CHARITIES FOR THE POOR.

By his will dated 1659 Thomas Muggleton left 5 a. of pasture in Duntisbourne Abbots, the profits, then £3 a year, to be divided equally among the poor of Duntisbourne Abbots, Miserden, Winstone, and Syde; every fourteenth year the profits of the timber on the land were to be similarly distributed. (fn. 42) By 1826 the annual profits were £7 and the rector and churchwardens of Miserden allowed their portion to accumulate over 3 or 4 years before distributing it in clothing Charities founded by Mrs. Barksdale, who died in 1758, and Mrs. Sarah Yarnton, by will dated 1809, yielded £2 10s. and £4 10s. respectively in 1826 and were distributed in the same way as Muggleton's charity. Theyer Townsend by will dated 1801 left £100 stock for a distribution in bread on St. Thomas's day. (fn. 43) The charities were united c. 1914, and in 1970 the revenue was distributed in sums of £5 or £10 whenever special cases of need arose. (fn. 44)

Footnotes