Debates over the working of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act
John Bowen’s Twelve Letters to the Times concerning the Poor Law Reform 1836-7
The Medical Men of Bridgwater Facts Connected with the Medical Relief of the Poor in the Bridgwater Union, 13 November 1837
John Bowen’s The union work-house and board of guardians system 1842
House of Lords Select Committee of 1838
Introduction by Tony Woolrich, 2021
Documentation Requested by the Committee
Proceedings of the Committee:
Evidence to the Parliamentary Select Committee Poor Law enquiry
Day 1, 12 June 1838: Robert Underdown, p 525; Baruch Toogood p 532; John Evered Poole,p 544
Day 2, 14 June 1838: Robert Underdown, p 563; Abraham King 565; Joseph Addison,p 584; George Werry, p 589
Day 3, 15 June 1838: Evidence of Abraham King, p 599; George Warry, passim
Day 4, 18 June 1838: Horatio Nelson Tilsey, p 633; Benjamin Beadon Ridduckn,pp 647, 683; Robert Young p 675
Day 5, 19 June 1838: Richard King Meade King, p 685; Robert Weale, p 706; John Stagg, p 720
Day 6, 28 June 1838: Jonathan Toogood, p 725
Day 7, 26 June 1838: Jonathan Toogood, p 753; James Franklin Waites, P 770; Mrs Mary Waites, p 782; Kitty Walker, p 785; James Newman,p 790
Day 8, 2 July 1838: Evidence of John Bowen p 795
Day 9, 5 July 1838: Hugh Chatley Standert, p839; Elizabeh Woolley, pp 851 & 871; Mary Date, p 855; Salome Stacey, pp 863 & 870; Catherine Stanbury,p 866; John Bowen,p 872
Day 10, 6 July 1838: Robert Weale, p 887; John Bowen, p 889
Day 11, 5 July 1838: John Bowen, p 915; Charlotte Allan, p 941
Day 12, 10 July 1838: John Bowen, p 945; William Baker, p 958; Charles Locock. M.D., p 979
Day 13, 17 July 1838: Evidence of Abraham King, p 985; James Gover p 1006; Rachel Philips, p 1016; Elizabeth Bray, p 1017; Amy Ellis, p 1020; Harriet Bindon, 1024; James Gover,1027; Robert Underdown, p 1029
Day 14, 19 July 1838: Evidence of Robert Underdown, p 1031; John Chinn p 1033; John Somers, p 41 George Warry, p 1066; Mary Reed, p 1077
Day 15, 19 July 1838: Evidence of John Rodney Ward, p 1085; Rev Benjamin Pope, p 1106
Day 16, 23, July 1838: Evidence of Robert Underdown, p 1113, John Rodney Ward, p 1114; John Trood, p 1144
Day 17, 24, July 1838: Evidence of Robert Jolliffe Colthurst, p 1163; Frederick Axford, p 1181; Rev Samuel Starkey, p 1199; Robert Beadon Buller, p 1216; Rev Noblett Ruddock, p 1221
Day 18, 26, July 1838: Evidence of Rev Noblett Ruddock, p 1231; George Warry, p 1237; Rev, Samuel Starkey, p 1253; Richard King Meade King, p 1254; Thomas Withy Inman, p 1257; Robert George Underdown, p 1276
Day 19, 27, July 1838: Evidence of Richard King Meade King, p 1277; Robert Weale, p1280; Rev Henry Parsons, p 1302; Reuben Craven Payne, p 1311
Postscript:
Bowen’s response: New Poor Law : the Bridgwater case : is killing in an union workhouse criminal, if sanctioned by the Poor Law Commissioners? A question raised on certain facts deposed to on oath before a late committee of the House of Lords, and humbly submitted to the serious and early consideration of both Lords and Commons by John Bowen. Publisher: London : Published
Additional Workhouse Documents
Also See:
Public Health in Bridgwater by Tony Woolrich
The Ragged School by Clare Spicer
The Bridgwater Workhouse by Peter Higginbotham (external site)
The Workhouse Register of Deaths is transcribed on the website of the Friends of the Wembdon Road Cemetery