On an attempt to divert the public highway, the Vestry present themselves as conservators of the public rights. The extract chosen quite at random as evidence of this, happens to be of interest as one of the earliest mentions of "Pimlico"-the name given to that part of St. Martin-in-the-Fields (now St. George's) lying between Westminster and Chelsea. The district did not commence to be inhabited until 1680, when it first appears in St. Martin's rate books, although its name occurs in the Overseers' Accounts of that parish, in respect of a body found there, several years earlier : Wednesday, 12th Oct., 1681.-The Churchwardens are desired to take care to Informe themselves when the jury do meete touching the turning of the King's Highway at Pimlicoe and imploy Mr. Rampaine thereabouts when occasion shall require. Sunday, 18th Decr., 1681.-Touching the altering of the Rode at Pimlicoe it is ordered that Mr. Augier be desired to attend Sr Christop. Wren and pray his Advice in the case. Sunday, 23rd July, 1682.-Ordered that Sir John Cutler Sir George Dowing Mr. Newman Mr. Laurence Mr. Squire or any three or more of them be desired to waite on the Rt. Honble. the Earle of Arlington Lord Chamberlaine of the King's Maties. Household to acquaint him with the ready & ffree Consent of this Vestry for the altering of the Highway at the West end of St. James's Park leading from the Towne of Knightsbridge to this parish And to make report thereof at the next Vestry. The method of preserving a knowledge of the parish boundaries is shown by the Vestry minutes as well as by the Churchwardens' Accounts : Sunday, 15th Apll, 1683.—Ordered that the Preambulation for this yeare bee kept according to the antient custom Soe that the charges doe not exceed Twenty Nobles (but no Wine) besides the charge of the bread and cheese and beere for the boyes for the Outward bounds And for the inward bounds to be kept alsoe according to the antient custome and the charges thereof to be left to the Discretion of the Churchwardens. The following affords confirmation of the statement that two centuries ago houses adjoined St. Margaret's Church : 23rd August, 1685.-The Churchwardens acquainted the Vestry that they have granted to Madam Jepson libertie to make a casement to look into the Churche for her convenency of hearing prayers as long as she inhabitts in ye house adjoining to ye Church and passage in St. Margarett's Lane. 10th June, 1691.-That Mr. Hyler suffers no persons to goe on and hang cloathes on the Church Leads and that the Churchwardens do make a ffence whereby to keepe any persons from coming on the Church Leads from St. Margts Lane Houses. The rural character of the parish, as well as the control exercised by the Vestry over matters now regarded as entirely extraneous to the functions of the local authority, find testimony in the next transcript: Sunday, May the last, 1685.-Whereas by reason of the Uncertainty of the profitts of Tyths of Hey and Corne of this Parish and the Difficulty in gathering the same, the Parsonage and Viccaridge Tyths being in two severall hands It is now ordered (nemine contradicente) that Dr. Nich Only shall and may have and enjoy the said Tyths of Hey and Corne for the tearme of Tenn yeares if he shall soe long continue Viccar of this Parish at the yearely Rent and Acknowledgment of One Shilling P. Ann. and that the Dr. may have libertie to take Course in the Leassees names for all arrears of Tyths. The Vestry were not always grave, however. Their mutability was, in fact, remarkable, for the ease with which they passed "from grave to gay" is testified by their readiness to promote, on occasion, the enjoyment of the community: Saturday, 23rd March, 1688-9.—Ordered that the Churchwardens doe provide a Hogshead of Clarett and other things usuall att the Coronation (William III. and Mary) and the charges thereof to be allowed in their account. But the passage "from lively to severe was equally easy. The following extracts on a simple matter show how rigidly, regardless of conscientious convictions, the petty persecution of non-conformists was enforced :- 10th September, 1690.-The Churchwardens did this day make report that they have appointed Ann Alwyn to be a searcher in the Roome of the widdow Cooper decd, and they had placyd her in the Roome belonging to the Searchers in Tuttlefields which was approved by the Vestry. 5th November, 1690.-Ordered that the new Searcher Ann Alwyn have time given her till the first Sunday of the next month to receive the Sacramt. and Conforme to the Church of England Or otherwise that another be admitted in her roome. 21st December, 1690.-Ordered that the Widow Langstone be admitted into the place of Searcher in the roome of the Widow Alwyn. In the retrospect of the Overseers' Accounts at page 81, and in the specimens thereof at page 82, reference is made to the permissive begging countenanced by the law two centuries ago. Among all the other claims upon them, or duties arrogated to themselves, the Vestry found time to regulate this : 6th Jany., 1691-2.