Overseer of the poor in 1889

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Profile	Posted by	Options	Post Date
Member Since: October 2006 Posts: 95 Send Message	Rachel	Report	25 Mar 2007 13:17
Member Since: October 2006 Posts: 95 Send Message	What does this mean?
Member Since: February 2004 Posts: 6,440 Send Message	An Olde Crone	Report	25 Mar 2007 13:20
	He was the man who was locally responsible for the Poor of the parish or town. Basically, he held the purse. Admission to the Workhouse was through him and he dealt with all matters to do with the poor, giving outrelief etc. OC
Member Since: March 2003 Posts: 7,819 Send Message	InspectorGreenPen	Report	25 Mar 2007 13:22
Member Since: March 2003 Posts: 7,819 Send Message	In British history, an Overseer of the poor was an official who administered poor relief such as money, food and clothing. The position was created by the Elizabethan Poor Law (1601). These officials were often unwilling appointees who were often unpaid, they worked under the supervision of the Justice of the Peace. Law required two Overseers to be elected every Easter - these would accompany the JPs - this system of poor relief reinforced a sense of social hierarchy and provided a way of controlling the 'lower orders Google it, there is loads of information
Member Since: May 2004 Posts: 2,077 Send Message	Paul Barton, Special Agent	Report	25 Mar 2007 13:26
Member Since: May 2004 Posts: 2,077 Send Message	You may well find him on the historicaldirectories website