Archive and reference: MH12/13311
Date of letter: 10 November 1862
Poor Law Union: Birmingham Incorporation
CIRCUMTEXT:
Mr Weale
[HH] 12 Nov/62
Send usual ans & copy of this to Gdns
RL 13 Nov 62
State that the Bd will make enquiry of the Gdns respecting his complaints – send a copy to Gdns & request their observations.
[HH] 14 Novemr
TEXT:
Right Hon Commissioners of Poor Laws
Gentlemen
I have been a pauper inmate of the Birmingham Workhouse at intervals for the space of several years having been reduced in circumstances from which it seems at present impossible for me to overcome and being also unable to perform any very laborious work such as could be obtained in my present condition as I suffer from weakness of the loins I am at times utterly unable to avoid a residence there – but of late my treatment there and the treatment of others also has been cruel in the extreme I am by profession a mechanical Draftsman but my eyes being weak I was compelled to abandon my profession & enter the house as a shoe[maker] in which I am an indifferent workman – The I have now left the house since last Friday Novr 7th inst but I feel I shall be compelled to return again in a few days or starve for want of food The complaints I have to lay before you I cannot here state in full and I pray you will investigate the matter I was placed in a [cold] yard to break stones and was told that unless I broke sixteen cwt per day my food would in part be withheld and you are aware Gentlemen that if it is all given it is not sufficient to sustain some men in health at all now I would not break more than four or five cwt a day with all my power – and accordingly all my meat (animal food) was stopped for ten days – at the end of which time I was induced to discharge myself in the hope of [recruiting] my exhausted system for I was very ill through this treatment this is not the first time they have treated me so – indeed it was because I attempted to justify myself and censure such treatment before the board of Guardians in June last that I was treated in this way now I wish to know Gentlemen if Her Majesty’s law provides that men shall be punished for not performing that which is impossible This is not all however of which I have to complain – I came up here last January with an order to enter the house at 5 Oclock in the afternoon and they put me to be all night in the tramp room between two men who had the itch and treated me in a way that I shall explain to you more fully if opportunity serves they also robbed me of the only shirt I had that was wearable and [refused] to return me one and since I intimated my design of writing to you they have used me still worse I am placed in a ward set apart for criminal and defamed characters but I have never dishonoured my [xxx] present – they have done all they [new] to induce me to break the laws They have kept letters from me that was delivered at the office of the House for me – I laid my complaints before the Board of Guardians and they entered into a sham enquiry I have had such an insight into the selfish policy of the local authorities here and their defiance of justice and even law that I must at once tell you that I repudiate any enquiry of the local authorities solely on their own faith which matter I cannot find room to explain here as it is too much I shall be compelled to enter the house again in a few days – probably – it is the local authorities I impeech and not the individual responsibility of any officer in particular – I am not fit Gentlemen to work at out door labour at this time of the year and much less to do impossibilities The Doctor has also treated me in a manner unwarrantable for any Gentleman of common honour or honesty I hope Gentlemen you will not suffer me to be unjustly punished and persecuted in this way and I should be very grateful for a speedy enquiry – since I find it of no use to appeal to the Guardians here An answer address’d to
Thos Swingler
No 12 Court 1 House
Little Charles Street
Birmingham
will find me – and I shall be very happy to respond to your favour’s
I am Gentlem Your Obdt Servant
Thomas Swingler
Birmingham Novrr 10th 1862
Document 5 – Letter. Thomas Swingler makes a complaint about being punished for a labour task it is beyond him (physically) to undertake. As a result the meat in his diet has been stopped (as per the central instructions on pauper punishment). He also claims that in trying to complain about his treatment he was further punished.
What punishments does the pauper receive? Being refused meat and placed on a restricted diet. Also placed in the tramp ward for one night and taken clothes. Letters have been kept from him. The pauper also suggests that there have been other punishments, which he would like to tell the Board about in person.
What does the evidence suggest about workhouse staff? Workhouse staff did not want the paupers to complain – the letter implies that he was further punished for raising a complaint.
What does the nature of the evidence reveal about the paupers? Thomas Swingler is seemingly not put off from complaining! He is angry at the ‘system’ rather than one individual.