Parish of Somerton, March 25th 1886.

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 on Thursday next the 25th instant at 11 o’clock in the forenoon for the purpose of appointing Overseers and Waywardens for the ensuing year.

                Also to elect members of the Burial Board in place of the retiring members who are eligible for re-election.

Dated this 20th March 1885.

                                Signed – W Jennings, church warden.

                                                John Wyatt, Frederick Gare, Overseers.

Rev W H Strong in the chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr W Hewson proposed and Mr J Peddle seconded that Messrs Wyatt and Gare continue in office for another year.  Proposed – that as the last Sanitary Rate is not all collected and as the Books cannot be handed over to other Overseers clear, this Vestry regretfully ask the magistrates to re-appoint Messrs Wyatt and Gare as Overseers for the coming year of office.

                Proposed by Mr G Cossins ad seconded by Mr Ord that Messrs George Bain and W Cox be added to the list of Overseers.  Carried.

                It was proposed that Overseers John Talbot and J Crocker stand as Waywardens.  Carried.

                Proposed by Mr G Cossins and seconded by Mr Parsons that Mr Ord be elected as a member of the Burial Board inn place of the late Mr W D Snook which was carried unanimously.  It was proposed and seconded that the two retiring members be re-elected – carried.

                Proposed by Mr F B Clark and seconded by Mr W Hewson that the Vestrys be held at 7 o’clock in the evenings.

                Proposed by Mr Nutt and seconded by Mr Parsons that the Vestrys be held at the usual time which was carried by a shew of hands.

                The undermentioned were nominated to serve as Overseers:  Messrs F Gare, G Walter, G Clark, G Bond, G Barnard, J Wyatt, G Pittard, J Peddle, E Brown, W Cox.

                The following is a list of the Burial Board – Rev W H Strong, Col Pinney, Mr Ord, J Head, Rev Braine, Mr Wyatt, James Nutt, J Talbot, Mr G Cossins.

                                Signed – Fred W Pinney, chairman.

Parish of Somerton, April 29th 1886.

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 the Parish of Somerton   ..   ..   on Thursday next the 29th April 1886 t 11 o’clock in the forenoon for the purposes of examining the churchwardens’ accounts for the past year and the appointing fit persons to serve the office of churchwardens for the ensuing year.

Also for the purpose of appointing a Committee to carry out the restoration and repairs of the Parish church.

                Also for the purpose of producing the Charity and School accounts.

Dated this 24th April 1886.

                                Signed -  - Wm Jennings, churchwarden.

                                John Wyatt, Frederick Gare, Overseers.

The Rev W H Strong in the chair.

The minutes of the last Vestry meeting were read and confirmed..

 Proposed by Capt Pinney and seconded by Mr Wyatt that the Burial Board accounts be brought forwards at the next meeting. – carried.

                The churchwardens accounts being produced and passed.

Proposed  by J W Nutt and seconded by Mr John C Crocker that the arrears owed by Joseph Bartlett be given him – which was carried.

Mr Bartlet offered £35 per annum for the land which was let to him for that amount.

It was proposed by Mr Ord and seconded by Mr Cossins and seconded by Mr George Nutt that Mr F S Crocker be churchwarden which was declined by that gentleman.

Proposed by Mr James Nutt and seconded by Mr Wagland that Mr John Crocker be appointed churchwarden.

On Mr Pinney giving his word that he would attend the parish church Mr John Crocker resigned in his favour.

Mr Nutt was chosen by the Vicar as his churchwarden.

The following gentlemen were appointed as a committee to carry out the restoration and repairs of the church with power to add to their number:-

The Earl of Ilchester, Colonel Pinney, F H Dickinson Esq, W Neale Esq, Rev W H Strong, Captain Pinney, Mr W Nutt, E W Valentine Esq, Col Villiers Forbes, Col Searle, Mr G Bond, Mr James Snook.

Proposed by Mr W Hewson and seconded by Mr Ord that Mr James Welsh be added to the committee which was carried unanimously.

Proposed by captain Pinney and seconded by Mr Valentine that under the circumstances Mr Merrick’s bill be forthwith discharged – carried.

The Charity and School accounts were produced and passed.

                                Signed Fred W Pinney, chairman.

