Catalogue description Set of receipted bills and vouchers relating to work done at the Church, the Workhouse, and on Charity properties by various tradesmen, mainly by order of the Churchwardens, but also for the Overseers and Charity Trustees.

The whole series is now bound or parcelled as follows:

P64/5/1 Bills nos. 1 - 156 1791, 1811 - 1829

P64/5/2 Bills nos. 157 - 319 1829 - 1839

P64/5/3 Bills nos. 320 - 482 1839 - 1845

P64/5/4 Bills nos. 483 - 607 1846 - 1850

Items of particular interest in the above are as follows, the individual bill being identified by the number given in brackets:

1791 Repair of cage (1)

1817 Repairs to fire engines and fire hook (17, 18)

Lease of Town Estate to Thomas Hall (22)

1822 Iron Church chest (86)

1823-4 Work at church by Nicholas and Joseph Brown, builders, for £12 (90), and by John Revitt, stonemason, for £31 3s. 8d. (107)

1826 New Trust deed for Dame Burgoyne's Charity etc. (130)

1827 Legal bill for settlement case. John Reed from Hertford (All Saints) to Potton, and William Reed. (135)

Writing and gilding inscription on organ and on front of the gallery (134)

New belfry windows and stonemason's work in the Church for £48 7s. 11½d. (141)

1828 Solicitor's bill for removal of John Lester (149)

1831 Tolling bell for the King (177)

1835-6 Thomas Seamer's estimate for making three houses out of the old workhouse, 1835 (239, 240), and for repairs to the building, and bill (261)

1838 Repairs to bell-frame and fittings, by Thomas Seamer, for £18. (279, 292)

n.d. Nicholas Brown's estimate for alterations at the poor-houses (311)

1839 Church rate appeal - lawyer's bill (327)

1840 "Printing 50 bills and distributing for sacrilege committed in the parish Church" (351)

1840+ New organ ? Payments after this date (passim) to W. Felts, J.G. Felts, and Litchfield Green as organists, and for repair and tuning organ etc. [see name index for details]

1842 Churchyard extensions, and glebe etc. (395, 409, 417, 421, 432 and 438)

1844 Recasting of tenor bell, per T.J. Cooper of Potton (457)

1845 Repairs to window tracery by James Smith (480)

1846 Repairs to lead on roof of South aisle (512)

1848 Repairs to Church by William Tear, £32 18s. 6d. (544), and lead and glass work, £90 10s. 6d. (555), and timber £115 0s. 3d. (559)

1850 Repairs to the tower by J.T. Wing, architect and builder, Bedford, of "Wing and Jackson" (601-2), and D. Norman (607)

Most of this work was done by local (Potton) tradesmen, and the following index lists the bills presented by individual shopkeepers and craftsmen etc. Except where otherwise stated, the people listed are presumed to be Potton tradesmen and their occupation has been deduced from the bills and sometimes confirmed by reference to the Commercial Directories of 1839 and 1847. The letter "P" after the bill number denotes that the billhead is printed.

ARMOND, John (molecatcher) 459, 485, 519, 550, 564

BARKER, James (supplied hassocks etc) 57, 119, 140A, 167A, 369, 387

BARTLE, John (landsurveyor) 316, 438

BENNETT, James (victualler, George Inn) 315, 342, 384, 413

BETTS, Matthew (draper) 42, 82, 310

BETTS, Sarah (linen and woollen draper, haberdasher, hatter & hosier, grocer, stationer, dealer in hops etc. 184P, 199P, 204

BIGGLESWADE UNION (matting) 509

BINGHAM, F. (supplied a pail) 238

BIRNSEN, Keeling (ironmonger etc.) 14, 16, 30, 48, 61, 65, 67, 74, 100, 102, 108, 133, 142, 144, 154, 167, 180, 182, 190

BLEWITT, John 171

BOND, Charles (grocer etc.) 347, 381, 407, 427, 529, 551

BOND, R. (hardware) 248, 250

BRITTAIN, Thomas (builder) 408

BROWN, Elizabeth (builder) 463, 511

BROWN, James (bricklayer) 194

BROWN, Joseph (builder) 44, 90, 96

BROWN, Nicholas (bricklayer etc.) 96, 101, 106, 109, 122, 127, 131, 147, 162, 166, 197, 208, 212, 228, 253, 254, 255, 256, 265, 178, 281, 283, 289, 311, 340, 345, 349, 354, 373, 409, 431, 447

BROWN, Samuel (builder/mason) 1, 8, 28, 32, 41, 44, 54, 66, 78, 81, 84, 90, 96, 109

BURNHAM, Alfred (Chemist, druggist and grocer) 571P

BURNHAM, G.W. (hardware) 584, 587

BURNHAM, John (Chemist and druggist etc.) 425P, 446P, 476, 477P, 494P, 549P

CHAMBERS, William (thatcher) 77

CLARK, William (plumber and glazier) 5, 11, 17, 31, 46, 50, 52, 55, 72

COCKING, E. (stonemason) 354

COMPTON, Boston (Parish clerk - cleaning etc.) 388, 479, 506, 513, 540, 563

COMPTON, David (Innkeeper etc., Rose and Crown Inn) 272, 378P, 400P, 419P, 442P, 452P, 469P, 475P [later taken over by H. Powell]

