“Surrey County Council – Records and Monuments Committee 1928”

Inventory of St Lawrence Church Records

1.              ECCLESIASTICAL

 Register.

1654-1730 (Baptisms) : 1654-1729 (Marriages) : 1654-1730 (Burials).

1730-1770 (Baptisms) ; 1732-1753 (Marriages) ; 1730-1770 (Burials).

1770-1812 (Baptisms) : 1770-1812 (Burials).

1754-83 (Marriages).

1784-1812 (Marriages).

Other Records.

The following are kept in boxes in the Church Tower.

Forty-three Poor Rate Books, 1850-90

Fourteen Receipt and Payment Books or other Overseers Account Books, 1870-90

­Seven Highway Rate Books, 1879-85.

The following are kept in the Parish Chest.

Five Poor Rate Books, 1775-1835 (continuous)

Poor Rate Books, 1839-49, with one for 1863

Seven Overseers Account Books, 1769-1836 (continuous)

One Receipt and Payment Book, 1836-47

Churchwardens Accounts, 1633-1707 (see note)

Three Church Rate Books, 1732-35, 1756-1832

Six Highway Rate Books, 1812-48

Ten Highway Account Books, 1836-48

Smith's Charity Accounts, 1691-99 (on loose sheets), 1791-1835 (in two volumes)

Two books with population statistics, 'Chobham population,' 1811, 1831

A copy, dated 1786, of 'An old Perambulation (of Chobham) in anno domini, 1595

A ' Survey of the Parish of Chobham,' 1834

A Deed concerning Smith's Charity and Eastbrook Farm, 1642 (with seals)

Five Deeds concerning a property in Chobham called ' Freebarne,' 1613, 1622 (?), 1616, 1624, 1629, 1629

A Vestry Order as to cutting peat, 1739

Contracts for the farm of the workhouse, 1737, 1739, 1825-34

Several bundles of Apprentices' Indentures

Orders for Removal, Settlement Papers, Indemnity Bonds, mid­17th century to 19th century

Various papers concerning the parish, viz.: Legal opinions concerning ' Chobham Poors Land,' 1851, 1865,

A Survey of 'Mr. Bertie's estate,' 1836

Large quan­tities of bills, receipts, printed notices, drainage and other plans, printed Orders, Quarterly Returns, old Acts, all 19th century.

The Churchwardens Accounts, 1633-1707, are on large unbound sheets; they seem to be practically continuous for that period.

There are also two sheets giving a Rate Collection in 1632 and a Special Rate in 1636-37 for the ' Opetale ' and the 'Maimed men.'

The 17th-18th century bundles have been sorted and arranged in dates to a large extent.

2.              CIVIL.

Records are kept at the house of the Clerk to the Council.

Parish Council.

Parish Council and Parish Meeting Minute Books, Receipt and Payment Books, 1894 to date.

Overseers.

Rate Books, 1868 to date

Receipt and Payment Books, 1894 to date

Valuation Lists, 1867, and later.

Vestry.

Vestry Minute Book, 1836-94.

Miscellaneous.

Tithe Map, 1843

Enclosure Map and Award, 1842

Map of the parish, with reference book, 1864-65

Land Account Book of parish farm, 1840

Numerous deeds and agreements concerning parish property, 19th century.

Nearly all these records are now in the Surrey History Centre in Woking.