Includes relief lists of the York Poor Law Union, and, after 1930, the Public Assistance Committee.
Information recorded varied over time. Name of pauper and amount of relief received each week are always recorded; age and residence of pauper were also included at various periods. A statistical portion recording the classification of paupers appears in books from Sep 1848. Non-settled poor and Common Charges (irremovable poor and vagrants) are recorded in the back of books where relevant. Children boarded-out are also recorded for a short time in the early twentieth century. In some instances entries may indicate if an individual was sent to an institution (for example, the workhouse or the asylum).
From 1837 to 1848 records were divided into quarterly periods (March, June, September and December); from 1849 to 1948 they were divided into half-yearly periods. Please note that not all records survive.
Between 1898 and Mar 1904 the York City District was divided into City District 1 and City District 2; between 1905 and 1935 the City District was organised into East, West and North Districts; and from 1936 to 1948 it was organised into East, West, North and Central districts.