Vestry minutes - not to be neglected

Vestry minutes of the Established Church of Ireland can be a laboriuos read but often produce nuggets of detail that cannot be found anywhere else. 

Christchurch,  in the parish of Drumachose (Limavady) vestry minutes begin in 1727. 

PRONI MIC583/36 Drumachose Vestry minutes 1729-1739. A few snippets. 

The first vestry was dated April ye 7th 1729 but difficult to read because of the poor microfilm image.

The Vestry of the 1st day Oct 1729 listed the minister as  Benj Bacon, rector. He was a local man the family had its origins in Magilligan parish. His select vestrymen were Jas Dobbin, Thos Caldwell, Walter Williamson and Wm Birkmyr. 

The vestry minutes of May 30th 1732 recorded that '40sh shall be applotted on the parish to be paid to Jn Donaghy for finding the mother of Wm Streeve a foundling child. That 2sh 6d be pd John for taking of mother & child to Derry } £2, 6'. 

Note - it seems likely that the child was named after the townland where he was discovered namely Streeve, Drumachose. This was not uncommon, for foundling children, I recall one child being named Thomas Road, having been found by the roadside. 

At a vestry Court 27 April 1736 James Baird was paid 3sh 6d to acquire handcuffs. No reason was given but it is possible he was a bailiff or the gaoler in the town.

VM 10 May 1737 - William Porter was alloted 10 shillings for taking in two orphans from Carran townland. 

On the 24 Ap 1739 the schoolmaster Morgan Thompson was paid £2 and Bryan McSherry was alloted £1 for his infants. Four pounds was set aside for the building a 'stone wall abt ye Church'. 

Vestry minutes provide a useful insight into the social and economic life of a parish. They also provide details of local names useful for family historians. 

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