This is an extract from Ovingham St. Mary's Poor Account Book, 1736 - 1813.
This particular letter, which was written in 1844, relates to the possible misuse of funds intended for the maintenance of the poor within Ovingham Parish during the period 1736 - 1815.
Many of the Ovingham 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.
