CHARITIES
By a scheme made in 1924 Tabor's almshouses,
Wyberd's, Thomlinson's, Peacock's,
and Waller's Charities were united
under the name of the Parochial
Charities. (fn. 96) Their income is expendable in general
charitable purposes. In 1951 £18 16s. 7d. was spent on
gifts in kind and on management.
Tabor's almshouses were founded by William Tabor,
then Rector of High Ongar, who in 1607 gave some
cottages on the north-east side of the village street, for
the reception of old and deserving parishioners. By
his will dated 1610 he added a rent charge of £10 for
the support of the almsmen and the repair of the
houses. The land charged lay in Bradwell-juxta-Mare.
In 1834 the almshouses consisted of six tenements 'in
pretty good repair', occupied by nine old people appointed by the rector and vestry. The total amount
spent on the almspeople at this time was 17s. a week.
For many years they had been partly supported out of
the poor rates, and the charity income was carried to
the poor rate account. (fn. 97) By 1900 the almshouses were
in poor repair and their maintenance was uneconomic. (fn. 98)
By 1929 four of the houses had been empty for six years
and soon after this they were condemned by the County
Council. In 1937 the houses were sold for £50 and
were demolished soon after. (fn. 99) The income from the
investment and the rent charge are now used for the
general purposes of the Parochial Charities. The almshouses were a row of six single-story cottages, with
leaded casement windows. Each cottage contained a
lofty room in the front with a lean-to scullery behind. (fn. 1)
John Wyberd, citizen and haberdasher of London,
by will proved 1625, left 50s. a year for bread for the
poor, charged on property in Kirton-in-Holland, Lincs.
Fourteen years' arrears were paid in 1820. From then
the charge was paid regularly until its redemption in
1910 for £100 stock. In 1834 this charity, along with
Peacock's and Waller's, was given in bread to all poor
parishioners. (fn. 2)
William Peacock, at an unknown date, gave 20s. to
the poor charged on a cottage in High Ongar. The
rent-charge was being regularly received in 1834 and
was distributed in bread. In 1926 it was redeemed for
£40 stock. (fn. 3)
Humphrey Waller, at an unknown date, gave 10s.
charged on a copyhold farm called Farrows at Paslow
Wood Common. In 1834 the rent-charge was being
paid regularly and distributed with Wyberd's and
Peacock's Charities. Except for a few years before
1907 the rent has apparently been received regularly. (fn. 4)
Mrs. Alice Thomlinson, by will dated 1655, left 5s.
a year each to eight poor widows of High Ongar
to help them buy waistcoats. (fn. 5) With similar charities
for other parishes, it was charged on property in
Hatfield Broad Oak. Up to 1769 the 'Widow's
Crowns' were paid every year according to the will, (fn. 6)
but in 1834 the money was distributed every two years
to about 20 widows. (fn. 7) The money was still being paid
in 1951. (fn. 8)
High Ongar participated in Walker's Charity (see
Fyfield). No children were being sent to Fyfield school
in 1834 but the Rector of High Ongar received 10s.
a year from the Walker Charity which was spent on
school-leaving prizes of bibles and prayer books for the
High Ongar children. This arrangement was not confirmed by the scheme controlling Dr. Walker's Foundation made in 1874. (fn. 9)