The Milton Abbas Local History Group have transcribed 60,000 records of all the existing Overseers of the Poor Account books for Milton Abbas from 1771 to 1836, and are finding that the records are a fantastic resource for researching local and family history. The account book in the Dorset History Centre covers the years 1818 – 1830 for Milton Abbas, and many other Dorset parishes have similar records in DHC.
After 1836 outdoor relief was being replaced by the Union Workhouse, but Milton Abbas did retain some out relief with work on the roads which are recorded in the Surveyors of the Highways accounts.
The Overseers records are unique in that each poor person is detailed with their names, and what things cost. Every aspect of life is covered – illness, doctors, medicines, treatments, nursing care, moving, funerals, lying in, travelling, old age, clothing, shoes, bedding, chimney sweeping, house rent, who is paying rates and how much. This information gives an insight into the social history of each parish. As just one example, this entry occurs in the Overseers accounts for Milton Abbas in April 1800 “Mr White for Extra Gristing £7 8s 6d“. This led us to explore the events around this time concerning the poor, and write an article and a presentation on the subject. It was possible to chart the price of grains, the amount spent by the Overseers, the amount received by each of the farmers and the amount of rates paid. This information, together with the mortality and birth rates for just this parish show just how tough the years around 1800 were, and how the tenant farmers, miller and overseers handled the situation.
Transcriptions made by the Milton Abbas Local History Group are now in a spreadsheet which allows them to search for names. To deal with the various spellings, for example Vatjer, Vater, Vacher, Vatcher, we added a column to hold the ‘usual’ spelling, in this case we used Vacher. The History Group are very grateful to their volunteer transcribers who contacted them via their website and come from all round the world. Milton Abbas Local History Group can now tell the stories of the mostly agricultural labourers who worked in Milton Abbas for some of the lowest wages in the country. The group are using the records to tell the stories of life in a Dorset village.
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A guest blog written for Dorset History Centre by Bryan Phillips of the Milton Abbas Local History Group.
Should you or your organisation wish to contribute a guest blog, please get in touch with us to discuss your idea.
My Vincent family migrated to Australia from Dorset around 1840. I am very grateful to all the volunteers who have transcribed the wonderful Parish Clerks records, the census and any other local village records. Thanks guys and keep up the good work, it is most appreciated here in Queensland, Australia
Hi Carol,
We have a transcription of the Will of John Vincent 1638
“In the name of God Amen, I John Vincent of milton Abbis in the Countie of Dorset husbandman…”
Is he an ancestor of yours?
Bryan
I am a Vater I was born in Dorchester but we lived in Winterborne Whitechurch, my father was also born there, he was one of ten children. Our ancestors were from Ibberton since around 1600.
tricia i to am a vater my name is john robert vater my grandfather walter wells vater and was one of ten children from ibberton and i was evacuated to ibberton during the war i stayed with my grandfathers brother arthur and his wife bessie i cant beleive vater and vatcher are not the same family regards john vater
Forgot to say the Vater’s and Vatcher’s aren’t the same family just a coincidence. Thanks for all your hare work.