-That the Churchwardens and Overseers of the poor cause all psons who receve Almes of this parish to wear Badges or not relieve them. 6th July, 1692.-That Mr. Peter Rudge pay to Mr. Fouler for badges for the poor ffour pounds tenn shillings and eight pence. 26 Aug., 1694.-Whereas the poor of this parish are unknown to ye inhabitants, and several receive alms who are not really necessitous, It is ordered (nemine contradicente) that all such persons who are in any sort of pension or pay payable by the Overseers of the poor shall constantly wear badges on the outer part of their garment, and that if they or any of them shall by ye Beadles be found in the streets without such badges, that they be immediately discharged of the allowances usually paid them. Even the care of lunatics was not considered beyond their jurisdiction, though the charge of extravagance in the matter of bedding cannot be laid against them : 1st March, 1692-3.-That Mr. Redding, Governor of the House of Correction doe provide a Roome for one Pudsey, a Lunatick, committed to his custody, his friends providing him Victualls, and psh allowing the straw. Another entry proves that the furniture of matter in which the Vestry practised economy. stances which gave occasion for the resolution : lunacy wards was not the only Nothing is said of the circum Sept. 7, 1697.-Ordered that the churchwardens for the time to come allow but a pint of Canary to any Bishop that shall preach in our Church and no more than half a pint of canary for our own minister and others. The jealousy with which the Vestry guarded the property of the parishioners in the churchyard appears from the following: April 10, 1702.-Whereas it has been represented to this Vestry by the Churchwardens that they had recd. a message from the Dean and Chapter importing that it was expected that leave should be asked of the Dean and Chapter for the building scaffolds on the ground in the Churchyard for the coronation. Now We the said Vestry having inspected our Books of Precedents and discoursed several Churchwardens that have been concerned in letting the said ground at the N two last coronations and the funeral of the late Queen cannot find either by our books or the said persons that any leave hath at any time been asked of the said Chapter for that purpose. Therefore We, the said Vestry, being satisfied in our title to the said ground will stand by the said Churchwardens in what they have done in pursuance of the order of the six and twentieth day of March last in reference to the said ground. It was probably the independence they enjoyed, and the extensive powers they exercised which attracted the wealthier inhabitants to seek seats upon the Board, and to mark their sense of the importance of the position by donations for the benefit of the parish in the manner shown by the minute of 12th July, 1712, which is but a specimen of many others : Thomas Green, Esq., being chosen a Vestryman of this Parish and haveing given the sum of Twenty Pounds to some Publick Charity within this Parish, Ordd. That the said Twenty Pounds according to the desire of the said Mr. Green be given to the Grey Coat Hospitall and the Blew Coat Boys belonging to the Chappel School in the proporcons hereinafter menconed (vizt.) Three fourths parts being Fifteen Pounds to the Grey Coat Hosptl. and the other fourth part being Five Pounds to the Boys belonging to the Blew Coat School. Ordd. That the Churchwardens be desired to wait on the said Thomas Green, Esq., and Return him thanks from this Vestry for the same. A later entry shows the Vestry concerning themselves in the temporary detention of persons arrested by the peace officers : : 23rd October, 1727.—The Churchwardens having represented to the Vestry that by reason of their being but one Round-house for the Confinement of persons taken up in the Night time, it often happens that ye Peace Officers when they have prisoners of both sexes, are obliged to carry one of them to ye Gatehouse to the great Expence of many poor people by the Exorbitant Fees there. And that there is Room with a Small Expence to erect another Prison or Roundhouse out of the Bonehouse which will be very fit for that purpose. Ordd. that the Church Wardens do cause such Room to be partitioned of with a Brick Wall from ye said Bonehouse and otherwise strengthened and made a fit place of Security and the charge shall be Allowed on their Account. Numerous entries tell of the extent to which the Vestry assumed the character of politicians by guiding the electors in the choice of representatives in Parliament. In some cases the candidates thought it prudent, before introducing themselves, to forward a substantial sum to be used for the benefit of the parish at the discretion of the Vestry; in others the Vestry would order the beadles to distribute handbills on behalf of the candidates, and would solemnly register their determination to exert themselves to secure the applicant's return; and it is noticeable that their support was generally accorded to the successful competitors. The following, taken quite at random, are specimens of such entries :21st July, 1727.