This entry is extracted from the Chatton Overseers' of the Poor account book, 1818 to 1821. These books provided a record of families or individuals in the parish who received financial assistance from the church. Their need for this assistance may have resulted from someone losing a partner, or becoming too ill or too old to work. George Gray of Ford Forge received 8 shillings and 6 pence between May and August. This is equivalent to £12 by today's value. This detailed information is particularly useful to family historians.
Many of the Chatton 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.
