1571/2 March 6 Thursday: John Russell, a scrivener, chosen to be the clerk to the Vestry. His obligations will be 'to copy and to write fair in our own books all such things as is necessary and meet to be done from time to time as occasion shall serve'. For his pains 'he shall have for his year stipend for writing the same 26s.8d, to be paid quarterly'. On the same day the vestry determined that the churchwardens shall pay, out of their own funds, for 'the making of two fair books in vellum of the corporation', one to be 'of the church, and the other for the school'.

    1572 December 8 Monday: John Russell, clerk to the vestry, 'for and in consideration of his pains taken for writing and keeping of our books', shall have, in addition to his wages, 'the sum of 10s'.

    1581/2 March 12 Monday: John Russell, clerk to the vestry, signed his name in a florid hand at the end of the first volume of Vestry Minutes, apparently to signal the formal conclusion to the volume. By this point Russell, a scrivener, had been clerk of the vestry for ten years.

From Vestry Minute Book P92/SAV/450, 1582-1628:

    1586 April 18 Monday: On this date the vestry determined that 'John Russell our clerk' is to have 3s.4d 'forthwith', and 'at Midsummer next 3s 4d and so from thenceforth quarterly 3s 4d added to his 40s which maketh up five marks a year'. [Not quite. A mark in this period was equivalent to 13s.4d, so five marks would be 66s.8d. Russell's new 3s.4d quarterly comes to 13s.4d, which when added to 40s rises only to 53s.4d. A fifth payment of 3s.4d would have brought the total to the announced 66s.8d, so perhaps 'forthwith' meant an immediate payment in addition to the four quarterly payments, in which case the 'five marks a year' held only for this first year.]

    1593 November 24 Saturday: Francis Yomans was 'admitted clerk of the house in place of John Russell deceased'. Russell had been clerk to the vestry for over two decades.

    1597 May: 19 Thursday: On this date 'Richard Johnson was chosen to be clerk to the vestry and to have the fee thereunto belonging'.

    1607/8 March 2 Wednesday: 'James Reade was this day chosen clerk for the vestry during his good behavior'. [A curious locution, suggesting that Reade had issues]

    1621/2 February 12 Tuesday: It was determined that 'the vestry clerk [James Reade] shall set down in writing from old Oliver's mouth his remembrance about the land near the Park Gate sometime belonging to the Lord Ferris his house'.

    1623 August 11 Monday: On this date 'William Page was chosen clerk of the vestry in the place of James Reade', with the proviso that Page is 'not to hold the place any longer than he shall well and honestly, discreetly and soberly carry himself in the exercise of the said place to the liking of all or the most part of the Vestry'. [As with Read above, a curious locution, suggesting that Page also presented concerns]. Additionally, on this date the vestry provided that 'the widow of James Reade shall have the wages till Michaelmas day'. ['the wages' suggests that Page would not be paid until after Michaelmas]

    1625 October 7 Friday: On this date 'Edward Collins and Richard Paxton were in choice for clerk of the Vestry, and Edward Collins was chosen'.

    1625/6 February 23 Thursday: On this date it was ordered 'that the clerk or remembrancer of this house [currently Edward Collins] shall always forever hereafter yearly every year, have bonds ready made, to be the same day sealed by the churchwardens for performance of their offices and their accounts, upon pain of 12d'.

    1627 December 31 Monday: On this date the vestry ordered that among New Year's gifts bestowed by the churchwardens, they should 'give unto Mr Rice the parish clerk for his New Year's gift 40s, and also the like New Year's gift unto Edward Collins clerk of this vestry, to be paid when the vestry book of orders shall be made perfect'.