Care of the poor 6
Abandoned wives
Again and again in the Minute Books of the Rhayader Guardians there are instances of wives appealing for assistance as they have been abandoned by their husbands. The case below is from the entries for December 1836.
County Archives
R/G/C/8/1/1
It reads:-
"Elizabeth Francis of Nantmel Parish having applied for
2/- [2 shillings] as a loan as a consequence of her husband
having deserted her.
Ordered that the money be advanced to her and that the amount
debited to Nantmel as a loan to William Francis her husband."
By registering the payment as a loan to the husband the Union
is stating its intention to recover the money from him.
Looking for work
Not all abandoned wives were
alone because of the callousness of their husbands. Lack of employment
opportunities led many fathers to seek work in the rapidly expanding
industries of South Wales. If they could not find a position
quickly their money could easily run out and they would be stranded
leaving their families in distress. The extract below appears
to be one such case.
County Archives
R/G/C/8/1/1
"Mary Williams the wife of John Williams a pauper of Saint Harmon having applied for a loan of eight shillings in consequence of her husband having left her in search of employment at Merthyr".
