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THE Friendly SOCIETY FOR WIDOWS BEING A PROPOSAL for Supplying the Defect of Joyntures, and Securing Women from falling into Poverty and Distress at the Death of their Husbands.
EXperience Informs us every Day, of the Misery and Calamity of Wo∣men after the Death of their Husbands, which chiefly falls on such Wo∣men who Marry Clergy-men, Shop-keepers, and Artificers, who, tho they may bring considerable Fortunes to their Husbands, are often times le•••• in a very mean Condition.
For the Relief and Support of such, and that they may be Provided for whatever the Circumstances and Incumbrances of their Husbands may Expose them to; There is no Office of Assurance, by ••ay of Friendly Society ••••••cted for Widows, Wherein 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Women wh•• Subscribe to be Contributors to the said Society, shall be assu••ed to Receive 500 l. at the Death of their Hus∣bands. Being a Proposal of real Publick Benefit, and with very small Ad∣vantage to the Undertakers.
In this Office Subscriptions are taken, the Books for that purpose being opened on the 27th. of November, 1696. where every Married Wo∣man, or her Husband for her, may Enter her Name into a Register kept for that purpose, and shall Receive a Policy or Obligation Sealed by the Common Seal of the said Office, in the Presence of one or more of the Gover∣nours of the said Office, for the Conditions of the following Settlement, which is made by Advice of Council, and may be seen at large at the said Office.
Into which Register, any Woman, whose Name is so Entered that shall become a Widow at any time after Six Months, from the time of the Books being shut up, on Notice and Proof made at the Office, the manner of which Proof is at Large Stated in the Settlement, and to be seen at the said Office, she shall Receive within Six Months after such Notice and Proof made, the Summ of Five Hundred Pounds, without any Deductions, except certain small Fees 〈…〉〈…〉 Officers, which are also settled, and to be seen at the said Office.
〈…〉〈…〉 Consideration whereof, every Person whose Name is so Entred and Registred 〈…〉〈…〉 agree, by way ••f Friendly Society, to Contribute her or their Propor∣•…•… or Part of the said ••umm of Five Hundred Pounds, whenever any Mem∣•…•… of the said Society becomes a Widow, provided the said Proportion does 〈…〉〈…〉 exceed the Summ of Five Shillings.