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31/07/2009

Notes on the History of Ordsall Parish - 8

R.F. Wilkinson, Rector of Ordsall 1925-1941. From the pages of Ordsall Parish magazine.

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Vestry Minute Books 1832-1898

Introduction.

In ancient days the Easter Vestry was a very important meeting in the parish. The election of Wardens took place then, and all ratepayers could attend the meeting. The Church Accounts for the year were presented; Overseers of the Poor and Overseers of the Highways were also appointed, and assessors and collectors of taxes. The Churchwardens and Vestry could levy a Church Rate, and this was done every year. A special rate for the repair and maintenance of highways was also levied each year by the Vestry Meeting.

The Village Constable was another official elected by a special meeting of the Vestry. Actually, the Constable and Overseers had nothing to do with the Church, but were Parish Officials, and often their election took place at the same time, as it was a convenient meeting of all the ratepayers. The Overseers, Constable, and Churchwardens all kept separate account books, and these were presented annually for approval by the Vestry.

Some parishes, such as Hayton, Gamston, North Wheatley, and East Drayton have very complete accounts. In some cases the books are still in existence, and are records of parish life for the last 200 years, but we do not often find accounts before 1700, except in large town Churches. In places where there were no Mayors or Bailiffs and Aldermen, the Vestry practically ruled the town until 1835, when the Municipal Corporation Act was passed. In villages these officials carried on the whole business of the parish, and they were not always popular if they did their duty well.

Unfortunately, the early accounts for Ordsall are lost. Until 1831, Churchwardens kept their accounts in the same book as the Overseers, but in that year they decided to have a separate minute and account hook. This decision arose out of a previous resolution to put new pews in the Church and move the old rood screen to the west end by the tower.

Evidently the Wardens thought there was much to be done and a good deal of money would have to he raised. This Churchwardens’ Account Book (1831—1900) we still possess, although it accidentally journeyed into Gloucestershire for about twelve years with the Rev H. D. Foster’s other possessions, and he only recently discovered it and sent it back again.

We shall give extracts from these books, which are interesting, and quote here an extract from the first meeting held on October 20th, 1831, to examine and pass the Wardens’ accounts. The meeting found that “ Some of the charges were considered as somewhat exaggerated, but in consideration of the irregularities which appear to have existed all were allowed”!!

Resolved—

(1) That the Clerk’s salary should from henceforth be £7 a year, including the washing of the surplice, and every other expense.

(2) That the sum of three guineas shall be annually allowed to the Churchwardens for their expenses at the two Visitations.

(3) That the sum of four pounds shall be allowed annually to the Churchwardens to expend on a supper for the singers.

(4) The amount of the account till Lady Day, I831, is £105/4/3 disbursed, £105/l/2 received. Examined and approved by Wm. Bury, Curate; Wm. Roberts, John Cooke, late Churchwardens; John Kippax, J. Roberts, Thomas Bedford, Thos. Swinburn, present Churchwardens; Edwd. Fowe.

In former days the year did not end until March 25th (Lady Day), and accounts were therefore presented then. In old Church books and registers the date of the year was not altered until after this day, and we have to remember this when giving dates out of old books. In 1752 this was altered, and the Civil year in British Dominions began on January 1st.

Another great change in the calendar took place in 1752, when 11 days were omitted and September 3rd became September 14th in that year. For this reason we often find villages keeping their Feasts and Fairs eleven days wrong, because the people refused to change their parish calendars and kept to the old dates from year to year.

We also have a Vestry Minute Book which begins with the Overseers of the Highways Accounts for 1835. These accounts are only given for five years, and after 1840 the book simply contains records of the Vestry Meetings held for various purposes. This book has on the front page a note about an apprentice, “Henry Pashley served his time with Mr. Stevin, Joiner, North Parade, Sheffield, but was never bound.”

The Overseers Account for 1834 was presented by Robert Lindley and John Cook, and signed by Wm Roberts, W. Jackson, and Steph. Hemsworth. These accounts had to be approved by a local magistrate or Justice of the Peace and allowed by James Lee, of Retford, on Dec. 19th, 1835.

Another old Minute Book is in the Church; it contains a record of the Vestry Meetings at Ordsall since 1835, and it is still brought out every Easter. So it has now completed a century and has become an historic book.

Extracts from the Vestry Minute Book[1]

As we have mentioned before, there were three sets of accounts to be presented to the Annual Vestry Meeting — the Overseers of the Poor, the Highways, and the Churchwardens. Sometimes the Constable presented separate accounts too. The Vestry Book contains the accounts of the Overseers of Highways, which are set out in detail, l835—184l.

