Parish of Somerton, March 25th 1880.

At a Vestry held this day in the Vestry Room of this parish pursuant to due notice of which the following is a copy:-

Notice is hereby given that a Vestry will be held in the Vestry Room of this Parish on Thursday next the 25th instant at 2 o’clock in the forenoon, for the purposes of appointing Guardians, Overseers and Waywardens for the year ensuing. It is also intended to propose that a Voluntary Rate be made in aid of the expenses incurred in the Infant School.

Dated this 20th day of March 1880.

                                Signed – W D Snook, Wm Jennings, churchwardens.

                                                J B Clark, Wm Nutt junior, Overseers.

The following persons were nominated to serve the office of Overseers, viz: William Roles, James Nutt, Alfred Vincent, William Chambers, James Ffitch, Samuel David, Joseph Williams, William Snook, junior, George Nutt, Robert House Scriven.

                Proposed by Mr James Parsons and seconded by Col Pinney that the present Waywardens be re-elected, viz: Mr John Talbot and Mr F S Crocker for the year ensuing.

                Proposed by Mr W D Snook and seconded by Mr James Parsons that Mr George Cossins and Mr William Nutt junior be nominated as Guardians – carried unanimously.

                Proposed by major Hall-Stephenson and seconded by Mr F S Crocker that the voluntary Rate be made and collected as heretofore at 2d in the pound.

                                Signed John F S Hall-Stephenson, chairman.

May 1st 1880.

At a Vestry held this day in the Vestry room pursuant to due notice of which the following is a copy:

Notice is hereby given that a Vestry will be held in the old School room in this parish on Saturday, the 1st May next at 12 o’clock at noon, for the purpose of examining the accounts of the Burial Board and the accounts of the different charities belonging to the parish,  and also to elect three new members of the Burial Board in place of Messrs Snook, Cossins and Talbot, who retire but may be re-elected.

Dated Somerton, April 24, 1880.

                                Signed – W D Snook, Wm Jennings, church wardens.

                                                Wm Roll sand Isaac J Nut, Overseers.

W D Snook proposed and Mr Jennings seconded that Major Hall-Stephenson be in the chair.

                The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

                The Burial Board accounts were produced and found correct.

                Mr William Jennings proposed and Mr Wm Peddle seconded that the retiring members of the Board be re-elected which was carried unanimously.

                Proposed by Mr John Talbot and seconded by Mr W D Snook that Mr William Jennings be elected as a member of the Burial Board, which was also unanimously agreed.

                The Charity Accounts were produced, examined and found correct, as was also Pittard’s Bread Charity.

                                Signed – W D Snook, chairman.

November 28th 1880.

At a meeting held this day pursuant to notice as follows:

Notice is hereby given that a Vestry will be held in the Vestry Room at 11 o’clock in the forenoon on Thursday next the 25thh day of November for the purpose of examining the expenditor’s accounts and for granting a new rate.

Dated 20th November 1880.

                                Signed – Robert H Scriven, expenditor.

W D Snook was appointed chairman.

                The accounts were produced by which it appears that the sum of £29.3.5 is due to the expenditor and a rate of 5/- per Common was granted amounting to £57.10.0.

                It was agreed that the Expenditor should not enforce payment of the amount charged on “Sale Pieces” in the rate made the 25 June 1879 and that in future the rates on sale Pieces should not be charged.

                                Signed – W D Snook, chairman.

November 11, 1880.

At a Vestry held this day in the Vestry room pursuant to due notice of which the following is a copy:

Parish of Somerton.

                Notice is hereby given that a Vestry will be held in the old School Room on Thursday the 11th instant at 11 o’clock in the forenoon for the purpose of granting the Overseers a Rate to meet the current expences o f the next half year.

Dated the 6th November 1880.

                                Signed – Wm Jennings, W D Snook, churchwardens.

                                                Wm Roles, James S Nutt, Overseers.

