Gifts to Seaman's Widows 1860

Under the terms of her will, Prisca Coborn (1622 - 1701), widow of a wealthy brewer of Bow, established a charity.

This provided for the relief of poor seamen's widows in the parish of Stepney. The charity received its income from the profits of the Manor of Colvill Hall in White Roding, Essex.

The parish of St. George-in-the-East was originally a hamlet within the parish of Stepney. It was called the Hamlet of Wapping, Stepney.

The applications usually give the

• name, address and age of the applicant
• name and date of death of the applicant's husband and the name of the vessel on which he was serving
• details of the applicant's children
• names and addresses of two householders who supported the application.

These are the only applications which appear to have survived. A series of account books (L/SGE/I/1/2-8) record the names of the recipients of the charity, 1828 - 1848 and 1857-1881.

The index of the applicants was compiled by Zoe Ellsmore.