The below document regards the case of John Cork of Uffculme and his family being moved from the Bridgwater Union to Tiverton. Here the Clerk to the Bridgwater Poor Law Union, Paul Reed, asks the clerk of Tiverton Union to take on the Corks as their responsibility. This represents the regular admin of a Poor Law Union, and such letters will have been common. Although this is signed by Paul Reed, it was probably written by his assistant George Crocker. Reed was a busy solicitor, with a full time practice, while George carried out most of the work. Biographies of both Reed and Crocker can be found on the website of the Friends of the Wembdon Road Cemetery.
Here is the document:
Transcription
Bridgwater Union. Paul Reed Clerk. Union Office Bridgwater,
29th September 1873
Dear Sir,
Re: John Cork, Wife and 2 Children
Will you take the above paupers without an order. I send statement showing a settlement within your union.
Yours truly,
Paul Reed
[To] The clerk, Tiverton Union
John Cork states: I am the son of William Cork of Uffculme, labourer and Maria his wife. My mother’s maiden name was Gill – they were married in Uffculme church about 30 years ago – I was born at Uffculme about the year 1847. I am a labourer and have never done any act to gain a settlement in my place right – I married my wife at Uffculme Baptist Chapel in April 1870 – her maiden name was Mercey Bennett – I have two children namely Eva 15 months old and who was born at Uffculme and William Henry born the 6th of the present month at Bridgwater – I was relieved by the Wellington Union at Uffculme 2 or 3 years ago – my father was also born at Uffculme and he and my mother are still residing there – I am now in the receipt of relief from the common fund of the Bridgwater Union and am informed that I am permanently disabled.
Notes on John Cork
John Cork appears in the 1851 and 1861 census living in Uffculme with his parents William ( agricultural labourer) and Maria (lace factory labourer, born London) and younger sister Maria.
In the 1871 cenus John was visiting the home of the Cook family in Chapel Lane Uffculme. Mercy Bennet was living a few doors up with her parents, ‘unmarried’, which does not line up with John’s testimony above.
In the 1881 census we see John’s at a property call ‘Hill Head’ in Uffculme. As well as Mercy there were children Eva (9), William (8), Henry (5), Anna (3) and Elizabeth (1). William had been born in Bridgwater, while Henry was born in Uffculme, showing they had been returned after being ejected from Bridgwater. However, Anna and Elizabeth had been born in Newport, showing John had again moved to try and find work. By the time of the 1891 census they had moved back to Newport, to 20 Arlington Street ‘Private House). They now also had Frank (7), Harriet (5) and Frederick (4). John’s occupation is given as ‘bricklayer’s labourer’. John died in 1901 in Newport.