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194
Court of
Conscience
or Requests.
In 1674 the Vestry, watchful of the requirements
of the parish, resolved upon taking steps
for the introduction of a Bill for the
ment of a Court of Conscience:—
Saturday, 14 Febry., 1674.—The Busines touching a Bill for a
Court of Conscience in Westmr being this day taken into
Consideration It is thought fitt ye same be proceeded in with
all expedition, but first St Philip Warwick's Advise to be had
whether it shall be Drawne up joyntly with Southwarke &c or
by it selfe for ye Citty & Liberty of Westmr onely. The Charge
to be defrayed in comon proportion ably. And the Churchwardens
are desired to prosecut ye same vigorously And their
particidar Charge shall be allowed in their Accompt.
Another resolution on the same subject was passed in
December, 1749:—
Deer. 28, 1749. Resolved that it is the opinion of this Vestry that
the establishing by Act of Parliament a Court or Courts of Conscience
within this City & Liberty for the more easy Recovery of
small debts would be of great utility and benefit to the inhabitants
of the said City and Liberty.
A committee was accordingly appointed to meet committees
of other Vestries of the Liberty with a view to
preparing a petition to Parliament, which petition was no
doubt favourably considered, for on the 1st February, 174/59/0,
the Churchwardens reported that a bill had been ordered
to be brought in with the object of establishing Courts of
Conscience. The bill became law, and the following are the
minutes of the first appointment of the Commissioners by
the Vestry, a similar entry occurring every year in the St.
Margaret's minutes, and, after 1728, for many years in those
of the Joint Vestries:—
At a Vestry held for the Parish of St. Margaret Westmr Pursuant to
the direction of an Act of Parliament made and passed in the
last Session of Parliament Entitled an Act for the more easy and
speedy Recovery of Small Debts within the City and Liberty of
Westmr &c.
Tuesday the first day of May 1750.
Thirty persons "being discreet and substantial inhabitants
of the Parish of St. Margaret's, Westminster" were
nominated to be Commissioners of the Court of Requests