The first Overseers were Robert Lindley and John Cook. Poor people were set to work on the roads when there was not much work on the land, and stones and gravel were put down.

1832
	In 1832, a special Church Rate of 6d. in the pound was declared for repairs to the Church. This realised £64, and the Wardens also sold gravel for 9/- to the Overseer of Highways.
			£			s.			d.
Nov. 5	Given to the Ringers					5			0
Dec. 17	Timothy Outram, 6 days					10			0
	John Ollivant, 6 days					12			0
	Many other such wage items occur, showing the wage rate was either 2/- or 1/8 a day according to skill
Dec. 31	Ringers at Xmas & New Year (There were only 3 bells then)					10			0
[1833]			£			s.			d.
April 6	T. Bunting, ringing the bell		1			10			0
	This was a year’s salary
	2 locks for the Stocks					4			0
April 9	At the Vestry Meeting on April 9th, 1833, William Jackson and Thomas Swinburn were elected Wardens. Thos. Holmes was appointed “bedell “ (beadle) at a salary of one guinea a year.
	The Beadle’s duty was to summon Vestry Meetings and open the doors of the pews for people. The Vestry Book spelling is sometimes extraordinary.
May 24	The Singers’ Supper		2			19			0
	Parish allowance, Visitations		3			3			0
	The Churchwardens and Clergy had to attend two Visitations a year, in the spring and autumn. This was a generous allowance for expenses, as the meeting was held in Retford
	5 bottles wine for Sacrament					17			6
	Bread								8
October	Another Church Rate of 1/- in the pound was declared in October
Nov. 15	Visitation Fees		1			3			8
[1834]			£			s.			d.
Feb. 16	Stephen Hemsworth, for the Singers’ Supper		1			18			6
April 3.	A meeting was held at the School House to take into consideration the improvement of the singing in the Church. It was resolved that the sum of £10 be allowed out of the Church Rate.
May 3	Stephen Hemsworth, salary		7			0			0
	He was Parish Clerk, l826—l865, and also landlord of the Gate Inn
May 15	Rev. C. Bigsby, for attending visitation					2			0
	The Wardens always paid. for the Parson’s dinner as well as their own out of Church funds at the Visitations of the Bishop and Archdeacon
May 16	Book for Publication of Banns					4			6
June 17	For bodes (boards) for the Church roof					2			0
	A letter from Hull								8
Sept. 19	Letter from Tickhill								6
	Letters were sent by coach or messenger

1835			£			s.			d.
July 4	John Olivant, for a new post for the Churchyard gate					4			0
Sep. 26.	Mr. Marsh, Competition for Worksop Road		9			11			0
	Disbursement		118			8			9½
	Balance of last year		3			0			0
	Received by Lanes Letting		6			0			0
	By 1/- Rate		97			15			3½
	Total received		£106			15			3½
	So there was a deficit of £11 that year. The accounts had to be submitted to the Local Magistrate, and were signed by James Lee.
Oct. 11.	Mr. Cook, 20 ton stones		1			0			0
	Wm. Steel, 4 days					6			0
	Richard Morris, 4 days					3			0
	Charles Lane, 2 days					2			8
1836			£			s.			d.
Jan. 29.	D. Salvin, for writing guide posts					5			4½
Feb. 7.	Mr. Cresswell, Composition for Turnpike		33			10			9
	This was evidently some agreement that the main road should be kept in order by some other Authority.
Mar. 5	A pew let to G. Fulgam (Foljambe) Esq. for 1 year, Number 9, at £1 a year.
	Churchwardens were ready to sell pews to anybody in those days, to increase their funds. We find the same unworthy traffic at E. Retford about that time
July 30.	Pd. For ale for masons at the Mill Bridge					4			0
	Six men working at the Mill Bridge, 4 days each at 2/6		3			0			0
	These were presumably skilled bricklayers
Aug.10	Paid at the Toll Bar when leading bricks					4			0
	This was the Toll Gate on Gt. North Road at Whitehouses or else at Babworth Corner
Nov. 14	1 pound of wax candles					2			6
[1837]			£			s.			d.
Jan. 1	1 almack (almanack)								6
Jan. 21.	Paid for ale when cleaning the river					5			0
	The charge for ale appears at intervals and seems to have been a necessity whenever important work was to be done.
April 6	James Blagg, for playing in the Church		5			0			0
	Thomas Holmes, for pew “Hoping”		1			1			0
	Stephen Hemsworth, Clerk’s Wage		7			0			0
May 18	Mr. Bigsby, for him books		2			0			0
1838			£			s.			d.
June 7	Church porch repairing					7			0
28	Ringing on the “Crouneation”					6			0
	Coronation of Queen Victoria
Feb. 4	Paid for 2 bell ropes					10			0
June 28	3 meetings in the school for the Overseers of the Poor					3			0
May 18	Paid for a Prayer Book (For the Clergy Desk)					15			7