-The Rt. Honble. Charles Lord Cavendish and Wm. Clayton Esq. were introduced into the Vestry and offered their Service as Candidates at ye Ensuing Election of Members to represent this City and Liberty in Parliament. May 1, 1741.-Resolved unanimously that this Vestry will support the interest of the said Rt. Honble the Lord Sundon and the Right Honble Sr. Charles Wager who have offered themselves as candidates to represent this City and Liberty in the ensuing Parliament. In which resolution they desire the concurrence of all the inhabitants of this parish, and that they would meet them at Nine of the Clock tomorrow morning in St. Margaret's Church Yard, in order to attend those candidates to the place of Election. Ordd. That 2000 of the above resolution be forthwith printed and dis Ordd. that the several Bedels of this Parish have orders to attend in Fri., 4 Dec., 1761.-The Churchwardens acquainted this Vestry that the The circumstances under which the market in the Broadway (see p. 24) was obtained may be gathered from the minutes copied below, the second of which indicates that the Vestry acted as the authority for settling the tolls :— 24th October, 1733.-John Lawton and Mark Frecker Esqrs., from the If further evidence were required of the extraordinary diversity of topics on which the Vestry actively interested themselves, it is afforded by the subjoined. The warrant for the collection referred to is scheduled at p. 24: 10th May, 1733.-It having been requested by the Trustees for Establishing a Colony in Georgia for the Minister, Churchwardens and principal Inhabitants of this Parish to take Subscriptions and to gather and collect money for the said Charity. It is Agreed That this Vestry will give them Assistance therein provided the said Corporation do furnish them with proper powers. The story of the east window of St. Margaret's Church, as told in Dr. Wilson's Ornaments of Churches considered (1761) and in Walcott's Memorials of Westminster (pp. 103-5), with the account of the litigation relating to it, is too long to be given here; but the action of the Vestry as recorded in their minutes will not be considered out of place, particularly as it tells of a valuable addition to the parish plate which is still preserved and used on occasion: Saturday, 5th August, 1758.-Ordered-That the Church Wardens do caus the sale of the Altar-piece and great East Window to be Advertised, and the Church Wardens have hereby Power to sell the same for the Monday, 29 January, 1759.-The Church Wardens acquainted this Vestry Resolved That this Vestry will indemnify and save the Church Wardens Saturday, 17 Decr., 1763.-Samuel Pierson, Esq. (a Member of this Vestry) Resolved that the Unanimous Thanks of this Vestry be and they are Resolved that the Churchwardens be desired to cause the following In- On the Body of the Cup.-This Cup and Cover was given to the In this connection a notice of the appointment of the notorious John Wilkes as Churchwarden may be admitted. While sitting as Member of Parliament for Aylesbury, he was elected upon the Vestry on the 27th June, 1758. His first attendance as Vestryman was on 14th December, 1758; within five months he was chosen Churchwarden, with Mr. Samuel Pierson as his colleague. At the end of the year a cordial vote of thanks was unanimously accorded to Mr. Pierson for his "great and most signal services done in the faithfull execution of his office." Not a syllable is recorded concerning the retirement of the great agitator, nor is he nominated for re-election, in which respect he is an exception to the custom prevailing at the time. Whatever his success in other spheres, the Vestry minutes imply that he was voted a failure as churchwarden. As censors of the pastimes of a section of the community the Vestry were no less active than in their manifold other self-imposed duties: 9th April, 1792.—Robert Abington Esq. having received a Letter from St. A code of rules for the economical use of food for man and beast is not considered beyond the province of the Vestry, who exercised a free hand in applying the rates to the reduction of prices : Tuesday, 27th Jan. 1795.-Resolved that Bread be sold to Poor People who shall be recommended by Subscribers at Six pence the Quartern, and Meat, (vizt.) Thin Flanks, Briskets, Leg of Mutton pieces, Clods, and Breasts of Mutton at Three pence the pound, and the difference to be |