Herefordshire Society. Instituted 1710. For clothing and apprenticing poor boys of Herefordshire parents to respectable trades, either in London or the country of Hereford. Since the foundation of the society, between 500 and 600 hundred boys have been apprenticed, many of whom received entire suits of clothes from its funds.
The average income is £120, dependent on subscriptions.
Funded property was £1,375.
Treasurer, Michael Biddulph, Esq.—Hon. Secretary, Fred. Cooke, Esq., 35, Southampton Buildings.
The Somersetshire (1811), Worcestershire (1815), and Wiltshire (1817). Societies are of a similar character, each for the benefit of children of their respective counties, and are supported chiefly by the contributions of the wealthier gentry of each, resident in London.
The annual incomes of these societies vary from £100 to £300, and ten to twelve children are apprenticed by each every year, in some instances a fostering care of them has been continued in later years, and they have been aided by loans, etc.
SOURCE: The Charities of London, by Samuel Low, Jun., London: Sampson Low, Son,
and Marston, Milton House, Ludgate Hill. 1861.