Catalogue description Records Relating to the Grantham Old Amicable Society

Introduction

The Grantham Old Amicable Society was one of the earliest friendly societies in the county; a surviving minute book proves that it was certainly in existence by 1746 (see 3 GL 1/1/1) and, according to tradition, its origins go back to the reign of William and Mary (1689-1694).

Unfortunately, the history of the Society's early years is somewhat obscure, as most of its 18th century records were destroyed by fire. The earliest extant rules date from 1801 (see 3 GL 1/2/1), and from this document we know that membership was limited to 101 common members and that all members had to be under the age of 32 when they joined. Dissenters were excluded from the Society, as were those who were known to be "...common Tipplers, Swearers, Profaners of the Lord's day, negligent of their Trade or Business, or otherwise scandalous in their Lives and Manners."

The Society seems to have prospered throughout the 19th century and, in 1873, the limit on the number of members was extended to 150 (at the time there were actually only 86). In the next century, however, the friendly society's role of providing people with financial security was increasingly being taken over by the State. The Grantham Society's membership fell consistently after 1900 and by the time the organisation was finally dissolved on 25 April 1939 there were only 24 members and 2 widows.