May 13th 1886.

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

Notice is hereby given that a Vestry will be held in Vestry room of the Parish of Somerton in the County of Somerset on Thursday next the 13th May at 11 o’clock in the forenoon for the purposes of:

Electing an Assistant Overseer in the place of Mr James Mead deceased, the candidates must find bondsmen as security to the amount of £600.0.0 or by swearing in the Quotatee Society [?]

Also for the purpose of producing the Burial Board accounts.

Also for the purpose of granting Poor and Sanitary Rates.

                                Signed – W Jennings, churchwarden.

                                                John Wyatt and F Gare, Overseers.

Dated Somerton 8 May 1886.

Proposed by Mr James Parsons and seconded by M W Hewson that in the absence of the Vicar, Capt Pinney take the chair.  Carried.

Proposed by Mr John Wyatt and seconded by Mr F S Crocker that William Snook be appointed Assistant Overseer until 25th March 1887 at the remuneration of the late Assistant overseer.  Carried unanimously.

Proposed by Mr John Wyatt and seconded by M W Hilborne that Messrs James Parsons and E W Valentine audit the Burial Board accounts – carried.

Proposed by M W Hewson that a vote of thanks be accorded to the two gentlemen who so kindly audited the accounts. Also that they be appointed auditors to the Burial Board and that they should audit the accounts so as to be laid before the next lady Day Vestry. Seconded by Mr John Wyatt.  Carried.

The Burial Board accounts were then passed.

It was proposed by Mr W Hilborne and seconded by Mr John Crocker “that the inhabitants of Somerton in Vestry assembled call upon the members of the Somerton Burial Board to convene a Vestry meeting for the purpose of revising and altering the list of fees; and times of interment and also the payment and sums charged for such Board in respect of Burials in Somerton Cemetery – and fees now payable to the Incumbent and others of the said Parish.  Carried.

A Poor Rate of 13d in the £ and a Sanitary Rate of 10d in the £ on houses and 2½d in the £ on land was granted.

                                                Signed – Wm H Strong, chairman.

June 17th 1886.

At a Vestry held this day pursuant to due notice of which the following are copies:

Parish of Somerton.

Notice is hereby given that a Vestry will be held in the Vestry room of Somerton on Thursday next the 17th June instant at 11 o’clock in the forenoon for the purpose of further considering all matters relating to the Burial Board of Somerton aforesaid.

Dated at Somerton this 12th day of June 1886.

                                Signed – W Nutt, Fred W Pinney, churchwardens.

                                                Frederick Gare, John Wyatt, Overseers.

In Pursuance of a Notice received from the Inspectors for the Parish of Somerton, duly appointed under the Act of 3 & 4 Wm 4 chap 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 Thursday 17th day of June 1886 at 11 o’clock in the forenoon for the purpose of the said Inspectors producing their accounts and vouchers and for the election of Inspectors for the execution of the said Act, and for the determining of the amount of the money to be raised for the purpose of the said Act for the current year.

Dated this 12th day of June 1886.

                                Signed – Fred W Pinney, W Nutt, churchwardens.

The Rev W H Strong took the chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Proposed by Capt Pinney and seconded by Mr John Peddle that in order to comply with the desire expressed in the minutes of the Vestry Meeting held on 13th May 1886 relative to the revising and altering the list of fees and times of interment and also the payment and sums charged by such Board in respect of Burials in Somerton Cemetery and any other fees now charged by the said Board the following gentlemen be authorised to act as a committee representing the Vestry to enquire into and report thereon at a future meeting to be called for that purpose.

The following is the names of the committee:-

Capt Pinney, Mr W Nutt, churchwardens.

Mr E W Valentine, J Parsons, W Hilborne, W Hewson, J B Clarke, H J Watts.                         Carried.

Proposed by Mr James parsons and seconded by Mr W Peddle that a gas rate of -/6d in the £ be granted.                      Carried.

Proposed by Mr J C Crocker and seconded by Mr W Hilborne that in future Mr Thomas be requested to light the lamps from 1st September to 1st May.                        Carried.

                                Signed – Fred W Pinney, chairman.

July 8th 1886.

