Tag Archives: Chart

1927 The Last Vestry Clerk

MITCHAM VESTRY CLERK.
INTERESTING SURREY RECORD.

Mr. R. M. Chart, of Mitcham, deputy chairman of the Croydon County Bench, has notified the Mitcham Council that on March 31st he will cease to be the vestry clerk for Mitcham, a post which he has held for 39 years all but three days, and which has been held by his direct ancestors for 166 years without a break. Mr. Chart is the last of the Mitcham vestry clerks, the office being abolished under the new Rating and Valuation Act, but the duties will be carried on by his son, Colonel Stephen Chart, who is clerk to the Mitcham Council.

The first vestry clerk for Mitcham was Mr. R. M. Chart’s great-grandfather, who was appointed in 1761 at a salary of £3 a year, and held the post for 44 years. His grandfather, who built the present Mitcham parish church, held it for 41 years, and his father held it for 42 years. All these men held the post until they died, and were parish clerks as well. Mr. R. M. Chart, who is 76 years old, still does the work of more than 12 public appointments, and takes an active interest in most local affairs. He was a member of the Surrey County Council for 25 years, for nine years as alderman.

Source: Surrey Mirror – Friday 04 March 1927 from the British Newspaper Archive (subscription required)

Mitcham Vestry Meetings

Mitcham Vestry meetings as reported in local press. Most recent first.

Epsom Journal – Tuesday 30 March 1886

MITCHAM. VESTRY MEETING.—A vestry meeting was held on Friday evening. Dr. J. Ferrier Clarke in the chair, — Messrs. J. Nicholls, W. R. Harwood, and E. Mizen were elected as waywardness, and Messrs. Mizen, Howard, Francis, Thomas Lawrence, Henry Hodges, and William Mears, jun., were the persons chosen to be presented to her Majesty’s justices of the peace for appointment as overseers.

Croydon Express – Saturday 06 March 1886

MITCHAM. VESTRY MEETING. —A vestry meeting was held at the Vestry-room adjoining Merton Church, on Thursday evening, for the purpose of submitting the basis of the proposed county rate. Mr. D. Keighwin occupied the chair. The Overseers submitted a copy of the proposed basis £25,752, being an increase of £2,236 on the last return. It was stated that any parishioner wishing to make objection to the proposed basis must give notice in writing to the Clerk of the Peace, at Newington, on or before the 20th inst., and attend personally in support of the objection. The proceedings, which were of a formal character..then closed.

Croydon Express – Saturday 28 August 1880

MITCHAM. VESTRY MEETING. —The annual vestry was held on Wednesday evening, for receiving the report and accounts of the lighting inspectors, to elect two inspectors in place of those retiring by rotation, and to fix the amount of money that the inspectors should have power to call for during the ensuing year. Mr. W. R. Harwood was voted to the chair. he accounts of the inspectors were duly presented and passed. Mr. J. Harwood proposed the re-election of Mr. Summerfield, which, loving seconded, was carried unanimously. Mr. Heyward, the other gentleman retiring, and not seeking re-election, Mr. T. Allen proposed Mr. Lewis to fill the vacancy, and Mr. Riley proposed Mr. Raven. On the Chairman putting the names six votes were recorded for Mr. Lewis and seventeen for Mr. Raven. The Chairman declared that Mr. Raven was duly elected. The next business being the amount of money to be granted for the ensuing year, the sum of £850 was, after some discussion, proposed and carried.

Croydon Advertiser and East Surrey Reporter – Saturday 03 April 1875

MITCHAM.
Easter Vestry Meeting.

The annual Easter Vestry was held in the Vestry Room on Tuesday evening. The Rev. D. F. Wilson, vicar of the parish, occupied the chair, and among others present were E. Mills and J. Bridger, Esqrs. (churchwardens), F. Gale, Esq., Messrs W. Blakeney, W. R. Harwood, J. Harwood, J. Summerfield, J. Paxton, T. Batchelor, W. Smith, C. B. Hallward, &c. Messrs. E. Mills and J. Bridger having declined to serve churchwardens again this year, the vicar nominated as his churchwarden C. B. Hallward, Esq. On the motion of Mr. Bridger, seconded by Mr. Mills, Jermain Nobes, Esq., was elected parish churchwarden. The Overseers were re-elected, being Messrs W. R. Harwood, Abrehart, and S. Love. The waywardens, Messrs. T. Allen, T. Bachelor, and H. Newman were also re-elected. After some discussion as to whether it was requisite to continue the office of assistant-overseer, it was resolved that Mr. R. M. Chart should be appointed at salary of £25. The auditors for the Lighting Rate Accounts and the Endowed Charities Accounts were re-elected, being Messrs. W. Smith, W. Field, and J. Harwood. Mr. W. Hills, jun., having been re-elected Inspector of places for slaughtering horses, the Vicar presented the Charity Accounts, and the proceedings were brought to a close a vote of thanks to the Chairman.