AN ACCOUNT OF THE General Nursery OR COLLEDG of INFANTS Set up by the JUSTICES of PEACE FOR THE COUNTY of MIDDLESEX With the Constitutions and Ends thereof LICENSED October 13. 1686. R. L'Estrange LONDON Printed by R. Roberts 1686. AN ACCOUNT OF THE General Nursery OR COLLEDG of INFANTS c. THERE is a large House at Clerkenwell built near the Fields which cost the several Parishes within this County of Middlesex at least 5000 l. Building which House is by the Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex set a part for the Reception and Breeding up of poor Fatherless or Motherless Infants left to the Parish care and for the Instructing them in Religion and Virtue and making them Capable of getting an honest Livelihood by their Labour 1. There is a Governour one of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex to whose Care the said Justices have committed the General Nursery 2. There is a Minister residing constantly in the Place who Reads Prayers twice a day before Dinner and Supper he Catechises on Sundays and sometimes preaches in the Afternoon he sees that the Schoolmaster and all Inferior Servants do their several Duties and that all the Children are well provided for and instructed in true Religion and Virtue 3. There is a Physitian an Apothecary and Chyrurgion who attend weekly every Thursday in their several ways to take care of and provide for the Children 4. There is an excellent Writing-Master to Teach all the Children to Write who also Registers the Names of all Children admitted and disposed of and keeps all the Accounts of the House 5. There is a School-Master who Teaches all the Boys to Read say their Prayers and Catechism there are several other Persons of several Trades to Teach the Children several sorts of Works and bring them up therein 6. There is a Porter who looks to all the Children at Play attends the Door and Rings the Bell to Prayers Dinner and Supper 7. There is a Matron or House-keeper who takes care for Provision to be brought into the House and Dressing thereof for the Family 8. There is an Assistant to the Matron who takes care of all the Childrens Cloaths and of the Beds and Sheets that all be mended and kept in good Order 9. There is a School Mistriss for the Girls to Teach them to Read say their Prayers and Catechism 10. There is a Semstress who Teacheth all the Girls to Work and make all the Linnen used in the House 11. There is a Cook to Dress all Provisions according to the Matrons Order 12. There is a Landress also belonging to the House 13. There is an old Nurse to take care of all Sick and Weak Children this Nurse hath her Assistants if need requires 14. There are several Women to look after the Chambers to Wash and keep Clean all the Lodgings make the Beds and to do other necessary Work there 15. The Books are constantly made up every first Thursday in every Month and all Officers and Tradesmen and others who are concerned in the House are cleared off 16. There is also a Register Book kept to Register the Names of all Worthy Persons who shall be Benefactors to this good Work and the same laid by for a time to put the Children out with it to Trades as they grow fit and the Justices of the Peace once every year at the Quarter Sessions next after the Feast of the Birth of our Lord yearly have constantly an Account thereof A Proposal for the better Education of Infants ALtho many good Provisions have been heretofore made by the Charity of well-disposed Persons for the Maintenance and Education of Youth Yet no Convenience or Education hath yet been thought on or taken care of for poor Infants who can least provide for themselves or be provided for For want whereof many great Evils and Inconveniences are daily found by the wilful and careless causing or suffering many Infants to perish or to Suck in wicked and debauched Principles to the Ruin as 't is to be feared often of their Souls as well as Bodies Now for the remedying thereof a General Nursery or Infantory is recommended by His Majesties Justices of the Peace at the Quarter Sessions for Middlesex and Westminster to the Inhabitants therein as by their Orders at their several Sessions may appear And for that purpose the Justices of the Peace of the County of Middlesex have already disposed of and appropriated a great publick Building at Clerkenwell whose good Examples 't is hop'd will soon be followed by others and such Orders and Provisions are there already made that Infants shall be there Received and Provoided for with all manner of Necessaries and be Taught to Read and Write and be bred up in true Religion and Virtue And 't is supposed that when Persons are satisfied of the great Conveniences and Advantages of this Infantory or Nursery many Charitable and Religious Persons will be Liberal Benefactors thereunto whereby the Charge of the Maintenance and Education of the Poor may be at least eas'd if not wholly taken off But the Children first brought in must first be provided for out of such Charities Those who intend to give or leave any Sum of Money for the Provision of any Infant or Infants may at the