Overseers of the poor

Overseers of the Poor
Rhyndwyclydach
1740-1801

The following entries were found in a notebook which holds references dating back to the 1740s. It's not clear whose notebook it is and some entries are written in different handwritings. Many refer to tiling and building work that has been carried out for local farmers in the Rhyndwyclydach area. One possibility for the main author is a Jenkin William.

Several pages are given over to 2 separate lists of "Overseers of the Poor" during the period 1740-1801. Only the entries for the years: 1746, 1747, 1751 and 1766 are missing.

The position of Overseer of the Poor was an unpaid office, created by the Poor Law Act of 1597/8. This Act established the obligation of every parish to provide relief for the local poor. At least two members of the parish were appointed annually by the vestry to "oversee" this task. Originally, overseers were responsible for assessing and then gathering the so-called "poor rate" from each household as well as supervising it's distribution to the needy. As populations became more mobile, it became difficult for individual parishes to manage this duty effectively. The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834 saw the creation of Unions of local parishes to collectively provide for their poor and build workhouses to accomodate them. Alongside the other parcels of Llangyfelach parish, Rhyndwyclydach became part of the Swansea Union. While Overseers continued to levy the rate, it's use was now administered by a local, elected, Board of Guardians.

Transcript of the above:

David Bowen & John Thomas
David Philip & Griffy Mathew
John William & David Wm. Hopkin
William Penry & David Hopkin
Einon Bynon & John Mors
Thomas Harry & Hopkin Morgan
No entry
No entry
John Thomas
William David tiler
David Samuel

1740 1741
1742
1743
1744
1745
1746
1747
1748
1749
1750

A second list of overseers is numbered:

1. Wm. David Einon & Evan David Londy
2. Rees David & William Evan Gwerllwyn
3. David Phillip & William Lewis
4. John William & Morgan Wm.
5. Hendry Phillip & Edward Grooston
6. Richard John & John Lloyd
7. Einon Thomas & David Jn. Jenkin
8. John David & Lewis William
9. Evan David & Benjamin Jenkin
10. John Bevan & Jenkin Lewis
11. William Harry & John Evans
12. David Wm. & Evan Jenkin
13. John Philip & David Symms
14. William Morgan & Wm. Llewelin
15. William John & Samuel David
16. Lewis David & Evan John
17. Richard Wm. & Phillip Wm.
18. Llewelin Bevan & Watkin David
19. Hopkin Harry & William Elias
20. Elias John & David Bowen
21. Hopkin Evan & Thomas Rees
22. David Lewis & John Philip
23. John Thomas Kuthulid & Philip John
24. John Thomas Quar. & Philip John
25. Thomas Harry & William Richard
26. Samuel David & John Howell
27. John Thomas Gwerllwyn & John Howell
28. Evan Jenkin & Thomas Rees Lugos
29. Wm. John & Lliwlyn John
30. John Cook & John Bevan
31. John David & D. Bowen
32. Lewis Wm. & Hendry David
33. Benjamin Jenkin & Thomas Howell
34. Thomas Thomas & Thomas Watkin
35. John Bevan & Isaac John
36. Watkin David & Llewelin Bevan
37. David Bowen & Rees Thomas
38. John Thomas & John Wm.
39. Morgan Jones & Thomas William
40. John H. Evans & Henery ?
41. Lewis Lewis & Philip John
42. Thomas Harry & Jenkin Wm.
43. John Gyps? & Evan Jn.
44. Samuel David & Philip John Philip

     1752
      1758
      1759
      1760
      1761
      1762
      1763
      1764
      1765
      1767
      1768
      1769
      1770
      1771
      1772
      1773
.     1774
      1775
      1776
      1777
      1778
      1779
      1780
      1781
      1782
      1783
      1784
      1785
      1786
      1787
      1788
      1789
      1790
      1791
      1792
      1793
      1794
      1795
      1796
      1797
      1798
.     1799
      1800
      1801

1st page of numbered list:

No entry is recorded for 1766

Complete numbered list

Top

Highlighted entries are connected to Howell & Bowen families