Jany 27th 1882 The Annual Vestry meeting of St. Silas' Church English Harbor, of which due notice was given by the Minister during Divine Service on the previous Sunday was held at seven oclock pm on Friday January Twenty seventh A.D. 1882 in the Church of England School House at English Harbor. With the hearty permission of the Minister, the women of the congregation were admitted as visitors but not permitted to speak or vote. We are glad to note that a large number of ladies attended. Meeting opened with prayer. Rev Walter R: Smith Presiding Present Mr Facey Lay Reader Mr Jacob Penny Church Warden Mr Wm Penny Deputy Warden Wm Bestone (Mark), John Wells Penny, Reuben Penny (Saml), [no forename given, or else the "Saml" above belongs here] Bestone (Mark), Wm Penny (John [looks like "Sen"]), Joseph Bestone (Wm), George Well (Jas), Peter Penny (Wm [looks like "Sr"]), Joseph Penny (Jn of Jno), Wm Bestone (Wm), John Bestone (Joseph), Mark Penny (Jno of Jno), George Ford (George), Charles Penny (Saml), Arthur Penny (John of John), John Bestone (Mark), Henry George Bestone (Jno of Mark), Archibald Bestone (Joseph), Albert Penny (John), Wm Bestone (Joseph), Joseph Ivamy (Wm), James Penny (Catharine), Richard Penny Senr, John Wells (Mark), William Penny (Senr), Solomon Penny, Wm Bestone (John), Joseph Penny (Jas of Richd), ["Isral" or "Isaac"] Penny (Saml of Wm), Alexander Penny (Joseph), John Bestone (James), Richard Penny (Jno), Francis Penny (John), Wm Penny (Saml), Thomas Wells (Mark), James Ford (George), Wm Ivamy (Wm), Robert Penny (Kate), Samuel [looks like "R Wells"] (Jas), Robert Ivamy (Wm), Robert Wells, Mark Penny (John of John), George Penny (Richd), John Penny (John Sr), Samuel Penny Sr, Wm Penny (Jas of Wm), Joseph Penny (Sexton) 50 in all. Church Wardens accounts read shewing in oil for light-account a balance in hand of one shilling and one penny. in general account 1/9 to which add a gain of 3/- on fish contributions sold and 3/6 now paid by the minister as remainder of amount due by him for his share of payment for 2 iron rods for the Church s d Total general account 1 1 Balance Oil account 8 3 Grand Total: 9 4 Proposed by Joseph Penny Sexton Seconded by John Bestone (Mark) and carried unanimously That the Church Wardens accounts as now read be adopted. The Almighty having taken to Himself on New Year's Day the soul of our beloved brother Mr Mark Bestone the Peoples Warden it was proposed by the Minister and seconded by Mr William Penny Senr and carried unanimously and with the greatest sincerity. That the heartiest sympathy of the Vestry is hereby given to the widow and friends of our late warden in their afflication and this vestry hereby expresses its high appreciation of the Christian conduct at all times of Mr Mark Bestone & of the exemplary manner in which he performed his duty while warden of this Church. Proposed by John Bestone (Mark) Seconded by Archibald Bestone and carried unanimously That the Deputy Church Warden Mr William Penny (Robt) be Peoples Warden for the next two years. The account of days labour given to the Church Tower during the past year was read by the Minister and approved. The list of subscribers towards the Sexton's pay was read when only 49 persons were found to have paid & therefore only 24/6 was received by the Sexton as his yearly stipend instead of 30/- as agreed upon when he took office. The Sexton agreed to continue in office for another year on condition that the congregation made up his stipend. The minister earnestly exhorted the vestry to do this. Mr Archibald Bestone volunteered and was appointed to collect this year the Sexton's salary. The Clergyman then read the list of those members of the congregation who hauled firewood gratis for the Lay Reader last winter. names as follows each hauled one slide load [several blank lines follow] Thirteen slide loads in all. The Minister remarked that it was very creditable to those who had thus exerted themselves for the benefit of the Lay Reader and that it was the duty of all men in the congregation to do their part in this matter & not to leave it to a few. Proposed by John Bestone Mark Seconded by Joseph Bestone That on a certain day to be chosen by them during this winter each of the Church Warden's take charge of a crew and summon as many men of the congregation as they can get to go into the woods and haul firewood and procure some Rails & Posts for fencing for Mr Facey. Carried unanimously. The Minister then read the account of the peoples' offerings the past year towards the support of the Clergyman and payment of the Lay Reader Total Collection for Minister 19 1 8 [a pound sign preceeds the 19] Payment of Reader 6 0 0 Grant Total 25 1 8 [a pound sign preceeds the 25] This amount was adopted by the meeting. Proposed by William Bestone (Mark) Seconded by William Penny Senr That the Collection for the Clergyman and payment of the Lay Reader by made this year in the same manner as last year. Carried nemine contradicente. Some discussion then arose in reference to the allotment of pews in the space now made vacant by the removal further west of the Font platform & by alteration in reference to the entrance o the West Gallery. The following names were given in as of persons desirous of obtaining these seats: James Penny (James ["James" is overwritten in pencil with "Catharine" and "Wm"]), Wm Penny (John), Arthur Penny (Jno of Jno), Joseph Ivamy, Samuel Wells, Isaac Penny, William Bestone (Joseph), and Henry George Bestone (John of Mark). Eight in all. It seemed to be the opinion of all present tht those members of the congregation who have no seats and who had been working about [looks like "or paying"] to the Church all the time that the enlargements & alterations & repair of the building has of late years been going on had the best right to the seats and to take first choice of the same. But the hour being late, and information as to who these were, which could only be obtained by reference to the Church building account for several years past not being at hand Decision on the matter was deferred until another meeting of the vestry which if necessary could be specially summoned for that purpose. It was agreed unanimously that James Penny s of late Wm take the first choice of these seats. The meeting then closed by singing the Evening Hymn & with prayer said and the Blessing pronounced by the Chairman. Walter R: Smith Assistant Minister Trinity East Chairman