Roundsman System facts for kids
The Roundsman System was a way to help very poor workers find jobs in England a long time ago, around the 1600s. It was part of the Elizabethan Poor Law (1601), which was a set of rules to help people who were struggling.
Imagine a local community, called a parish, trying to help its poorest members. With the Roundsman System, the parish would pay local farmers, households, or other employers to hire these workers. The parish would set a basic wage for the job. If the employer paid less than what the worker needed to live (called the "subsistence rate"), the parish would pay the difference using money collected from local taxes (the "poor rate").
This system was not about how good the worker was, but about how much they needed help. Different parishes sometimes used slightly different versions of the Roundsman System.
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How the Roundsman System Worked
This system had a few different ways it could be set up. One common way was for the parish to make a deal with a farmer. The farmer would agree to hire one or more poor workers for a certain price.
The parish would then pay the worker the difference between that price and what they needed to live. This extra payment was like an "allowance." It was often based on the price of bread and how many family members the worker had.
The "Ticket" System
This method was sometimes called the "billet" or "ticket system." This is because the worker would often carry a special ticket. This ticket was signed by a parish official, called an overseer. It showed the farmer that the worker was approved for employment.
After working, the farmer would sign the ticket. The worker would then take it back to the overseer. This proved they had done their part to get relief.
Other Ways Parishes Helped
In some other parishes, the system worked a bit differently. The parish might arrange for a specific job to be done for someone. The parish would then pay the poor workers directly from its funds, even if the work was for a private person.
When People Were "Sold" for Work
In many places, the Roundsman System involved a kind of auction. All the unemployed men would be "put up for sale" regularly. This might happen every month or even every week.
The price for their labor would change. It depended on the time of year and the worker's ability. Older or weaker workers would usually "sell" for less than strong, able-bodied ones.
When Did the Roundsman System End?
The Roundsman System was eventually stopped. This happened when a new law was passed in 1834, called the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834. This new law changed how poor people were helped in England.
Related Topics
- Primitive accumulation
- Speenhamland system
