Snaith Churchwardens' Accounts Book
The earliest records in the Churchwardens' Account book from St Laurence Church in Snaith date from 1716. The records give a fascinating insight into the history of the church and of the local area and include Statements of Accounts, details of expenditure on repairs to the church, local endowments, purchase of new church bells, payments to local tradesmen and suppliers, and even thefts from the church!
The position of Churchwarden was undertaken by the wealthier male inhabitants of the parish. The record book is therefore invaluable in providing us with a record of these men, and thus an insight into the hierarchy of the parish. It provides us with the names of all the Churchwardens of the time from Snaith, Cowick, Rawcliffe, Pollington and surrounding villages - in many cases including their original signatures and marks.
The arrangement of the book is double-ended. Opening the original front cover reveals the earliest records, from 1716 - 1728, while later records, from 1780 - 1883, may be found "upside down" at the other end of the book.
The position of Churchwarden was undertaken by the wealthier male inhabitants of the parish. The record book is therefore invaluable in providing us with a record of these men, and thus an insight into the hierarchy of the parish. It provides us with the names of all the Churchwardens of the time from Snaith, Cowick, Rawcliffe, Pollington and surrounding villages - in many cases including their original signatures and marks.
The arrangement of the book is double-ended. Opening the original front cover reveals the earliest records, from 1716 - 1728, while later records, from 1780 - 1883, may be found "upside down" at the other end of the book.
The Frontispiece at the older end of the book is actually dated later than the following records. At the top of the page there is a declaration that:
1845, May 1st, the Bishop of Ripon held a Confirmation in Snaith Church.
Beneath this, a paper has been stuck in, with the following inscription:
Go
And do thou
Likewise
To the Church, The Revd. Mr Watts gave diverse Lands and Tenements, in Snaith now Tenanted by John Coe, to an Assistant Minister that should read prayers every Sabbath day per Annum: £13.5s.0d.
Martin Headley, Gent, gave to the Minister for preaching a Sermon on Martinmas day for ever per Annum: £1.0s.0d.
And to the Clerk per Annum: £0.5s.0d.
Robert Ballance, Gent, gave to the Minister per Annum: £0.15s.0d.
To the free School:
Nicholas Waller, Gent, by deed of Settlement dated May 20th 1623, gave in Lands and Tenements for ever, for the maintenance of a School Master, and Usher, of a free Grammar School in Snaith (to wit) £22 to a Master, & £8 to an Usher, and paid by Henry Yarburgh Esqr. Per Annum. £30.0s.0d.
And also by the same Deed settled the same:
Lands and Tenements for ever for the maintenance and relief of Six poor Aged Men Widowers to be maintained in the Town of Snaith at all times hereafter, to be paid quarterly (to wit) May Day, Lammas Day, Martinmas Day and Candlemas Day, or within Twenty days after, by the said Henry Yarburgh, Esqr. Per Annum: £20.0s.0d.
Mr. William Gray, and Mr. Thomas Fisher: Churchwardens of Snaith, 1741.
The earliest record in the book, dated 1716, is as follows:
Mr. Hills & Mr. Middleton’s Account for the year 1716:
Received by Assessment: £40.0s.0d.
Disburst: £62.12s.1d.
Rests due: £22.12s.1d.
Allow’d by us:
P. Wynne, Minister
Josiah Baln’s mark & Francis Cranlay – Churchwardens of Cowick
Mark Hollings’ mark – Chapel Warden of Rawcliff
William Latham, Churchwarden of Pollington.
WI
Looking through the book, it is interesting to note how many of the Churchwardens appear to have been unable to write their name, often merely making a random mark or, at best, writing their initial in place of their signature.
July 8th 1717
We the Minister the Church and Chappell Wardens of the Parish of Snaith do agree that for the Year 1717 an Assessment of £50 be laid and we do hereby assess the same for and towards the repairs of the Church of Snaith aforesaid and for whatever is needful in and about the same which said Sum we do engage and order to be paid to Mr. John Hill and Mr. Thomas Middleton present Churchwardens of the Church aforesaid and for the Uses above mentioned as follows, viz: £25 the 1st of August and £25 the 2nd of January next after the date hereof according to these proportions, viz: Snaith & Cowick £10, Rawcliffe £10, Carlton £10, Hook, Goole & Armin £10 and the five West Towns, viz: Gowdall, Hensall, Pollington, Heck and Baln £10, in Witness whereof we have hereunder set our hands:
P. Wynne, Minister
John Hill
Thos. Middleton
Lionel Cornell
William Cooke
Paul Brown
William Lound (X his Mark)
John Grave (X his Mark)
William Leetham
Willm. WE (his mark?) Jagan
William Scholey
Wm. Sweeting (X his Mark)
Wm. Middleton (X his Mark)
Thomas Stringer
Mr. Hills & Mr. Middleton’s Accounts for the Year 1717
Rec’d by Assessment: £50.0s.0d.
Disburst: £61.8s.2d.
Rests due: £11.8s.2d.
Allow’d by us:
P. Wynne, Minister of Snaith
Paul Brown, Chapel Warden of Rawcliff
Willm. Sweeton’s Mark (X), Chapelwarden of Carlton
William Scholey, Chapelwarden of Carlton
Wm. Nevil’s mark (W), Chapelwarden of Hooke
Robt. Knip’s mark (K), Chapelwarden of Armin
Robt. Barker’s mark (R), Chapelwarden of Gool
Lionel Cornwell’s mark (back to front L), Churchwarden of Cowick
Willm. Leetham, Churchwarden of Pollington
Wm. Lownd’s mark (W), Churchwarden of Heck
John Graves Junr. mark (X), Churchwarden of Heck
On 27th June 1718, an additional sum of £10 was agreed, "towards a New Beam to be put up in the body of the Church of Snaith", to be paid "by the usual proportion".
