'Poor' Definition

[thelilradish]

Hi

Does anyone know if, when 'poor' is written after a name in a parish record, if that actually means that they were under the Poor Law?

For instance, in the Baptism Records for two or three of the children of one of my 6th Great Grandparents, after the names of the parents it says 'poor'. Has anyone else come across this please, and do you know what it does signify?

They were living in Bremhill, Wiltshire around the 1780s - 1800s (or at least that's where the children were baptised). I have looked in the Poor Law records for Bremhill and Chippenham but cannot find them. The parents' names are Henry and Mary Slade.

Many thanks

Selina

[Anne in Carlisle]

I have some like that too. It may mean that they were in receipt of parish relief, while not actually being in the workhouse. On the other hand I think I read a reference to some clergy using it as an excuse for his poorer parishioners not to yave to pay a tax on baptisms. I may be talking rubbish here and I'm sure someone who knows better will jump in.

One thing though ..... you can be sure the family were not well off!!
Anne

[JudithM]

I agree Anne, I can't recall quite when but, although generally baptism in the Church of England has been free of charge, there was a short period of time when a tax was payable on baptisms by all except the "poor".

[keldon]

It was from 1783 to 1794. See

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=C9_jUSQR_ooC&pg=PA385&dq=baptism+tax+parish+registers+1783&hl=en&sa=X&ei=H2gHVOeKE5XLsQS8mIHwAQ&ved=0CCgQuwUwAA#v=onepage&q=baptism%20tax%20parish%20registers%201783&f=false

And
"An act takes place 1 October, that imposes a tax of 3d. upon the entry of every christening, marriage, and burial, except those of some poor persons, particularly circumstanced."

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=e_4HAAAAQAAJ&dq=baptism%20tax%20parish%20registers%201783&pg=PA73#v=onepage&q=baptism%20tax%20parish%20registers%201783&f=false

[Anne in Carlisle]

Great, thanks Phil. That's exactly the time mine are listed as poor in the PRs.
Anne

[keldon]

It's also discussed here and how paupers were identified.

http://www.ancestrysolutions.com/FAQResearchA4.html

[Christine in Herts]

It was from 1783 to 1794. See

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=C9_jUSQR_ooC&pg=PA385&dq=baptism+tax+parish+registers+1783&hl=en&sa=X&ei=H2gHVOeKE5XLsQS8mIHwAQ&ved=0CCgQuwUwAA#v=onepage&q=baptism%20tax%20parish%20registers%201783&f=false

And
"An act takes place 1 October, that imposes a tax of 3d. upon the entry of every christening, marriage, and burial, except those of some poor persons, particularly circumstanced."
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=e...201783&f=false

3d was a lot of money in those days! It would be revealing to have a look at the average labourer's wage at the time, say, to get an idea of what that meant.

Christine

[Janet]

There was also the Militia in operation mid 1700's onwards and all able bodied men age 18 to 45 had to join the Militia, but poor people were often exempt, so the church may have also had a hand in helping out its parishioners in this way. I have a book of Militia Lists for Northamptonshire 1777 and it is fascinating reading the ones who are from poor families. These lists are quite useful as all the children of the poor are named, unlike those that served in the Militia itself!

Janet

[Olde Crone Holden]

I have read that some Vicars were particularly annoyed about this tax because they felt there should be no barrier to anyone being christened. I have seen at least one PR where everyone was "poor" on the page, including my umpty Greatgrandfather, who owned a farm of 600 acres or more!

OC

[thelilradish]

Thank you for all of this information! That is also exactly the timeframe that they are listed in the parish records for my ancestors too. After that they are not listed as poor anymore so this definitely explains it.

Thank you once again!