Comprises application and report books, which record details of individuals who applied for out- relief from the York Poor Law Union. The records were kept by the Relieving Officer.
Information recorded may include: name of applicant; age; address; occupation (if any); marital status; if a child whether orphaned, deserted or illegitimate; the presence of disability or illness; reason for applying for relief; and details of relief granted. Also includes decisions to send individuals to the workhouse or other institutions. From the 1840s to the 1860s non-settled poor and Common Charges (irremovable poor and vagrants) are recorded in the back of books, where relevant.
Application details were recorded by the Relieving Officers of the York Poor Law Union. Books are divided into quarterly periods (March, June, September and December). Please note, not all records survive.
The majority of surviving records are for the City District of York, although three volumes survive for the Rural District for 1879, 1880 and 1884 (see PLU/3/1/1/94-95 and PLU/3/1/1/97)