Middlesex Sessions Rolls: 1666

1666

20 January, 17 Charles II.—True Bill that, at the parish (sic) of St. Katherine's Tower co. Midd. Robert Dutch late of the said parish (sic) yeoman, being a person greedy of gain, assaulted Ralph Bradshaw and unlawfully and hurtfully conveyed him on board the ship The Elizabeth and Mary then lying in the river Thames, with the intention of forcibly and unlawfully conveying the same Ralph Bradshaw to a place beyond the seas, called Virginia, and there selling him for the gain and profit of him Robert Dutch. The only clerical minute on the bill's face is "po se" = he puts himself. G. D. R., 19 Feb., 18 Charles II.

20 February, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Andrew's-inHolborne co. Midd. in the night of the said day, Henry Kempe and Nicholas Marshall, both late of the said parish laborers, broke burglariously into the dwelling-house of William Whittaker M.D., with the intention of stealing and carrying off the goods and chattels of the said William Whittaker. Found 'Guilty,' Henry Kempe and Nicholas Marshall were sentenced to be hanged. G. D. R., 19 Feb., 18 Charles II.

28 February, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Joseph Ayloffe esq. J.P., of William Jeupe victualler and Edward Redknappe barber, both of St. James's Clerkenwell, and John Bibby of Duck Lane London smith, in the sum of twenty pounds each; For the appearance of . . . . Hampson at the next S. P. for Middle sex, "to answer for bringing a person sick of the plague into the parish of St. James Clerkenwell out of St. Martin's Lane neere Charing Crosse." S. P. R., 20 March, 18 Charles II.

7 March, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at Hampton co. Midd. between eleven and twelve o'clock in the night of the said day, Thomas Goose junior and Robert Hawes, both late of the said parish yeomen, broke into and entered the King's park called Bushey Parke, and then and there unlawfully and injuriously broke the gates and pales of the same park, and pulled up a wooden bridge over a certain river in the same park, and threw the same bridge into the same river. The clerical minute "po se" = 'he puts himself,' appears over the names of both culprits, but the parchment tells nothing more of the consequences of arraignment. S. P. R., 20 March, 18 Charles II.

20 March, 18 Charles II.—Order, made at Hicks Hall, referring to Mr. Procter and Mr. Wharton (Justices of the Peace for Middlesex inhabiting within the Holborne division of the same county) the petition of John Greene, son and administrator of John Greene deceased, who seeks from the Court an order to the Churchwardens and Overseers of the poor of High Holborn, for payment to his said deceased father's estate of the sum of fifty-five pounds two shillings and sixpence, expended during the late pestilence by the same John Greene deceased on certain of the poore of High Holborne when they were visited by the plague; the petitioner urging in support of his prayer that "his father dureing all the time of the late visitacion of the plague untill his death was very vegilant and diligent in the performance of his office of Constable of High Holborn, and to some or other of the Justices of that division twice a weeke or oftener (as occasion required) gave upp an account of all the visited houses, the persons within them, how they were provided for, and the charge of maintaining them," and that out of his own resources he expended the said money on the visited poor, with the encouragement of the inhabitants and Justices of the said district, and "upon promise of repayment to be made out of the rates assessed for the visited poore of High Holborne." S. P. Reg.

4 May, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields co. Midd. on the said day, William Stapleton, William Legg and Alexander Innes, all three late of the said parish gentlemen, assaulted James Somervaile gentleman, and that the said William Stapleton then and there with a rapier gave the said James Somervaile in the left side of his belly a mortal wound, of which he then and there died instantly, being thus slain and murdered by the said William Stapleton, William Legg and Alexander Innes. Found 'Guilty' at G. D. of 20 Feb. 19 Charles II., William Stapleton and William Legg gentlemen were sentenced to be hung. The only clerical minute over the name of Alexander Innes is "at large." G. D. R., 30 May, 18 Charles II.

14 May, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Anne's Blackfriars in the ward of Farringdon London on the said day, John Mason late of St. Dunstan's-in-the-West co. Midd yeoman assaulted Charles Gerrard gentleman, and with a pewter quart pott gave the said Charles Gerrard on the left side of his head a mortal wound, of which he languished from the said 14th of May till the 12th of June next following, on which last-named day he died of the same wound, being thus slain and murdered by the said John Mason. Acquitted of murder, but found 'Guilty' of manslaughter, John Mason asked for the book, read it and was branded.—Also, Coroner's Inquisition for the cause of the death of the said Charles Gerrard gentleman. G. D. R., . . . ., 18 Charles II.

