BAKERS' COMPANY. CHARITIES. TO THE CHARITY COMMISSIONERS FOR In compliance with an order of the Board of the 3rd May 1860, I held an inquiry into the present state of the Endowed Charities under the management of the Bakers' Company in the City of London, which I find to be the following, viz. :— The Almshouses. Thomas Cooke. Magnus Salmond. Thomas Rose. Rogers. Robinson. (Lost Charity.) George Thomas Turner. (Not reported.) THE BAKERS' ALMSHOUSE FUND. The successive Masters, Wardens, and Commonalty of the Mystery of Bakers of London for many years past have allowed the principal sums of the various charities under their control, to merge into the general funds of the Company; still it was shown by ample evidence that a much larger amount than the interest of the United Charities has been distributed. Since the foundation of the Bakers' Almshouses the income of all their Charities (with the exception of Rose and Rogers) donations, contents of poor box, &c., have been concentrated into "The Almshouse Fund," which is expended in the payment of annuities and allowances of coals, bread, &c., to the occupants as reported hereafter. The Bakers' Almshouses are situated at Hackney, and were erected at a cost of nearly three thousand pounds (the foundation stone was laid 7th April 1828); there are 12 houses, containing each two rooms and a kitchen, and affording accommodation to a like number of decayed freemen or liverymen (or their widows) of the Company. Candidates are admitted on vacancies by petition to the Master and Court of Assistants who are the electing body. None are eligible under 60 years of age, and the Company require a guarantee from responsible persons that those admitted are possessed of 201. per annum, or that their friends are prepared to make up the amount for them. The Company allow 91. per annum pension, a piece of beef at Christmas, a two-pound loaf of bread a week, and two tons of coals per annum to each of the 12 occupants (10 of whom are widows, and two decayed freemen of the society) who are subject to certain printed rules for the regulation of their conduct or admission. CHARITIES OF SNOW, COOK, AND BRADLEY. On the tablet of benefactions in the Hall of the Bakers' Company, the following gifts are recorded. 1656. Barbara Snow 1706. Thomas Cooke 1728. Thomas Bradley £ S. d. the increase to be applied to poor pensioners and decayed members of the Company or their widows. Mr. Henley Smith, clerk to the Company, informed me the above sums are supposed to have merged into funds of the Company and are now represented by a portion of a sum of 1,8961. 28. 3d. (Consols) standing in the corporate name of the Company, the dividends of which are applied to the almshouse funds as before mentioned. EDWARD GROSE'S CHARITY. Edward Grose, by will dated in 1733, gave a rentcharge of 50s. issuing out of freehold houses in Wormwood Street, City, to be divided equally between five pensioners of the Company at Christmas in addition to their regular allowance. This rentcharge is regularly paid and brought into the Almshouse Fund Account, but it is not administered in accordance with the plain intention of the donor, that it should be an addition to the usual stipend of recipients, to which course the governing body appear disinclined on the assumption that it would be productive of jealousy and ill feeling. CHARITIES OF RICHARD WHITE AND JOSEPH READ. Richard White by will dated in 1748 gave to the Bakers' Company 5007., and directed the interest to be distributed among poor members of the Society on Christmas Day, at the discretion of the Master and Assistants. Joseph Read by will dated 6th July 1813 gave 5007. 31. per cent. consols, the dividends to poor members of the Company to be distributed at the same time as the contents of the poor box. The sum of 1,000l. 37. per cent. Reduced annuities now stands in the corporate name of the Company in respect of these charities, and the dividends, and contents of the poor-box also, are credited to the almshouse fund. CHARITIES OF ROSE AND ROGERS. Thomas Rose by will dated 3rd January 1587, gave the Bakers' Company 527. in trust to lend 267. each to two honest men of their society for four years at 51. per cent. interest. This sum (52s. per annum) the Company by deed dated 20th September 1589 obliged themselves and their successors to pay to the parish of St. Michael's Bassishaw, to be expended in bread and distributed every Sunday to 13 poor inhabitants of the parish. The executors of a Mr. Rogers in 1601 paid to the Company 1007., on condition that they should deliver every Sunday morning to the parish officers of St. Michael's, Bassishaw, two dozen penny loaves of bread to be distributed among the poor of the parish. The Bakers' Company in respect of these two charities regularly supply 12 threepenny loaves every Sunday at the Church of St. Michael's Bassishaw, which are given among the poor by the churchwardens. There is no record of any advances ever having been made according to the will of the first testator. I was informed the generally received opinion is that no loans had ever been granted, and that the Company dealt with the principal money when the deed of 20th December 1589 was executed. The payment for the bread (77. 