The
Unofficial Website
Union Societies in Rotherham
Another development in the 19th Century was the Union Society. I have found some basic information about one that existed in Rotherham but there were probably others. The Franklin Union Society was established on 28 January 1833, a society of 60 contributors who met on the first Friday of every month. Members had to be aged 18–34, of good reputation, pursuing a profession or trade for their livelihood, of well-known, industrious and frugal habits and free from natural infirmities. These men paid 1/6d per month. Men aged 34–40 payed a larger weekly sum. Benefits paid out to members included sick pay, death benefits and a small widows allowance. Those were the days before government benefits and if this union society was anything to go by, they cherry-picked their members very carefully.