Also vestry-man, vestry man. [f. VESTRY1 2.] A member of a parochial vestry.
1614. in W. H. Hale, Prec. Causes Office (1841), 39. So many of the vestrie men as shall … meet there for the makeing of a rate.
1641. ‘Smectymnuus,’ Vind. Answ., Pref. a iij b. Indeede hee saith, that these were but as our Church-wardens, or Vestry men.
1651. Cleveland, Poems, 26. These Linsie-Woolsie Vestry-men.
1701. Maryland Laws (1723), 15. Two New Vestrymen shall be annually chosen in the Places of Two others.
a. 1721. Prior, True Statesmen, 35. If thou ever has’t a voice Tho it be only in the Choice Of Vestry Men or grey-Coat-Boys.
1847. C. G. Addison, Law of Contracts, xv. § 3. 391. Vestrymen, in vestry assembled, may, like any other persons, exceed their duties as vestrymen.
1873. B. Harte, Fiddletown, 37. She was roused by a formal visit from a vestryman.
Hence Vestrymanly a., befitting a vestryman; Vestrymanship, the position of a vestryman.
1885. Pall Mall G., 12 Jan., 4/1. That may be *vestrymanly, but it is hardly gentlemanly.
1879. Escott, England, I. 123. The mere fact of a parochial office being the coveted prize of a political competition raises its duties above the level of *vestrymanship.