16s.) appears regularly in the present and earlier books of the Company. ROBINSON'S LOST CHARITY. The late Commissioners mention the record in the Parliamentary Returns of 1786 of a rentcharge of 31. 6s. 8d. granted by William Robinson, payable after the death of his wife for bread to the poor of St. Bride's. It was stated at the inquiry that much pains had been taken to investigate this Charity, but that no trace whatever was found of its ever having existed. THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF BAKERS in Account with the ALMSHOUSE FUND. We, the undersigned, have examined and audited the above account, and find that a balance of 56l. 17s. 8d. is due to the treasurer. 2nd January 1882. (Signed) ALEX. WHITTET. THOS. A. MORRISON. JAS. HUME. THE BARBERS' COMPANY. TO THE CHARITY COMMISSIONERS FOR In pursuance of an order of the Board (12th June 1860), I held an inquiry into the endowed charities under the management of the Barbers' Company in the city of London. They are as follows: · The charities of Thomas Banks and John Banks. Alexander Baker. Michael I'Ans and John Driver's Augmentations. Thomas Kidder. Thomas Cotterell. (Not reported.) Malcolm Dunnett. Robert Ferbras. William Long. The Decayed Liverymen's Fund. The Almshouse Fund. CHARITIES OF THOMAS BANKS AND JOHN BANKS. Thomas Banks, by will dated 15th October 1595, gave the Company of Barber-Surgeons an annuity of 20s. (how secured is not now known), on condition that they should, on the 11th May, give to 12 poor people free of the Company each 4 lbs. of beef, a twopenny loaf, twopence in money, and a wooden platter. John Banks, son of the above, by indenture dated 20th May 1619, gave an annuity of 20s. to be distributed in the same manner and on the same day as his father's charity. By the said indenture John Banks conveyed to Sir Baptist Hicks and others and their heirs a messuage and appurtenances with three closes of land adjoining containing about 6 acres, situated at Holloway in the county of Middlesex. And by a deed of the same date it was declared that the said conveyance was made upon trust, that the yearly rent of 177., for which the premises were then let, and all other rents and profits thereof to grow due, should yearly be paid to the Mercers' Company, and that all the said money should from time to time be applied by the said Company as therein specified. Among the objects to which the rent is appropriated is this 20s. per annum to the Company of Barber-Surgeons. Up to the year 1850 the sum of 20s. was received from the Mercers' Company, and formed part of the fund distributed on the first court day in May, the remainder (from 31. to 47.) being supplied from the general funds of the Barbers' Company. The entire rents, however, having been appropriated to different charitable objects, it appeared to those interested that all were entitled to participate proportionally in the increased rents, which had now improved from 177. to 841. Proceedings were accordingly taken which effected this object, and the increased receipts commenced in 1850, and have been as follows:: In consequence of repairs and outlay on the premises, no payments have been made by the Cutlers' Company since 1855, but still the Barbers' Company continue the distribution exactly as before, and in their books debit the charity account with the cost, which now amounts to 181. 12s. 7d. The recipients, who must be freemen or freemen's widows of the Company, are nominated by the Court, and continue for life. The distribution is made on the first court day in May, when each recipient attends at the Hall, and is presented with 4 lbs. of beef, a threepenny loaf, and twopence in money-the gift of the platter is discontinued. The numbers vary from 30 to 36. ALEXANDER BAKER'S CHARITY. Alexander Baker, by will dated 25th September 1635, gave a rentcharge of 37. issuing out of his tenement then called the Blue Boar, now No. 195, in Thames Street, for the use of six decayed freemen of the Company to be distributed the first Thursday in July. This annuity is regularly paid by the receiver appointed by the Court of Chancery and applied as directed. The