Shropshire Routes to Roots

Welfare records: The Letters of Elizabeth Jones (1)

Elizabeth Jones gained Settlement in Wrockwardine Parish through marriage to Wrockwardine parishioner Edward Jones. After his death, Elizabeth claimed her widow's relief for many years, writing to the Overseer every few months in her own characteristic style reminding him that her allowance was due.

Her daughter had an unfortunate marriage to a Navigator, or 'navvie', employed at Tardebigge near Bromsgrove building the Birmingham to Worcester canal. He deserted her and after other problems she returned to her mother's home but developed mental illness.

In the letter below, Elizabeth Jones wrote to say that she does not know the Parish in which her daughter's husband lived, so it was not clear which Parish would have to pay the Asylum expenses.

Oct 18,1824 Letter from Elizabeth Jones, Bromsgrove
To Mr J.P.Shepherd Wombridg Nere Wellington Shropshire

Bromsgrove Octr 18 1824

Sir I recived your Letter with the Two pounds inclosed wich I sincerley return you and all frends thanks for respeckting my Daughters Parish I Cant give you aney a Count on after she was Marred as the Man was a intier Stranger in this Contrey he Worked at the Navegatison in Tardebig Parish She was Marred quite unnone to me he was not Long there before he Left that place the was at Lodgins the time as he stopt there and for the time as she was with him in Differant places I dont no wether she gained a Parish before she was Marred or not when she was a girl she whent to Redditch wich is 6 Miles from Bromsgrove to Nurs a Child she had her Vickels there there was no a Greement Drawn betwixt the people and me she was not to have Wadges the was to biy her Shoes and a few Nesesareys she was there three years or upwards when she cam from there she whent to Work at the Jarsey[?] Fackterey in this Town but never was hierd she slept in the House where she Nurst at the was Needle Makers but the are Ded both Man and the Woman there may be som Living in Redditch wich may Recoleckt her Living there but may not [know] what termes she was on it is 19 or 20 years since she was with thees People at Redditch it is in the Parish of Tardebig please God she dont get better as I ham a fred she never will if I ham spaird I will go to the Tardebig Overseers and state it to them and here what the say and I will Lett you no I cold State the Ole of her Life to you but nothing Leding to gaine her a Parish since she was Marred she is not Mad there is three Wiming in this Town now in the Same State as she is but the have somthing to Subsist with One from the Parish the other two from there one Propertey the Dockters say it is a Nurvues Commplant som times she is as if there was nothing the Matter with her onley her Eiyes look so Wild at other times she is quite ought Ragous and tares her Close and as bad Ideas in trying to make her self a way I have bin verey Neglecktfull in not seeing in to it as I have parted with meney things wich was hers but I was left in hopes she hold get the Better of it you may Depend as I have bin in Dangour to Sleep with her as thees fitts Come on in a Minnit if I was to aply to this Parish for relefe for her the hold find ought her Parish but I dont Chuse to do it as I promist when me and my six Children returned from the Order never to give them aney Trouble nor I never have as yett nor I dont wish to give you aney more Trouble nor I can help as I before said if she dont get better and in a verey short time I will go to Tardebig if Spaird and state the Ole of her Life so fair as is in my power but I ham verey shure if she dont Gaine her Parish by being at Redditch she never gained it after she was Marred Sir as you have Behaved so kind in Sending me the two pounds you may Depend a pon it as she never shall be send to your Parish so Long as I Live with ought my letting you no of it if any of you are Obliged to Com over when I Lett you no what the Tardebig Overseers say you shant have any thing kept a Sekritt from you but I no she as not gained a Parish since she was Marred and you will find when you Com to no the [story?] of her Life if aney of you like to Com over I shall be glad to see you but if not as soon as I no any thing as will be of aney Satisfackson I will Lett you no

Remain your Humble Sarvant Elizth Jones O Lane Bromsgrove Worcestershire

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