Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1844-1968 / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
2 boxes (0.058 cubic metres), 4 outsize volumes.
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
Court Powis, No. 1505, of the Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society was established in October 1842. The Society met in Welshpool once every four weeks and was one of several branches of the Montgomeryshire District Branch. Its intention was to provide financial relief to Society members when afflicted with illness or in old age. The monthly fees contributed by members were placed within various funds from which specified sums were given to those in need. Sick allowances were given to those unable to work because of illness and funeral allowances were provided on the death of a member or a member's wife or child. A subsidiary benefit fund was also established to provide benefits other than sick and funeral allowances to members in distress or to provide travelling relief for those workers seeking employment further afield. A small proportion of the contributions received was set aside to cover administrative costs.
Only men between the ages of 18 and 45 were admitted to the Society and were required to abide by the rules imposed by the Court and the Ancient Order's governing body, the Executive Council. Fines were imposed for numerous offences, including not attending meetings of the Court when summoned and for drinking, fighting and swearing at Court meetings or whilst receiving sick pay. Members were also expected to observe the rituals and formularies of the Ancient Order of Foresters during meetings and initiation ceremonies, and to wear specific regalia, according to their status within the Society, on certain occasions.
A Juvenile Branch of Court Powis Foresters was also established in 1868 for boys between the ages of 3 and 14. Following the same principles as the adult Court, members were required to pay monthly contributions to the sick fund until the age of 16 when they were initiated into the Parent Court.
Court Powis was eventually dissolved in 1968 as a result of a decline in membership.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Mr J. P. T. Bebb; Welshpool; Donation; July 1969
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of Court Powis Foresters, 1844-1968, relating to the administration of the Society and the management of funds, comprising contribution books, 1844-1901; initiation books, 1853-1900; rules and rituals, 1853-1939; accounts, 1867-1954; financial and administrative papers, 1875-1968; minute books, 1882-1968; annual returns, 1910-1954; and records relating to the sick fund, 1959-1967.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records donated to NLW have been retained.
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged at NLW into eight series: contribution books; initiation books; rules and rituals; accounts; financial and administrative papers; minute books; annual returns; and sick fund records.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to abide by the conditions noted on the 'Modern papers - data protection' form issued with their Readers' Tickets.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright laws apply.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title based on contents.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Description follows NLW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.; AACR2; and LCSH
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
April 2009.
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by Rhian Lyn James. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: The Ancient Order of Foresters Friendly Society: 150 Years: 1834-1984, Walter Cooper (1984); and items within the archive;