House be very well satisfied of the Fund of Land for the securing thereof and for the putting out of such Children or providing for them when and in such way as shall be thought for their Advantage or according to such Directions as the Charitable Benefactors shall direct For 50 l. a Child will be wholly provided for bred up put forth Apprentice and 10 l. given him when out of his time towards setting him up besides the benefit of the House For 120 l. a Child will be wholly provided for bred up put forth to a very good Trade and have 100 l. given him to set up withal when out of his Time And according to the Sum or Sums of Money that shall be given or left for or toward such Charity the same being secured as above to their Satisfaction the product shall be accounted for yearly to the Justice of the Peace in your Michaelmas Quarter Sessions if no other Person or Persons be appointed by such Benefactor to Oversee and take such Accompt The great Conveniences and Advantages by this Nursery will be 1. To the Fatherless and Motherless 2. To the Poor the Trouble and Charge of Breeding up such Infants taking them much off from earning their Livelihoods 3. To all such whose Employments require or cause their Absence from their Dwellings as Seafaring Men users of Fairs and Markets 4. And to all such as would not otherwise keep Houses unless it were for the Looking after and Breeding up their Children It is also believed this Provision may prevent the great Trouble and Charge to all persons by Children left and laid in the several Parishes Or that at least it may
ease the Parishes and their Officers in Providing for and Breeding up of their Parish Children And by this Education we may be assured there will be better Subjects better Masters and better Apprentices and Servants for all persons that shall need them And as this good Work takes many other Proposals shall be made for the taking off and wholly providing for Infants for small sums of Money which shall be secured by certain and sufficient Funds The Rates propos'd for such Maintenance and Education are Twenty Shillings Entrance which is for new Cloaths and Bedding And 3 s. a Week for Meat Drink Cloaths and all other things for the future The Days to receive them are Thursdays weekly from Nine till Noon at the Nursery or Infantory at Clerkenwell c. But the Place and Accommodation being so much approved of by all that see it and the Confluence of People thither on those days being great for the greater ease and dispatch to the business It is desired that all Persons approving of the Vndertaking will come and bring in their Children on the Mondays before and leave the Name and Age of the Child with the Officer who is appointed to attend there on those days to that purpose Note That you may take the Child away at any time when you have an Opportunity of a better Provision for it and the new Cloaths with it A COPY of the several ORDERS of SESSIONS made at MIDDLESEX and WESTMINSTER for the better Encouragement of the General Nursery or Colledge of Infants lately Established at Clerkenwell With a Copy of a Letter written from the Justices to the Ministers and Church-Wardens of the several Parishes within the said County after they had been to view the same since it was put in Practice this last Quarter Sessions Middl. ss Ad Generalem Sessionem Pacis Dom. Regis tent pro Com. Midd. apud Hicks-hall in St. John-street in com praed ’ die Lunae scil Vicesimo secundo die Februarii Anno Regni Regis Jacobi Secundi nunc Angliae c. secundo THe Justices of Peace for the County of Middlesex having observed great Inconveniences for the loose way of breeding up of Parish Children whereby very few of them come to good for the remedying whereof they have at their Quarter Sessions ordered a great part of the Corporation-Workhouse at Clerkenwell for their Reception and the same is fitted up for that purpose and excellent Rules and Methods are there taken for their Education in true Religion and Virtue and the care thereof is committed to Sir Thomas Rowe Knight one of His Majesties Justices of the Peace for the same County And that the Benefits and Advantages thereby may be seen and found for the putting the same in Practice having considered the Extent and Condition of the several Parishes they do hereby Order the Church-Wardens and Overseers of the Poor in the several Parishes here undermentioned on or before the 18 th day of March next ensuing to send the Proportion of Children hereafter specified out of such Parish Children as they now have in their respective Parishes St. Giles in the Fields Five St. Andrew Holborn Five St. James Westminster Five St. Margaret Westminster Five St. Martin in the Fields Six St. Paul Covent Garden Four St. Clement Danes Five St. Mary le Savoy Three Roles Liberty Two St. James Clerkenwell Five St. Giles Cripplegate Five Per Cur. Smith Westm ss Ad Generalem Quarterialem Sessionem Pacis Dom. Regis tent apud Westminst pro Libertat Decani Capituli Ecclesiae Collegiatae beati Petri Westm Civit. Burgi ac Ville Westm in Com. Middl. Sancti Martini le Grand London die Mercurii