Scottish Poor Law
Encyclopedia
The Scottish Poor Laws were the statutes concerning poor relief
passed in Scotland
between 1579 and 1929. Scotland had a different Poor Law
system to England and the workings of the Scottish laws differed greatly to the Poor Law Amendment Act which applied in England and Wales
.
In 1579, the Scottish Parliament
passed an act which made individual parishes responsible for enumerating their own poor. More than merely enumerate, however, the purpose of the law was an "inquisition" into the circumstances of the individual poverty, so as to determine whether the poor were able to work, whether they had any other means of subsistence, and whether there were other persons, family or others, who might assist them. The laws at that time codified the need to assist the poor--but at the same time as outlawing what were apparently considered public nuisances: begging and vagrancy. In 1595 Buttock Mail
, a Scottish poor rate began to be levied. There was further legislation in 1597 which made the parishes rather than the church responsible for the administration of poor relief. In 1692 Magistrates were ordered to build Correction Houses or workhouses so that beggars could be made to work.
In 1843 a Commission of Enquiry was set up to suggest improvements to the Scottish Poor Law system. Proposals suggested included:
In Scotland the able-bodied poor had no automatic right to poor relief as in England. The Poor Law (Scotland) Act 1845 created a central Board of Supervision which had the ability to raise local taxes to cover Poor relief costs. Unlike in England the Scottish pauper had a legal right to appeal if they were denied poor relief. Outdoor relief
was common, however mismanagement of the system meant that a more restricted system after 1868 which relied more on the workhouse
.
The Archives and Special Collections at the Mitchell Library
in Glasgow
hold more than 1,000,000 applications for poor relief made by residents of Glasgow and the West of Scotland
. These records can prove extremely useful for the family historian, and contain detailed notes and information about the applicants, their families and life.
Poor relief
Poor Relief refers to any actions taken by either governmental or ecclesiastical bodies to relieve poverty experienced by a population. More specifically, the term poor relief is often used to discuss how European countries dealt with poverty from the time just around the end of the medieval era to...
passed in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
between 1579 and 1929. Scotland had a different Poor Law
Poor Law
The English Poor Laws were a system of poor relief which existed in England and Wales that developed out of late-medieval and Tudor-era laws before being codified in 1587–98...
system to England and the workings of the Scottish laws differed greatly to the Poor Law Amendment Act which applied in England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
.
In 1579, the Scottish Parliament
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
passed an act which made individual parishes responsible for enumerating their own poor. More than merely enumerate, however, the purpose of the law was an "inquisition" into the circumstances of the individual poverty, so as to determine whether the poor were able to work, whether they had any other means of subsistence, and whether there were other persons, family or others, who might assist them. The laws at that time codified the need to assist the poor--but at the same time as outlawing what were apparently considered public nuisances: begging and vagrancy. In 1595 Buttock Mail
Buttock Mail
Buttock mail was the colloquial term for a Scottish Poor Law tax which was introduced in 1595. Enforced by the ecclesiastical courts who had responsibility for the moral behaviour of the laity, buttock mail was levied as a fine for sexual intercourse out of wedlock.-Etymology:In the 17th century,...
, a Scottish poor rate began to be levied. There was further legislation in 1597 which made the parishes rather than the church responsible for the administration of poor relief. In 1692 Magistrates were ordered to build Correction Houses or workhouses so that beggars could be made to work.
In 1843 a Commission of Enquiry was set up to suggest improvements to the Scottish Poor Law system. Proposals suggested included:
- Setting up a Board of Supervision and Parochial Boards
- The levying of a poor rate
- Joint poorhouses in urban areas
- An Inspector of the Poor who could examine requests for relief.
Scottish Poor Law Act
After the Act of Union Scotland retained its distinct legal system and the Poor Law Amendment Act was not applied to Scotland. However as in England it was necessary to reform the Poor Laws. A Commission of Inquiry was set up in 1843 to decide how to reform the system. This resulted in the 1845 Scottish Poor Law Act being passed. The Scottish Poor Law Act established parochial boards in parishes and towns and a central Board of Supervision in Edinburgh.In Scotland the able-bodied poor had no automatic right to poor relief as in England. The Poor Law (Scotland) Act 1845 created a central Board of Supervision which had the ability to raise local taxes to cover Poor relief costs. Unlike in England the Scottish pauper had a legal right to appeal if they were denied poor relief. Outdoor relief
Outdoor relief
This article refers to Britain's welfare provision after the 1601 Poor Law. For welfare programmes see Social securityAfter the passing of the Elizabethan Poor Law , outdoor relief was that kind of poor relief where assistance was in the form of money, food, clothing or goods, given to alleviate...
was common, however mismanagement of the system meant that a more restricted system after 1868 which relied more on the workhouse
Workhouse
In England and Wales a workhouse, colloquially known as a spike, was a place where those unable to support themselves were offered accommodation and employment...
.
The Archives and Special Collections at the Mitchell Library
Mitchell Library
The Mitchell Library is a large public library and centre of the public library system of Glasgow, Scotland.-History:The library was established with a bequest from Stephen Mitchell, a wealthy tobacco manufacturer, whose company, Stephen Mitchell & Son, would become one of the constituent members...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
hold more than 1,000,000 applications for poor relief made by residents of Glasgow and the West of Scotland
West of Scotland
West of Scotland may refer to:*West of Scotland, an electoral region of the Scottish Parliament*Informally, an area comprising Argyll, Ayrshire, Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire*West of Scotland Football Club*West of Scotland Cricket Club...
. These records can prove extremely useful for the family historian, and contain detailed notes and information about the applicants, their families and life.