Newspaper Transcripts
Some Selected Reports from The Windsor and Eton Express
11th February 1837
The Eton Union
- In consequence of the Poor Law Commissioners having declined to sanction the payment for certain sums out of the fund which had accrued by the sale of the old work-house belonging to Eton Parish, a public meeting
was held on Tuesday last, at the Christopher Inn, Eton, when the subject underwent discussion , and a series of resolutions were adopted to the following effect: that the parish felt bound to discharge debts contracted in their name,
and for their use by the Overseers; that the creditors of the Overseers when acting for the parish considered the parish to be responsible to them; that to deny such claims because the Overseer was dead, or not now in office,
was a fraud either upon the Overseer or the creditors; that the refusal of the Commissioners to allow such claims to be discharged out of the proceeds of the sale of the work-house was viewed by the meeting with deep regret, and had
left them no alternative but to appeal to a higher tribunal. The resolutions were ordered to be communicated to the Poor Law Commissioners, and the Overseers were instructed to apply to Lord Chandos to bring the subject before the House of Commons.
As an impression has gone abroad, that Mr. Wm. Medley, of the Windsor and Uxbridge Banks, so connected with the firm of Barnes,Medley, and Co, of the Faringdon and Wantage Banks, we are authorised to state that he is not a partner in any way connected with them in business.
On Monday Caroline Reeves and Ellen Easty were charged at the Petty Sessions, at Beaconsfield, with attempting to steal some turnips from a field belonging to Charles Lee, of Burnham. They
were convicted in mitigated penalties.
Samuel Gilder and John Gilder were fined 6d each and costs for stealing a quantity of turnips, the property of Mr. T.Williamson, of Farnham Royal.
Windsor Police
- On Monday Samuel Holloway, who has been in custody fifty or sixty times, and who is well known in Windsor by the cognomen of "Jonto", was re-examined on a charge of running away
from the Windsor workhouse, carrying with him some clothes belonging to the Union. He was committed to the borough gaol for twenty-one days.
Parish of New Windsor - Vestry Meeting
Church Rates - On Thursday a Vestry Meeting of the parish of New Windsor was held in the Vestry-room of the Church, for the purpose of passing the late Churchwardens accounts respecting the
Church rate, and for the further purpose of taking into consideration an application that had been made for the payment of the sum of �3,000 due on the mortgage of the Church rates, being the balance due for building the new church. The Rev. Isaac Gosset, the Vicar of the parish, took the chair.
Mr.Sharman, one of the present Churchwardens, said he felt anxious that as the business they had met to consider was of importance, it would receive the coolest and fairest consideration. He, however, felt it his duty,
on the part of Mr. Twinch (the other Churchwarden) and himself, to declare most firmly, that they would not take to the books of the late Churchwardens, and they did not hold themselves responsible for the arrears.
Mr.Twinch said that also was his determination.
Mr.Adams.sen, said there was one year's rate to collect, and
Messrs.Sharman and Twinch had been in office one year.
Mr.Sharman said he could prove that he had not shrunk from his duty since he had been appointed, but he was determined not to be mixed up with the accounts now before the vestry.
The Chairman hoped that they would go on in good feeling and good humour, and not mix up the future with what had past as to Church rates.
Mr.Batcheldor moved that the meeting proceed with the accounts.
The accounts of the late Churchwardens were then gone through. It appeared the last time they were passed was in June 1833, and that the arrears of uncollected rates had accumulated every year from 1828, until it was now
�939 9d from which must be deducted certain sums, such as that which had been formerly paid by the Duke of Dorset for the Lower Mews, which could not now be collected; the sum charged on Flemish Farm, which the King refused to pay;
the rate on the Vicar's tithes, which were improperly charged, &c, leaving a balance of arrears amounting to �791 9s 9d . The list of persons and the sums due by each was produced. The Chairman having gone through the accounts,
said it would be for the vestry to say what should be done regarding the arrears.
Mr.White: Why,make them pay.
Mr.Thomas Adams thought it would be better to print the names of those in arrears.
Mr.Cook thought that certainly the present Churchwardens should not be saddled with such heavy arrears.
Mr.Sharman: I wont take to them.
Mr.Cook did not see the use of printing the list; the best way was to take the readiest means to collect them in rates. The rate of December last had not been touched at all.
Mr.Sharman asked what was the amount of the mortgage debt ?
Mr.Adams.sen , said �3,000.
Mr.Twinch said he would have nothing to do with the past Churchwarden's accounts.
Mr C.S.Voules - I do not think you can refuse to take to them.
Mr.Sharman said he was determined not to take to them; he would resist it, and if it were necessary, he would go to the Ecclesiastical Court - [laughter]
Mr.White said it was always usual for the new Churchwardens to take to the past Churchwardens accounts.
Mr.Sharman - Can it be supposed we should take to them when rates are due for five or six years ? Besides I have been informed, the past Churchwardens have never gone round to the Rate-payers.
Mr.Legh and Mr.Adams,sen, contradicted that assertion , and said they had gone round hundreds of times.
Mr.Batcheldor said there was no doubt the rates would be recoverable from all the persons who still remained in the town.
Mr.Cook said, by way of bringing the subject fairly to an issue, and to meet it in the best possible humour, he would move that the arrears should be referred to a committee of seven gentlemen, to take into consideration
the best means of realising the money, and to report thereon to the vestry.
