Parish of Somerton, February 10th 1881.

Parish of Somerton – Notice.

                In pursuance of a notice received from the Inspectors of the Parish of Somerton duly appointed under the Act of 3 & 4 Wm 4 Chapter 90, we do hereby give notice that a meeting of the Ratepayers of the said parish will be held in the Vestry Room in the said Parish on the 10th day of February 1881 at 12 o’clock at noon for the purpose of the election of Inspectors, for the execution of the said Act, and t determine the amount of money to be raised for the purposes of the said Act for the current year.

Dated this 5th day of February 1881.

                                Signed – W D Snook, Wm Jennings, churchwardens.

                                                Wm Roles, J S Nutt, Overseers.

Proposed by Mr John Head and seconded by Mr J S Nutt that Mr E W Valentine take the chair.

                The minutes of the last Vestry were read and confirmed.

                Proposed by Mr John head and seconded by Mr Wm Roles that this meeting be adjourned until this day week Thursday the 17th inst at 12 o’clock at noon for the purpose of communicating with Messrs Thomas & Co respecting their account rendered, which was carried unanimously.

                                                Signed – John Head, chairman.

Parish of Somerton, February 17th 1881.

At the adjourned Vestry held this 17th day of February 1881; proposed by Mr F S Crocker and seconded by Mr Alfred Vincent that Mr John Head take the chair.

                After having duly examined Messrs Thomas’s accounts respecting the public lamps and church clock, which were found correct, it was proposed by Mr Wm Roles and seconded by Mr F S Crocker that a rate of 8d in the £ be granted to meet their account rendered which was unanimously granted.

Present – Mr John Head, chairman; F S Crocker, A Vincent, F W Pinney Esq, Wm Roles, J S Nutt, R Lewis.

                The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

                                Signed - William Henry Strong, chairman.

Parish of Somerton, March 25th 1881.

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 Friday the 25th inst at 12 o’clock in the forenoon for the purpose of appointing Guardians, Overseers and Waywardens for the year ensuing.

                Also to take what steps may be considered necessary for revising the Parish Assessment in accordance with a notice received from the Clerk of the Langport Assessment Committee.

                                Signed – W D Snook, Wm Jennings, churchwardens.

                                                Wm Roles, J S Nutt, Overseers.

Dated this 19th day of March 1881.

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

The Rev W H Strong in the chair.

                Proposed by Mr James Parsons and seconded by Mr F S Crocker that the present Guardians continue in office for the ensuing year, which was carried unanimously.

                Proposed by Mr W Nutt that Mr Hodges be elected Waywarden – not seconded.

                Proposed by Mr James Parsons and seconded by Mr Ord that Mr John Talbot and Mr F S Crocker continue in office for the next year.

                Proposed by Mr Wm Nutt junior and seconded by Mr Wm Nutt senior that Mr Hodges be elected Waywarden.

                Proposed by Mr John Wyatt and seconded by Mr Vincent that Mr Wm Nutt junior be elected Waywarden with Mr Hodges for the ensuing year.

                The matter being put to the meeting the show of hands was in favour of Mr John Talbot and Mr F S Crocker.

                Proposed by Mr W D Snook and seconded by Mr James Parsons that a Committee be appointed for the purpose of revising the valuation list. The following Committee was appointed, viz:-  Mr W D Snook, Wm Jennings, A Vincent, Fr Chambers (Overseers), Mr John Head, John Wyatt, James parsons, James Snook, F S Crocker, George Cossins, Wm Nutt junior, John Talbot and Mr J I Hodges; with the power to add to their number. Five of the above to form a quorum.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

                                                Signed – W H Strong, chairman.

Parish of Somerton, April 21st 1881.

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 Vestry will be held in the old School Room on Thursday next the 21st inst at 11 o’clock in the forenoon for the purpose of examining the churchwardens and charity accounts.

                The Overseers and the clerk of the Burial Board will also produce their accounts for examination.

                Also to appoint churchwardens and three members of the Burial Board in place of the retiring members who are eligible for re-appointment.

The Overseers accounts are made up and open for inspection between the hours of 11 and 3 o’clock at the house of the Assistant Overseer.

                                Signed – W D Snook, Wm Jennings, churchwardens.

                                                Alfred Vincent, Overseers.

Dated this 16th day of April 1881.

Rev Strong in the chair.

The accounts of the Burial Board were examined and found correct.

                Proposed by Mr W D Snook and seconded by Mr Wm Nutt that the retiring members be re-elected – which was carried.

                Proposed by Mr Davies and seconded by Mr Wm Peddle that the cemetery gates are kept locked except on Sundays between the hours of 2 and 8 o’clock from 25th March until the 29th September, and between the hours of 2 and 5 from the 29th September to the 25th March  which was agreed to be done.

                The churchwardens and charity accounts were produced, examined and found correct.

                Proposed by Mr Ord and seconded by Mr E Valentine that the present churchwardens continue in office for the ensuing year, which was carried.

                The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

                                Signed – W D Snook, chairman.

Parish of Somerton, June 9th 1881.