COMPTON, Thomas (Parish clerk) 12, 35, 43, 58, 110, 128, 137, 150, 157, 177, 198, 217, 243, 257, 269, 286, 294, 295, 317, 318, 319, 328

COOK, John (later Thomas) (supplied bellropes) 68, 99, 143, 178, 229, 230, 234, 258, 273

COOPER, Thomas J. (Ironmonger, brazier etc. etc. - successor to T. Hagger) 444P, 457P, 467P, 495P, 532P 556, 579P, 595P

DANGER, Jane and Ann (cleaning and washing surplice etc.) 203, 213, 214, 223, 227, 244, 287a, 296, 297, 298, 299, 303, 304, 305, 306, 325, 326, 359, 360, 361, 364, 393, 414, 416, 420, 436, 454, 455, 456, 460, 478, 481, 482, 484, 486, 500, 508, 510, 518, 521, 535-8, 541, 542, 562, 565, 566, 567, 569, 572, 589-592, 594

DEAR, D (hardware) 382

DEAR, Mary (licencee, Old Queen's Head) 394

DISON, J. (Clockwinder) 280, 353, 379, 410, 426, 445, 473, 498

DODMAN, John (hardware) 606

EDWARDS, John (thatcher - also bellropes) 242, 251, 285, 434, 468, 533, 580, 596

ELLIS, Thomas and Rachel (hardware, sparrows, and victuals - George Inn) 7, 15, 24, 27, 37, 39, 40, 49, 53, 62, 85, 91, 98, 103, 104, 112, 125, 132, 152 (executors of Mrs. Ellis).

EMERY, Samuel (thatcher) 158, 271, 284, 307

EMERY, Thomas (thatcher) 94, 173, 241, 252

FELTS, James Gilbert (organist - also repairs and tuning) 516, 530, 561, 568, 577, 585, 600

FELTS, W. (organist - and repairs) 363, 365, 374, 392, 501

FISHER, James (Plumber and glazier, and victualler, George Inn) 439, 464, 472, 488, 524, 547, 570

FORMAN & LAURENCE (printers and stationers, ? Cambridge) 520, 560P

FRANKLIN, William (publican, New Inn) 105, 117, 136, 155, 165, 300

FRAZER, A. (Printer, bookseller, stationer and paperhanger, General printing office, Potton) 219P, 236P, 282, 312, 313, 321, 351, 355, 368, 397, 405P, (Mary Ann Frazer) 437, 450, 461

GARDNER, W.W. (stationer, bookbinder) 159, 183, 195, 196, 205, 314

GOODGAMES & SHROSBERY (drapers, hatters etc.) 389P

GOODMAN, J. (Constable) 320

GRAVESTOCK, Samuel (publican, New Inn) 356

GREEN, Litchfield (organist) 517, 543

HAGGER, Thomas (Auctioneer, appraiser, cabinet maker, upholsterer, ironmonger, brazier, coppersmith and tinplate worker etc. The business was later take over by T.J. Cooper, q.v.) 20, 80P, 86P. 87, 145, 163, 170P, 174P, 209P, 221P, 232P, 237P, 266P

HALL, John (printer and bookseller, Biggleswade) 88P

HANDSCOMBE, Elizabeth & Son - later (from 126) J & W Handscombe (hardware) 6, 21, 29, 36, 51, 64, 76, 93, 114, 118, 126, 148, 151, 156, 172, 188, 193, 211, 222

HARRIS, John (victualler - Rose and Crown Inn) 33

HATLEY, George (glazier ?) 2

HERBERT, Nathaniel & Vincent (coal merchants - Girtford Wharf) 3, 10P

HOGG, Frederick (coal merchant - Girtford Wharf) 69P, 226P, 357P, 396P

JOHNSON, J.B. (draper) 599

KEELING, Joseph (Innkeeper - Rising Sun) 386

KING, George (Solicitor) 22, 60, 111, 130, 135, 139, 327?.

KITCHIN, George (baker) 216, 287, 366, 398, 422, 448, 462, 487, 558, 581, 605

KITCHIN, William (? brickmaker) 404

L'ANSON, J and C. (bell repairs) 504

LEE, Jeremiah (plumber, glazier, painter) 134, 168, 169, 207, 245

LEE, William (plumber and glazier) 451, 512, 528, 598

LINDSELL, Robert (solicitor) 149

LLOYD & SMITH (solicitors) 417

LOVELIDGE, Thomas (Archdeaconry Official, Bedford) 324, 583

MADDEX, George (ironmonger) 215, 225, 233, 249, 260, 276, 350, 375, 403, 430, 465, 499, 534, 557, 603

