History
Hammond's Donation
Mr. Joseph Hammond, by Will and Codicil, dated 10th and 22nd April 1794, bequeathed £300 to be laid out by his executors in the funds, or on good personal security, and the interest and dividends thereof to be received and applied by the rector and churchwardens of Whiston ; 52s. thereof in bread, to be distributed, 1s. worth, weekly, on Sundays, among the poor belonging to the parish, and the residue for teaching poor children in the school at Whiston.
The legacy was laid out in 1807, after the decease of the late rector, in whose hands it had been placed, in the purchase of £541 12s. 6d., 3 percent consols, in the names of the Rev. Richard Lacey, the rector, Mr. Jonathan Starkey, since deceased, who was one of the executors, and Mr. Thomas Hammond, but the stock was sold out in 1817, partly, as alleged, to assist the parish in discharging a debt incurred in building cottages for the poor, and partly in order to take advantage of the then high price of the funds to increase the master's income. The stock was sold for £443 9s. 2d. of which £100 was advanced to the parish at 5 per cent interest, payable out of the rates, and the residue was retained at the same rate of interest by Mr. Lacey, but he has since advanced 1001. thereof to Mr. Hammond. Applications have been made at different times by the parishioners to the rector to repay the sum of 343/. 9*. 2rf., in order to its being placed out on proper security and in September 1827, Mr. Lacey signed an undertaking to pay that sum on the 5th of April 1828, in order that it might be laid out in stock, or on mortgage, in the names of himself and two other trustees, and if this undertaking be not performed, it may be proper to institute proceedings to enforce payment of the money.
Interest on the sums of £100 and £343 9s. 2d. at 5 percent, has been paid and applied to the objects mentioned in the will, and the master of the school, for the stipend paid to him, instructs twelve poor children in reading and writing.
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