Proposed Night Watch at the Town of Ongar

In one of the vestry books is a loose undated sheet of paper, dating from the C19th, entitled ‘Proposed Night Watch at the town of Ongar.’ It states;
In consequence of the depredations recently committed in the Town of Ongar and the numerous vagrants and suspicious characters which are seen about it at night, it is suggested as a measure conducive to check the progress and return of such proceedings that the inhabitants of Ongar appoint a young and respectable Man as Night Watchman, who will otherwise be appointed Special Constable. The expense would probably not exceed a guinea weekly if 60 householders in Ongar would contribute four pence each weekly would met the demand.

Under this are the names of 69 inhabitants supporting the proposal.