Falling on Hard Times in the Early 19th Century

 Another day, another fascinating document... Today we found this 1801 parish assistance form pictured below:

  Return by Persons unable by their own Industry to Maintain themselves and Families, without occaisional Assistance, in the Parish of ________ and the Presbytery of _____________

This pre-printed sheet was filled out by the minister of the parish as it was generally the church which took care of the poor, ill and destitute. Those needing assistance were listed with their name, age, number in their family and any remarks considered relevant by the minister.

Orkney Archive Reference D13/5/1

As you can see, many inhabitants of Shapinsay were forced to seek support after their crops were 'ruined' or 'hurt' by sheep. Other claimants pleaded poverty, lameness, blindness, mental illness and desertion by their spouse.

Forms were filled out for every Parish in Orkney in 1801. A man on the Island of Eday was listed as being 'Under the King's Evil' which was an 'tuberculous swelling of the lymph nodes', whilst many others have the unfortunate word 'ruptured' next to their name.

People are described as sickly, infirm, frail, miserably poor, decrepit. bedfast and, in the case of one Rousay couple 'Poorman and she silly.'

This document of a tiny snapshot of time illustrates all the many ways in which ordinary folk could have the rug pulled from under them and be forced to rely on outside help.

A Tale of Survival

Once upon a time there was a church in Stronsay...

In 1861 the congregation carried out some renovation work on the interior of the church. They built a new pilaster desk for the minister something like this perhaps....

In this desk they hid something, a piece of paper. On this piece of paper they wrote:

"The Parish Church of Stronsay built in 1835 during the ministry of Rev'd John Simpson, has been, during the current year, 1861, being the 15th year of the ministry of Rev Joseph Caskey, extensively altered and repaired, at the expense of the members of the congregation.
Church of Stronsay
1861
Rev Joseph Caskey, Minister
Scollay Skethway, Elder
Robert Larmonth, do [ditto]
Thomas Sinclair, do [ditto]
John Forbes, do [ditto]
Robert Leslie, do [ditto]
George Peace, do [ditto]
Stronsay 14th September 1861. This document deposited on the top of pilaster on Precentor's Desk this fourteenth day of September 1861 by John Forbes, Parish Schoolmaster and Elder of the Church in Stronsay."

THEN

In 1896 the pilaster desk was removed and the note was found inside. We know this because there is a second note on the paper which reads:

"This document was found in the above mentioned place on the removal of the Presenter's Desk and formation of a choir seat in front of the pulpit on the eighth day of December 1896. The congregation at this time have subscribed about £25 for this alteration and to purchase an Harmonium, this being the first introduction of instrumental music in this church. Rev Joseph Caskey is minister this being his jubilee. Signed James Chalmers, joiner."

THEN

In 1946 the farm of Linkshouse in Stronsay changed hands and the new owner went into the church which was in one of his fields and found the note by the pulpit.

THEN

In 1958 the note was posted back to Stronsay in an envelope from Dundee!?!.

THEN

In 2014 the note was kindly gifted to the Orkney Archive where it will live happily ever after.

The End

Archive Reference: D1/1184