Page:American History Told by Contemporaries, v2.djvu/240

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212
Colonial Local Government
[1702


77. Record of a Vestry Meeting (1702)
BY THE VESTRY OF ST. PAUL'S PARISH, CHOWAN PRECINCT

In the south the vestry, alongside the county court (No. 75 above), was the organ of local government, corresponding roughly to the town-meeting of New England. —Bibliography : E. Channing, Town and County Government.

AT a Vestry holden the 30th of June 1702 at the house of Thomas Gilliam

Present :
Col William Wilkinson Mr Edward Smithwick
Capt Thomas Leuten Mr Nicholas Crisp
Capr Thomas Blount Mr Wm Banbury
Wm Duchenfield Esq. Mrr James Long.
Nathl Chevin.

In obedience to a late act of Assembly made in March last impowering the Vestry of each precinct to provide a standard for weights & measures and it being debated how the said weights and measures be procured — agreed —

That the Church Wardens shall use their utmost endeavour by the first convenience to send for weights and measure as the law directs.

And agree with some person for that purpose at as cheap a rate as possible and also one fair and large book of common Prayer, and the Book of Homilies.

Ordered that the Church Wardens shall agree with and pay the collector or collectors for collecting the precinct Levies. . . .

At a Vestry held at Thomas Gilliam's Oct. 13th 1702.

Present
The Honble Henderson Walker — President
Col Wm Wilkison Mr John Blount Church Wardens
Capt Thomas Leuten Capt Thomas Blount
Mr Nicholas Crist. Mr Edward Smithwick
Mr Wm Banbury.

Whereas at the last Vestry it was ordered that there should be a standard of weights and measures sent for the use of the precinct in obedience to the act of Assembly the charge whereof with the rest of the prcinct charge being as folio weth. Vizt.