Darlington. from his estate by his lawyer after his decease, and was replaced by his mother. He also handed me a paper of which the following is a copy :- Ward's Charitycontinued. Trustees to a sum of money yielding 3 per cent. was(?) invested in the 3 per cent. Consols for the poor of Darlington The Rev. T. Webb Minton. (Signed) THOMAS L. TROTTER. Transfer to Official Trustees, 1894. Walker's Transfer to Official Trustees. Thomas Hayes Jackson. William Stow, Stowell Faverdale near Cockerton." This money is directed to be applied yearly to the relief of such poor housekeepers in the town of Darlington as did not receive any allowance from the parish, and preference was to be given to poor female housekeepers." In Mr. Hare's Inspection Report of 1855 it is stated that the practice was to divide the income equally to the vicar of Darlington and the vicars of the two district churches of Holy Trinity and St. John, which were created in 1848. Under the authority of an Order of the Charity Commissioners of the 29th June 1894, the sum of 1337. 6s. 8d. Consols, representing the endowment of the Charity, and standing in the names of the Rev. Thomas Edward Hodgson, formerly vicar of Darlington, the Rev. W. H. Goldwyer Stephens, formerly vicar of St. John's Darlington, and the Rev. Arthur Horsley Hughes, formerly vicar of Holy Trinity, Darlington, was transferred, on the 23rd July following, to the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds. On the completion of the above transfer the Charity Commissioners transmitted a form of authority for payment of dividends, to be signed by the vicar of Darlington and the vicars of Holy Trinity and St. John. The vicar and churchwardens of Darlington, however, disputed the claim of the vicars of the two district churches to be regarded as trustees or administrators of the Charity on the ground that when the Charity was founded in the eighteenth century the parishes of Holy Trinity and St. John did not exist. They also alleged that the circumstance that the stock was standing in the names of the joint vicars before it was transferred to the Official Trustees was due to some mistake in the past; and stated that the money had always been given to the entire parish, comprising seven churches, by the late vicar (Canon Hodgson). In regard to the above contention, the Charity Commissioners informed the vicar and churchwardens of Darlington, by letters dated 14th December 1894 and 27th April 1895, that in view of the fact that there was no actual instrument of foundation, the vicar of Darlington and the vicars of the two district churches of Holy Trinity and St. John should by long usage be regarded as the administrators of the Charity. Eventually the Official Trustees received an authority, dated 14th July 1897, signed by the vicar of Darlington and the vicars of Holy Trinity and St. John, authorising the payment of the dividends to the credit of the vicar and churchwardens of Darlington St. Cuthbert, for account of "Trotter's Charity." The dividends, amounting to 31. 13s. 4d. per annum, are remitted by the Official Trustees, in accordance with the above authority, to the vicar and churchwardens of Darlington, and included by them in the Christmas distribution to the seven ecclesiastical districts comprised in the ancient parish. Charity of Elizabeth Walker (see page 11). From the account given in the Report of 1829, it appears that this testatrix, by her Will dated the 11th April 1791, and proved at York on the 3rd April 1792, bequeathed 50l. to the minister and churchwardens of Darlington for investment, the interest to be divided among 12 poor widows of the town of Darlington, in such proportions as the minister and churchwardens should think fit. The sum of 581. 3s. Five per Cent. Loyalty Annuities mentioned in the Report of 1829 as then constituting the endowment of the Charity came subsequently to be represented by the sum of 777. 10s. 8d. Consols. Under an Order of the Charity Commissioners of the 20th October 1891, the above sum of 777. 10s. 8d. Consols was transferred, on the 8th December following, into the name of the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds. The dividends, amounting to 21. 2s. 8d. per annum, are remitted by the Official Trustees to the churchwardens of the parish of St. Cuthbert, Darlington, and are included by the vicar and churchwardens of that parish in the Christmas distribution, the special trust for 12 poor widows of the town of Darlington being in effect observed. Charity of Shaftoe Carr (see page 11). Darlington. It appears, as stated in the Report of 1829, that Shaftoe Carr, by Will dated 1st January Carr's 1809, gave to the churchwardens of the township of Darlington 301. for investment, Charity. the interest to be distributed on St. Thomas's Day amongst poor of the township of Darlington. Trustees. The sum of 527. 