Rev W H Strong in the chair.

                It was agreed to grant a Rate of one shilling and five pence in the pound for the above-mentioned purpose, and it was also agreed that in consequence of the illness of the Assistant Overseer that Mr James Watts, his father, should appoint a person for making and collecting the same, and the monies collected each day be deposited with the Overseers.

December 3rd 1880.

At a Vestry held this day pursuant to due notice of which the following is a copy:

Parish of Somerton.

                Notice is hereby given that a Vestry will  held in the old School Room on Friday next the 3rd day of December at 11 o’clock in the forenoon, for the purpose of electing an Assistant Overseer and Vestry Clerk, in place of Samuel Watts, deceased.

Dated November 27th 1880.

                                Signed – Wm Jennings, W D Snook, churchwardens.

                                                Wm Roles, James S Nutt, Overseers.

Rev Wm H Strong took the chair.

                It was agreed that the salary of the Assistant overseer should be £40 per annum and £3.5.0 from the presiding Barrister, £10 for collecting the sanitary Rate, and £10 for each Voluntary School Rate, to commence from Michaelmas last.

                It was also agreed that if two or more candidates were proposed, and after a show of hands had been taken a poll was demanded, the candidate on whose behalf the demand for a poll was made should pay the expence thereof.

                Mr James Parsons then proposed and Mr Bevan Clark seconded that the Assistant Overseer should reside in the Borough.

                W D Snook proposed an amendment that the Assistant Overseer may reside in any part of the Parish.. Mr John Talbot seconded. The amendment was carried by a shew of hands. Mr Parsons demanded a Poll.

                At this stage of the proceedings the Vestry was adjourned to the Town Hall when Mr Parsons again demanded a Poll but the demand was subsequently withdrawn.

                Mr W D Snook then proposed James mead as a fit and proper person to fill the office of Assistant Overseer which was seconded by Mr Wm Jennings.

Mr H W Ord proposed ad Mr James Parsons seconded William Peddle to fill the vacant office.

                Mr G H Cossins proposed and Mr John Talbot seconded George Masters and George Puddy was proposed and seconded by Mr Basket and Mr Wm Hewson.

                It was proposed by Mr F H Dickinson that a shew of hands be taken for each candidate. The result was as follows:

                For James Mead 47; for William Peddle 9; for George Masters and George Puddy 5.

                Mr Parsons demanded a poll on behalf of Wm Peddle. Mr Hewson demanded a poll for George Puddy and Mr David Peddle demanded a poll for George Masters. The two last named candidates subsequently retired.

                The chairman proposed and Mr Wm Nutt seconded that the poll should commence at once, remain open until 4 o’clock, re-open at 9 o’clock on Saturday morning and finally close at 4 o’clock in the afternoon, which was carried unanimously.

                A vote of thanks was given to the chairman for his impartial conduct in the chair.

                The result of the poll was as follows:

                For James Mead 106 voters, with 190 votes, for William Peddle, 34 voters with 43 votes. Majority in favour of James mead 147, and he was declared duly elected.

                                Signed W D Snook, chairman.

December 16th 1880.

At a Vestry held this day pursuant to due Notice of which the following is a copy:

Parish of Somerton.

                Notice is hereby given that a Vestry will be held in the old School room on Thursday next the 16th inst at 1 o’clock in the forenoon for the purpose of granting the Overseers a Rate to meet the demand made on them by the sanitary Authority.

Dated this 11th day of December 1880.

                                Signed – W D Snook, churchwarden.

                                                Wm Roles, James S Nutt, Overseers.

Proposed by Mr W Jennings and seconded by Mr J S Nutt that Mr W D Snook take the chair.

                The minutes of the last Vestry were read and confirmed.

Proposed by Mr W Jennings and seconded by Mr J S Nutt that a rate of one shilling and four pence in the £ on houses &c and four pence on lands be granted.

                                Edmund Wm Valentine, chairman.