The note in the Board of Guardians' minutes we list might read:

HOOTON Christopher, overseer of Keelby to get him sworn to his settlement

But the real text would be:

"Ordered that the overseer of Keelby take steps to get Christopher Hooton
sworn to his settlement" or similar.

Meaning:

Christopher Hooton has become chargeable to the parish of Keelby, but his place
of settlement is not certain. The overseer therefore is ordered to take CH 
before a magistrate to be examined as to his place of settlement.  Once his 
settlement has been ascertained, there are two ways to deal with him. 
He can remain in Keelby (assuming that his settlement is elsewhere) and be
relieved, or sent to the workhouse if he is not ill, and his maintenance in 
either place will be debited to his parish of settlement.  If, however, 
there is doubt about his settlement, and the parish in which his settlement is judged then disagrees, the parish of Keelby would have to apply to the 
magistrates for an order of removal.  Once the notice of removal has been 
served on the parish that he is being removed to, they have 21 days to appeal 
against the order.  Once that 21 days is up, with no appeal, he is removed 
there and that is that.  If there is an appeal, the case is heard at the 
Quarter Sessions, and that is why there are so many removal orders and 
settlement examinations in the Quarter Sessions files - because there were so
many appeals against removal orders.

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Provided by Anne Cole
23-March-2005