_Esther Jones_, by will, dated 2nd July, 1823, bequeathed to the treasurer for the time being of the county of Salop, £300 three per cent. consols, upon trust, to apply the dividends towards the relief of the industrious poor prisoners, who should, from time to time, be confined in Salop gaol.
Upon a table, containing the benefactions to poor prisoners, it is stated that _Isaac Hawkins_, _Esq._, bequeathed £100, in 1803; _Rowland Hunt_, _Esq._, in 1810, gave £25; and that _Mrs. Knight_ gave £25. In respect of Hawkins’ gift, there is a sum of £189. 11s. 6d. three per cent. consols, the dividends of which amount to £5. 13s. 8d.; and in respect of the two latter benefactions, the sum of £75. 3s. 9d., three per cent. consols, producing £2. 5s. yearly. The amount of these subscriptions is paid over to the treasurer of the prison charities, and is added to subscriptions raised for the purpose of enabling debtors to gain a livelihood while in confinement, to reward them for good behaviour, and to furnish them with implements on quitting prison to support themselves and their families; and also to encourage industry and good behaviour in criminal prisoners, and to furnish them with the means of returning home. The subscriptions usually amount to upwards of £70 per annum, and the whole is applied under the direction of the visiting magistrates.
_Samuel Shuker_, by will, 18th June, 1821, gave to John Edwards, Esq., £1,200, upon trust, to purchase therewith a government annuity, determinable on the death of Mary Watkins; and if she should marry, or dispose of the said annuity, the proceeds should thenceforth be applied for the benefit of the Infirmary of Shrewsbury. The testator also devised to another person a copyhold messuage and premises in Twickenham for her life. And upon her marrying, or disposing of her life interest, he directed his trustees to sell the same, and stand possessed of the monies arising from the sale thereof, for the benefit of the said Infirmary.
CHARITIES.—_Robert Owen_, by will, bearing date 14th March, 1603, gave £40, and directed the interest to be distributed to the poor; _William Williams_, and _Sarah Street_, each gave £5 for the same purpose; _George Lyndon_, in 1706, bequeathed £50 for the benefit of the poor; _Esther Hill_ gave £5; _Honour Dryden_, in 1715, gave £20; _Edward Donne_ directed the interest of £20 to be given among poor housekeepers receiving no alms; _Elizabeth Hanmer_ gave £20, the yearly proceeds to be expended in bread for the poor; _Lucy Minors_, in 1692, gave £10, the interest to be distributed in bread among the poor of the parish, on St. Luke’s day, yearly; _Thomas Jones_, _Esq._, gave to the parish of St. Alkmund £50, out of the yearly proceeds the clerk of the parish to have 10s. yearly for his care in looking after the testator’s tomb in the church, and the residue to be distributed among the poor parishioners; _Thomas Lloyd_, in 1721, bequeathed £20 to the minister and churchwardens of St. Alkmund, on trust, to place the same out at interest, and to pay 10s. yearly to the minister for preaching a sermon in the parish church on the 1st of November, yearly; 9d. to the sexton and clerk for officiating on that day, and the remainder to be distributed in twopenny loaves immediately after the sermon on the 1st of November. Of the several legacies above-mentioned amounting to £245, it appears that certain lands were purchased in Meole Brace and Coton, with part of the money, and the residue invested in the purchase of £175 three per cent. consols. The stock was subsequently sold, and there is now a sum of £200 secured on bond, the interest of which £10 per annum, and the yearly sum of £5. 5s., to which is added £2 10s., arising from the charity of Jane Brooks; with these sums bread is purchased, and sixty-three penny loaves are given away on the Sunday after St. Thomas’s day, and on every succeeding Sunday till the whole is exhausted. The rents of the land above-mentioned, amounting to £35 per annum, are given away every St. Thomas’s day, among the most necessitous poor of the parish, in sums varying from 3s. to 12s., a preference being given to those not receiving parish relief.