at p. 54. It is a
well-known fact that a block of very ancient tin has been found
in Falmouth Harbour, which is now preserved in the museum of the
Royal Institution of Cornwall, at Truro. An ancient wooden shovel
found at Carnon is also preserved there, and other articles.
That the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans were well acquainted with
Falmouth Harbour is more than probable.
Carew mentions also these "Streamworkes." "Under
this title they comprise also the Mooreworkes growing from the
like occasion. They maintaine these workes to have beene verie
auncient and first wrought by the Jewes with Pickaxes of Holme,
Boxe and Harts horne, they proove this by the name of those
places yet enduring, to wit atall sarazin, in English the Jews'
offcast, and by those tooles daily found among the rubble of such
workes."
The common terms used, as ''Jew's tin," ''Jew's
houses," ''Jew's leavings," or "Atall," and
''Atall Saracen," prove the connexion of strangers with the
Cornish tin works. That the Jews farmed the tin mines of Cornwall
and Devon is an historical fact, of which we have evidence in
charters granted by several of our kings, especially by King
John. Mr. Hunt calls the block of tin now in the museum at Truro
"Jew's tin," which may be of later origin than that of
the first traders. These were called "Saracens," or the
direct descendants of Sarah. It was common among the miners to
call all strangers by this name.
"I have often heard," says Whitaker, quoted by Hunt,
"in the mining villages, from twenty to thirty years since,
a man coming from a distant parish called 'a foreignerer,' a man
from a distant country termed `an outlandish man,' and anyone not
British born ' a Saracen."'
Oct. Labour laid out on the roads £2 13s. 8d.
Nov. Ditto 63 7s. 8d.
Dec. Ditto £3 19s. 4d.
The wages paid were 8d., 1s., and 1s. 4d. per day. Road repair is
now included in each account. It appears to have been done by
pauper labour at a very small wage. The stone was chiefly
supplied by the farmers, being collected off the land, on which
spar stones then abounded, a good many new enclosures being made
about this period. The writer has numerous accounts for stone
supplied in this way among his father's accounts. Women were
mostly employed in this work of stone-picking, and they were also
employed in much other agricultural work.
July 18. By cash recd. for the Parish Dunkey £ 1 6s. 6d.
July 30. Cash recd. of T. Tregenza for the parish Apples £1.
Cash recd. for 4 load of dung at 2s. 3d., 9s.
1827 March. For a sheep skin for the poor 5s. pd. for Vinegar(1), by order of Dr. Street 10d. Expense
to the Asylum with John Hall
Mr. George and self .
1
6 4
Mr. Selley for the chaise .
3
3 0
pd. the post boy 2 days 11s. 8d.,
Turnpikes 5s. 4d.
17
0
£5
6 4
July 13. pd. as per order to Barthw. Laurence for land to build
the Poor House on £ 13. This sum was paid to B. Laurence in
compensation for one-ninth part of an acre in one of his fields,
near and upon the mill leat, for the term of thirteen years, or
during the whole term he may be entitled to hold the said piece,
whereon to erect the poor house, which was then proposed to be
done.
pd. for a tinder box for the Poor House 6d.
27. Boat higher about Carnon Mine 1s. Nov. 5. pd. as customary
raseing the beams of the new house (?) 5s.
Dec. 24. pd. 17 old persons in the house for Xmas 8s. 6d.
pd. 7 children ditto 1s. 9d.
pd. Susanna Tregenza 6d. and Mrs. Morcom 1s. as customary for
baptizing a child.
1828. Jan. 9. pd. Thomas Davey and William Pearce as customary
for raseing the Walls and riseing the roof (?) 5s.
Expense about the Parish Stocks 4 1/2 d.
Feb. 7. For labour on the Parish roads this month £7 14s.
Resolved that Mr. John Harris be asked to provide a dinner for
the Parishioners at their annual meeting on 24th March.
This meeting was held at the house of Mr. John Harris at Flushing
("Globe Inn"). The parish officials appear to have met
annually and dined at some local inn, visiting each landlord in
turn, at the expense of the parish, and perhaps whilst sipping
their beer disposed of their business.
Agreed to give James Hicks 17s. for the repair of his boat, also
to give Mr. N. Goodfellow one halfpenny per load for stone being
hauled over his road which runs through his estate.
Dec. 11. A special meeting to take into consideration a piece of
road leading from Belair corner to the water course leading from
the oddit of Wheal Lemon mine. It was agreed that the above piece
of road should be repaired.