scil Septimo die Aprilis Dom. Anno Regni Regis Jacobi Secundi secundo UPon the reading of the Order mentioned on the other side of this Paper and upon Consideration thereof this Court are of Opinion That the Method and Means to the purpose within specified are very commendable and ought to be encouraged for the better Education of Parish-Children in the Knowledg and Fear of God and therefore they do concur with the Order already made on the other side and further they do Order that there be a further Proportion of Children as hereafter specified sent out of the Parishes here under mentioned and do recommend the speedy doing thereof to the care of the Church-Wardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parishes And do further Order That all other Church-Wardens send out of the Parishes within their Liberty such their Proportions as are enjoyned them by the said Order without delay Per Cur. Hardisty The Parish of St. Ann Westminster Five The Parish of St. James Westminster more than on the other side Three St. Margaret Westminster more Three St. Martins in the Fields more Three St. Paul Covent-Garden Two St. Clement Danes Two St. Mary Savoy One And as many more as the Church-Wardens of the several Parishes within this Liberty shall think convenient to send Hardisty Middl. ss Ad Generalem Sessionem Pacis Dom. Regis tent pro Com. Middl. apud Hicks-hall in St. John-street in Com. praed ’ die Lunae scil Tricesimo die Augusti Anno Regni Regis Jacobi Secundi nunc Angliae c. secundo UPon reading the Return made by the Justices of Peace of the Tower Hamblets and upon their approving of the usefulness of the General Nursery at Clerkenwell in this County and upon their desire that His Majesties Justices of the Peace here assembled should nominate a Proportion to be sent out of the Tower Hamblets and the said Justices of Peace here Assembled having inspected the said House of Nursery and being more and more satisfied not only by their view but by the general Approbation and Charracter of every Person that hath seen and tryed the same It is thought fit and ordered by this Court That the Inhabitants of every Hamblet and Precinct in the said Tower Division doth send five Children at the least and as many more as the Justices of that Division shall appoint and the Church-Wardens and Overseers of every respective Hamblet and Precinct in the said Division are required to send the same accordingly Per Cur. Smith Middl. ss Ad Generalem Quarterialem Sessionem Pacis Dom. Regis tent pro Com. Middl. apud ' Hicks hall in St. John-street in Com. praed ’ die Lunae Quinto die Julii Anno Regni Regis Jacobi Secundi nunc Angliae c. secundo THis Court having considered of the Advantages to the publick by a General Nursery or Colledg for Infants and therefore appropriated a great part of the County Work-house at Clerkenwell and did also for the putting the same in Practice appoint several Children to be brought thereinto out of the several Parishes within this County near adjoyning to the City of London and it being found by experience a very useful and advantagious Design for the publick Good and very well liked and appoved of by all Persons that have been
to see the same This Court doth therefore Recommend the same to His Majesties Justices of the Peace of the several Country Divisions in this County desiring them to impart the Convenience thereof to the Church-Wardens and Overseers of the Poor of their several Divisions and that they do send two at the least out of every Parish without the Weekly Bills of Mortality within this County and such further number of Children out of every Parish in their said Divisions as to them the said Justices shall be thought most meet and convenient Per Cur. Smith Divers of the Church-Wardens and Overseers of the Poor of the several Parishes having according to the Orders sent in their Children have subscribed this Address to the Bench of Middlesex Midd. ss WE the Church-Wardens and Overseers of the several Parishes appointed by the Sessions of Peace of this County to send some of our poor Parish Children to the Infantory or Colledg of Infants at Clerkenwell do find it not only a great Convenience to our several Parishes but a very great Advantage to the poor Children they being provided for and Educated much beyond the Imaginations of any Persons that do not go to see them and to the great Satisfaction of all that do And we return our humble Thanks to the Sessions for the Encouragement they have already given to this good Work And as much as may become us do humbly desire the further Assistance of this Court for the promoting and supporting thereof And we likewise find that the Matron of the said House doth very diligently and carefully perform her Duty Middl. ss Ad Generalem Sessionem Pacis Dom. Regis tent pro Com. Middl. apud Hicks-hall in St. John-street in Com. praed ’ die Lunae scil Tricesimo die Augusti Anno Regni Regis Jacobi Secundi nunc Angliae c. secundo WE the Grand Jury at Hicks-hall Sworn this present Sessions for the Body of the County of Middlesex going to see this publick House or