Parish of Somerton, March 23rd 1888.

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

Notice is hereby given that a Vestry meeting will be held in and for this Parish in the Vestry Room on Friday the 23rd day of March at 7 o'clock in the evening for the purpose of nominating Overseers and Guardians, and appointing Waywardens for the ensuing year.

                Also for electing three persons to serve on the Burial Board for the ensuing year, and for audit of the accounts of the Burial Board.

                Also for further considering all matters relating to the Voluntary School, and Voluntary School Rate.

Dated March 17th 1888.

                                Signed – E W Valentine, churchwarden.

                                                G Pittard, G Walters, overseers.

Rev W H Strong in the chair.

Messrs Ord and Wm Nutt junior were again nominated for Guardians and Mr John Peddle and Mr G Clark Overseers.

Mr John Wyatt and Mr John Crocker were re-appointed Waywardens, and on the proposition of Capt Thorney and seconded by E W Valentine, the three retiring members of the Burial Board were re-elected.

The names of Mr Puddy and Weech were added to the list of Overseers.

Capt Pinney and Mr J S Taylor were appointed auditors of the Burial Board accounts, and Messrs Joseph Vincent and James Nutt auditors of the church accounts.

                It was also decided to continue the Voluntary School for another year and the chairman was requested to convey the thanks of the meeting to Col Pinney for his kind offer in giving one year’s rent free f the school amounting to £30.

The following is a list of persons nominated as overseers:

                George Clark – John Peddle

Edwin Bond – England Brown

George Barnard – Wm Cox

G H Cossins – H W Ord

John Wyatt – F Gare

E Puddy – Wm Weech

Burial Board – H W Ord, Rev W H Strong, Col Pinney, A Brain, John Talbot, F S Crocker, G H Cossins, John Wyatt, James Nutt.

                                                Signed William henry Strong.

Parish of Somerton, April 5th 1888.

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 and for this parish in the Vestry Room on Thursday 5th April at 7 o’clock in the evening, for the purpose of taking into consideration the necessity of building a boundary wall between the premises belonging to the church estate and in the occupation of Mrs Mundy, widow, from premises belonging to Thomas Welsh and occupied by Mr Abraham Eades.

                Also to consider and determine the propriety of granting a lease of the messuage and premises situate in West Street, Somerton, belonging to the church estate now in the occupation of Mrs Ellen Mundy as yearly tenant, and to settle the terms for which such lease is to be granted.

Also to consider the advisability of mortgaging a portion of the church property to provide funds for the restoration of the church and any further business relative to the church restoration.

                Also for examining the churchwardens’ accounts and appointing fit and proper persons to serve the office of churchwardens for the year ensuing.

                Also for producing the Charity and School accounts and any matters relating thereto.

                Also to appoint a caretaker of the Fire Engine in the place of Mr Wm Roles who wishes to resign.

Dated March 31 1888.

                                Signed – E W Valentine, churchwarden.

                                                G Clarke, J Peddle, Overseers.

Rev W H Strong in the chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

After discussion it was agreed to postpone the matter relating t the boundary wall and the lease of the premises to Mrs Mundy until a future meeting.

It was proposed that the churchwardens of Somerton for the time being shall be empowered to borrow a sum of money not exceeding six hundred pounds from some insurance company, the Charity or Ecclesiastical Commissions, and not from any other source whatever.

It was proposed by Capt Pinney and seconded by Mr John Taylor that the Vicar, churchwardens (for the time being), Capt Pinney, Mr John Crocker, Mr J S Taylor, Mr Ord, Mr Wm Hilborne, Mr John Wyatt and Mr Joseph Vincent form a committee for considering the best way to borrow money for the church restoration on the church estate and for nay other matter connected therewith.

The churchwardens’ accounts were produced, audited and found correct.

Mr E W Valentine and Mr Wm Nutt were re-appointed churchwardens.

The Charity and School accounts were not produced.

