Some of the private registers kept by clerks are still preserved. There
is one at Pattishall which contains entries of births, marriages, and
burials, and was probably commenced in 1774, that date being on the
front page together with the inscription: "John Clark's Register Book."
The writing is of a good round-hand character, and far superior to the
caligraphy of many present-day clerks. The book is bound in vellum[63].
The following entry, taken from the end of the volume, is worth
recording:
"London, March 31th
"Yesterday the Rev'd Mr Hetherington ... transferred. 20,000
L. South-Sea Annuities into the Names of S'r Henry Banks
Kn't. Thos Burfoot, Joseph Eyre, Thos Coventry, and Samuel
Salt. Esqu'rs in Trust to pay always to 50 Blind people,
Objects of, Charity, not being Beggars, nor receiving, Alms
from the Parish, 10 L. each for their lives, it may be said
with great propriety of this truly benevolent Gentleman that
'he hath displeased abroad, and given to the poor and is
Righteousness remaineth for ever; his Horn shall exalted with
Honour.'"
[Footnote 63: By the information of the Rev. B.W. Blyn-Stoyle, who has
most kindly assisted me in many ways in discovering quaint records of
old clerks.]
Amongst the register books of Wednesbury there is a volume bound in
parchment bearing this inscription:
"This Book seems to be the private register of Alexander
Bunn, Parish Clerk, because it corresponds with another
bearing the same dates; the private accounts written in this
book by the said A.
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