21 June, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Joseph Ayloffe esq. J.P., of Anthony Baskervile of St. Andrew's Holborne bricklayer, in the sum of forty pounds, and of Morgan Boyle chandler and Samuel Peace plumer, both of St. Andrew's Holborne co. Midd., in the sum of twenty pounds each; For the appearance of the said Anthony Baskervile at the next S. P. for Middlesex, "to answer for making a publick buriall at the interment of his wife, who died of the plague in the said parish in April last, therby greatly indangering the spreading the infection of the plague." S. P. R., 9 July, 18 Charles II.

1 July, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Thomas Collett esq. J.P., of Thomas Porter of Worcester laborer, Thomas Read of Soam co. Cambridge laborer, and Charles Wood of Stamford co. Northampton laborer, in the sum of ten pounds each; For the appearance of the said Thomas Porter, Thomas Read, and Charles Wood at the next S. P. for Middlesex, then and there to frame a bill of indictment and give evidence against Owen Bather late of St. John's Street in Clerkenwell co. Midd. laborer and tapster, who is "by them charged for pressing of men to serve our Sovereign Lord the King as souldiers, hee having no commission so to do." S. P. R,, 9 July, 18 Charles II.

6 August, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, in the highway of the parish of St. Pancras co. Midd. on the said day, John Broxholme gentleman and Richard Wild laborer, both late of the said parish, assaulted a certain Philip Powell and robbed him of a cloth coat worth thirty shillings, "a paire of cisars" worth four-pence, an iron key worth six-pence, an iron instrument called "a horsfoote picker" worth six-pence, and four shillings in numbered moneys. Richard Wild was found 'Not Guilty'; John Broxholme gentleman was found 'Guilty' and sentenced to be hung. G. D. R., 10 Oct., 18 Charles II.

8 August, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Richard Downton esq. J.P., of Richard Bradbridge cordwainer and Jonathan Wiman taylor, both of Istleworth co. Midd., in the sum of twenty pounds each, and Ralph Shakespeare of Istleworth aforesaid waterman, in the sum of forty pounds; For the appearance of the said Ralph Shakespeare at the next S. P. for Middlesex, to answer &c. "for refusing to appeare on shipboard in the fleet, he being imprest to serve the King in this famous expedition &c." S. P. R., 28 Aug., 18 Charles II.

2 September, 18 Charles II.—True Bill against Robert Welch late of Whitechappell yeoman, for not going to church &c. for an entire month beginning on the said day.—Also, True Bill against Richard Phenix, late of Whitechappell yeoman, for not going to church &c. during one month, beginning on the said day. G. D. R., 10 Oct., 18 Charles II.

4 September, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before John Underwood esq. J.P., of Richard Robinson of St. James's Clerkenwell brewer, in the sum of twenty pounds, and of his two sureties, in the sum of ten pounds each; For the said Richard Robinson's appearance at the next G. Q. S. P. for Middlesex "to answere for the taking away a cloath coate from the late great fire." S P. R., 4 Oct., 18 Charles II.

4 September, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Richard Procter esq. J.P., of Thomas Escott in the sum of forty pounds, and of his two sureties, in the sum of twenty pounds each; For the said Thomas Escott's appearance at the next S. P. for Middlesex, "to answere his being in company with the Dutch baker of West minster on Sunday last being the . . . . instant where these words were spoken, that they came to see whether the ferry was on fier or no . . . . to whom they were spoken it was unknowne." S. P. R., 4 Oct., 18 Charles II.

4 September, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Martin's-in-theFields co. Midd. on the said day, John Hobbes late of the said parish yeoman wilfully and maliciously set fire to his own house, by the burning of which house he wilfully and feloniously set fire to the adjoining dwelling-house of George Grimes, and by fire destroyed the same house of the said George Grimes. John Hobbes was found 'Not Guilty.' G. D. R., 10 Oct., 18 Charles II.

5 September, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. James's Clerkenwell co. Midd. on the said day, Elizabeth Shaw late of the said parish spinster, had in her possession divers fire-balls, compounded of gunpowder, brimstone and other combustible matter, with the intention of placing and firing the said balls so as to set on fire and destroy the dwelling-houses of divers of the king's lieges and subjects. Putting herself on trial on 10 Dec., 18 Charles II., Elizabeth Shaw was found 'Not Guilty.' S. P. R., 4 Oct., 18 Charles II.

5 September, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Sepulchre's co. Midd. on the said day, Brian Mogill of the said parish gentleman set fire to a fire-ball, compounded of gunpowder brimstone and other combustible matter, and then and there threw it alight into the dwelling-house of a certain man to the jurors unknown, with the malicious intention of then and there destroying the same house by fire. G. D R., 10 Oct., 18 Charles II.

