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93
On the 14th May, 1690, the Vestry agreed with Mr.
Meads to keep the highways of the Parish in repair at the
rate of £50 per annum for seven years.
The Vestry also appear to have exercised a general supervision
over the Parish. On the 27th April, 1693,
Severall persons came in and complained of the great annoyance occasioned
to them by a melting house behind Mrs. Lawson's by danger of Fire
and unwholesomeness of the smell and smoke, and desired the bord would
signe a Certificate that the same was an annoyance.
A request with which the Board complied. Again on the
10th April, 1694, the following entry appears.
The Honoble Mr. Henry Boyle came from the Earle Burlington to know
what was or might be done about the place behind his Lop house and
garden where they shoote the night stuffe and boyle for salt Peter, and Mr.
Outing, a member of this bord, being present, and being one of the Grand
Jury, promised to have Channell, the nightman, indicted in the said Earle's
name.
The Vestry Minutes of the 27th October, 1686, contain
the following record, which show that even in those days the
Vestry had an eye to economy.
"Order'd that Mr. Church Warden Nott doe pay the Widd. Dutton 54 for
the Glasse Sun Dyall, if he cannot have it cheaper."
A later entry (13th April, 1693) manifests the same spirit
of economy, and although the minutes do not record the
nature of Mr. Paulett's interest in the land, it is clear that
even then the value of land in St. James's was rapidly increasing.
We learn from the Abstract of Title that Mr.
Paulett held the land, together with a further quantity, lor a
term of 21½ years, then unexpired, at a ground rent of £20
per annum.
This rent was secured by a sublease, and far exceeded the
original rent of the several messuages, closes, lands,