Poor Law Records
Settlement
From 1691 at least until the early nineteenth century, everyone had a place of Settlement. It was gained in various ways:
(a) The parish of one's birth
(b) By paying rents or rates of a certain value in a
particular parish
(c) By being apprenticed in a particular parish
(d) By serving a year 'in Service' in a particular parish
Poor people who wanted to move to another parish, and who might therefore become a financial burden on the rate payers of that parish, had to acquire a Certificate naming his/her parish of Settlement which would be responsible if poor relief became necessary.
If necessary parish officials carried out Settlement examinations to establish the true place of Settlement. These Settlement examinations sometimes survived in the Parish Chest.
Settlement examinations from Cleobury Mortimer
Removal Orders
If someone became a charge upon the Parish, it was likely that a Removal Order would be issued to 'remove' him to his legal parish of Settlement. This was done by the Constable, who passed him on to a neighbouring parish, whose Constable then escorted him onwards, and thus, in theory at least, the pauper reached the parish where he was legally settled.
Removal Orders sometimes survive in the Parish Chest.
Removal Orders from Cleobury Mortimer
Maintenance Orders
There are a few maintenance orders surviving for Cleobury Mortimer, where the reputed father of an illegitimate child was ordered to provide finance.
Maintenance Orders for Cleobury Mortimer