10s. Consols, constituting the endowment of this Charity, formed part Transfer of the sum of 95l. 14s. 6d. Consols transferred to the Official Trustees of Charitable to Official Funds under Order of the Charity Commissioners of the 20th October 1891, as stated above under the head of Prescot's Charity. The dividends amounting to 11. 9s. are remitted by the Official Trustees to the churchwardens of St. Cuthbert's, and are applied by the vicar and churchwardens of St. Cuthbert's as part of the Christmas distribution. Charity of Elizabeth Pickering. It appears that Mrs. Elizabeth Pickering, by Will dated 7th January 1832, gave 251. Pickering's to the churchwardens for the benefit of the Church poor, and that the testatrix gave the Charity. same sum to the Wesleyan body. Trustees. The bequest for the Church poor was invested in the sum of 231. 11s. 5d. Consois, Transfer which, as mentioned above under the head of Prescot's Charity, formed part of the sum to Official of 957. 14s. 6d. Consols transferred to the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds under Order of the Charity Commissioners of the 20th October 1891. The dividends on the sum of 237. 11s. 5d., amounting to 13s. per annum, are remitted to the churchwardens of St. Cuthbert's and applied by the vicar and churchwardens as part of the Christmas distribution. The trust for Church poor is in effect observed. Christmas Distribution (see page 11). The subjoined table forms a summary showing the present state of the endowments Christmas of all the Charities comprised in the Christmas Distribution as explained above. The Distribution. Charities are arranged in chronological order according to date of foundation : Christmas Darlington. It is stated in Mr. Hare's Inspection Report of 1855 with regard to F. and R. Forster's Charity, that since the separation of the ecclesiastical districts it had been customary Distribution to divide tickets for receipt of the Charity amongst the ministers and church-continued. wardens of each district; and it would seem that the same practice was followed in regard to the other Charities. The present practice is for the vicar and churchwardens of Darlington to apportion the income to the incumbents of the several ecclesiastical districts to be distributed by them in their respective districts. This practice appears to be in accordance with long local usage, and to command general approval. The result, however, is that the Charity is distributed by persons who are legally strangers to the trust, and a scheme appears to be needed in order to legalise the position of the vicars of the district churches. The accounts furnished to the Charity Commissioners by the vicar and churchwardens of Darlington show the apportionment to the several districts, but not the actual distribution of the benefits of the Charity. It was stated, however, at the Inquiry that the distribution is made chiefly in coals. The beneficiaries are chosen without reference to religious persuasion. The following statement of the receipts and expenditure of these Charities for the two years ending 31st December 1900 is based upon the returns made to the Charity Commissioners as above: Phillips' Mary Almshouse Phillips' Charity (see page 13). It is stated that the poor house, in building which the bequest of Gideon Gravett Phillips was laid out, as mentioned in the Report of 1829, was the old Darlington Workhouse, which has since been sold. Mary Pease's Almshouse Charity (see page 5). This is one of the Charities in connexion with the Society of Friends, and it is accordingly reported upon in a separate Report upon the Charities of that body. For the purposes of the present Report the following particulars may suffice. Under the title of Mary Pease's Almshouse Charity, the following Charities are now regulated by a Scheme of the Charity Commissioners dated 29th June 1897, viz. :— (1) The Charity known as Mary Pease's Almshouses, comprised in an indenture dated 10th June 1820; (2) the Charity consisting of a yearly rent charge of 351. (comprised in an indenture dated 1st July 1869) for the repair of the aforesaid almshouses and for the inmates thereof, and for the repair of the almshouses of the Society of Friends in or near Skinnergate, Darlington; and (3) the Charity consisting of six almshouses comprised in an indenture dated 1st April 1896, and made between Sir Joseph Whitwell Pease, Bart., M.P., and Arthur Pease, M.P., of the one part, and William John Cudworth and four others of the other part, and the endowment