|
a.
|
Note: In the 1881 census 22 year old DP was listed as residing in Cheddington, his place of birth in 1958. Bucks in the household of his grandfather, Daniel Millins. His father ,William Hemmings was deceased by this time but had been a schoolmaster. Also in the household were his mother and sister. Daniel was described as being a boot and shoe mender by trade with one employee. Infact, he had been apprenticed into the saddlery business. He had the misfortune to break a leg in an accident and was unable to follow his trade.
In 1891 Daniel was married to Eleanor Jones in Guildford, Surrey. He had entered the `Poor Law` profession, his first appointment being that of `porter` in Guildford around 1885. From there he went to Kingsclere, Hampshire, as assistant master, gaining promotion an the death of the master. This move must have been shortly after his marriage as in 1892 Thomas William was born and his place of birth was stated as `poor law institute`, Kingsclere.
In 1896, Daniel and Eleanor were selected to succeed Mr and Mrs Collingwood as master and matron at Stratford-on-Avon Union. Poor Law Institutes, or work houses as they were more popularly called, sprang up in the wake of the 1834 poor Law Amendment Act. Parishes were grouped into `Unions` each run by a committee known as `Guardians` who were elected by the ratepayers. Paupers were split into two distinct groups - impotent and able-bodied. The former were unable to maintain themselves due to being very young or informed through age or were crippled or insane. The latter merely lacked work and hence wages with which to keep themselves and their families.
The workhouses were provided with good intention insofar as it was an effort to to look after the poor and destitute. However, in order that they were not seen as `soft options` the able bodied were required to perform tasks of hard labour to defer some of the cost of their keep - hence the term workhouses.
Daniel died on Saturday, 26/12/1935 - `Boxing day`- at his residence - `Cassiobury`, 53 Loxley Road. The end came peacefully following a mild seizure. He left two sons - Tom who was master at the Pontefract Union and jack who was Asst. master ot the Turnshurst Road Institute, Stoke-on-Trent. The interment took place on the 29th at the Borough cemetary in Evesham Road (plot no. 4420, directly in front of the chapel). The first part of the service being read at the Parish Church by Canon Melville. The mourners were Mrs Pickett (widow), Mr & Mrs Tom Pickett. Mr & Mrs Jack Pickett Mrs and Mrs Cedric Margetts (nephew & niece) Mrs Avery (sister-in-law), Miss M Hughes and Mr H B Walters. Among those who followed were Mr T Sankey (Chairman of the Guardians Committee). Mr P W Foster (Master at Poor Law Institute), Mr W Ellis (Relieving Officer) C.Smith and C Hollick ( representing the Shakespeare Lodge, RAOB), Mr E Drinkwater ( representing the Clopton Lodge, AOD), Nurses Matlock and Smith from the Poor Law Infirmary and many others.
Daniel was also an enthusiastic angler and got a good deal of pleasure following this sport in Clffe waters. Gardening was another favourite pursuit and under his fostering care the Union gardens became not only a thing of beauty but a paying proposition. In his younger days he played cricket and lawn tennis with zest and one historic game was played on the lawn of Dr Ross, when Daniel was beaten not so much by the superior prowess of his younger opposition as by reason of his own disability. His social qualities found a congenial outlet at the Buffalo and Druid Lodges. In later years he was a `martyr` to rheumatism and his grand-daughter Nell (Eleanor Margaret) Nell recalls him being propelled around in a bathchair by a `funny old man called Monkey, and driven in a pony and trap by a man called Tom Vincent.
NOTE: A fuller description of life and work at the Stratford-on Avon workhouse (The Workhouse that was Different) and workhouses in general can be viewed at website www.jud&k.force9.co.uk.
|
