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98
the first of those four written in the said paper was according to the custome
of St. Martin's the junior Church Warden of the last year, and the greater
number of strokes were for Mr. Wm. Nott and Mr. Wm. Hargrove who were
the two first in the said paper named to be Church W ardens.
The record of the proceedings at the second election of
Churchwardens (22 nd March, 1686/7) gives us some idea
of the responsibility attaching to the office when the Churchwardens
personally were virtually the bankers of the Parish.
The following is a copy of the Minutes:—
Mr. Church Warden Nott proposed Mr. John Combs, Mr. Thompson, Mason,
Mr. Martin Frogg,Inholder, and Mr. William Thompson a Butcher that out
of them two might be nominated with consent of the board to be Church
Wardens for the ensuing yeare. But Mr. Thomson the Mason haveing
never served Overseer for the poore was therefore layd aside and Mr. Frogg
excused for age and against Mr. Thompson the Butcher his ability in estate
was objected as not to be anwerable for the Trust which would be reposed in
him and he was therefore rejected.
Mr. Churchwarden Nott certainly appears to have been
somewhat unfortunate in his nominations.
Until comparatively recent times the duties attaching to
the office of Overseer of the Poor were so burdensome to
men engaged in business, that persons nominated to serve
frequently applied to be relieved, and indeed submitted to the
then substantial fine of £12 rather than undertake the duties.
The Minutes relating to the first nomination of Overseers, dated
the 6th April, 1686, admirably illustrate this aspect of the
case.
This board proceeded to their choice of fitt persons to serve for Overseers
of the poore of this Parish and the first person nominated and called to
serve the said office was Mr. James Woodburne of St. James Markett who
appeareing and modestly excuseing himself as being really unable to perform
the same and refferring himself to this board it was order'd he should be
acquitted from the said office and all others except Sydsman and Church
Warden he paying the usuall fine of twelve pounds to the present Church
Wardens and by them to be paid to the other Overseers now chosen to be
applyed to the use of the poore of this Parish.