the General Nursery or Colledg of Infants did examine and inspect into the Methods and Rules thereof and we find that all the Children there are well Lodged well Cloathed kept Neat and Clean taught to Read and Write and well instructed in the Religion of the Church of England as it 's now Established by Law And we find that by such Education both the Bodies and Souls of many Infants will be preserved and many great Evils prevented which daily happen in this County And we find it a great Advantage and Convenience to the several Parishes and that it is a very charitable and exceeding good Work And we return our humble and hearty Thanks to the Justices of the Peace for this County for the Encouragement they have already given it And we humbly desire the further Assistance of this Court for the supporting and promoting thereof William Holden Foreman William Davis William Sanders William Munden John Ilford William Loughton Charles Munden John Thorley Hugh Buxton Henry Barret Robert Drinkwater Thomas Brumwick Davenant Sherborne Lawrence Wright Thomas Rayner Robert Munden Middl. ss Ad General Quarterialem Sessionem Pacis Dom. Registent per adjornament pro Com. Midd. apud Hicks-hall in St. Johnstreet in Com. praed ’ die Martis scil tertio decimo die April Anno Regni Regis Jacobi Secundi nunc Angliae c. secundo coram Roberto Clerk Mil. Joh. Reresbey Mil. Bar. Jacobo Dewy Willielmo Bridgman Carolo Bonithon Simone Parry Thoma Hariot Richardo Price Carolo Hinton Francisco Knollys Petro Lugg Thoma Smith Galfrido Nightingale Armig. al. sociis suis Justic ’ dict ’ Dom ’ Regis ad Pacem in Com. praed ’ conservand ’ necnon ad divers felon transgress al. Malefacta in eodem Com. perpetrat audiend ’ terminand ’ assign ’ HIS Majesties Justices of the Peace abovementioned having observed the loose and idle way of breeding up of the Parish Children in this County and that very few of them come to good by reason that in their first beginning of Life they suck in wicked and debauched Principles for the Prevention whereof and that for the future they who are bred up at the publick charge may be instructed in true Religion and Virtue they have at their General Quarter Sessions appropriated a great part of their Corporation Work-house for their Reception where there are Rules and Methods used for the better Breeding up of those Children which are sent thither And the said Justices having been to view the same this present Sessions do very well approve thereof now the same is put into Practice And whereas the said House hath been fitted up at the great Charge of some few Persons to make trial for the receiving of such as shall be sent thither but if the said House shall Increase as they the said Justices have reason to believe it will it may conduce much to the publick Good For the better Encouragement thereof it is commended by the said Justices to all Persons whatsoever in this County to give their Assistance towards the carrying on of this good Work And the said Justices do desire the Ministers and Church-Wardens of the several Parishes Hamblets and Precincts in this County to commend the same in their respective Parishes Hamblets and Precincts Per Cur. Smith To the Ministers and Church-Wardens of the respective Parishes Precincts and Hamblets in this County of Middlesex FINIS June 30. An. 3. Jacobi Regis The Grand Jury having been to view the Colledg of Infants made this Presentment Midd. ss WE the Grand Jury sworn for the County of Middlesex this present Midsummer Sessions do present That the General Nursery or Colledg of Infants is one of the best and most charitable works that has for these many years been set on foot and we find by what we now see and by the Character which is every where given of it That the Children are well educated in Religion and Virtue and provided for with all things necessary and we are convinced that this way of Education will prevent many great evils which are now daily practiced by breeding up of youths and we are of opinion that the Church-Wardens and Overseers cannot do a more Charitable deed with their publick money than by sending their Infants to that place for incouragement whereof we humbly thank the Justices of Peace And we desire That they will in their several Stations and Places order their Officers of their several Parishes to send their Infants to the said Nursery to be maintained at the publick Charge Richard Robins Foreman Edward Hamstead Thomas Smith Thomas Lord Thomas Long John Coep Robert Harridge Richard Savidg John Dodd Thomas Barker Thomas Harris George Stead William â—hild John Farmer Matthew Horton William Clapshaw John Hartwell The Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex upon many Complaints taking into their Consideration the loose and evil way of the breeding up of the poor Fatherless and Motherless Children committed to the publick Care and
