Tibbetts and Charity

During the 19^th century poverty was widespread and in Edlesborough Charity Bread was distributed three times a year. All charity bread was distributed in the council school by the Chairman and Members of the Parish Council.

The Christmas distribution was from the Gingers’ Charity – this was for older people and church going people.

The New Year one was from the Channells’ Charity - for farm workers’ families.

The distribution on Good Friday (Easter) was from the Randalls’ Charity – this was for householders and children under 10 years. This came from an investment of £100 at 2.5% = £2.10 shillings, or 600 pennies. Bread cost 2d per loaf so there was plenty of bread to give away. 

In addition there was also the Burghope Charity, which paid a sum of money to people who attended the church on a certain day and listened to the sermon that was preached.

Tibbetts are mentioned in at least 2 vestry minutes:

1864, May 26^th: “The usual sermon was preached and the money distributed according to the will of the Rev. G. Burghope to the following persons:”  ……. Mrs Tibbett 1/- (1 old shilling, 5 pence in today’s money)

1865, May 26^th: “The usual sermon was preached and the money distributed according to the will of the Rev. G. Burghope to the following persons:”  ……. Tibbett 2/-.

These must have been James and Charlotte Tibbett, the minutes do not record whether they both listened to the sermons; presumably they both did in 1865, hence the double payment. James was 70 years old in 1964; in the 1861 census his occupation was recorded as a straw cutter plait man, but in the 1871 census he was recorded as receiving an Army pension. It is not known whether he was still working in 1864, or whether he was receiving a pension, or unemployed but not yet receiving a pension.

Sources

• Text below the photo, initialled ‘M.P’, in Chris Yates photo album
• Vestry minutes, located in Buckinghamshire Archives.