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3.3 Old Poor Law, POOR RATE, Levis-logo-quer.svg, 61Iu2iOtBgL._AC_SY355_,…
3.3 Old Poor Law
DRAWBACKS OF PARISH POOR RATE
2)It made the lower classes reliant on the upper classes.
3)As the overseers were not qualified or paid they may have been less effective as they had no incentive or expertise to carry out the poor rate.
1)In times of poor harvest tax revenue would have plummeted, so a tax system was not a viable system.
4)It allowed for tyrannical behaviour from the overseers. If they had a bad relationship with paupers this unfairly impact treatment.
The Poor were categorised in 4 ways
Impotent poor
- those who were disabled
Idle poor
- paupers who could work but were lazy
Deserving poor
- poor who were poor through no fault of their own
Undeserving poor-
poor through own merits eg gambling and prostitution.
BENEFITS OF PARISH POOR RATE
2)The overseers of the poor were not paid so these funds could go to the parish
3)The poor did not have to rely on self-help
1)Overseers of the poor part of the parish so could have a greater sensitivity. They could have greater sensitivity which would give more personalised relief.
Settlement act 1662
Before the 1662 settlement act people had to return to place of birth for relief.
The 1662 settlement act clarified that settlement was by Birth, Marriage, Inheritance of property or
1795 Removal Act prevented strangers from being removed unless they applied for relief.
Limitations of settlement laws
the laws gave rise to litigation between Parishes.
The settlement laws were not applied consistently
The Settlement Laws were unable to stop the mobile population as so many thousands were on the move, overseers could not keep up with the issuing.
Strangers staying in a parish could be removed, if they were not working within 40 days and if they were deemed likely to get poor relief.
-It was also common for magistrates to heavily enquire into the paupers that were going to be removed. E.G removal orders were sent like that of William Pyman and his family from Watton Norfolk.
LOCAL VESTRY MINUTES RECORDED THE FORTUNES OF PAUPERS.
-Poor rate was a compulsory tax set by the church
1)The overseers of the poor were responsible for administering poor relief
2)-Overseers of the poor were typically church wardens, farmers and landowners- liable to paying the poor rate themselves.
3)These overseers levied the poor rate and supervised its distribution it they were not paid or qualified for the role.
POOR RATE
1697 people were barred unless they provided a settlement certificate.
