Description:This document provides an account of benefit payments in Burslem at the end of January 1813.
In 1811, the town's population had been 8,625.
In January 1813, 1,335 of these were receiving relief from their poverty.
At this time, benefits were paid to the poor by the local Church of England parish.
Older citizens, widows, or those unable to work could receive a pension.
In some cases, their children might receive pension payments too.
In January 1813, the following numbers were receiving a pension:
81 men
311 women
546 children
Unemployed workers could be paid
'casual rates' while living at home.
In January 1813, the following numbers were receiving casual rates:
42 men
66 women
117 children
Those with no other choice might be taken into the local
workhouse.
Also destined for the workhouse were people that the parish thought were 'undeserving' of casual payments.
The following numbers were receiving relief in the workhouse:
35 men
44 women
93 children
Pottery manufacturer Enoch Wood kept this document, which is now among the collections of Stoke-on-Trent Museums.