The Relief fund for the Distressed Poor
The Distressed Poor. Although the actors in the above described robberies were supposed to be strangers, it is possible that some of them belonged to the town or its neighbourhood, and driven to dishonesty by the pinch of poverty. The greatly distressed condition of the poor and the severity of the weather in the early part of the year evoked general sympathy among those who had it in their power to mitigate the untoward influences and surroundings. The Rev. J. A. Hatchard, of St. Leonards, was successfully active in the parishes of St. Leonards and St. Mary Magdalen, in collecting subscriptions, whilst the congregation of St. Mary’s in the Castle arranged with the grocers to sell rice to the poor at 1d. per lb, they paying the difference of its ordinary price. For the poor of All Saints about £40 was available from Robert Holmes’s Charity, and £156 was the revenue of the Magdalen Charity, £60 of which was awarded to All Saints, and £96 to St. Clement’s. This divided total was distributed in sums of not less than £2 nor more than £3, to such aged poor as had never received parish relief. The inhabitants of All Saints were never known to have been in such indigent circumstances; many of the small shopkeepers were completely poverty stricken. There were 60 defaulting ratepayers in that parish alone, and the inmates of the Union Workhouse were twice the number of those in the preceding year. A relief fund was started, and 160 gallons of bread was at once distributed[a], the conditions not admitting of a day’s delay. By the 4th of February the Bread Fund had been donated by about £160, and 750 gallons of bread had been distributed during the week. On the 8th of February 200 gallons were distributed by the Committee, and on the 15th, 300 gallons more. A further distribution of 150 gallons was made on the 22nd, and a similar quantity the following week. On the 8th of March the distribution was 100 gallons and on the 15th, another 100 gallons exhausted the fund.
Vestry Meetings
At a St. Clement’s parish meeting the Magdalen Charity book was produced and the names of the recipients were read out. 48 persons received £2 each, and as far as practicable fresh recipients were chosen. The money was allotted at a meeting of churchwardens, the three guardians and the two overseers; and so carefully was the list drawn up that several meetings were held for that purpose. Mr Ginner now retired from the office of parish churchwarden, and Mr. J. R. Bromley was elected in his place. Mr. Ginner had served for seven years. Mr. J. Phillips was elected Vestry-clerk; £5 was voted to the organ blower, and £20 to the organist (T. Elliott, jun) in addition to the £15 contributed by Lady Waldegrave.
Vestry Meetings - The Distressed Parish
At an All Saints meeting Mr. Harvey read the notice from the Home Office, requiring all the churchyards to be closed after Jan. 1st, 1855, except the new piece of All Saints, and that, after Jany 1st, 1860. In the part left open, only one body was to be placed in one grave. The -
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