The February 2012 edition of Village Voices is now available
School Attendance Class
before Wisbech Police Court, May 1883
brought by Thomas Earby, Attendance Officer to
the School Attendance Committee of the Wisbech Union Board
as reported in the "Wisbech Advertiser" information
in italics taken from the Wisbech St Mary Database by Brian
Payne
William Grange, 48, a
labourer, of Wisbech St Mary was summoned for neglecting to send
his three children, Arthur, Robert and Thomas, to school on the
18th April 1883.
Mrs Grange appeared, and said she
had nothing to say to the charge, except that the children were
not at school. Mr Earby said the attendances were Arthur aged
10 years, 54; Robert,, aged 7, 9; and Thomas, also
aged 7, 19, out of a possible 173. Arthur had not passed his
first standard.
Mrs Betsy Grange said she
had nine children. The Chairman of the Bench, Mr Sharpe, asked
"What is your object in keeping them at home?" Mrs Grange replied
"I don’t know, sir, they are not willing to go to school".
Mr Earby said that Mr Grange had employed his boys, but the Board
did not wish to prosecute him for that offence. The Chairman said
"That is what you should do. If you don’t prosecute the
employers, you will have a deal of trouble with the children". Mr
Earby replied that Grange was only a poor man, and would be
liable to a heavy penalty for employing children.
The Bench made an attendance order
with regard to all three children.
The Granges had a total of 13
children and lived in The Broad, an area of parish allotments
between Mouth Lane and Gall’s Drove.
Robert Cunningham, a
labourer, of Thorney Toll, appeared on a summons charging
him with neglecting to send his daughter Agnes, aged 6
years, to school on the 2nd May 1883. The
defendant said the child went to school on that day. Mr Earby
admitted that there was a mistake in the date, and the Bench
dismissed the case, and allowed the defendant 3s 6d costs.
Charles Pentelow, a
labourer, of Wisbech St Mary, was charged with not sending his
son, James, to school on the 2nd May 1883.
The defendant said the boy was
kept at home because his mother was ill. Mr Earby said the
attendances were 41 out of a possible 160, and the boy had not
passed any standard. He visited the house on the 2nd
May and found Mrs Pentelow at work.
An attendance order was made.
John Fahy, 48, a
labourer, of Thorney Toll, was charged with not sending
his children, Thomas, aged 13 years, and Mary, aged
9, to school on the 2nd May 1883.
Defendant said he was unable to
pay the fees. The Chairman asked "Have you applied to the Board
for a remission of the fees?" Fahy: "No, sir". Mr Earby said the
man had been ill and unable to work for some time.
An attendance order was
granted.
On 13th October
1880, Fahy had been sentenced to three months hard labour for
deserting his wife and six children.
George Shanley, a labourer,
of Thorney Toll, pleaded guilty to a similar charge
concerning his son John aged 11 years. Mr Earby said the
attendances were 14 out of a possible 160, and the boy had passed
no standard.
The Bench granted an attendance
order, and cautioned the defendant if he came before them again
he would be fined.
This page was compiled by Brian Payne, a
local historian living in the village of Wisbech St Mary. Brian
is also Vice-Chairman of the Parochial Church Council and is
currently engaged in raising £20,000 for urgent repairs to
our beautiful fourteenth-century parish church [see appeal page]. If you
found these pages, which give an insight into the past social
life of the parish, interesting, you might wish to make a
donation to the Appeal. Any offerings would be most gratefully
accepted and acknowledged. Contact Brian on