thereof. With regard to the Charity No. 2, it may be mentioned that by the above-mentioned indenture dated 1st July 1869, certain premises in Skinnergate were conveyed to trustees of the Society of Friends, subject to the above rentcharge. The Charity No. 3 is derived from the estate of the late Miss Emma Gurney Pease, whose executors were Sir Joseph Pease and the late Mr. Arthur Pease, and who shortly before her death arranged to found and endow six new almshouses and take the old almshouses of Mary Pease's foundation in exchange. This arrangement was carried into effect at the instance of her executors by the Charity Commissioners' Scheme dated 29th June 1897, Darlington. of which the principal provisions are as follows: continued. Mary (Clause 2.) The real estate is vested in the Official Trustee of Charity Lands. Pease's (Clauses 3-8.) A body of trustees is constituted consisting of five persons residing Almshouse or carrying on business in or near Darlington, and being members of the Charity Monthly Meeting of Friends to which Darlington for the time being belongs, and appointed (except in the case of the first trustees, who are named in the Scheme and appointed for life) for the term of five years by such Monthly Meeting. (Clause 15.) In consideration of the conveyance of the six almshouses comprised in the indenture dated 1st April 1896, the trustees are authorised to convey to Sir Joseph Pease and Arthur Pease the four almshouses comprised in the indenture dated 10th June 1820. (Clause 18.) The alinspeople are to consist of six poor women of the age of 60 years at least, of good moral character and reputation; four at least to be widows and not of the Society of Quakers or Friends, and the other almspeople or almsperson to be unmarried. (Clause 19.) The yearly rentcharge of 351. is to be applied as follows: (1.) In defraying the cost (so far as not provided from other sources) of (2.) In paying a stipend of 2s. 6d. a week to each of the four above- (3.) In or towards defraying the cost of repairs and insurance, &c. in respect of all the almshouses comprised in the said indentures of 1st April 1896. (Clause 20.) The yearly income from the property numbered 3 in the schedule below is to be applied to the following purposes in the following order of priority: (1.) In payment of a stipend of 2s. 6d. a week to each of the two almswomen (2.) In or towards defraying the cost mentioned in sub-clause (3) of clause 19. The Scheme also contained the usual provisions as to the appointment and removal of the almspeople and management of the almshouses, and the general management of the trust. The following schedule, which was appended to the Scheme and which has been corrected to date, shows the present state of the endowments : Darlington. Hcspital and Dispensary and Endow ments. Darlington Hospital and Dispensary and Endowments. The foundation deed of this institution is as follows: This Indenture made the nineteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven [enrolled in the Court of Chancery 28th August following] between John Pease of Darlington in the county of Durham gentleman of the first part and Alfred Backhouse banker Gurney Pease merchant Thomas Macnay gentleman William Russell ironmonger Alfred Kitching and Charles Ianson ironfounders all of Darlington aforesaid of the second part Whereas the said John Pease has contracted and agreed with the said parties hereto of the second part for the absolute sale to them of the hereditaments hereinafter particularly described and intended to be hereby assured with the appurtenances and the freehold and inheritance thereof in fee simple in possession free from all incumbrances except the rights or interests of the said parties hereto of the second part as the occupying tenants of the portion thereof first hereinafter described at or for the price or sum of one hundred pounds upon the understanding and agreement that the same hereditaments shall be assured unto and to the use of the said parties hereto of the second part their heirs and assigns upon the trusts and with under and subject to the powers and declarations hereinafter expressed and declared of and concerning the same Now this Indenture witnesseth that in pursuance and performance of said agreement and in consideration of the sum of One hundred pounds on or immediately before the execution of these presents to the said John Pease in hand paid by the said parties hereto of the second part the receipt of which said sum of One hundred pounds the said John Pease doth hereby acknowledge and from the same and every part thereof doth release and discharge the said parties hereto of the second part respectively and their respective heirs