St. John The Baptist Church in the 1700's

The 18th Century

Again details of some of the work carried out in this century can be found in the churchwardens accounts which cover almost the first half of the century up to 1740. In 1708 these items occur:

It. Pd. for White-liming of ye Church ..................... £ 1 2s. Od.
It, Pd. Edward Meader & John Ash for building the
seats ............................................................... £ 5 lOs. 6d.
It. Pd, for 60deal boards to Mrs. Seaward ............ 4 lOs. Od.

It appears from the 1711 account that about £14 worth of leadwork was carried out on the roof and roof of the tower, and in 1712 over £28 was paid to Richard Ham, a plumber, for recasting and relaying lead on the roof. He was paid a further
£14 for similar work in 1715, and £19 in 1719.

The parish chest (See below - click to expand) which stands in the north aisle was made in 1716, and it bears this date and the names of the churchwardens Lawrence Harris and Robert Spear. The names are carved in the wood, and many of the letters are back to front. In the account for this year there is this item: "It. George Smethe for ye Coffer ............... 12s. Od."

The Parish Chest

This chest has three locks, numbered 1, 11 and 111, and long bolts incorporated in the back presumably for fixing to a wall. Separate keys were held by the Vicar and each church warden so that the chest could be opened only in the presence of all three.

The old church clock (See below - click to enlarge) now in the County Museum at Dorchester, was made in 1719 by Lawrence Boyce, a Puddletown blacksmith, and it bears this inscription on the frame: ROBERT FRAMPTON AND JOSHUA GOLLOP, CHURCHWARDENS ANNO DOMINI 1719 LAWRENCE BOYCE PIDDLETOWN FECIT 1719. By referring to the account for this year we find: "Pd. Mr. Boys for the Clock ............ £14 Os. Od.".

The Old Church Clock

This was a very large sum indeed in the 18th century, and in addition Mr. Boyce was paid five shillings each year when he came to clean and service the clock, at least until 1740 when the accounts end. This clock continued in use until 1878 when the present one was installed, but an earlier clock existed before 1719 as there are items in the accounts regarding it as far back as 1608.

There seems to have been further gale damage in 1734:

Paid Benj. Moors for Glasing and Cleaning of the North
side of the Church windows just after the great storm £ 1 Os. Od.
Paid Porters Bill for work about the Monument & the
Tower and Cleaning all the Body of the Church and
Walling up the east end of the Church and for plaistering
of it also and for Hair for all the work .................. £ 2 is. 9d.
In 1738 more repair work was done:
Pd. James Burges for 600 paving brick for ye Church Porch ...... £ 0 12s. Od.
Pd. for 120 bushels of Lime for the Church ............ £ 2 Os. Od.
for the Carriage of 2 load of Lime ........................ £ 1 Os. Od.
Paid Henry Porter and His son their bill for plaistering the Church .... £ 4 16s. lOd.
Pd. Henry Porter for 10 bushels of white hair ......... £ 0 15s. Od.
Paid Hen. Porters wife for helping to clean the Church
and for use of his poles for Scafling .................. £ 0 2s. 6d.
Paid Benjamin Moores for helping Hen. Porter 8 days £ 0 8s. Od.
Paid Benjamin Moores for Cleaning & Oyling the Apostles ....... £ 0 4s. Od.

There are further items bringing the total on this occasion to over £20.

The vestry table which is still in use, was made by the Rev. Henry Fisher, vicar from 1725 until his death in 1773 aged 90. It is reputed to have been made from a yew treewhich grew in the churchyard, and as it is unlikely to have been made in Mr. Fisher's later years it probably dates from between 1725 and 1750. It bears the gilt painted inscription HFV Dedit Dedicat q.

Some rebuilding work to the south aisle would appear to have been carried out in 1760, as a stone on the east end bears that date and the initials MS.