MEARS, C & G (bellfounders, London) see T.J. Cooper, 457

MILES, Sarah (Innkeeper - unidentified) 362

MILLER, John (glazier) 9

MILLER, Mary Ann & J.H. (plumber & glazier) 497, 554, 555

MUNNS, George (Innkeeper - Green Man) 435

NORMAN, Daniel (carpenter) 559, 578, 607

OAKDEN, John and Charles (valuers) 395

PAGE, J. (bookseller, Cambridge) 588

PAINE, A (? butcher) 371

PARKER, W. (Innkeeper, Crown Inn, Biggleswade) 301, 309

PARTRIDGE, James (plumber and glazier) 383, 411, 429

PARTRIDGE, Thomas (plumber and glazier) 75, 79, 92, 116, 123, 124, 138, 146, 153, 164, 179, 181, 187, 192, 201, 224, 246, 262, 264, 291, 352, 380

PEPPER, Charles (clockmaker) 531

PERKINS, W (publican - unidentified) 391

PLOUGHMAN, John (Publican - Bull) 308

POWELL, Henry (innkeeper, Rose and Crown, and Veterinary Surgeon) 489P, 496P*, 503, 507P*, 523P, 539P, 545P, 573, 582P [bills marked * are on David Compton's billhead with the name torn off]

PRAYER BOOK & HOMILY SOCIETY 4P

PUBLIC HOUSES:

BIGGLESWADE - Crown Inn. 301, 309

POTTON - Bull. 290, 293, 308, 344, 377, 390, 399, 423, 433, 441, 470, 491, 502, 525, 546

POTTON - Fox & Crown. 418

POTTON - George Inn. 315, 342, 384, 413 [see also under Ellis, Rachel, and Fisher, James passim]

POTTON - Green Man. 435

POTTON - King's Head 323

POTTON - New Inn. 105, 117, 136, 155, 165, 300, 356

POTTON - Old Queen's Head 394

POTTON - Rising Sun 386

POTTON - Rose & Crown. 33, 372, 378P, 400P, 419P, 442P, 452P, 469P, 475P, 489P, 496P, 503, 507P, 523P, 539P, 545P, 573P, 582P

POTTON - Swan Inn. 267, 275, 343, 376, 401, 402, 424, 440, 471, 490, 526, 548, 575, 597

POTTON - unidentified. 202, 362, 391, 574

REVITT, John (stonemason, Biggleswade) 107, 141

REYNOLDS, John (clockmaker) 13

RICHARDSON, George (victualler etc. Bull Inn) 290, 293, 344, 377, 390, 423, 433, 441, 470, 491, 502, 525, 546

ROBERTS, J. (bricks) 553

ROGERS, James (cabinet maker, upholsterer etc.) 466P, 492P

ROGERS, John (carpenter) 23, 120

ROWELL, Mary (mending etc.) 200

ROWLATT, J.P. (clockmaker) 270

SEAMER, David (blacksmith) 385

SEAMER, James (carpenter) 458, 493, 505, 514, 527

SEAMER, Thomas (carpenter) 18, 19, 25, 26, 34, 38, 45, 47, 56, 63, 73, 83, 89, 95, 113, 115, 121, 129, 160, 161, 175, 185, 186, 191, 206, 220, 218, 231, 235, 239, 240, 247, 259, 261, 263, 274, 279, 288, 292, 341, 372, 412, 428, 449, 474 (executors of late T.S.)

SHROSBERY see GOODGAMES & SHROSBERRY

SMITH & ARGLES (solicitors) 421, 432

SMITH, James (builder) 480, 522

SMITH, William (Ironmonger and hardware dealer, broker, agricultura implement dealer etc.) 277, 348P, 370, 406

STONEBRIDGE, James (blacksmith) 70, 71

TEAR, Thomas (Publican, King's Head) 323

TEAR, William (builder) 97, 140, 176, 414, 544

TEBBUTT, D. (bookbinding) 576, 604

TILCOCK, William (agent Mrs. Ongley's Estate) 340, 345

TRUDGILL, John (bellropes) 346

TYLER, John (victualler, Swan Inn) 267, 275, 343, 376, 401, 402, 424, 440, 471, 490, 526, 548, 575, 597

VICKERS, John (Publican - unidentified) 202

WAGSTAFF, German (Publican - Fox & Crown) 418

WARWICKER & GOLLAND (Ecclesiastical Furnishers, Cambridge) 483

WELLS, William (Innkeeper - unidentified) 574

WHITTINGHAM, Richard (Vicar) 159, 268, 312, 314, 322, 358, 367, 453

WING, J.T. (architect and builder, Bedford) 601, 602

YERRILL, William (bricklayer) 586

These bills were at one time classified by subject and catalogued as P64/5/1-13, but they have subsequently been repaired and bound into two portfolios and sorted into chronological order.

The undated bills (nos.294-319) are at the end of the series. A further bundle of bills for the period 1839-1850 was deposited at a later date and catalogued as P64/5/16, but these have now been sorted chronologically (by date of payment of each bill) and numbered in sequence to follow the older bills.