Easter 1839 to Easter 1840			£			s.			d.
April16		Mr. Pennyton, for 400 of quick				5			0
		T. Holmes, 3 days ground preparing for quick (hedge)				5			0
1840			£			s.			d.
Sept. 9		To a man in distress				3			6
		A pound of candles							7
Nov. 25		Court Fees				16			2
		The Archdeacon’s Court at the Visitation
1842
Jan. 6.		It was resolved that the large hole in the river against the paper mill caused by the late rains be filled up with lime stone. The Rev. Thomas King was appointed Rector this year, and came to live in the Rectory himself. The Wardens accounts had not been passed for two years.
Dec. 1.		It was resolved that the salary paid to Stephen Hemsworth, as Clerk, be £7; for ringing the bell, £2; for washing the surplices, 10/-. That a rate of 3d. in the pound be allowed for the expenses of the Churchwardens.
		Cartage for slate for Church Porch				2			0
1843			£			s.			d.
Jan. 19		1 strike of coakes							6
April 4.		A Vestry Meeting				10			0
		Later in the account for this month there is a note that 7/6 of this charge was for Vestry Ale. Probably the meetings were well attended in those days. In this year the Rev. F. O. Morris took the Chair for the first time. He was Curate in charge of Ordsall, and became a famous authority on British birds; was afterwards Rector of Nunburnholme in Yorkshire.
June 1		Paid for new Surplice	2			15			6
		Surplices were very long like cassocks then
1845
Mar.27.		The following were appointed:— Churchwardens—Robert Lindley and John Cook. Overseers of the Poor—Charles Thorold and George Townrow. Overseers of Highways—Robt. Lindley and Thomas Nelson. Collectors of Taxes—Mr. Roberts and Mr. Swinburne.
June 4		Samuel Cookson, Refreshment at Confirmation				8			7
1846			£			s.			d.
Nov 17		Triennial Visitation, Lord Bishop of Lincoln				16			2
		Michaelmas Visitation				16			8
1847			£			s.			d.
Jan. 14		Robert Stead for 1 year’s salary for being beadle	1			0			0
April 14.		Resolution agreed that the Parish Accounts appear to he so mysterious that no clear understanding can be come to! Later on “the same mysterious accounts were brought forward respecting Church and Highways, and the same persons present.” Apparently the matter was cleared up later and James Blagg was ordered to collect rates and pay accounts in future after sanction by the Vestry.
July 14		A. Cuckson Refreshment at Confirmation				14			8
Oct 16		Mr. Hodson, Bill Forty Forms of Prayer				2			6
Nov 12		William Black, Bill to Repairing the Bells				6			0
		Spring Visitation Court Fees				19			3
		Michaelmas Visitation				17			8
		Visitation Allowance to Churchwardens	2			2			0
		These were the Fees at the Annual Visitations of the Archdeacon and the Wardens received £1/1/0 each for their expenses for the day. The total amount of Church Expenses for each of these years was about £46, which was raised by Church Rates.
1848			£			s.			d.
June 5		Paid Hudson for Bell Oil				10			0
Nov 30		Paid for Bible and Prayer Book for the Church	3			10			6
1849			£			s.			d.
April 12.		£2 allowed to J. Blagg for the excellent way in which he does the parish business.
July 6.		A new County Rate declared for the first time.
		Paid for the Church Cleaning				10			7
		Triennial Visitation				16			2
		Once in three years the Bishop holds a Visitation instead of the Archdeacon.
Oct. 18.		Plans and estimates considered for the bridge over the Idle.
Oct 29		Paid W. Cole for 7 months Clerkship	1			15			0
1850			£			s.			d.
April 2		Paid R. Steads for 3 month’s Clerkship				15			0
		Paid W. Clarkson for 2 month’s Clerkship				10			0
April 4.		Mr. R. Lindley and John Christopher Payne appointed Churchwardens. There is a memorial window to the latter in the North Aisle; he went to Florida and died there
June 27.		Valuation of rates of the two railways recently made through the parish.
1851			£			s.			d.
Apr. 18		Paid James Blagg for Playing Music in Church	2			10			0
May 27		Paid J. Colton as per bill for Wine	1			18			0
		Communion was celebrated as a rule four times a year.
1852
April 13.		Meeting to consider the offer of the Retford Corporation to make a joint drainage system near the steam mill. Brick-kiln Lane with Coach Road and Goosemoor Lane were let to Thomas Bunting for 35/-; Dunham Lane to G. Cole at 14/-; Marsh Lane and Common to T. Kirk at 10/-; Retford Lane and Biggins Lane to W. Jackson at 12/-; Breck Lane to J. Cook at 5/-.