that few or none came to good did appropriate some part of their Corporation Work-house for their Reception that an Experiment might be made of a more regular method and better way for the breeding up and disposing of these poor Infants And according as they found it good in Effect and Practice either to dissolve it or carry on the same To that purpose by their Order at their General Quarter Sessions they appointed a small proportion out of every Parish to be sent thither that they might see whether the Proposals when put into practice were in themselves good and advantageous for the publick and Westminster Sessions made the like Order upon proposidg of it there Now all the Parishes did comply with the said Order and do very much approve the same but St. Clement Danes whose proportion being but 5 Children which charge would have amounted but to 2 s 6 d. per week more than now they pay for that reason only did absolutely refuse to obey the Order of the Quarter Sessions and would send none thither tho they at discretion gave away 2708 l. 16 s. 05 d. in the 7 years Upon which this Order was made Middl. ss Ad Generalem Sessionem Pacis Dom. Regis tent pro Com. Middl. apud Hicks-hall in St. John-street in Com. praed ’ die Lunae scil Sexto die Decembris Anno Regni Regis Jacobi Secundi nunc Angliae c. secundo WHereas the Church-Wardens and Overseers of the poor of the Parish of St. Clement Danes in this County have been summoned to attend his Court this present Sessions to shew how many poor Children of the said Parish they have put out to be Apprentices at the charge of the said Parish for the space of seven years last past and their names as also the names of the persons to whom they put them Apprentices and the places of their abode and what money they gave with them and what is now become of the said Apprentices And the said Officers have attended this Court but have not given any satisfactory Account to this Court in the Premises but desired time It is therefore thought fit and Ordered by this Court That it be and it is hereby recommended to Sir Thomas Rowe Kt. John Phelips Esq Tho. Done Esq Simon Parry Esq Richard Price Esq and Peter Lugg Esq his Majesties Justices of Peace of this County or to any two or three of them to cause the said Church-Wardens and Overseers of the poor of the said Parish and such other persons as they think convenient to come before them and examine the said Officers and Persons concerning the disposal of the said Parish Children for Seven years last past and what is now become of them And the said Justices are hereby further desired to make a Report to this Court in Writing under their hands how they shall find the true state of the Premises and how they shall find the Muster-Roll of the Parish Children in the said Parish at the General Sessions of the Peace to be held for this County next after Hillary Term now next ensuing The Report Whereas by an Order made at last Christmas Quarter Sessions it was desired and referred to Sir Thomas Rowe Knight John Phelips Esq and several other his Majesties Justices for the said County to Examine what Children the Parish of St. Clements Danes have had under their care for Seven years past and how many of them have been put forth Apprentices and what charge the Parish hath been at with the said Children and how many of them now are in being We the said Justices do Report as followeth That we inspected the said Books and do find that in the year 1679. there were then at the charge of the Parish 89 Children of which 16 were Foundlings all Clements And we find there hath been added to the charge of the Parish 110 in the following Six years in all 199. of which 51. are Clements Children laid in the streets We find that of these 55. hath been put forth to Apprentice and that there are now in being 32 of the said 55. only And we find that there now remains of Children at the charge of the Parish 58. of which 13. are Clements And of the Apprentices living 32 of which 3 are Clements In all 90. We find that the Officers have expended for Nursing these Children in the Seven years last past 1943.l 09 s 0.d And for Binding forth the Apprentices 0109.l 08 s 0.d In all 2052.l 17 s 0.d And we further find that they have given away on Extraordinary Charges at their pleasure some of which are for the Children 2708.l 16 s 05.d All which we submit to this honourable Court Tho. Rowe Jo. Phelips Peter Lucy Sim. Parry 1. Note that Seven years ago the Parish had 89. Children and that 110. have been since added in all 199. of these Apprentices accounted in there is but 90. left So that 109 are lost and dead in the said Seven years or never were Though payed for in their Books 2. Note that of 55. bound out Apprentices in these Seven years last past which cost the Parish 109. l. 8. s. there is only left 32. And how many of the 32. will stay to serve out their Time is to be enquired further off 3. Note that 51. of the 110. were Foundlings all Clements laid in the Parish in Six years last and so take the name of Clement from the Parish and 16. were then there in all 79. the first year of the Inspection in all 97. now only 3. are bound out Apprencies and 13. are left the first number 16. and 51. all Clements addded are all lost and dead now the Parish-Books have been searched how many were Christned of these