This entry is extracted from the Berwick Vestry Minute Book, 1758 to 1810 . These books often included a record of families or individuals in the parish who received financial assistance from the church. This particular entry relates to those who were illegible for assistance whilst living in the workhouse. This is sometimes described as 'indoor relief'. This detailed information is particularly useful to family historians.
Many of the Berwick parish records are deposited with Northumberland Archives Service. Previously they were kept at the church. For many years church records were stored in the Parish Chest. This tradition dates back to medieval times. The Chest would usually be found in the vestry and kept under lock and key. All church records would be stored there. For example, baptism registers, poor relief records and churchwardens' accounts would all be found within the Chest.
