IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 A/RSD
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: SOCIETY FOR THE RELIEF OF PERSONS CONFINED FOR SMALL DEBTS
Date(s): 1747-2010
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 2.82 linear metres
Name of creator(s): Society for the Relief of Persons Confined for Small Debts
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The Society, established in February 1772 on the initiative of James Neild, jeweller, of London, drew its first funds from the proceeds of a sermon preached in the Charlotte Street Chapel, Pimlico, by the Rev. William Dodd (later notorious for his trial and execution for forgery). William Wilberforce was one of its early supporters. The Society was popularly known as the Thatched House Society' from its regular meeting place, The Thatched House Tavern in St James's Street.
The Society was at first concerned with London prisons only and the greatest number of debtors relieved came from them, but by the 1780s prisoners from gaols in other parts of the country were also being assisted. Neild was troubled about the bad state of the prisons and the minutes contain reports of visits of inspection as well as names and numbers of prisoners assisted.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Records of the Society for the Relief of Persons Confined for Small Debts, including minutes; extracts of proceedings; Acts of Parliament; papers concerning J C Neild; financial accounts including legacy books, income books, general expenditure books, annual accounts and auditor's reports; papers regarding the disposal of surplus funds; bequests; press cuttings; correspondence; and histories of the Society.
The minutes contain reports of visits of inspection as well as names and numbers of prisoners assisted. A number of the papers relate to the destruction of the book containing the minutes and accounts of the Society 4 Mar 1818 to 5 Apr 1826 by John Camden Neild, treasurer 1814-1827.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
The records are arranged as follows:
A/RSD/01-04B ADMINISTRATION;
A/RSD/05-19 FINANCE;
A/RSD/20-22 LEGAL DOCUMENTS;
A/RSD/23-24 COLLECTED PAPERS;
A/RSD/25 HISTORIES AND SCHEDULE OF DOCUMENTS.
Conditions governing access:
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.
Physical characteristics:
Fit
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
The death of the secretary and subsequent resignation of the Treasurer, in 1827, led to a check on the records. 13 minute books were then noted, of which 12 are extant. Of the remaining 26 volumes of accounts and other classes, none appears to have survived; the series of volumes other than minutes date only from the reorganisation that followed the check, or later.
Immediate source of acquisition:
Received 24 July 1973.
ALLIED MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Date(s) of descriptions: June to August 2010.