Note 615 — Chapter XII

The supposition that the town stock was used in Bassetlaw for employing the poor seems almost certain for the following reasons:

(1) In the earlier entries this is often directly stated to be the case. Thus we are told at Laneham that the "towne stocke" was used to buy hemp "to sett such poore on worke as wante."

(2) When a town stock is reported not to exist other methods of employing the poor are sometimes mentioned as a reason for the absence of such a stock, and thus it is implied that a town stock when it existed was used for this purpose. Thus for example at Grove they have "no towne stock in regard, theire poore are otherwise sett on worke;" at Egmonton "Towne stock they haue none because they imploy theire poore in other worke as they wante;" while at Laxton cum Morehouse there was no stock because those who wanted work were otherwise employed "by the towne."

(3) There is an earlier report from Bassetlaw sent in on July 29th, 1636. This report relates to fewer places, but in some respects is fuller. In eleven cases where only the amount of the stock is noted in 1637, the fact that it was employed to provide work is directly stated in 1636. Thus for example the following entries occur:

Askham. "Five marks stocke to sett the poore on worke." (20 marks 1637.)

Kirton. "Tenn pounds in Towne stocke wherew^th the poore are sett on worke and two new howses built for them."

Clarebrough (Clarborough). "They have iii^li vi^s viii^d towarde releiueing the poore and setting the(m) on worke."

Misterton cu(m) Stockw^th (Stockwith). "That their Towne stocke is Tenn pounds towards setting their poore on worke and releiveing them."

East Markham. "And that they haue 5^li in stocke to sett the poore on worke." (£7 in 1637.)

Bole. "5^li Towne stocke w^ch is imployed to sett poore on worke."

Warsopp (Warsop). "They haue in Towne stocke to sett their poore on worke xi^li iiij^s." (£11 in 1637.)

Cuckney. "They have tenn pounds Towne stocke to sett their poore on worke." (£7 in 1637.)

Carberton (Carburton). "They haue in Stocke to maintain their poore in worke fifty shillings." (40s. in 1637.)

Mattersey. "They haue 5^li towne stocke to sett their poore on worke." (£10 in 1637.)

Eakring. "Tenn pounds in Towne stocke w^ch is putt out for vse of the poore. And the 7^th of June the(y) (the overseers) certifie that they haue raysed xx^s stocke to sett poore on worke and giue weekely allowance to six poore people," besides 40^s. more for placing apprentices.

In these eleven cases therefore the town stock was certainly used for employing the poor. In four other instances, however, a general statement is made as to the use of the stock which perhaps indicates that the whole of the stock was not always employed entirely for one purpose. Thus for example at Eaton £2. 6s. 8d. was "in stocke for such poore as should neede." However in no case do these statements contradict the supposition that the town stock in this district was partially used for finding employment for the poor, and the direct statement of the 1636 report in these eleven cases is strong evidence that in the remaining nine places the stock was used in the same fashion.