Poor Relief Act 1662

III. [X1 III. Proviso for Persons going into other Parishes to work in Time of Harvest with Certificate of Minister, &c.

Such Work not to gain a Settlement, but Persons may be removed back again.; Persons refusing to go back, &c.; Punishment.; Churchwardens, &c. of Parish to which such Persons removed, refusing to receive them, &c. may be indicted.

Provided alsoe that (this Act notwithstanding) it shall and may be lawfull for any person or persons to go into any County Parish or place to worke in time of Harvest or at any time to worke at any other worke so that he or they carry with him or them a Certificate from the Minister of the Parish and one of the Churchwardens and one of the Overseers for the Poore for the said Yeare that hee or they have a dwelling house or place in which he or they inhabit and hath left Wife and Children or some of them there (or otherwise as the condition of the person shall require) and is declared an Ińhabitant or Inhabitants there And in such case if the person or persons shall not returne to the place aforesaid when his or theire worke is finished or shall fall sicke or impotent whilst he or they are in the said worke it shall not bee accounted a Setlement in the cases abovesaid but that it shall and may be lawfull for twoe Justices of the Peace to convey the said person or persons to the place of his or theire Habitation as aforesaid under the paines and penalties in this act prescribed] And if such person or persons shall refuse to go or shall not remain in such Parish where they ought to be setled as aforesaid but shall return of his own accord to the Parish from whence he was removed it shall be lawfull for any Justice of the Peace of the Citty County or Towne Corporate where the said Offence shall be committed to send such person or persons offending to the House of correction there to be punished as a Vagabond or to a publique Workehouse in this present act hereafter mentioned there to be imployed in worke or labour And if the Church wardens and Overseers of the Poore of the Parish to which he or they shall be removed refuse to receive such person or persons and to provide worke for them as other Inhabitants of the Parish any Justice of [X2 the] Peace of that Division may and shall thereupon bind any such Officer or Officers in whom there shall be default to the Assizes or Sessions there to be indicted for his or theire Contempt in that behalfe

Editorial Information

X1 annexed to the Original act in a separate Schedule.

X2 O. omits.