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578
GEORGE WILLIAM MARSDEN.
The late Vestry Clerk died suddenly at his residence,
113, Camberwell Grove, early on the 12th May.
The following is an account taken from Blanch's
"Parish of Camberwell:—
"Mr. G. W. Marsden, who was elected Vestry Clerk of
Camberwell in 1852, was born on the 1st October, 1812, at
Kennington, Surrey. He was articled to Messrs. Russell
and Son of Southwark, the senior partner of which firm was
Vestry Clerk of St. George-the-Martyr. On the death of
Mr. Russell he served the remainder of his time with Mr.
Pearson of the Temple. Mr. Marsden was admitted
solicitor in 1835, and in 1837 he received the appointment
of Ward Clerk from the Alderman and Common Councilmen
of the Ward of Vintry. In 1851 he was solicited to allow
himself to be put in nomination for the Vestry Clerkship
of Camberwell, at that time the highest official appointment
in the gift of the parishioners. The contest was conducted
on quite a political basis; committees were formed and the
candidates were invited to give their Sentiments on parochial
matters. Mr. Marsden was ultimately successful by a large
majority. On the passing of the Local Management Act
in 1855., he in common with all other officers connected with
vestries in the Metropolis, had the option of retiring on a
pension, or seeking re-appointment under the Act. It is,
perhaps, needless to add that he chose the latter alternative,
and was re-elected, his opponent only obtaining one vote.
It will not be necessary in these pages to enumerate the
public services of Mr. Marsden during an official career of
twenty-three years, but we should be doing him an injustice
were we not to record the services rendered by him to this