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 on Thursday next the 9th instant at 11 o’clock in the forenoon for the purpose of granting the Overseers a Rate to meet the current expences of the next half year.

                                Signed – W D Snook, churchwarden.

                                                Wm Chambers, A Vincent, Overseers.

Dated this 4th day of June 1881.

Mr W D Snook in the chair.

                Proposed by Mr J I Hodges and seconded by Mr Wm Nutt that this meeting be adjourned until Tuesday next at 6 o’clock that the Overseers may attend at the Board Meeting to be held on that day for the purpose of ascertaining the reason of the order sent being so high, with such a large balance in hand. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

                                Signed – W D Snook, chairman.

Parish of Somerton, June 14th 1881.

At an adjourned Vestry held this day in the Old School room, W D Snook in the chair.

                Proposed by Mr J I Hodges and seconded by Mr W Nutt that this meeting be adjourned until after hearing from Louch respecting the balance in hand for the Poor Rate.

                Proposed as an amendment by Mr F S Crocker and seconded by Mr John Head that a rate f 1/4 in the £ be granted and if the Overseers find that a less Rate will meet the demands they are to reduce it accordingly – which was carried.

                The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

                                Signed – W D Snook, chairman.

Parish of Somerton, June 23rd 1881.

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 on Thursday next the 23rd inst at 11 o’clock in the forenoon for the purpose of deciding the amount of Rate to be granted to the Overseers.

                                Signed – W D Snook, churchwarden.

                                                Wm Chambers, Alfred Vincent, Overseers.

Dated this 18th day of June 1881.

                Mr W D Snook in the Chair.

Since the Vestry held on 14th June a correspondence had taken place between Mr Louch the clerk of the Board of Guardians and the Overseers respecting the supposed balance in hand. In his first letter Mr Louch stated that only £11 stood to the credit of the Parish of Somerton which had been deducted from the order of 1/- in the pound, leaving the order at £605, but subsequently it was ascertained that there was a balance of £358 in favour of the Parish, which on being deducted from a shilling rate, leaves the amount of order to £288.

                Proposed by Mr George Bond and seconded by Mr John Talbot that a Rate of 9d in the £ be granted to the Overseers to be collected forthwith in one instalment, which was carried.

                                Signed – W D Snook, chairman.

Parish of Somerton, July 7th 1881.

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 on Thursday next the 7th inst at 11 o’clock in the forenoon for the purpose of granting a voluntary School Rate for the said Parish.

                                Signed – W D Snook, churchwarden.

                                                William Chambers, Alfred Vincent, Overseers.

Dated this 2nd day of July 1881.

Mr W Snook in the chair.

It was considered advisable to allow Mr W Hunt five weeks to collect as much as possible of the outstanding money due from the last School Rate before granting a new one, at the end of that time to call another Vestry to take the matter into further consideration.

                The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

                                W D Snook, chairman.

Parish of Somerton, August 4th 1881.

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 on Thursday next the 4th inst at 11 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.

                                Signed – W D Snook, churchwarden.

                                                W Chambers, Alfred Vincent, Overseers.

Dated this 30th day of July 1881.

Mr W D Snook in the Chair.

                Proposed by Mr Edward Welsh and seconded by Mr J J Watts that a rate of 9d in the £ on houses and orchards and 2¼d in the £ on land be granted to the Overseers, which was carried.

                                Signed – William Henry Strong, chairman.

Parish of Somerton, October 20th 1881.

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 Vestry room of this Parish on Thursday next the 20th inst at 11 o’clock in the forenoon for the purpose of making a Voluntary Rate for the support of the Infant School.

Dated this 15th day of October 1881.

                                Signed – W D Snook, churchwarden

                                                W Chambers, A Vincent, Overseers.

Rev W H Strong in the chair.

Proposed by Mr W D Snook and seconded by Mr James Parsons that a Rate of 2d in the £ be granted for the support of the Infant School.

Present – Rev W H Strong, chairman; F W Pinney Esq, Mr James Parsons, Mr W D Brown, Mr H W Ord, E W Valentine, G H Cossins, R H Scriven, John Talbot.

                                Signed – William Henry Strong.

Parish of Somerton, November 10th 1881.

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 Vestry Room of this Parish on Thursday next the 10th inst at 11 o’clock in the forenoon for the purpose of granting the Overseers a Rate to meet the current expences of the next half year.

                Also to decide on the amount of remuneration intended to be paid to the Assistant Overseer for collecting the Sanitary Rate.

                                Signed – W D Snook, William Jennings, churchwardens.

                                                William Chambers, Alfred Vincent, Overseers.

Dated this 5th day of November 1881.

Rev W H Strong in the chair.

A Rate of 1/- in the £ was unanimously granted the Overseers.

                Proposed by Mr W D Snook and seconded by Mr Robert House Scriven that the Assistant Overseer be paid £10 for collecting each Sanitary Rate in accordance with the minutes of a meeting held the 3rd December 1880 which stated that “£10 should be paid for collecting the Sanitary Rate” and previous to that date only one Rate had been collected yearly.

                                Signed – W D Snook, chairman.