Mr George Taylor was appointed caretaker of the Fire Engine and a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Roles for his past services.

                                Signed – Edmund W Valentine, chairman.

Parish of Somerton. [10 May 1888]

Notice is hereby given that a Vestry meeting will be held in and for this parish in the Vestry Room on Thursday the 10th May at 7 o’clock in the evening for the purpose of granting the Overseers a Poor Rate for the ensuing half year.

                Also a Sanitary Rate to meet the demand of the Rural Sanitary Authority.

Dated May 5th 1888.

                                Signed – E W Valentine, churchwarden.

                                                Geo Clark, John Peddle, Overseers.

A Poor Rate of 1/1 in the £ and a Sanitary Rate of 6d in the £ was agreed to unanimously.

E W Valentine in the chair.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

                                Signed – Fred W Pinney, chairman.

August 24th 1888.

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 meeting will be held in and for this parish in the Vestry Room on Friday the 24th day of August at 7 o’clock in the evening for the purpose of taking the necessary steps for the formation of a ‘School Board’ to take over the management of the West End Infants School in consequence of the funds not being forthcoming on the voluntary principle.

                And for taking into consideration the method of payment for the public lamps in the town of Somerton, the “Watching and Lighting Act of 3 & 4  William 4 chapter 90 having been just repealed by the ‘Local Government Act’ without any fresh provision being made.

                And also to consider the claim raised by Mr Thomas lessee of the Gas Works for arrears in Gas Rates never paid over to the Inspectors or himself.

Dated August 18th 1888.

                                Signed – Edmund Valentine, churchwarden.

                                                George Clark, John Peddle, Overseers.

Capt Pinney in the chair, who read much correspondence relating to  the school matters, when Mr Valentine proposed and Mr John Peddle seconded ‘That this Vestry will request Mr John Louch as the Summoning Officer to convene a meeting of the Ratepayers for the purpose of passing a resolution that it is expedient that a School Board should be formed for the said parish.                    Carried unanimously.

The Watching and Lighting Act and Mr Thomas, the lessee’s claim of £69.18.4 alleged arrears of Rates during the past 3 years were discussed but no resolution passed thereon, and the matter left an open question.

                                Signed – Fred W Pinney, chairman.

[19th September 1888].

In accordance with the notice of meeting of which a copy is here annexed [printed notice glued in] a meeting was held in the Vestry Room on Wednesday 19th September 1888.

Present – Rev W Strong, F W Pinney Esq, E W Valentine, A L Estlin, J B Clark, J Wyatt, W J C Hill, John Head, James Watts, J R Gunning, G Mundy, J S Taylor, H W Ord, W Hewson, W Peddle, W Hilborne senior & junior, James Nutt, F G Coggan, A Bradley, Rev A Braine, J Crocker,, H J Watts, James Lock, C W Battiscombe. W H Hunt.

On the proposition of F W Pinney Esq seconded by E W Valentine Mr J Wyatt the Rev Strong was appointed chairman.

The object of the meeting having been explained by the Summoning Officer, it was proposed by Mr T B Clark seconded by Mr H J Watts ‘that it is expedient that a School Board should be formed for the Parish of Somerton.’

The resolution having been put to the meeting, it was declared that the same was carried unanimously.

                                Signed Wm Henry Strong, chairman.

Parish of Somerton. [8 November 1888]

Notice is hereby given that a Vestry will be held in and for the Parish in the Vestry Room on Thursday the 8th day of November at 7 o’clock in the evening for the purpose of granting the Overseers a Poor Rate for the ensuing half year.

                Also a Sanitary Rate to meet the demand of the Rural Sanitary Authority.

Dated November 3rd 1888.

                Signed – E W Valentine, churchwarden.

                                G Clark, John Peddle, Overseers.

It was proposed, seconded and carried unanimously that a Poor Rate of 1/4 in the £ and a Sanitary Rate of 1/6 be granted.

                                Signed William Henry Strong, chairman.