executors administrators and assigns and every of them for ever by these presents He the said John Pease Doth by these presents grant convey and assign unto the said parties hereto of the second part and their heirs All that piece or parcel of land situate in the said Township of Darlington aforesaid adjoining a certain Street called Russell Street and containing by admeasurement Seven hundred and twenty square yards or thereabouts (be the same more or less) and particularly delineated on the map or plan drawn on the first skin of these presents and thereon coloured pink Together with the messuage or building now standing thereon and which said hereditaments are now in the occupation of the said parties hereto of the second part or their undertenants And All that other piece or parcel of land or ground near Russell Street aforesaid in the said Township of Darlington adjoining the first described piece or parcel of land and now or lately occupied and used as a drying ground and containing by admeasurement Two hundred and forty-five square yards or thereabouts be the same more or less and more particularly delineated and described in the said map or plan drawn on the first Skin of these presents and thereon coloured blue Together Also with full and free liberty and right to and for the said parties hereto of the second part their heirs and assigns and their agents servants and workmen friends and acquaintance and all persons by them thereunto authorised either on foot or with horses carts and carriages from time to time and at all times hereafter to pass and repass along the road coloured yellow upon the said map or plan from and into the said hereby assured pieces or parcels of land or ground and hereditaments and all houses erections and buildings now erected or to be hereafter erected thereon into and from and over and along the said Street called Russell Street for all purposes whatsoever incident to or connected with the use occupation or enjoyment of or otherwise beneficial to the said hereby assured pieces or parcels of land or ground or the houses erections or buildings for the time being thereon or the owners or occupiers thereof for the time being Together with all and singular houses outhouses edifices buildings barns stables yards gardens orchards commons trees woods underwoods mounds fences hedges ditches ways water watercourses lights liberties privileges easements rights profits commodities emoluments and appurtenances whatsoever to the said pieces or parcels of land and hereditaments hereby assured or intended so to be or any part thereof belonging or in anywise appertaining or therewith usually enjoyed or reputed to be parcel or member thereof And the reversion and reversions remainder and remainders yearly and other rents issues and profits thereof and of every part thereof And All the estate right title interest inheritance use trust property profit possession claim and demand whatsoever both at law and in equity of him the said John Pease in to or out of or upon the same premises and every part thereof To Have And To Hold the said pieces or parcels of land and hereditaments and all and singular other the premises hereby assured or expressed or intended so to be and every part thereof and their and every of their appurtenances as to such part or parts thereof as is or are of freehold tenure unto and to the use of the said parties hereto of the second part their heirs and assigns for ever and as to such part or parts thereof as is or are comprised in a certain Indenture of Lease bearing date the eighteenth day of February One thousand six hundred and seventy-five and made between Robert King Weaver of the first part William Hodgshon Weaver of the second part and Ann Hodgshon Spinster of the third part unto and to the use of the said parties hereto of the second part their executors administrators and assigns for and during all the residue and remainder now to come and unexpired of a term of nine hundred and seventy years granted by the said Indenture of Lease and all other the Estate and Interest of the said John Pease therein But nevertheless upon the trusts and with under and subject to the powers provisoes and declarations hereinafter contained and declared of and concerning the same (that is to say) Upon Trust that they the said parties hereto of the second part and the survivors and survivor of them and the heirs of such survivor and their or his assigns (as the case may be) or other the trustees or trustee for the time being of these presents who (unless otherwise distinguished) are and is hereafter referred to as "the Trustees") shall at all times hereafter permit the said hereby assured pieces or parcels of land |