At a Vestry held this day 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 the Parish of Somerton on Thursday next, the 8th instant, at 11 o’clock in the forenoon, for the purpose of considering the alterations in the list of fees and charges and rules connected with the Somerton Cemetery as recommended by the sub-Committee appointed at the last Vestry for this purpose.

Dated this 3rd day July 1886.

                                Signed - Fred W Pinney, Wm Nutt junior, churchwardens.

                                                Frederick Gare, John Wyatt, overseers.

Proposed by Mr W Hewson and seconded by Mr John Peddle that in the absence of the vicar, Capt Pinney take the chair.                        Carried.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

The alterations of the Rules of the Burial Board were agreed to.

It was resolved that the heading “Incumbent in Consecrated ground” be altered to “in consecrated or unconsecrated ground Officiating Minister’s fees”.                               Carried.

The table of fees due to the Burial Board were revised and agreed to.

The fees payable to the Incumbent were also revised.

Proposed by Mr E W Valentine and seconded by Mr John Peddle that the revised rules and table of fees be handed over to the Burial Board.                         Carried.

                                Signed – James Parsons, chairman.

November 4th 1886.

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

Notice – A meeting of Ratepayers of the Parish of Somerton will be held at the Old Vestry Room on Thursday next at 11 o’clock a.m. for the purpose of granting Poor and Sanitary rates, and any other business connected therewith.

Dated October 30th 1886.

                                Signed – Fred W Pinney, churchwarden.

                                                Frederick Gare, John Wyatt, Overseers.

Proposed by Mr Ord seconded by Mr E W Valentine that Mr James Parsons take the chair.                                Carried.

The notice of the meeting was read by the Chairman. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Proposed by Mr Wyatt seconded by Mr Ord that a rate of 14d in the £ be granted and collected for the purposes of the Poor Rate and Highway Rate.                              Carried.

Proposed by Mr Valentine seconded by Mr John Crocker that a rat eof 2/6 in the pound on house and orchard property and 7½d on land be granted to Overseers to meet the Sanitary orders made on them.                 Carried.

                                Signed – Edmund W Valentine, chairman.

3rd December 1886.

At a Vestry meeting held in the Vestry Room in Somerton, Somerset, on Friday 3rd day of December 1886, at 11 o’clock in the forenoon pursuant to due notice of which the following is a copy:

Notice is hereby given that a Vestry meeting will be held in the Vestry Room Somerton on Friday 3rd December 1886 at 11 o’clock in the forenoon for the purpose of granting another Voluntary School Rate and for producing and sanctioning the payment of various accounts in connection with the Church Estate and any other matter relating thereto.

Dated 27th November 1886.

                                Signed – Fred W Pinney, Wm Nutt junior, churchwardens.

                                                Frederick Gare, John Wyatt, Overseers.

Proposed by Capt Pinney seconded by Mr John Wyatt that Mr E W Valentine take the chair.                            Carried.

Proposed by Capt Pinney seconded by Mr Wm Hewson that Mr John S Taylor take the minutes of the meeting.                           Carried.

The notice convening the meeting and the minutes of the last meeting were read by the chairman, the latter being confirmed by the Vestry.

A statement of the Voluntary School Rates for the past 5 years having been made by Capt Pinney from which it transpired that the Rate made 2nd January 1885 had not been fully paid up, and only a small portion of the last Rate – made 5th November 1885 – had been collected and paid over by the late Assistant Overseer, Mr James Mead – or his legal representatives, it was proposed by Capt Pinney and seconded by Mr William Nutt that the Overseers be requested to assist Mrs Mead to collect the arrears of the said two last Rates and report the result of their endeavours at a Vestry to be held by Christmas next. This proposition Messrs Wyatt and Gare, Overseers, agreed to.                         Carried.

Mr Wm Hewson proposed that this Vestry grant permission to the Churchwardens to pay the accounts now due for repairs in connection with the church estate when Mr Wm Nutt, the Vicar’s churchwarden, stated that he was willing to sign the cheques in payment of such accounts provided the Vestry agreed he should do so. The chairman put the question to the Vestry when 16 voted in favour of such accounts being paid forthwith and 5 against it. The chairman declared it duly carried.

                                Signed Edmund Wm Valentine, chairman.