selection of annuitants is the same in all the charities of the Company. It is on petition to the Court. MICHAEL L'ANS' CHARITY AND JOHN DRIVER'S Michael I'Ans, by will dated 21st August 1759, bequeathed to the Company the sum of 2,000l. in trust, to invest the same in Government securities, the dividends of which he directed to be applied and distributed equally amongst 20 poor liverymen's widows of the Company at Midsummer and Christmas. John Driver, by will dated 15th February 1810, gave the sum of 201. in augmentation of the above. From vacancies and accumulations which have from time to time been carefully invested, the amount of stock has increased, till there is now standing in the corporate name of the Company 4,7591. 18s. 7d. 31. per cent. Consols, and from the dividends (1421. 15s. 11d.), 20 poor widows of liverymen receive pensions of 71. each per annum in two payments of 37. 10s. in February and August. The recipients are appointed by the Court upon petition and remain for life if they continue unmarried and conduct themselves creditably. THOMAS KIDDER'S CHARITY. Thomas Kidder, by will dated 18th December 1828, bequeathed to the Company 100. stock, in trust to apply the dividends to the relief of one poor freeman's widow for ever, on the first Tuesday in May and November. The 1007. 31. per. cent Consols stands in the corporate name of the Company and the dividends are applied as directed. By occasional vacancies a balance of six or seven pounds has accrued; the court of assistants have therefore passed an order that 41. per annum shall be given till the accumulation is exhausted. THOMAS COTTERELL'S CHARITY. Thomas Cotterell, by will dated 28th January 1833, bequeathed to the Company 3,3331. 6s. 8d. 31. per cent. Consols, and directed the interest (1007. a year) to be equally divided between 25 widows of decayed liverymen of. the Company. No provision having been made for the legacy duty, 3,0001. of the stock only was transferred to the Company by the testator's executors in February 1833, and the distribution commenced in the same year. It was stated that the original intention of the Court was to allow something to be set apart at every distribution, and thus to create an investment fund until the deficiency caused by the legacy duty had been made up; the proposition, however, seems to have been abandoned, although from vacancies occurring a balance accrued of about 1207. out of which 1007. of stock was purchased, so that there is now standing in the corporate name of the Company 3,1007. 37. per cent. Consolidated Annuities in respect of this charity. The dividends (937.) and the above balance constitute the fund from whence 41. per annum is given to 25 widows of liverymen, by two payments of 21. each made in January and August. Recipients are elected by the Court on petition as in the other charities. MALCOLM DUNNETT'S CHARITY. (Not reported.) Malcolm Dunnett, by will dated 30th August 1842, gave the Company the sum of 2007. 3 per cent. Reduced Annuities, the dividends to be applied towards the support of decayed liverymen; preference always to be given to the two senior liverymen of the Company applying for relief, and to be an addition to the aid they are entitled to receive from any other charitable fund at the disposal of the Company. The 2001. Reduced Annuities stands in the name of the Company and the dividends are given to two poor liverymen who are pensioners. A small balance had accrued in favour of this charity which is now exhausted by the annuities having been raised from 31. to 41. each. ROBERT FERBRAS' CHARITY. (Not reported.) Robert Ferbras, citizen and barber-surgeon, by his will dated 2nd December 1470, devised two freehold houses Nos. 41 and 42, Dowgate Hill, in the parish of St. John, Walbrook, London, to the Company upon trust after repairing the same to divide the moiety of the surplus receipts among poor members of the Company. It was stated that until about 12 years ago the whole of the proceeds of this bequest had been added to the general funds of the Company without any knowledge of the above trust which came to light in consequence of the tenement being required by the City of London who purchased it (under the City Improvement Act) for the sum of 2,0801. This was by order of the Court dated 23rd March 1849 invested in the purchase of 2,2541. 14s. 10d. Consols. By a subsequent order of the Court, dated 28th February 1852, 1,9891. 19s. Od. of this stock was sold out for the purchase of a freehold house No. 69, Leadenhall Street, leaving a balance of 2641. 