Parish Clerks

[Trees]

Hi does anyone know if there was ever a minimum age that someone had to be to hold the office of Parish Clerk?
I have found the MI of an ancestor in 1853 which says he was 55 when he died and had been Parish Clerk for 30 years OK that would be 1833-1853 or 25-55 no problem BUT the burial register says "parish Clerk 45"
The 1851 census he was 43 the 41 census he was rounded to 30 I am pretty sure he was the chap I found baptised in 1807 so if the 30 years is correct he would have been 15 taking up office, Then there is the question why was his grave inscription 10 years out!!
Has anyone got any ideas?
Tress

[stanmapstone]

Parish Clerk "They should be at least 20 years old. Known to the parson as a man of honest conversation and sufficient for his reading, writing and competent skill in singing" Canon 91(1603)."

Stan

[Trees]

Thanks Stan thats what I thought I think the grave inscription was wrong by ten years in both his age and period as parish Clerk but how such a mistake would come about I can't begin to imagine
Trees

[Berlin-Bob]

For more information, see Parish Clerk in the

RootsChat Lexicon / Topic Catalogue ^{(click here)}

Bob

[Trees]

Thanks Bob,
 I forgot your wonderful Rootschat Christmas pressie the Lexicon its great 
I can only add that I seem to collect Parish Clerks (so far 9) along with my publicans and some were paid handsomely while others from small country churches had a small fee on the census they declared their bread and butter occupation. The fellow plaguing me at the moment was an Ag lab on all census returns but his memorial states he was parish clerk for 30 years and he is recorded as having £1,11.6 for clerks fee for 1830-1831. The age on the grave differs from that in the burial book (same date so definitely same chap) I also have his baptism if he served the 30 years as Parish Clerk he would have only been 15 starting the job so I think that should read 20 years too. I haven't seen the grave and have the wording from a book found in Oxford library I have asked if anyone on the Oxford board can check the grave.
Trees