Another snippet which I thought may enable us to view what life was like in
the 18th and 19th centuries.....
Poor-law assistance
About the 18th and 19th centuries about 70% of the parishioners of
LLandefeilog were in receipt of 'Parish relief' of some kind. If the poor
were farm labourers, they did not receive any 'relief' in money, but in the
form of articles required, such as a shirt, a pair of boots, or stockings.
The Poor rate of the parish was always in the region of 2/6d to 2/9d in the
pound. There were many 'Poor houses' in the parish and the children were
later apprenticed to anyone who would pay to have one, up to £10 (ten
pounds) being paid for young people under the age of 21. At a vestry
meeting in October, 1788, five children (three girls and two boys) were
settled as apprentices to five gentlemen farmers in the parish, and many
such instances are recorded. In the year 1866, the Vestry decided to sell
the 'poor houses' but later they were given out on lease to a John Morgan,
in September, 1877, at a rental of £7-10/- (seven pounds ten shillings) per
annum. The Board of Guardians for the Carmarthen area was established in
1836. Their task was to organise the relief of poor and needy people.
*******
This is a fascinating little book - I shall extract more soon...
Pauline James
Carmarthenshire FHS