15s. 10d. still standing in the name of the Accountant-General of the Court of Chancery, In the matter of the City of London Improvement Act, Ex parte the Barbers' Company. From occasional vacancies the balance accumulates which is invested, and in this manner 751. of the same stock has been added to this Charity which stands in the name of the Company. The house in Leadenhall Street is let to Davies on a 21 years lease from Lady Day 1844, at the rent of 1107., one moiety of which, after deducting half the insurance, is credited to the account of this Charity, also half the dividends. From this fund 20 poor freemen and widows receive quarterly 13s. each; the present balance in favour of the Charity is 201. 2s. 8d. WILLIAM LONG'S CHARITY. (Not reported.) William Long, by will dated 7th July 1834, gave to the Company 1,000l. 3 per cent. Consolidated Annuities, and directed the moiety of the dividends thereof to be applied half-yearly to so many of the poor liverymen of the Com pany as the Court of Assistants should appoint to receive the same. The other moiety he directed to be paid halfyearly amongst 20 poor widows of liverymen of the Company in like manner as the charity of Michael I'Ans is disposed of. The sum of 1,0457. Bank 3 per cent. Consolidated Bank Annuities standing in the corporate name of the Company constitutes the property of this Charity, and from the dividends (311. 7s. Od.) three poor liverymen receive 51. each per annum and 20 poor widows 15s. a year by equal payments on the first Court day in February and August. THE DECAYED LIVERYMEN'S FUND. The origin of this charity dates from the 3rd June 1823, when by an order of the Court of Assistants there was set apart from the stock of the Company the sum of 9001. Old South Sea Annuities (since paid off) for the purpose of forming a fund for the relief of decayed liverymen of the Company. Peter Skippen, by will dated .25th September 1846, gave 1001. free of legacy duty in aid of the above fund, from which at this period six poor liverymen received pensions of 50s. half yearly. In 1851 the greater part of the charity property was invested in the purchase of a freehold house, No. 46, Church Street, Minories, which cost 8431. 13s. 3d., subject to the remainder of a lease not yet expired, granted to Messrs. Murray and Paterson at a rental of 551. per annum. This house, a sum of 1601. 3 per cent. Consols, standing in the name of the Company, and a cash balance of 1491. 11s. Od. (about to be invested) constitutes the whole property of this Charity. The pension to the six poor liverymen is now increased to 57. each half-yearly and is paid the first court day in May and November. BAKERS' ALMSHOUSE FUND. (Not reported.) The Court of Assistants, by a resolution dated the 7th August 1855, established a fund for the erection and endowment of almshouses for decayed members of the Company and their widows by contributing thereto the contents of the poor box and court fees of absent members and directed that they should continue to be so applied. In November 1856, Mr. John Atkinson, by deed of gift, gave the Company 10 freehold houses in Cross Keys Court and Half Moon Alley, Cripplegate, in trust to aid the fund lately established by them for the erection and endowment of Almshouses for poor members of the Company. The above houses are let on lease at a ground rent of 201. per annum which has 40 years unexpired. The sum of 1501. 3 per cent. Consols standing in the name of the Company, and a cash balance of 521. 15s. 2d. about to be invested constitutes the present property of this Charity. All which I submit to the Board. JOHN SIMONS, BARBERS' COMPANY. STATEMENT of the ACCOUNTS of the CHARITY called Mr. MICHAEL I'ANS, of which the following Persons are the Trustees, viz., THE MASTER, GOVERNORS, AND COMMONALTY OF THE MYSTERY OF BARBERS OF LONDON, for the Year ending on the 11th day of August 1881. 1.-GROSS INCOME arising or due from the ENDOWMENTS of the Charity for the Year ending on the 11th day of August 1881. Date. £ s. d. 4,759 18 7 Master, Governors, and Commonalty of the Mystery of Barbers of London. 2.-BALANCES IN HAND and RECEIPTS on account of the Charity during the Year. Amount. 3.-PAYMENTS on account of the Charity during the Year. Date. Amount. Balance (if any) in favour of the Charity and in hand at the commencement of the account. February 1st By cash paid 17 poor liverymen's widows 31. 10s. each August 2nd cash paid 20 poor liverymen's widows 37. 10s. each balance 4.—An ACCOUNT of all MONIES owing to or from the Charity, so far as conveniently may be stated, at the close of the Year ending on the Monies owing to the Charity, and from what Persons, and on what Accounts. Amount. day of 18 Outstanding Debts or Liabilities of the Charity, and to what Persons, and on what Accounts. Amount. JONATHAN DINNY, Auditor. |