Genealogy Chat

how would that translate these days?

If the date is pre 1834 yes probably as the Vestry ran the poor relief (a pole away from dole though). The Vestry was more properly known as the parochial Church Council but as it normally metin the vestry ..... Clive

According to a friend their ancestor is shown as a 'carrier on vestry' the nearest I could come to a comparison would possibly be 'delivery person on the dole'. Could 'on vestry' be the same as being on the parish?? Any suggestions welcome Dee

Hi Clive I have done quite a bit about Poor Law, that's why the immediate thought was parish releif but Shirley,throws a new light on things, perhaps I was looking for too complex a definition Dee ;-))

Well the Vestry was,and still is , a Road sweeper machine, Have one ancester in 1890.s who was a Vestry sweeper . meaning he went aound the roads operating a street cleaning machine. perhaps your relation was operating something simliar or delivering the machine to other roadsweepers. Shirley

My great grandfather was a roadman vestry on the 1901 census and I was told by a genes member he was responsible for the upkeep of a certain part of the road?. Jenny

on the 1901 census he is shown as Charles Hoy 53 Essex Elmdon Essex Leyton Carter On Vestry sadly I have no credits, would anyone be able to look the entry up for me?? Many thanks Dee x

Name Age Charles Hoy 53 Kate Hoy 21 Leonard Hoy 11 months Myra E Hoy 18 Phoebe Hoy 53 Is this the family? Libby

Hi Libby, looks like them I am wondering what the occupation says on the actual image, if it has been transcribed correctly Dee ;-))

It definately says Carter on Vestry on the image. Libby

Thanks Libby, much appreciated I am now wondering if my first assumption is incorrect, just goes to show I guess that we can never be sure of things. Shirley and Jenny have made me stop and think Dee xx btw in 1881 he had been a general labourer, so that doesn't really help

Yes well .....Under the Metropolis Management Act, in force from 1856, parishes with more than 2,000 ratepayers were divided into wards. (fn. 71) Islington was divided into eight: Upper Holloway (with 9 vestrymen), Lower Holloway (12), Highbury (15), Thornhill (18), Barnsbury(18), St. Mary's(15), Canonbury (15), St. Peter's(18). (fn. 72) The Parish was one of six electing two members to the Metropolitan Board of Works (M.B.W.) and was among those which took over some sewers of the Metropolitan Commissioners, while main sewers passed to the M.B.W. (fn. 73) The vicar ceased to chair the vestry except at Easter, for ecclesiastical matters, and until 1887 a chairman was elected at each meeting. Thereafter the new vicar, W.H. Barlow, regularly presided at metropolitan vestry meetings, being chosen annually even after the incumbent's right to preside had been abolished under the Local Government Act, 1894. (fn. 74) The parish had an additional member on the M.B.W. from 1885. (fn. 75) In 1896-7 the wards were increased to eleven and the 120 vestrymen were redistributed. (fn. 76) By the time vestry government ended, committees existed for most functions: baths and washhouses; cemetery; electric lighting; excise; finance; parliamentary and general purposes; public health; valuation; works. I think the 'vestry government' ended in1932. There was an inquiry into wages paid to vestry employees in 1895 (typically they were under paying!). Most of these employees 'were old men used as road sweepers'. Clive

btw - that was interesting Clive, I have certainly learnt something today Thank you everyone for your help and interest Dee xx

I put 'carter on vestry' into my search engine and have found someone who has researched the Hoy family back to 1600's!!!

Well done Dee I would jump up and down for you if it wasn't for my knee lol. Jenny

TY Jenny, my friend is jumping around, as you can imagine. I must admit, we never imagined we would find out so much. It is an Australian site, so he may have a link at last. If only my own searches had been so easy Dee xx