The Muncaster Mill fire, 1801

THE MUNCASTER MILL FIRE, 1801

In Carlisle Library Local Studies Dept. [ref. 1B 301.152] is a surviving copy of a printed brief- a charitable appeal to be issued in places of worship- relating to Muncaster Mill which was destroyed by fire on 2 Feb 1801. Here is a transcript of most of the brief (which also has a handwritten note at the top indicating that it was the copy sent to St. Stephen's parish, Bristol).

"Muncaster Mill Fire.
Pray return all Briefs the next Visitation,
To James Turnock Collector,
For William Stevenson of LONDON, and Co. of STAFFORD."
"William Stevenson, 1st March 1802.
GEORGE THE THIRD, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland KING" etc.
[addressed to the clergy of all denominations, and to the judiciary, poor law officials, borough and city corporations etc.]
"Whereas it hath been reported unto Us, as well upon the humble Petition of William Routledge of Muncaster Mill, in the Parish of Muncaster, in the County of Cumberland, Miller, Sufferer by Fire, as by Certificate under the Hands of Our trusty and well-beloved Justices of the Peace for our said County assembled at their General Quarter Sessions, holden at the City of Carlisle, in and for Our said County, on Monday the Thirteenth Day of April, in the Forty-first Year of Our Reign, that between the Hours of Ten and Twelve o'Clock in the night of Tuesday the Second Day of February One thousand eight hundred and one, a sudden and terrible Fire broke out in the said poor Sufferer William Routledge's Mill, or Mill House, at Muncaster Mill aforesaid, which, in a short Space of Time, consumed the whole Premises, consisting of a Dwelling House and Three Mills, together with all the Machinery appertaining to the Mills, a considerable Quantity of Wheat, Wheat Flour, Barley, Barley Flour, Oats, Oat Meal, Bolting Machine, Bags, Baskets, and all other Utensils used in the Mills; by which dreadful Calamity the said poor Sufferer is reduced to the greatest Want, Difficulty and Distress.
That the truth of the Premises was made appear to Our Justices, assembled at their General Quarter Sessions of the Peace aforesaid, not only upon the Oath of the said poor Sufferer himself, but also upon the Oaths of John Lewthwaite and John Tyson, credible and experienced Persons, who were well acquainted with the Premises before the Misfortune hapened, and who have carefully taken a particular Account of the Damage and Loss sustained by the Fire; and also upon the Oath of Henry Sumpton, a Servant employed by the said William Routledge, who was well acquainted with the particular Quantity and Value of the Grain, Meal, and other Articles, which were consumed in the Flames, and that, upon a moderate Computation, the Loss sustained by the said poor Sufferer amounts to the Sum of Seven hundred and thirty-five Pounds Seven Shillings and upwards, over and besides the old Materials; and that no Part thereof was insured.
Wherefore the said poor Sufferer most humbly besought Us to grant him Our most Gracious Letters Patent, Licence, and Protection, under Our Great Seal of Great Britain to empower him to ask, collect, and receive the Alms, Benevolence, and charitable Contributions, of all our loving Subjects" [in England and the Welsh border counties of Flint, Denbigh & Radnor]
Unto which his humble Request We have graciously condescended; not doubting but that, when these Presents shall be known by Our loving Subjects, they will readily and cheerfully contribute their Endeavours for accomplishing the same.
Know ye therefore, That, of Our Special Grace and Favour, We have given and granted, and, by these Our Letters Patent, under Our Great Seal of Great Britain, We do give and grant, unto the said poor Sufferer, and to his deputy and Deputies, the Bearer and Bearers hereof, authorized as is herein after directed, the Power, Licence, and Authority, to ask, collect, and receive, the Alms" [etc.]
[The collections are to be made under the provisions of the Act of Parliament from the 4th year of the reign of Queen Anne "for the better collecting Charity-money on Briefs by Letters Patent, and preventing Abuses in relation to such Charities". All religious congregations are to be asked to contribute; in addition, within the northern counties (as far south as Yorkshire and Cheshire) church and chapel wardens are to collect house-to-house.]
"And We do, by these Presents, nominate, constitute, and appoint, Joseph Benn, Francis Foster, John Raney, John Foster, and Anthony Adamson, Esquires; Joseph Thompson, Henry Caddy, Edward Bibby, Joseph Routledge, William Stevenson, and John Stevenson, Gentlemen, Trustees and Receivers for the said poor Sufferer, of the Charity to be collected"... Dated Westminster, 26 January "in the Forty-second Year of Our Reign."; printed signature "Philipps." Printed by George Eyre and Andrew Strahan, printers to the King, London, 1802.