A few years ago I discovered in the Wiltshire archives in Chippenham a note dated 20th September 1833 signed by James Spry, Curate, and 45 Calstone villagers (all men) agreeing to the following:
“We the undersigned inhabitants of Calstone anxious to prevent the Sabbath from being violated, and the peace of the Village from being disturbed, are particularly desirous that no Beer should be exposed to sale in this Village at the ensuing Feast; and to discountenance the same by every means in our power.”
The Curate’s signature is first and so I guess that he wrote it. Judging by the date of the note I assume that the “ensuing feast” refers to the Harvest Festival. Maybe the feast in 1832 was quite a drunken affair!
A farmer called James Oliver also signed the pledge with the word “Tythingman” added after his name. A Tythingman, or Tithingman, was elected by the villagers to act like a Special Constable with responsibility for ensuring law and order was maintained within the village. This responsibility included church “law”, e.g. observance of the Sabbath.