1829. March 2. The next annual meeting will be held at the
Ship Inn, Flushing. Mr. Francis Webster to provide dinner for 20
persons.
pd. Rachael Pellow to take her gound out of pawn 3s. 1 0d.
Ditto her omberella 2s.
Resolved that no man shall receive more than 1s. a day for
working on the Parish roads.
A Vestry meeting shall be published next Sunday in our Parish
Church (and it was agreed that a dinner be ordered at the Red
Lion, Mylor Bridge).
1830. That enquiry be made of the amount of mast money paid to
Wid. Rees by vessels entering Restronguet.(2)
Mar. 22. pd. by order of the Vestry to John Carlyon in part
of the dinner bill £2 17s. 10d.
1831. Jan. 25. It was resolved that the men on the roads
receive pay as under until the end of Feb.
A man having Wife and six Children 1s. 6d. a day.
"
four
„
1s,
4d. „ t
" two
„
1s.
3d. „
„
without
family 1s. „
A single man
9d.
„
That if Richard Thomas, Mason be upon the roads and have the
offer of work at 2s. a day and should refuse that offer he shall
not have the privilege of any longer working on the roads.
A large committee was formed to act as a Board of Health under
apprehension of cholera morbus.
Amongst articles of relief: " A poker for the Vestry
Room." " That Jane Lobb shall have a Tea Kettle."
'' That Wm. Perry shall have a hat, jacket, Waistcoat, Trowsers,
a pair of stockings, and a neckhandkerchief." '1 That
Elizth. Rowe have baby clothes for her child."
A meeting to appoint a sexton. Mr. Stephen Doble is appointed as
head sexton, with power to appoint a deputy, with all the
customary emoluments.
21st March. It was resolved That all business coming before this
meeting be transacted peaceably.
1832. Mar. 5. The Parish Officers to arrange matters for
assisting the three persons now named, John Yendell, Charles
Hocken, and Wm. Perry, to sail to Quebec, N. America.
Mar. 14. These persons to be equipped with common necessaries,
clothing, and provisions, and each to have £1 in pocket on their
arrival, to be paid them by the Captain.
1833. April 8th. Mr. Street is not elected Parish Surgeon.
Resolved that Mr. H. Symonds of Flushing be elected on the
following terms
Medical attendance to the Parish
poor receiving relief .
£16
0 0
Fracture of a limb in Flushing
10 6
Ditto in the Country .
11
0
Midwifery .
10
6
Inoculation or vaccination(3) 2
6
The poor of another parish to be attended as own Paupers until
their settlement is found.
1834. Jan. 16. Meeting to agree to payment of Medical Gentlemen
who attended Cholera patients. Resolved that £16 18s. be paid
Mr. Symons and Mr. Donnel in liquidation of their bills.
(1). Vinegar was considered a great disinfectant and prophylactic.
(2). This may have been because of an application for relief. I am informed that the " mast money " here mentioned was a fixed sum paid, viz. one shilling per mast, as a due from every vessel passing a certain point on the Restronguet Creek, where poles, indicating rocks, had been placed by a "Rees," which dues were continued to his descendants, and are still claimed by one of the family. Years ago the number of vessels trading with Perran and Devoran was very considerable.
(3). This entry appears to be the first of the kind, and must mean the inoculation of vaccine for cow pox. 1t cannot mean at this period that there was a choice given between inoculation for small pox and what is now called vaccination. 1n the early part of the century both were practised, but at this time the benefits of the latter were so fully established that it became unlawful to practise the former. Polwhele, writing at this period (1804), says, "Vaccination with Cow Pox, as far as it has been practised in this County, has answered all that its most sanguine promoters could have expected, and it is a credit to the good sense of the common people of Cornwall that their prejudices against this novel process have been infinitely less than those of some other parts of the kingdom." That the effect of this wonderful discovery has been the means of almost entirely eradicating the terrible disease of small pox, from this and other countries where it was the most common and fatal, there can be no doubt; yet there are some so ignorant, even in this (supposed to be) enlightened age, who decline to take advantage of its benefits, and our government has been weak enough to relax the law which made it compulsory.
Back to Olivey's History of Mylor index
Web Scribe Richard Milsom Copyright 2003, All rights reserved.
Genealogists may use the information provided here freely.
This page, and the information it provides, may not be copied for
commercial use of any kind.
Last Updated 25 August 2004