Mr.Adams.sen, seconded the motion.
Mr.Voules thought the best way was to summon the persons who owed the money.
Chairman - But who is to summon them ? The present Churchwardens refuse to take to the books.
Mr.Voules said he was of opinion the Churchwardens were bound to take them, and to summon the parties.
Mr.Batcheldor: The best way is to hand them over to the Archdeacon, and he will proceed, be way of an ecclesiastical censure, or by some other mode.
Chairman - But who is to go to the expense of procuring an ecclesiastical censure ?
Mr.Sharman said they were placed in a situation of difficulty. The mortgage on the rates had expired, and the mortgagee, Mrs.Jenks,had applied to the late Churchwardens for payment of the �3,000; did not that show that the late Churchwarden
were bound to settle that account, and that the incoming Churchwardens had nothing to do with it? He for one had foreseen the difficulty , and he therefore wished the question to be settled by the late Churchwardens. He had applied some time ago to Mr.Legh upon the
subject, and that gentleman gave him to understand that a Vestry would be called the following Sunday; instead of which three months had now elapsed. He had very little doubt Mrs.Jenks would proceed for her money.
Mr.Legh - How do you know she will proceed ?
Mr.Sharman said, because the accounts were in such a state that Mrs.Jenks could see no prospect of payment. He had foreseen this, and he had wished the parish to know that they could not liquidate the debt at the expiration of the term. But now the term was expired, and as Easter Monday was so near at hand, he for one would have nothing to do with the accounts. He had before
expressed a wish that every two years there should have been a rate to pay off the debt.
The motion of Mr.Cook was then put and carried, and the following Gentlemen appointed to form the Committee:- Mr.Legh;Mr.Adams, Peascod-street;Mr.Batcheldor;Mr.Adams,sen; Mr.Bedborough;Mr.Snowden; and Mr.Tull.
The accounts after a short discussion, were then passed and signed. Mr.Gosset at this time left the room, being unwell, and Mr.Snowden was called to the chair.
The Vestry next proceeded to the other business of the day, that of considering the application made for the payment of the mortgage of �3,000.
Mr.Legh read the correspondence which had passed between himself and the solicitor of Mrs.Jenks, upon the application made by himself to have the mortgage continued for a certain number of years longer; the result of which was, that Mrs.Jenks was willing to allow the �3,000 to
remain for the next three years more, but at 5 per Cent, instead of 4 per Cent. Mr.Legh also stated that it was agreed at a meeting , at which the Vicar, Mr.Bedborough, Mr.Adams, Mr.Secker, and himself were present, that he should
apply for a continuation of the mortgage, at which meeting he had expected Messrs. Sharman and Twinch would have been present, and did not know why they were not.
Messrs.Sharman and Twinch said they knew nothing of such a meeting.They were not invited.
Mr.Legh said, that must have arisen from some oversight somewhere, and he much regretted it.
Mr.Batcheldor thought that as they had an untouched rate and so many arrears, they would be able to pay off �1000 of the mortgage.
Mr.Twinch said it would be impossible to pay the �3000 in three years.
Mr.Legh said the three years would give them time to look about them for other resources. He conceived that with the untouched rate; and the probable arrears that might be collected they would have about �700 to spare towards the payment.
Independent of the usual government grant of �112 annually; so they could pay off �800 the first year.
In answer to a question as to the annual expenses of the Church,
Mr.Adams,sen, said about �167.
Mr.Cook proposed that the offer of Mrs.Jenks be accepted, because they were bound to do something immediately , as the time was out, and she might proceed for the recovery of the money if she pleased. Before the expiration of three years they could determine whether they should or should not borrow the money elsewhere, for a period of ten or twelve years,
so as to spread the payment over as long a period as they could.
Mr.Bedborough seconded the motion, and suggested that an addition be added to it, to pay off �500 a year. It would be best to pay off �500 a year for the first two years, and in the third year, they could borrow of some other party what sum was necessary to pay the remainder.
Mr.Sharman asked if they could legally proceed to extend the mortgage.
Mr.Bedborough said certainly; they were called together for the purpose.
Mr.Sharman said no; they were called to consider the application for payment of the mortgage, and not to enter into a new mortgage. He agreed with Mr.Cook, that it would be better, if they could do it, to have the mortgage extended
over a period of ten or twelve years, so as to make it come as lightly as possible. But what he wished to impress upon the vestry was, that the mortgage was run out, and he thought that before they could effect another mortgage, they should go round the rate-payers.
Mr.Bedborough: We are not going to enter into a new mortgage; we have had the money.
Mr.Voules said the notice to hold this vestry was sufficient, for it stated they were to take the application for payment into consideration. They were not about to incur a new debt.
After some farther discussion , Mr.Cook altered his motion, confining it to the simple declaration that the office of Mrs.Jenks to continue the loan of �3,000 for three years, at five per cent., be accepted, which was seconded by Mr.Legh, and
carried - Mr.Sharman alone holding his hand up against it.
Mr.Cook then moved, that Mr.Legh be authorised to communicate with Mrs.Jenks solicitor accordingly, which was also carried - Mr.Sharman alone dissenting.
Mr.Sharman: If Mr.Legh is going to make the communication in the name of the Vestry it is all very well, but not in the name of the Churchwardens.
Mr.Legh: I will write in the name of the Vestry, and state that the Churchwardens were present - - [laughter].
The Vestry then broke up.