The Reverend Thomas Ousley’s Charity

 The Parish Council has responsibility for appointing four trustees to the Reverend Thomas Ousley’s Charity but the Trust is independent of the Parish Council. The Trust is obliged to submit an annual set of accounts to the Chairman of the Parish Council at the Annual Parish Meeting which is normally held in the May of each year.

Thomas Ousley was born in 1647 at Claypole in Lincolnshire, the son of John Ousley. He was sent to school at Newark and from there he was admitted to Christ's College, Cambridge where he gained his B.A. in 1666-67 and his M.A. in 1670. He was ordained to priesthood on the 27th February 1669/70.

Thomas Ousley was the Rector of All Saints Church from 1669 until his death on the 12^th August 1718. In his Will proved in the Consistory Court of York on the 25^th July 1721, he left in trust a cottage, premises and land in the Parish of Gedling, the income from which was to be “annually distributed to the needy poor inhabitants of Stanton”. The Parish Council hold a  hand-written copy of the Ousley will copied out by Joseph Page, church warden, dated 19^th September 1881.

On the 10^th February 1882 the cottage, premises and three small fields amounting to just over 5 acres of land were sold to Mr J S Hardy of Gedling for £1350; after brokerage the amount was £1343 5s 8d. The Charity Commission sale document dated 25^th February 1882 and held by the Council is endorsed by three trustees; Mr Edmund Brown, Mr Joseph Page and Mr William Page. There is a statement in the names of the trustees to say that “instead of an income of £10 a year, it now brings in for Stanton poor £40 5s 10d each year, which is distributed half-yearly to the widows and needy poor”.

With the approval of the Charity Commission the trustees invested the sum of £1343 5s 8d in the National Debt Fund. That remained the position until 1972 when on the advice of The Official Custodian for Charities, the trustees sold the sum of £1343 5s 8d which had become consolidated stock, in exchange for Treasury stock 2008-2012 at £555.89. The Treasury stock provides interest half-yearly.

The earliest available record of an AGM of trustees is October 1913 when eight sums ranging from £1 to £4 were agreed for parishioners. A further meeting was held in December 1913 when eight sums from 5s to £1 were paid out as Christmas gifts.

The current trustees are two parishioners, Mr John Stockbridge (Chairman) and Mr Elwyn Bradshaw and two councillors; Mrs Margaret Healy and Mr Jim Goodman. The Trust, number 214025, may appear to be an anachronism in the 21^st century but it is part of the heritage of Stanton on the Wolds and operates within the jurisdiction and legal framework of the Charity Commission. A review of the criteria for making payments may have to take place to reflect the change in social conditions.

The  Rev Ousley's Will is as follows:

"In the name of God, Amen. I Thomas Ousley of Clifton in the County of Nottingham, Clerk, being something indisposed in health but of perfect memory praised be Almighty God for the same, and being mindful of my mortality and desirous to settle that temporal estate wherewith it hath please God to bless me to dispose thereof as followeth.

Item. I give and devise all that my Reversion and of and in all that Messuage or tenement or Farm in Gedling in the said County of Nottingham and all grounds lands tenements and Hereditaments therewith used occupied and enjoyed with their and every of their appurtenances lying and being in Gedling aforesaid and in Stoke Bardolph in the said County and parish of Gedling now in the possession of William Hemsley or his undertenants and all other my lands and hereditaments in the parish of Gedling aforesaid (except as in hereafter excepted.) unto the good Lady Dame Anne Clifton wife of Sir Gervase Clifton Bart, Dame Catherine Parsons Relict of Sir John Parsons Bart deceased and Dame Arrabella relict of Sir Thomas Wheeler Knight deceased and their heirs for ever to take effect after the death of me and my wife Jane, without heirs of my body or the body of the said Jane.

Item. I give devise limit and appoint unto the Church wardens and Overseers of the Parish of Stanton in the County of Nottingham whereof I am now Minister, All that my Cottage House with the appurtenances situate in Gedling aforesaid, and all the lands and hereditaments therewith used and occupied in the parish of Gedling aforesaid and now in the tenure of James Waterhouse or his undertenants to hold forever by them and their successors after the death of me and my wife Jane, without issue as aforesaid. Nevertheless in trust only for the use and benefit of the poor inhabitants of Stanton aforesaid to be annually distributed amongst them.

Item. I give to my old servant John Hutchinson six pounds to be paid in three months after my decease, and to my wife one shilling.

Item. I give and devise unto the said Ladys, Dame Anne Clifton, Dame Catherine Parsons and Dame Arrabella Wheeler, all and singular my goods chattels, plate, rings and personal estate whatsoever, and do nominate and constitute them Executrixes of this my last will and Testament, they being to pay my Debts, legacy and funeral expenses, and I revoke all former Wills, by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and Seal this twelfth day of August in the fifth year of the reign of King George 1718.

Thomas Ousley

Signed sealed published and declared by the Testator in the presence of us who have subscribed our names together in the presence of the Testator.

Phillip Saunder

James Greenfield

Henry Althorpe