October 1778

The following Petition of Mr. James Elmore< no role > Keeper of Ne [..]
Prison at Clerkenwell being presented to this Court and the same being
Read Vizt.

To the Worshipful His Majestys Justices of the peace for the County
of Middlesex in their General Quarter Session Assembled

The Humble Petition of James Elmore< no role >

Sheweth

That Your Petitioner has held the place of Keeper of N [..]
Prison at Clerkenwell under Your Worships appointment upwards of four
Years, that for the two first Years whilst the Goal was rebuilding Your
Petitioner received no Emolument whatever from the place, as it was
Supposed not to be sufficiently Secure for the safe Custody of Offenders

That very little advantage arises to him even now a [..]
the principal part of the persons committed to his Custody consists
chiefly of Felons and those generally so poor that they are unable to pay
those fees which he is allowed

That within a few Months past Your Petitioner
through the Weakness of the Goal has had the ill fortune to have two
prisoners Escape out of his Custody the expence of apprehending whom
has amounted to the Sum of Sixty Six pounds and upwards which
Escape was not thro any neglect of Your petitioners or his Servants

Your Petitioner therefore humbly pray
that Your worships would be pleased to grant
him an Increase of Sallary or such other relief
in the premises as to Your Worships shall
Seem meet

And Yr. Petitioner will Ever pray Etc

James Elmore< no role >

A Motion was made that the said James Elmore< no role >
be allowed a Sallary of Forty Pounds a Year as Keeper of the said Goal or
Prison until further Order of Court to the Contrary the first payment where
to begin and be made on Christmas day now next Ensuing and the same
being unanimously agreed to And this Court being well satisfied that
the facts contained in the said Petition are true It is Ordered
that the Treasurer of this County do pay or cause to be paid Yearly and
every Year unto the said James Elmore< no role > the Sum or Sallary of Forty
Pounds in addition to any other Sallary or allowance he may now rece [..]
as Keeper of the said Goal or Prison called New Prison until further
order of Court to the Contrary the first Years payment whereof is to b [..]
and be made on the feast day of the Nativity of our Lord Christ now
next Ensuing the date of this Order and afterwards to be paid half Yearly
and that the Receipts of the said James Elmore< no role > together with this Order for
be a sufficient discharge to the said Treasurer for the payment thereof