The Overseers’ Book of Stapleford Tawney

A paper book bound in vellum, 16 inches by 6, and 2 inches thick, written on the first page:-
‘This book was bought by John Harris, in the year 1746, for the use of the parish of Stapleford Tawney,’

Thomas Franks Constable of Stapleford Tarney for ye Year 1745. His Disbustment (sic) for the year £1.15s.6d, including 'a return to Eping 1s.6d. or to Ongar 2s.6d.' Another item, ‘for searching for Arms,2s.'

John Harris Churchwarden for ye year 1745.
His Disbustment.

£
s
d
April ye 30
At ye vey (vestry)

5
0

Paid to ye Parater

1
0

For my joney

3
6

For ye Brad and ye Wine

3
7
July ye 13
At ye Institaison

3
0
October ye 12
The Procklemasion
(? Of Charles Edward the Pretender)

2
0

Releved 5 Slaves

2
6

Releved a woman and 2 children

6

Releved three Poor Man

1
0

A Bitch Fox

6
8

A Bock (badger)

8
2

Paid the Church Clark wife for Warishing ye Sirplis and Clening ye Church and Oyle for ye Bels

9

6
Note that one shilling to the Appariter for Citing to the Visitation at Rumford Aprl. 18, 1746 is charged above

1745 Overseer’s Account

April 21
Releved the widow Taylor for 50 weaks at 2s p. week

A Louder for a nus to nus her one weak

2
0

A Loud Saben for his Grand Dafter 2s a weak for 4 weakes

8

0

Paid widow read for Bread and Bear

1

6

Releved Him

1
6

Paid Widow Read for Cleaning of him

1

10

For my Going to Eping

1
0
1746

Paid Donford for 7 weaks Board
1
8
0

For a shurt to Oyntgin (? Anointing)

2

0

For a Sheat and things to Lay him in

6

0

James Pavley for Dressing of Him

5
0

For a New Pear of Sheus and nailing

5

2

Paid Wm. Felsted for his Oath for his Setiffeket

1

6
June 19
For County Bridge Money
1
4
2

For ye Warant

1
6

(Both of the above recur for several years)

For 8 Badges (? Badgers)

2
8

Ann turner for 5 Els of Clorth

4
7

A form of prayer &c

3
0

Church Clark

10
6

A Coffin for Ednd. Bowles

10
0

Affidavit, &c

1
0

Wool

1
0
The principal expenses of the Constable for this year 1746 are:
‘A warrant to Epping 1s.’ the same to Ongar 2s. and to Harlow
Pd. ye Chief Constable for returning ye free holders list 2s.0d

The two Surveyors’ account for the same year shows an outlay of £2.15s. including:-

3

6

For sharping of ye petchexes

2
0

For six helves for ye Peetchexes

2
0

And a receipt of a guinea from the Reverent Mr Lloyd.

1749

March 19
A buttock of Beef

7
7

A Gallon of Rum

8
6

2 pound of Sugar

1
6

Oranges and Lemmons

8

A half-peck Loaf

10
1749

John Grailin The Oversear of the Poar of Stabelfoot Tauney

March 31
Paid for my Instrucksions (this is an annual charge)

4

0

Paid to Mr. King

2
6

Paid for baco and pipes, buter and greens

2

6
April 2
A weaks pay for the Poare

5
6

Bought 2 shifts for prity Jane

5
0

Bought a pair of Stockins

1
2
May 22
Paid for Nusing of William Drache of the Small Pox

4

2

0
Novbr. 15
Paid for the things at Vestry Rum and Leamons

4

10
1750

February 6
Paid fro Janey Pretty a near pen (? New apron) and clogs

6

6
1759
Paid Felstead for nealing (heating) the oven

1

6
1760

August ye 1
For a Coffen and Shroud for Mary Baker

12

3

Ditto for Bear and Bread and Cheas

4

0

Ditto for Payen ye feas and oth

4
4
1762

Nov. 7
Paid Mrs. Furlong for laing the widow Cumberford

5

0
1763

June 25
Paid for a Cooffin

2
0
1764

Bought James Cumd. A hat

1
4

Shurts

5
0

A paer of britehes

2
0

A paer of Stockons

1
0
1764

Aug. ye 18
For Cloose for Threaders Daughter

For a Coate

5
0

A paer of Stays

3
3

For Aprons

2
0

For a Coate

2
3

For a Stomicheher

1
0
1765

Paid Mr.Palmer for a new Comongate and Postes

1

16

4
1766

Paid for the widow Sitchs affidavi

1
0
July 11
Paid towards the Goal
9
13
4
1775

June 4
Gave Dame Crab for Nusen of Edwd Boreham wife ye Smolpox

6

0
June 11
A weaks pay

11
6

Gave Black Jack

5
0
1776

For a cart and hors carrin May Pain to Walthoms and home to Latten with a Norder

17

0
1776

Thomas Glasscock overseer for the Parish of Stapleford Tawney. Disbustments

April 19
Bought a paier of Shows for Harsnetts Gil at Mrs. Woods

3

0

Gave Wider Hills for Nussin Mary Stils

5

0

Gave the Wider Wood by meenes of her complaing to me for more weekly collection

2

6
September 6
To a Jorney attending at Epping Place.

2

6
1778

Aug. 4
Paid for presentments

7
0

Paid for a prayer

2
0

Boarham journey to Rumford

3
6

Several bills for divers years for repairs to Tawney Church house.

1784

Mr Glasscock was paid for highway work

1785
Paid for a Spinning Wheel for the widow Burrell

3

6
1788

To a Bill for taking, keeping and carrying away John Ferrant to Haverhill in Suffolk the sum of

9

0

0

Paid for a Buttock of Beef for the Vestry

11

8

Relieved four Widers with their families with passes.

2

0
1789

For ye Affad a vey for Nightingale wife

1

6

For Laeig of hur Ought

1
0

Pade for Nusen
1
8
0

The book ends with the year’s accounts for 1794. Boarham, Threader, Nightingale, Crabb, Freshwater are names frequently mentioned, and although variously spelt by different overseers during the period covered by these accounts, are still well known in this and adjoining parishes at the present time.

C.B. Sworder, Epping.