Foundlings or Clements or buried and very few appear upon the Register It is questionable if they ever were all there though payed for It is much that 51 should die out of 67. in Seven year The particuler Money payed for Nursing of these Children is 1943. l. 9. s. 0. d. in Seven year Now judg if well disposed October the 15. Anno. 30. Jacobi Regis Midd ss WE the Grand Jury sworn for the Body of the County of Middlesex this present Michaelmas Sessions having been to view and inspect the College of Infants set up by the Justices of the Peace for this County do present That it is a very advantageous and an exceeding Good work useful to the Publick and a thing that will give much ease to the several Parishes of this County if they send their Children thither and prevent many evils which daily increase by the Ways and Methods as the Officers now use and it will prevent many Cheats put upon the several Parishes by paying for Children which have been a long time dead and for many which never were and give a great satisfaction to all persons in passing the Officers Accounts of the several Parishes and it will be a great ease to the Officers for there they
may at any time see them together which when placed at a distance and in several places it will take much time and expence to perform it will be a great ease in the Charge for these Children placed in the General Nursery will be taken from the Parishes without charge for their Education sake and the Parishes will save 3.4 or 5 l. a piece by giving Money to Bind them Apprentices and providing Cloathes for them and by giving an Addition of Money when any are sick all which is by this Provision saved to the several Parishes and we do for our selves and the whole County whom we represent give our humble thanks to the Justices of Peace of this County for their setting a foot so good a work And we give our hearty thanks to Sir Thomas Rowe for his great care in the prudent management thereof and desire that they will encourage the same by sending thither so many of the Parish Children as the House can receive for we conceive the Officers of the several Parishes cannot better provide for their poor Infant Children nor can the Publick Money raised for that purpose be better imployed than by paying for their Infant-Children in that place Francis Brown Foreman John Smith Henry Anger John Sharp William Watkins Thomas Merriot Thomas Harding Amor Oxley Thomas Woodward Thomas Knight Thomas Fryer John Jordan Christopher Ingleton John Houshaw Thomas White John Bowden Richard Piggat The advantages that all persons will receive by this College of Infants 1. By breeding the Parish Children in this way they will be taken for Apprentices to very good Trades or Servants for their Education sake and the Parishes save the Money they now give with them and the Cloathes they provided 2. There is no accidental Charge can be charged upon them by the Officers of the Parishes either for Sickness Cloathes or any other accident the 3. s. per Week being the whole charge in the College and thereby the accidental Book of the Parish will be much lessened 3. No Child can be payed for that is not nor any longer than they are alive and the Officers of the Parishes will with much more ease and satifaction adjust their Accounts when they produce an Acquittance from the House for a Voucher 4. There will not be so many Children exposed to the Parish as now are for it is believed that one half of the Children left to the Parish in the Streets are more to save credit and trouble given by Parish Officers about security than for want of 3 s. per Week to pay for them had they a conveniency as in the College Here the Widower may settle his Children and go to the Indies for a Soldier or any place where he pleaseth The Widow may do the like The young man who by Folly is extravagant may having placed it here be free from the opportunity of further Folly by the Womans coming after him for Maintenance which many times is the occasion of getting more and greater evils The Tradesman may leave off House-keeping having here provided for his Child and may see it every Day without trouble or more charge The dying man may be sure of a Provision for his Child for leaving 50 l. to the House his Child is taken care of put forth Apprentice and shall have 10 l. out of the 50 l. to set up withal what more he leaves is to be accounted for every year to the Justices at every Christmas Sessions if he by Will leaves no body else and the Interest made Principal and a good Fund in Land is now setled for the performance hereof and at the house they may be satisfied therein and a man may find many persons who will see this done to whose care if the Money and Child were left the Money might be lost and spent and the child come to the Parish And for such as are not willing to engage any person for Security they may leave a caution of Money in the House and have the Fund setled for Security the Surplusage returned when they take away the child the usual Rate of the House being first paid and no Questions asked whose the child is or whence it came FINIS