AT our February meeting we heard Mr Ralph Richardson's lamentable tale of William Sable, labourer of Ipsley, in the 18th century.

It was while researching in Worcester Record Office that Mr Richardson came upon a book which listed payments to the poor under the 1601 Elizabethan Poor Law Act.

Willliam Sable first appeared in this list in 1798, payments were also made to Anne Sable who he married at St Leonard's Church in Beoley on July 18, 1780.

These payments were made on numerous occasions, in fact, during the latter part of 1800, it would seem every day.

The Poor Law Act also facilitated apprenticeships for children, such as Williams's son John, born in 1783, when it was hoped that their income would raise the family from the poor and subsequently from the Parish benefits.

Coals was also provided for poor families and during 1800 the midwife's fees were also paid when Anne gave birth to a daughter, Sarah.

In 1801 the family received more coal, some cloth, a repair to Anne's spinning wheel, a shoe repair and a new axe; all steps taken by the overseer to enable the family to be more self-sufficient.

In 1802 the payments to William ceased after April, although payments to Anne continued until June 1803, could this have been because William was employed on the Birmingham-Worcester canal at Tardebigge?

In 1809 the records show that all four of the Sable children died during September although William had reached the age of 60, or thereabouts, when he died in 1814, and Anne was the age of 70 when she died in 1814.

So maybe being looked after by the Parish was not such a bad thing after all.