Creech St. Michael - Extracts from Church Warden's Accounts

Payments made by the Churchwarden reflect the essentially ecclesiastical duties of the office of churchwarden: the upkeep of the fabric of the church and the provision of necessary equipment for the conduct of the services in church.

The heads of animals such as hedgehogs (sometimes called urchins), sparrows and polecats were paid for as they were seen as vermin. Hedgehogs supposedly drank from the udders of resting cows!

Taken from 'Our Village – A study of Creech St. Michael' 1970.

 

EXTRACTS FROM CHURCH WARDEN'S ACCOUNTS

1663	Money paid to hospital for maimed soldiers in Taunton
1664	Gave to the ringers for the Coronation Day Gave to the ringers yet 29th May, the day of His Majesty's restoration (Charles II) (Oak Apple Day)	5s. 0d.
1675	Paid, by ye consent, of Mr. Gale his house being thrown down by a deluge of water	1s. 6d.
1684	Paid.... Chappell for killing a pol cat	4d.
1686	Paid Henry Stone for keeping the clock, ringing the King's Knell and keeping register	?
1688	Paid John Chappel's boy for killing 3 hedgehogs	6d.
1689	My expenses ye day of thanksgiving for …. of Their Majesties delivering this nation from popery and slavery (Accession of William and Mary)	2s. 6.
1691	Visit to glazier at Ilminster to repair windows by George Dibble Churchwarden. Beer for ye ringers when tidings came of a great fight at sea and we gave victory over the French For mending ye lock of the Tower Door, a key for door, two pennyworth of nails	2s. 6d. ?
1826	There had been great works in church. Bills of Hannah Tarr cleans church after repairing, she get for cleaning each ½ year	£12, £4, £5, £6 13s. 0d.
1828	5 bells rope	£2 2s 3d.
1831	3 new locks for church coffer	3s. 5d.
1832	Paid Mr. Kingsbury for 2 prayers Paid for a Base Vile Bow Paid for repairing lead and glazing A days work for men mowing yard For painting yard gates 49 doz. of sparrows @ 2d. per doz. Repairing clock	5s. 0d. 8s. 0d. 12s. 8d. 1s. 6d. 1s. 8d. 8s. 2d. 12s. 0d.
1833	For five bell ropes 73 doz. sparrows heads Repairing windows and leads Repairing clock	£1 13s. 9d. 12s. 2d. 15s. 1d. 14s. 0d.
1836	Clerks bill Repairing clock 148 ½ doz. sparrows heads Glazing bill	£5 13s. 6d. 12s. 0d. £1 4s. 6d. 15s. 1½d.

If my calculations are correct, within a four year period (1832-1836) 3,246 sparrows were killed and paid for!

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