Debts by Installment

02/03/1897

Information

At the Peterborough County Court sitting of this day, a number of orders were made that give us a glimpse of the time. Charles Jenks, a labourer from Water Newton, had debts totalling £21 4s that had accrued due to his loss of work caused by illness. He offered to meet his debts to 8s 6d in the pound at the rate of 3s per month. An order was made allowing this situation. Daniel Monk, a labourer from Eye, was in deeper trouble with debts of £40 10s 4d. He was offering 9s in the pound on the debts - an offer accepted by the court and requiring him to pay at a rate of 6s per month. If my sums are right, that's five years of payments. Among the undefended cases we find that Charles Tebbs, butcher of Midgate, was seeking payment of £26 15s 6d from one W. Chapman of Robin Hood Chase in Nottingham. The claim was upheld and Chapman was required to pay the debt at 10s a month. Tebbs has to wait over four years for settlement of the debt - if he's lucky. (Peterborough Citizen)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.

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The Hard Life of a 'Faker'

17/01/1897

Information

Two Salvation Army Officers, armed with the requisite brooms and suitably rigged, ragged and disguised, practised the art of 'faking' - the name given to crossing sweeping by professionals. Relating their experiences - extended over a considerable time and a wide area - the amateur sweepers arrived at the conclusion that unless one had a really good crossing, and that, too, on a very muddy day, pence were few. If the road was fairly clean the average man in the street was apt to treat the mournful 'faker' - although he simulated the most racking cough - with scorn by crossing beside, not on, the cleanly swept path. At the same time the investigating Salvationists brought the knowledge that there are crossing sweepers who manage to make a decent living, but by also working up a connection in window cleaning, running errands, and doing odd jobs in genteel neighbourhoods. However, the poor fellow who spends his last copper in the purchase of a penny second hand broom, and sallies in search of a crossing to sweep, may well deem himself fortunate if at the end of the day he has gained enough to secure a shelter for the night and food for the morrow. (Peterborough Advertiser)

Taken from The Peterborough Book of Days by Brian Jones, The History Press, 2014.