come upon the parish

Definitions

To have one's living supported by charity from a parish.

dated

Examples

“1776, Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Volume 1, 1809, Mundell, Doig, and Stevenson, page 187, They generally, therefore, choose⟳ to come⟳ upon the parish.”

“The business of tradesmen and manufacturers must therefore fall⟳ off; and they, too, will discharge servants and working people: many of these must come⟳ upon the parish, for it will be impossible for them to procure employment, and the poor-rate will increase⟳ as the ability to pay⟳ it decreases.”

“Two families alone received £92 4s. out of the rates in one year; and the wives of independent labourers very naturally regretted that their husbands had not come⟳ upon the parish. Those who came upon the parish were spoiled. They contracted the bad habit of idleness […].”

CEFR level