Doctor for Wateringbury poor (1783)

Post date: Dec 27, 2011 10:39:25 AM

The following agreement for medical care for the Wateringbury poor is to be found in the Kent archives (P385/12/2)

Memorandum April 21st 1783

It is this day agreed between the parish of Wateringbury, of the one part, and John Hosmer, surgeon, of the above place, of the other part, as follows, vizt.

That the said John Hosmer is to take the poor of the said parish and find them with proper medicines and attendance for the sum of six pounds six shillings for the year from the date of this agreement but he the said John Hosmer is to be paid over and above for all midwifery cases, fractures and inoculation. He is also not to attend any parish­ioners but those within four miles of Wateringbury aforesaid. In witness whereof the said John Hosmer has subscribed his hand, together with the parishoners who are agreeable to this proposal.

[Signatures of John Hosmer and six parishioners]

This agreement is cited in Religion and Society in Kent , 1640 -1914 (page 130) by Nigel Yates, Robert Hume and Paul Hastings. Ash in Kent had had a medical contract for the poor since 1680. Many parishes made occasional payments for treatment of the poor. Contracts for medical treatment of the poor became common: Cowden made a contract in 1732; Chislet in 1742; Meopham in 1776; Shoreham in 1783 (the same year as Wateringbury).

For snippets relating to the assisted emigration of the poor of Wateringbury (nineteenth century) see Wateringbury pays its own to go West and Wateringbury in debt.

For poor relief see Christmas charity at Wateringbury Place, , Poor rate assessment of 1586