Daily AncestorChurchwarden
A churchwarden was one of two lay officers of an Anglican or Episcopal parish, chosen yearly to look after church property, money and order.
Traditionally one warden was chosen by the minister and the other elected by the congregation, and both sat on the vestry. They looked after the church building, its money and good order.
Because the post rotated among leading members, a list of wardens across years shows which families led a parish. Do not confuse it with prison or game wardens in later records.
As seen in a recordVirginia or Maryland vestry book, 1700s
Jas. Rudd and Thos. Elam chosen churchwardens for the ensuing year
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Churchwarden." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/church/churchwarden. Last checked 2026-10-03.