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 5li towne stocke to sett their poore on worke." (£10 in 1637.)
Eakring. "Tenn pounds in Towne stocke wch is putt out for vse of the poore. And the 7th of June the(y) (the overseers) certifie that they haue raysed xxs stocke to sett poore on worke and giue weekely allowance to six poore people," besides 40s. 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.
[616] See supra, p. 182.
[617] D. S. P., James I., Vol. 140, 10. I.
[618] D. S. P., Chas. I., Vol. 395, 106. In the same report it is stated that Oldham could not afford to raise a stock.
[619] Ib., Vol. 293, 122 and 129. The quotation is from a report from Ryedale signed by Lord Fairfax; the other document, in which almost exactly the same words occur is from Buckrose in the East Riding.
[620] Although the fact that the poor were employed in Devon and Wilts is not recorded in any of the justices' reports which have been preserved, we hear from other sources that work was found for the poor in some places in those counties. Thus the following memorandum refers to an attempt to establish a workhouse in Plymouth; it is to be found among the municipal records in that town. "In the name of god the 28th of September ano 1610 A note of provisions delivred into ye Castle for the pore to thende they maye be there placed & sett on work, wch is but abeginninge for a fewe & a tryall thereof the wch I praie god continewe and augment to his glorye & their comfort.