Volume 2

[Letters on prisons].

  • Lettsom, John Coakley, 1744-1815.
Date:
[1803-1813]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Letters on prisons]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    28/204 (page 900)
    in winter, and 1 s. a week in fummer. No memorial of it in the gaol. From the Mayor of Durham’s book it appears, that he charged the Corpora- tion of Newcatlle with having paid the above fums; and it alfo appears, that the Corporation of Newcalile re- imbiirfed him. JBy an entry in the Common-council Books of Newcaftle- npon-Tyne, it is recorded as follows : December 23d, 1699.—3l. 6s. 8d. is paid, out of the revenues of the Cor- poration of Newcaftle, to the Mayor of Durham, for the u(e of the prifon- «s, annually on St. Andrew’s-day.” (See Brand’s Hiftory of Newcaftle, vol. II. pp. 193, 194.) It is the do- nation of a Mr. Frankland. How the ciiftribution of this charity became changed from St. Andrew’s day to a weekly payment, and that to prifoners in the Low Gaol folely, does no where appear; but if neither of the low rooms in the gateway are occujiied (which has frequently been the cafe), the arrears have never been paid ; on this account, the Keeper takes care to liave one prifoner at leatl there, to fe- cure the regular payment. There is another donation, of 15 s. per a?i7ium, viz. 5 s. at Chriftmas, 5 s. at Eafter, atid 5 s. at Whitfuntide. This is a charge on lands, late belonging to Mr. dacklon, of VVitton-le-Wear, in this county, who paid the monev to Mr. Holt, of the Red lion-inn, at Durham, for the ufe of the prifoners in the Low Gaol. The eflate has been purchafed lately by Mr. John Wood, of Bilhop’s Auckland, fubjeci; to the faid charge, which is regularly paid to the Gaoler as it becomes due. Of this legacy, there is no memorial in the gaol. The legacv of Ihlhoj) Crewe, men- tioned by Mr. Howard, niuft be a miilake v\ iih rcrpe6I to the name. It is not in his udll (which I have read) ; but there is a ftmilar donation to that of Bifliop Wood left to the debtors in Durham gaol, by Dr. Hartw-ell ; and in the copy of his wdll (in the poflcftlon ot Mr. Wolfe) there is, after feveral other betjueds, “ Item, I give and bequeath 10 the gaol of Durham, for the ufe and benetit of infolvent debtors there, 2()1. per annum, to be difpofed of under the f line refiricllons and limitations with the charity of the like kind by Bilhop WAod ; and that, in the apj)li(‘ation of it, refpcift be firfi bad to the pa- rilliioners of Stanhope. This Itequell, aa well as leveral others mentioned in his will, amounting to SOl. per an- | num, are chargeable upon an eltate at Filh-bourn in this county. Nowin ' this, as w^ell as Billiop Wood's charity,, ' there mull be great arrears due, as it is i feveral years fince any |terfon in this, | gaol received the benefit ; but, as the : mayor and corporation of Durham are j truftees, and a very refpe6Iable gentle- ! man (Mr. Woodifield) clerk and trea- 1 furer, this bufmefs will,-no doubt, very foon be inveftitiaied. Bv the following : account of Dr. Hartwell, it appears, ; he was re6tor of Stanhope, in this 1 county ; which accounts for that part ■ of his beqneft, “ that refpedl be firft : had to the parifhioners of Stanhopei meaning, if anv fuch w’ere in prifon. Dr. William Hartwell was formerly i fecretary to Lord Crewe when Bifhop of Oxford. In the year 168I, he was made reelor of Whickham, in this countv, and in lG85 was removed to the redlory of Stanhope; and m 1709 was made prebendary of Durham. He died in June 1725, and was interred in the cathedral church here. His will bears date March 9, 1724. The accounts relating to Bifiiop Wood’s legacy appear to be very in- tricate and perplexed ; but, from the rel’peHable chara6lers wdto are at pre- fent engaged in the bufinels, there is hope of ultimate fuccel’s. Bifliop Wood, by wdll made I69O, charges his eliate or manor of Ecclef- clilT, in the bifhoprick of Durham, with the payment of 20l. annnalh, ; for e\'er, to be applied for the relief ^ and difeharge of poor prifoners, that I then were, or hereafter might bf, in a the gaol at Duriiam for debt; each I ))nor ))rifoner’s debt not exceeding five ! pounds. And, by the laid will, the 1 mayor and aldermett of the city of S Durham for the time being were ap- M |)oinled trullees of the find charity It 1 apjiears by ilte books'(now in pofteirioii fl ol Mr. Wolle) that tliis eftate, charge-]! able with the laid legacv, was, in the m year 1750, purchafed bv Anthony Flail, J ol Ida Is, in the cotinty of Durham, efq.* and lubjeiSl to this de\ ife; that, between* the year 1750 and 1766. it appears there * were arrears due from the laid Mr.* Hall to the charily to the amount of* 54l.4s. 1 I d.4 ; that a fuit in Chan-* eery was inllituted bv the Bilhop's at-* tornev-general againlt the faid Anthony* Hall for the I'aid aTears, togetlvr wiih * a fnrtb.er liim of l()5l. 15s. which had* been paid into tlie haiuU of the theji* ma\ orfl