Cuthbert Alder Charity
What is the Cuthbert Alder Charity?
The Cuthbert Alder Charity provides relief to the poor.
In 1736 Cuthbert Alder, a prominent gentleman living in Weetslade, left a field to the Church in his Will, with the rents and benefits from it being used for the poorest in the parish. The field is in Murton Village. Cuthbert Alder's Will states:
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I give and Devise the Same [Dacre's] Close unto the Minister and Church Wardens of the Parish of Long Benton for the Time being and their Successors. To hold the Same unto the said Minister and Church Wardens and their successors for Ever. In trust for the only proper use and Behoofe of the poorest Inhabitants within That Part of the said Parish of Long Benton.
Cuthbert Alder's Will
Cuthbert Alder's Goose Pies
From the "The Church and Vicarage of Long Benton" (1843):
In 1710, Mr. Cuthbert Alder, a gentleman of some consideration, living in a very secluded residence on his own property, at Low Weetslett, had a well stocked larder of Goose Pies in preparation for Christmas.
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Some keelmen from Newcastle, out of work and driven to crime broke into Alder's home intending to steal possessions and food. Despite their being tailors staying on site, and servants, along with Mr Alder, the men left with stolen valuables and the goose pies. There had been a scuffle between the Mr Alder and his servants and the keelmen, with one female servant having her arm broken. ​
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The event caused a sensation and news about the robbery traveled across the city. A reward was established for the arrest of the robbers. The outcome however was remarkable. ​Mr. Alder having received some silver, in exchange for a guinea, at a shop on the Quay, at Newcastle, recognized one of the coins as one stolen from him. He questioned the shopkeeper, and the identity of the thieves was discovered.
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The men were executed for the crimes of robbery and violence, and Mr Alder was given the reward himself. But he did not feel it right to keep the 'blood money', and determined to devote it to charitable purposes.
He purchased a piece of land in the township of Murton and parish of Tynemouth, which by his will he left to the vicar and churchwardens of Long Benton in trust for the uses of the poor for ever. He died on the 27th of November, 1736, at the age of eighty-eight.