This is new to us, a unique entry in our Overseers of the Poor Book. It reads “At a Vestry held this Sixteenth day of April the following Poor People appeared & Complained; they Wanted as follows

John Piper of Pimperne – Assistance for 3 Children of his sister Ann Segar boy aged 9, 8 & 6 – Gave him 10s. 6d.”

There are thirty other requests, no other money was granted, but shirts, shifts and shoes were given.

Is this common to other villages where the poor can turn up at an annual meeting and ask for more help?