Catalogue description Grinsell's Charity

Volume of Treasurer's accounts 19 June 1678 - 29 June 1738 and Trustees' minutes, 19 June 1678 - 17 June 1736

Introduction

The volume records the accounts of the charitable bequest of Mrs Jane Grinsell of the parish of St Margaret, in the form of rental income from property for the apprenticeship of poor children Jane Grinsell was the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Booth. Following the death of her husband Elizabeth Booth had married Mr Emery Hill of the parish of St Margaret.

The bequest was made in her will dated 28 September 1670, which is transcribed at the end of the volume. The land forming the bequest consisted of three acres including a cottage, located in the northern part of the Manor of Fulham and was occupied by Thomas Warren. The land was initially to pass to her husband Humphrey Grinsell but on his death it was to be used for the benefit of the apprenticeship of poor children. The trustees are instructed not to spend more than five pounds on any child. The children are to be apprenticed between 25th March and 24th June each year. There were to be five trustees of the bequest. The men from whom the trustees are to be formed are specified as Michael Arnold, Robert White, Francis Brockhurst, Richard Boyce, Myles Mitchell, Joseph Cragg, Nehemiah Arnold, Sydney Gerrard and Samuel Bedwell. The witnesses of the will are given as Emery Hill, Charles Rampaine and Jacob Palmer. The death of her husband Humphrey Hill is noted in the book as October 1675.

The Treasurer's accounts record the rental income received from named tenants and the amounts paid out for the apprenticeship of named children to named persons. There are also minutes of the trustees of the charity which cover the period from 19 June 1678 to 17 June 1736. The minutes of 19 June 1678 record the presence of all the trustees listed in the will of Jane Grinsell with the exceptions of Michael Arnold and Francis Brockhurst.

The apprenticeship indentures relating to Grinsell's Charity, reference E3559, have been indexed and are available for consultation.

Grinsell's Charity

Record was purchased from B Bell, 227 Ebury Street, London, SW1 in February 1983.

• Poverty alleviation

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