Continued Thursday 12th. March 1752

Acton Oliver Huscard of
Bridewell dischargd

Upon Reading the humble Petition of Oliver Acton< no role > Setting forth
That on the Death of Thomas Baily< no role > formerly Steward of this Hospital
the Petitioners Father Walter Acton< no role > then a Governor of this Hospital was chosen
Steward the 20th. Janry 1715 and on his death the Petitioner had the Honour of
being Elected in his Room the 4th. of April 1718That on his Fathers
Admission the Widow of the late Steward gave him an Account in her own
hand Writing which the Petitioner found among his Fathers papers of the
particulars of the diet which the Steward on by Order of Court Obliged to Allow the
Prisoners in this Hospital as follow ViztAt Noon, Sundays, Mondays,
Tuesdays, & Thursdays half a three half penny loaf six Ounces of beef without
bone ora pint of good Broath rather than a quart they would not Eate, a quart of
BeerAt Night a quarter of a three half penny loaf, four Ounces of beef a pint
of beerWednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays,The same bread & over as
above & instead of Beef four Ounces of Suffolk Cheese or 2. Ounces of Cheshire
or Butter Sufficient for the bread, & Milk Pottage instead of beef broath When
the Bakers left off this Size bread a full penny worth was so divided if the
whole quantity be delivered at once it is no disadvantage to any but the Steward
That the Petitioners said Father Accordingly during his time gave that
Allowance and ever since his Death the Petitioner has done the same without
knowing (till very lately) that it differed in any Manner from the Order of Court
which was made the 7th. May 1647 by which he finds that on Wednesdays
Fridays, & Saturdays, instead of 2 Ounces or 1/8 of a pound of Cheese the
Allowance is ¼ of a poundThat the Short Allowance of Cheese
Appearing to the last Court they were pleased to Suspend the Petitioner
till this CourtThat the Diminution was not made by the Petitioner
but was Ignorantly and Innocently followed by his Father and him from
the Information received as aforesaidThat the Petitioner has
been 34 years in your Service, and has Obeyed all Orders and Diligently
and faithfully performed all the Duty of his Office to the best of his Ability
without Complaint against him and humbly hopes to the Satisfaction
of the Court and Comittees except only in this Default in the quantity of
Cheese which he was led into only by the means before mentioned &
for which he is heartily sorry and humbly begs the Governors will
have the Goodness to forgive it.That he has been for above 2 years
past Miserably afflicted with a Complication of Distempers which he
fears will soon render him incapable of Executing his Office without
Assistance

Wherefore and for that the Petitioner has Spent the Most & best
part of his life and of his Small fortune in your Service he Most
humbly beseeches the Governors upon his assurance (that he will
for the future Govern himself by the sd old Order or otherwise as
the Governors shall make in this and every other respect) That he
may continue in his Office or may resign And that the Governors will
please to give him such an Allowance towards his Support as to the
Governors usual Goodness and Compassion shall seem Meet.

Whereupon the Question being put that Oliver Acton< no role > Steward of this Hospital be
discharged from his said Office it past in the Affirmative.

Ordered That Richard Pice< no role > the Porter do Continue to provide the
Diet for the Prisoners till further Order.