BorBH4/37/41c

Copy of letter to S. R. Wells Esq., M. P. from W. Nichols Henman. regarding “Mary Paradine and Ann Collins” Charities.

6 October 1928

From: 1928 To: 1928

I find in the Corporation Minute Book 30th August 1805 that a report was given at the council meeting by a committee appointed for the purpose of inspecting into different Charities belonging to this Corporation (in part as follows) “Mary Paradine …A. D. 1631 gave to the governors of the Hospital of Christ Bridenwell St. Thomas £400.00 to be laid out in Lands and thereout to pay to the Mayor and Bailiffs of Bedford £6 at St. Thomas for the relief and maintenance of the poor people of the said town of Bedford – This Legacy is punctually paid by the Treasurer of Christ Hospital and it is regularly expended by the Mayor and Bailiffs in the purchase of Clothing for a certain number of poor men –“ – “Ann Collins – Daughter of George Hawes gave to this Corporation £30 oer annum by will dated March 22nd 1682 for the maintenance of 10 poor Widows belonging to the Town of Bedford, being Antient Inhabitants of good character and diligent resorters to divine Service – This Charity is paid out of an Estate situate in the parish of Covington in the County of Huntingdon by Leonard Hampsom Esq., the proprieter by the Hands of Alderman Cooke.” It would appear from the above that these Charities were for the poor of Bedford generally, and not for those of any particular parish or parishes. The report was ordered to be printed, and we have one at the General Library, but the above extracts are from the Minute Book itself. The first mention in the Minutes of the Corporation in reference to Mrs. Collins gift was on 14th November 1683. “ It is Ordayned &c… That Mr Maior and Mr Bayliffe Munns shall propose to Mr. Collwell and Mr. Gooddy (who are intrusted with Mrs. Collins gift of Thirty pounds per annum to Ten Poore widows of the Town of Bedford) this Ten Widows hereafter named to receive the said gift (10 Names). And that this Ten Widows may at present receive the arrears of rent now in arrears and likewise be settled in the same during their lives upon this condition: That the said widows and every of them duely frequent the Church and that Mr. Collwell and Mr. Gooddy bee desired to settle it so for the future upon such widows as shall be conformable. And if any proves unconformable they to be turned out and new ones be put in their rooms”. Some of the other Charities in the Report of 1805 specify they are for the poor of certain parishes.

2 pages

item

Wells, S R,
Nichols Henman, W,
Paradine, Mary,
Collins, Ann,
Hawes, George,
Hampson, Leonard,
Cooke, Alderman,
Maior,
Munns, Bayliffe,
Collwell,
Gooddy

BEDFORD, CHARITIES, Hospital of Christ Bridenwell St. Thomas, clothing, Covington, Huntingdon