Dorchester Poor Law Records

Removal Orders

© Compiled by Michael Russell OPC for Dorchester May 2016 (last updated Sep 2018)

Quarter Sessions - Bridport - 2nd Oct 1722

Removal Order for Grace DEERE widow and her children

St Peters in Dorchester and Mudford: Upon an appeal made unto this court by the inhabitants of the Parish of Mudford in the said County of Somerset from an order by Andrew PURCHASE and Josias COOPER two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the Borough of Dorchester in the said County of Dorset touching the removal of Grace DEERE widow, Mary, Frances, Grace, Love, William and Jonathan children out of and from the parish of St Peters within the said Borough of Dorchester to the Parish of Mudford aforesaid

And: upon on hearing the merits of the cause & examining Witnesses on oath on both sides and also hearing what could be alledged as well on the part of Mudford aforesaid also the part of said parish of St Peters

This Court: doth think fit and so order that the said order of the said two justices be set aside and discharged and that the same is hereby set aside and discharged accordingly



Quarter Sessions - Sherborne - 21st May 1753

Removal Order for Edward DOWDING and Sarah his wife

Cerne Abbas and Holy Trinity Dorchester: Upon an appeal made unto this court by the inhabitants of the Parish of Cerne Abbas in the said County of Dorset by and under the hands and seals of Richard COOPER and Thomas COOPER Gentlemen two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the Borough of Dorchester in the said County of Dorset touching the removal of Edward DOWDING and Sarah his wife from the Parish of Holy Trinity within the Borough aforesaid to the Parish of Cerne Abbas aforesaid

Now: on hearing what could be alleged by council as well on the part of the said parish of Holy trinity in the said Borough of Dorchester as on the part of the said Parish of Cerne Abbas and upon examining witnesses on oath on both sides

This Court: doth think fit and so order that the said order of the said two justices be set aside and discharged and that the same is hereby set aside and discharged accordingly

And: This Court doth order that the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish of the Holy Trinity in the Borough of Dorchester aforesaid or some or one of them do and shall upon notice or licence this order pay unto the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish of Cerne Abbas or some or one of them the sum of three? shillings for their charges in maintaining the Paupers from the time of the said removal to this present time
Genealogical Notes: -

(1). On 29th April 1753 there is a note in the Vestry Minutes for Holy Trinity Church about defending this action.

(2). There was an Edwardus [i.e. Edward] Dowding who had 4 children in Cerne Abbas:- (2.1) Richard Dowding bap 10th June 1700 (2.2) Elizabeth bap 30 Apr 1702 (2.3) Anna bap 18 May 1704 and (2.4 Susannah bap 3rd Nov 1706. This Edward Dowding's wife Maria however died and was buried at Cerne Abbas on 13th Nov 1709.

(3). I cannot trace any marriage of an Edward Dowding to a Sarah but Cerne Abbas burial Registers curiously record the burial of Edward Dowding on the 29th April 1753 the same day that Holy Trinity Overseers held their meeting and 3 weeks before the quarter sessions.


Quarter Sessions - Shaston - 14th July 1772

Removal Order for Margaret BISHOP Widow (Image 37)

Whereas: By an order made at the last General Quarter Sessions of the peace held at Sherborne in and for the said County setting forth that upon appeal made unto the said Court by the inhabitants of the parish of All Saints in the Borough of Dorchester in the said County of Dorset from an order made by under the hands and seal of Robert Lumley Kingston and William Davis Gentleman two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said Borough bearing the date of the eleventh day of April last past touching the Removal of Margaret BISHOP widow of John BISHOP, and Sarah aged 12 years; Thomas aged 10 years; John aged 8 years; William aged 7 years; Joseph aged 3 years; Joanna aged 2 years and James aged 3 months her children out of and from the parish of Holy Trinity in the said Borough of Dorset to the parish of All Saints aforesaid. The said Court by consent of all parties their Council and Attorneys did order that the further hearing and determining of the said appeal should be adjourned over until the next General Quarter Sessions of the Peace to be held for the said County And that all persons concerned on notice or service of this order should attend accordingly to hear and abide by the judgement and determination of the said court touching the merits of the said appeal

Now: upon reading the said recited order and on the motion of Mr Hyde on the part of the respondents [No person appearing on the part of the appelants to oppose it] for confirming the orderof removal of the said two Justicesfor the reason aforesaid

This Court: doth think fit and so order that the said order of the said torderof the said two Justices be ratified and confirmed and the same is hereby ratified and confirmed accordingly


Genealogical Notes: -

(1) John BISHOP married Margaret EVOMY at Holy Trinity Church Dorchester on 5th July 1756.
(2). After marriage they lived in Holy Trinity Parish where the parish Registers show the following baptisms for their children:-
    (2.1) Mary Bishop bap HT 2nd Sep 1757
    (2.1) Sarah Bishop bap HT 7th Mar 1759
    (2.2) Thomas Evomy Bishop bap HT 30 Aug 1761
    (2.3) John Bishop bap HT 30 Dec 1763
    (2.4) William bap HT 15 Sep 1765 and buried at All Saints church 3rd Jan 1773
    (2.5) Joseph Bishop bap HT 25 Dec 1767
    (2.6) Joanna [Joan] Bishop bap HT 6 Dec 1769
    (2.7) James Bishop bap HT 14 Feb 1772
(3) The family moved to All Saints Parish where John BISHOP Senior died being buried there on 3rd April 1772. Margaret was also buried there on 24th March 1812.


Quarter Sessions - Sherborne - 20 Apr 1773

Removal Order for Joseph JOHNSON, Sarah his wife & 3 children (Images 63 and 70)

Whereas: By an order made at the last General Quarter Sessions of the peace held at Sherborne in and for the said County setting forth that upon appeal made unto the said Court by the inhabitants of the parish of Holy Trinity in the Borough of Dorchester in the said County of Dorset to an order made by under the hands and seal of James Parsons Clerk and William Toogood the younger Esquire two of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the said County of Dorset bearing the date of the first day of April last past touching the Removal of Joseph JOHNSON, Sarah his wife, Hester aged 5 years, Thomas aged 3 years and Benjamin aged 8 weeks or thereabouts their children out and of the parish of Sherborne in the said County of Dorset to the parish of Holy Trinity within the Borough of Dorchester aforesaid. The said Court by consent of all parties their Council and Attorneys did order that the further hearing and determining of the said appeal should be adjourned over until the next General Quarter Sessions of the Peace to be held for the said County And that all persons concerned on notice or service of this order should attend accordingly to hear and abide by the judgement and determination of the said court touching the merits of the said appeal

Now: upon reading the said recited order and hearing what could be alleged by Council as well on the part and behalf of the inhabitants of the parish of Holy Trinity within the Borough of Dorchester aforesaid as on the part of the inhabitants of the said parish of Sherborne and examining the witnesses on oath on both sides

This Court: doth think fit and so order that the said order of the said two justices be set aside and discharged and that the same is hereby set aside and discharged accordingly

And: This Court doth order that the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor of the said Parish of the Sherborne or some or one of them do and shall upon notice or service of this order pay unto the churchwardens and overseers of the poor of the parish of Holy trinity within the Borough of Dorchester aforesaid or one of them the sum of eighteen shillings for the maintenance and support of the said paupers from the time of their removal until this present time.

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