[f. QUEST sb.1 + MAN.]
1. A member of a ‘quest’; one appointed to make official inquiry into any matter; spec. † a. a parish or ward official elected annually (see quot. 1706). Obs.
1548. Geste, Serm., in H. G. Dugdale, Life (1840), 188. All judges, all officers, all quest men which have sworne to speake the truthe.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, Wks. 1883–4, V. 239. They … come to bear office of Questman and Scauinger in the Parish where they dwell.
1631. Brathwait, Whimzies, Questman, 125. This Questman … becomes frequently versed in sundry ancient Presidents.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Quest or Quest-Men, Persons who are chosen yearly in every Ward, and meet about Christmas, to enquire into Abuses and Misdemeanours committed therein, especially such as relate to Weights and Measures.
1761. London & Environs, IV. 23. [The mob of 1381] levelled to the ground the houses of all lawyers and questmen.
b. Eccl. A churchwarden’s assistant; a sidesman. Now only Hist.
1454. in T. Gardner, Hist. Dunwich (1754), 149. To the Quest Men for the Ton 12d.
1555. Bp. Hoplin, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. II. 189. I dyd sende ymedyatlie for the sayd Curate, the Churche wardeyns, and the questmen.
1624. Bp. Hall, True Peace Maker, in Var. Treat. (1627), 543. Who troubles the house?… In the Church … not the carelesse questman, not the corrupt officiall; but the clamorous preacher. Ibid. (a. 1656), Rem. Wks. (1660), 342. We have in every Parish … Churchwardens, Questmen, or Sidemen, and Overseers for the Poor.
[1732. Neal, Hist. Purit., I. 307. To give it in charge to their Quest-men to present the names of all Non-conformists.
1895. J. Brown, Pilgrim Fathers, I. 35. He swore in six questmen to bring presentments against such as come not to church.]
† 2. = QUESTOR 1. Obs. rare–1.
1691. trans. Emilianne’s Frauds Rom. Monks (ed. 3), 262. One of the Quest-men told her, That they would take care to make a little shift of it, for some small Soul in Purgatory.