1853			£			s.			d.
June 9		Henry Cook 1 day Cutting Sods round ye Churchyard Pales. Do. S. Hemsworth				4			0
Oct. 6		Paid R. Steads for a Wand							6
		The beadle had a special wand to keep children in order in Church. Some of our old people can remember this being used with great effect during service. In some old Churches the children sat up in a gallery and there was a special desk, like a schoolmaster’s for the beadle. The wand was fairly long in order to reach the head of any distant offender. R. Steads was Parish Clerk for 5 years.
1854			£			s.			d.
Jan. 6		Paid J. Blagg & S. Hemsworth for sweeping snow off the Church Leads and Walls				2			0
		Apparently the Organist considered this his duty in those days As there was a balance in hand of £37, it was decided to buy the Harmonium in the Church from Mr. J. Blagg for £32. The Church rate was declared 1½d. in the pound.
1858			£			s.			d.
Feb. 3		Paid Brown & Cutts for 1 dozen of Wine	2			2			0
April 6.		The list of persons receiving dole from White House rent was exhibited. This was the small field left for a charity, which has already been referred to
1859
Feb. 24.		William Lambert appointed Constable at a salary of £2.
April 26.		Thomas White appointed Pinder, and is to receive 10/- at Easter, 1860, if he does the work to the satisfaction of the Parish.
Aug. 12		Pd. for 7 Loads of Ashes				3			6
1864			£			s.			d.
Jan.		Paid for a Book of Offices of the Church				4			6
Dec. 2		Pd. Cox & Son for a Surplice	2			0			0
1869			£			s.			d.
Mar. 29		Pd. Ann Hemsworth for Ale per Bill				15			0
		This item is no longer allowed in Church-wardens’ Accounts, but frequently it appears in old days, especially for the benefit of Ringers at special times. In the year 1870 the accounts were signed by Rev. Thos. King for the last time.
1872
Jan. 11.		It was decided to sell to the Ordsall School Board the cottage and garden, No. 208 on the map, and that the Guardians of the Poor be requested to apply for consent to the sale. This was one of the old Workhouse Cottages
1873
March 6.		It is the opinion of this meeting that the Ordsall Bridge over River Idle just repaired, is considered safe for a year or so. The Rev. B. Barrett, Curate, took the chair.
Dec. 19.		A Vestry Meeting was held in the School on Dec. 19th at 12 noon at which the Rev. S. K. Stothert appears as Rector for the first time. 1. Proposed by Mr. Waddington, seconded by Mr. Creighton, “That the Vestry empower the Rector and Church-wardens to apply to the Bishop for a Faculty to alter, amend, enlarge and repair the Parish Church of Ordsall. 2. Proposed by Mr. Waddington, seconded by Mr. Blagg “That the Chairman be requested to call a meeting within one calender month from this date of persons willing to contribute to the above object.” S. K. Stothert, Rector.
1874
		1. A list of Constables was sent in by the Vestry to the local Magistrates. Antony Gale, Carpenter; William Lambert, Gardener; Robert Jackson Blacksmith. Antony Gale was elected. 2. Mr. Hibbert and Mr. Jackson were both proposed as Waywarden. Mr. Jackson was finally elected. His duties were presumably to look after the roads and lanes. 3. Mr. G. Mudford and Mr. T. Birket were appointed Overseers of the Poor. 4. Payment of 15/- to Mr. A. Gale was sanctioned, probably for his duties as Constable. The Constable’s short staff or wooden truncheon is now in the possession of the Rector. It was given to him by the late Mr. C. Gale, of High Street, son of the above Mr. A. Gale. It was painted black, with a crown and the letter 0 in gilt. It has evidently had much hard use. The village Constable was elected to keep order and was responsible to the local Justices of the Peace.
1875
		Complaints were made by the Vestry on the state of the level crossings of the M. S. & L. R. at Ordsall and Thrumpton It was carried in the Vestry that the Chairman write to the MS.&L. Co. in regard to alterations at the level crossing from Ordsall to G.N. Station. This must refer to the time when the second tunnel under the G.C. Section was made. The old footpath up the slope by the cattle market can still be seen.
Aug. 19.		A bridge or subway at Thrumpton crossing was considered absolutely necessary for the children attending the Board School.
1877
March 2.		The question of the Parish Well was mentioned, but nothing was decided. Mr. Jones suggested it should be sold if any one would buy.
