34. Township Account Books

The township account books provide a record of the life of the village from 1729. There are one or two short breaks and also periods as from the years 1810-1816 when the accounts were kept monthly with little detail.

The accounts deal with all sides of the township business. Most of the items are not classified under headings but are entered according to date. There are however, several summaries, as for example the money spent in a year on monthly pay.

The Sutton custom seems to have been, that the holding of certain lands carried with it the obligation of taking for a year the combined office of overseer and constable. He following are typical entries - "Disburst by John Smith, Oversee and Constable, for his own land, for the township of Sutton for the year 1775. Disburst by Benj. Smith for his own land Constable and Overseer for the township of Sutton, From May 1st 1778 - May 1st 1779". From May 1st 1774 - May 1775 William Spencer of Silsden held the office for lands which he had at Sutton.

There are several entries to show that the person who really should have served passed on the responsibility to someone else, perhaps paying them for this work. For example from May 1st 1782-3 Joseph Cowgill was Constable and Overseer of the township of Sutton "for Mrs Midleys estate". Another entry is "Disburst as Constable and Overseer by Robert Clough for Mr Joan Heaton for Brow Land between May 1st 1783 and May 1st 1784".

Sometimes the Overseer himself kept the account, sometimes he got assistance. Thus in the year 1744 Abram Wheelwright held the office. The year's accounts are written in an excellent hand. The signature at the end is different, not being nearly so good.

In 1776 perhaps owing to difficulty in getting a man to serve, the position was reviewed, the record of the meeting states that "At a meeting held this 26th day of August at James Hewitts in Sutton, according to notice being given respecting different business in regard to the township of Sutton, it is hereby agreed by the parties hereunder subscribed that John Craven be paid, and agreed with to server as overseer and constable for the township of Sutton for the year ensuing, and to be paid his salary out of the assessments for the poor, which is, he agreed to server for £2.2.0. That every person which is paid by the month (poor relief) be paid on the first Monday in each month, when a meeting will be held by the principal inhabitants to regulate and settle any difficult thing which may happen, each person attending the above meeting to bear his own expenses. The attending officer to go free in regard to paying his shott at the monthly meeting". This resolution is signed by the principal inhabitants - John Horsfall, William Dixon, Robt Heaton, John Smith, Robert Clough, Rowd. Smith, John Spencer, John Dison, Wm Tempest (his mark). These men evidently took an active interest in the affairs of their village, and even after appointing a salaried official kept their sense of responsibility. They met every month when the poor relief was given, to supervise and advise.

John Smith and John Spencer had previously acted. The latter served again for two consecutive years from May 1st 1779 - May 1st 1781 and again from 1790-91.

The duties of the office were varied, the chief ones were the relief of the poor, collecting the taxes, the keeping of general law and order in the village, also the task of finding soldiers from among the people, and the repairing of roads and bridges.

By the year 1842 the two offices had been separated. In a record of a township meeting for October 1842 it was moved and seconded that a constable be appointed with a salary of £5 a year. There were also three unpaid constables appointed, to help him with his duties.

In the year 1849 the old difficulty of finding men to serve had gone. Instead there was a competition for the office of Constable at a salary of £10 and also for the office of overseer. A poll was held for both places. The poll for Constable was held at Mr John Jacksons, Black Bull Inn on Friday March 2nd and closed the day following at "one o'clock PM".

Evidently as a rule, the township business was carried on by a few prominent men. But in case of special difficulty the villages still had the right to elect their own officials.