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Waifs and strays
The phenomenon of beggars and vagabonds was not a problem unique to the twenty first century. In the Stuart era Somersham attracted its fair share of beggars but as the extracts below show, they were not welcomed by the community!
Memorandum that William West a boy of 17 years of age prentice to Thomas Paine Cordwainer of Offord Darcy in Huntingdonshire was punished as a vagabond by the constables of this town and sent home to his mother the 21st day of July in ye year 1667.
Memorandum that William Hook of Wraygreen in Kirkom parish in Lancashire, a ragman about 28 years of age was taken up as a vagabond by ye constables of this Towne of Somersham in Huntingdonshire and after due punishment given him, sent home to ye place of his abode this 15th day of February in ye year 1676.
Memorandum that Katherine Gunston aged about 30 years was taken up as a vagabond by ye constables of this Towne of Somersham in Huntingdonshire and after due punishment given her, was sent to Diltonmarsh in Somersetshire on ye 23rd day of May in ye year 1677.