churchwardens (except in London) have no right to, or interest in, the freehold and inheritance of the church, which alone belongs to the parson or incumbent. If they waste the goods of the church the new churchwardens may have action against them, or call them to account; though the parishioners have not an action against them for wasting the goods of the church, for they must make the new churchwardens prosecute the former. They have certain special property in the organ, bells, parish books, bible, chalice, surplice, &c. belonging to the church, of which they have the custody on behalf of the parish, whose property they really are; for the taking away or any damage done to any of these, the churchwardens may bring an action at law and they have also the custody of all the records, title deeds, books, papers, &c. belonging to the parish.

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OF THE OVERSEERS.

THE Overseers are public officers created by the Stat. 43 Elizabeth, cap. ii, to provide for the poor of every parish; and every parish has accordingly one, sometimes two, three, or four, according to its extent. Churchwardens by this statute are called overseers of the poor, and join with the overseers in making poor's rate, &c. But the churchwardens have a distinct business of their own, and usually leave the care of the poor to the overseers only; though antiently they were the sole overseers of the poor.

OF THE VESTRY CLERK.

THE Vestry clerk is chosen every year, whose duty it is to attend at the parish meetings, to draw up and copy all orders and other acts of the vestry, and to give out copies thereof when necessary, for which purpose he has the custody of all books and papers relating thereto.

OF THE SEXTON.

A SEXTON is regarded by the common law as a person who has a freehold in his office, and therefore though he may be punished, yet he cannot be deprived by ecclesiastical censures.

OF THE ALECONNERS.

THE office of aleconner is of very antient date, and of greater consequence than generally considered. It is the custom in most manors for the lord to appoint the aleconners at the Court Leet; but there not having been a Court Leet for some years held for the manor of Tottenham, these officers have been regularly appointed by the parishioners in vestry. The aleconners are authorised to search for, destroy, seize, and take away all unwholesome provisions, false balances, short weights and measures; to enter mills and bakehouses to search for and seize (if any should be found) all adulterated flour and bread; and also to enter into brewhouses and examine the

quality of beer, ale, &c. and the materials of which it is made. All persons coming into the parish with carts or otherwise, with peas, potatoes, &c. from the neighbourhood of London, are subject to the inspection of these officers, and liable to all the penalties attatched to the selling with short weights and

measures.

OF THE MASTER AND MISTRESs of the workhouse.

THE poor in the workhouse are governed by a master and mistress, who are appointed by the parishioners, under the superintendance of a committee of guardians, consisting of twenty-four, appointed by the parishioners in vestry, together with the churchwardens and overseers. The number of poor in the house fluctuates, as does the number of weekly and monthly pensioners.

OF THE SURGEON AND APOTHECARY.

THE surgeon and apothecary is appointed by the parishioners in vestry assembled, and receives a salary of £63 per annum, for which he attends the poor in and out of the workhouse, and such paupers resident in the parish as the churchwardens and overseers from time to time order; and is allowed £3 3s. in all midwifery cases.-Vestry Min. Book, 24th of April, 1810.

All the before-mentioned parish officers are appointed by the parishioners in vestry assembled annually at Easter.

OF THE WASTE LAND AND HERBAGE.

The several Inclosures of Pieces of the Waste since the Year 1711– Sir William Curtis's Projèt in 1808-the Inclosures made since the Projet-the Sums of Money paid in lieu of the Annual Rents--and the Rents payable to the Parish for Herbage.

In 1711, February 25, the lord of the manor (252) granted licence by Francis Mills (253), Gent. (his guardian) to take in part of the common from the slow to the corner of the house, late in the occupation of John Bonner, then in the possession of William Bull, and then the estate of Ephraim Beauchamp, being and lying at Smith's Cross, which was agreed to by the vestry, in consideration that the said Ephraim Beauchamp did amend the said slow from time to time for cattle to pass from common to common.

In 1734, October 6, the vestry consented that the Right Honourable Henry Lord Coleraine should take in part of the lane on the west side of the barn leading to the church, about seven or eight yards wide his lordship in lieu thereof to make a new road west of the old one, and that as firm and substantial as the old one, both for carriages and foot path.

In 1769, December 18, the Lammas pasturage was granted of a piece of land, adjacent to a garden in the occupation of Edward Wyburd, to James Townsend, Esq. to be enclosed in the said garden, containing thirty-seven square poles, he and his heirs paying annually 3s. for the benefit of the poor of the parish for ever. (Vestry Minute Book C, page 96.)

In 1770, December 30, Isaac Ardesoif had leave

(252) Henry, third Lord Coleraine.

(253) Vestry Minute Book A, No. I, page 158.

to enclose a piece of waste before his house, containing by estimation about one rood, the same to be fenced with posts and chains and a swinging bar, he paying annually for the benefit of the poor the sum of £1 1s.-(Vestry Minute Book C, page 116.)

In 1771, April 1, the vestry ordered that John Appleby give notice to Mr. Snell of Edmonton, that in case he would not pay to the parish an annual acknowledgment for the waste ground which he had enclosed before his house, that the parishioners would pull down the brick wall enclosing the same, and lay it waste as theretofore.-(Vestry Minute Book C, page 121.) £. S. d.

In 1772, June 16, the vestry ordered that a piece of the waste facing the house of the late Mr. Thomas Morris on Chapman's Green, be enclosed by Mr. Thomas Harding, containing by estimation, from north to south, sixty-five feet, and from east to west 110 feet, on condition that he and his heirs pay to the churchwardens for the time being for sixty-one years, and Mr. Harding to pay the costs of the leases, &c. —(Vestry Minute Book C, p. 163.) ........ 0 4 0 In 1773, July 22, Thomas Powell, Esq. had leave to enclose a piece of waste before his house, containing by estimation from north to south 200 feet, and from east to west thirty feet, on paying annually......

N. B. This has since been purchased. In 1773, August 23, the vestry ordered that a piece of Lammas pasturage on the west side of Marsh Lane, called Mill Mea

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