July 6.[2]		At a meeting held at Mr. Radcliffe’s on Friday, 6th July, the Rector in the chair. Proposed that the contract for the restoration of the tower he left in the hands of the Churchwardens to make the best bargain they can. The best thanks of the meeting be given to Messrs. White & Wells for the trouble they had taken, and proposal to order the new organ from Messrs. Brindley & Forster for £300. Power also to negotiate with the builders for preparation for future stops to the amount of £20.
			£			s.			d.
July 17		Paid Mr. Campbell for assistance rendered to congregation whilst worshipping in Ordsall Board School	10			0			0
		Thrumpton School was used for nearly a year while the Church was being restored; it was re-opened on October 3 1st, 1877.
Sept. 19		Carriage of Communion Plate from Birmingham after being repaired and cleaned .				1			9
Oct. 27		Bourne’s A/c, repairing Communion Plate	1			10			0
Nov. 6		Mr. Wilmshurst, engraved Alms Dish	2			10			0
April 15		Mudford’s bill for bell-ropes	3			14			6
1879			£			s.			d.
Dec. 25		Ringers	3			3			0
		There were then only three bells
1881
Mar. 24.		To take into consideration the question of selling the two cottages in Ordsall Street, the property of the Parish, now in the occupation of Theaker and Morris. We have already referred to these old cottages at the top of High Street. It was also decided to sell the Parish Pound which was used for keeping stray animals and stood in the garden attached to the end house. The cottages were for the old people of the parish
			£			s.			d.
Nov. 25		New oak Chancel Screen, as paid by Mr. Newbold	12			10			0
		Removing old Screen				10			0
		New Encaustic Tiles, and fixing	7			12			0
.		This is interesting, as it shows what happened to the old screen. It was first of all moved to the tower in 1831, and then moved back to the Chancel at the Restoration. But Mr. Newbold, of Ordsall Hall, had given the new stained glass East Window in memory of a relative who was blind; he thought the screen obscured the new window, and collected the money for the present small oak partition, on condition that the old screen was moved back to the tower.
Dec. 14		Armstead & Vasey of Sheffield for oak choir stalls.			42			0			0
Dec. 26		To the Ringers for ringing Church bells twice every Sunday during the year.			3			3			0
1883
		St. Thomas Day—A list is given of those who received the dole or charity.
1887
April 7.		It was reported the population was now over 3,000.
1891
December		The Ringers reported the bells were unsafe to ring. There are now three bells: No. 1, un-dated; No. 2, 1661 ; No. 3, 1743. John Taylor & Co. estimated the framework to be about 400 years old, and reported “the smallest bell is cracked and will have to be re-cast.” All fittings must be renewed as they were entirely worn out. No. 1 was re-cast; Nos. 2 and 3 were quarter-turned and tuned, and three new bells were added. The whole peal become as follows: 1, 3 cwt. 4, 5 cwt. 2, 4 cwt. 5, 5~ cwt. 3, 5 cwt. 6, 7 cwt. New oak beams were put in to carry the floor; also a new floor for the Ringers to stand on, and another floor midway up the tower to replace an old one. New Louvres in all the tower windows. From the old oak beams were made a chair for the Sanctuary, an alms box for the pillar, and two small platforms for the font and pulpit. The bells were dedicated by the Rt. Rev. E. A. Were, D.D., Bishop of Derby. One bell was given by Mr. C. T. Scrimshaw at a cost of £40 (the present 3rd) in memory of his wife. The total cost was £200 and £40 for the wood floors.
1892
April 21		An interesting exposition was made by Mr. Lazenby on the Bell question. It was decided that the order for the new bells should be given to Taylor, of Loughborough.
1893				£			s.			d.
Aug.		Taylor’s men at trial of the bells, July 22nd.					5			0
1898
July 13.		Rev. Dr. Stott meets the Vestry for the first time as Rector.

[1] These extracts were published on different dates in the parish magazine. There was some overlap and the extracts did not follow in chronological order. They have been put in date order and some repetition has been removed.

Wilkinson’s comments and observations are in green

[2] This may possibly have been 1878, from its place in the text.

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Extracts from the Vestry Minute Book[1]

Easter 1839 to Easter 1840