6 September, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Sir John Robinson knt. and bart. Lieutenant of the Tower of London and J.P.; For the appearance of Robert Mason of St. Buttolph's Algate baker at the next S. P. for Middlesex, to answer to what "shall be objected against him by the constable of Saint Buttolph Algate, who, suspecting the said Mason to have a hand in the late fyer of London, did upon search find in his house a ball and barrell of stuffe, supposed to be in readinesse to make wild fier &c." S. P. R., 4 Oct., 18 Charles II.

7 September, 18 Charles II.—Recognizance, taken before John Underwood esq. J.P., of John Clift of St. Bride's co. Midd. gunsmith, in the sum of forty pounds; For the said John Clift's appearance at the next G. Q. S. P. for Middlesex, to answer &c., he "being suspected to be in the plott of fiering the city." S. P. R., 4 Oct., 18 Charles II.

8 September, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Thomas Bales esq. J.P., of Thomas Clothier of St. Margaret's Westminster . . . . and George Greenwood of the same place grocer, both in the sum of ten pounds; For the appearance of the said George Greenwood at the next S. P. for the City and Liberty of Westminster, "to answeare for speaking wordes the fourth of September last past concerning the then burning of St. Paules, and that the Abbey Church might be burnt as soone as that." S. P. West., R., 1 Oct., 18 Charles II.

8 September, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before John Underwood esq. J. P., of Fardinando D'Emassedo clerk and Mary Wilson widow, both of St. Giles's-in-the-Fields co. Midd., in the sum of twenty pounds each, and of Anthoney D'Elora of St. Andrew's Holborne gentleman; For the said Anthoney D'Elora's appearance at the next G. Q. S. P. for Middlesex, to answer &c., he "being suspected to be in the plott of the late great fire."—Also, Recognizances, taken before the same J.P. on 7 Sept., 18 Charles II., for the appearance of Robert Evelin of St. Bride's blacksmith at the next G. Q. S. P. "to answere the suspicion of being in the plott of the great fire."—Also, Recognizances, taken before Charles Pitfeild esq. J.P., on 29 Sept., 18 Charles II.; For the appearance of Mary Fisher, wife of Francis Fisher, at the next S. P. for Middlesex, to answer "the complaint of John Martin merchant for suspicion of stealing and carrying away several quantities of Virginia tobacco out of Fenchurch Street and Mincing Lane in the time of the late dreadfull fier, of the goods of the said John Martin." S. P. R., 4 Oct., 18 Charles II.

16 September, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at St. Martin's co. Midd. on the said day, Robert Hubert late of the said parish laborer, set fire to a certain fire-ball compounded of gunpowder brimstone and other combustible matter, and with it fired and destroyed the dwelling-house of a certain man to the jurors unknown. Robert Hubert put himself 'Not Guilty' to this indictment, process on which ceased, because the said Robert was hung in London on another indictment. G. D. R., 10 Oct., 18 Charles II.

28 September, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Joseph Ayloffe esq. J.P., of William Goodman of Smithfeild Barres butcher and Thomas Richmond of Cheeck Lane St. Sepulchre's tobacco-pipe-maker, in the sum of twenty pounds each; For the appearance of the said William Goodman and Thomas Richmond at the next S. P. and G. D. for Middlesex, to give evidence &c. "against Bryan Mac-Gill for throwing fire-balls on Munday the third of this instant September in Lumbard Streete London and on Wednesday the fifth of September in Cheeck-Lane nere Smithfeild." S. P. R., 4 Oct., 18 Charles II.

29 September, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Peter Sabbs esq. J.P., of John Shadwell gentleman and George Edsall taylor, both of St. Dunstan's-in-the-West, in the sum of twenty pounds each, and of Richard Gardiner of the same parish gentleman, in the sum of forty pounds; For the said Richard Gardiner's appearance at the next S. P. for Middlesex, "to answer for making a fyre the fifth day of September last past about midnight, and during the time the Citty was on fyre, at a place called Hocklee-in-the-Hole, which fyre he made in the street neere the end of Three Salt-Peeter houses, which (as it hath bin affirmed upon oath before me) might have bin to the utter ruin and destruction of that part of the towne, if it had not bin prevented." S. P. R., 4 Oct., 18 Charles II.

2 October, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Sir John Robinson knt. and bart. Lieutenant of the Tower of London and J.P.; For the appearance of Thomas Hoggeflesh of the Liberty of the said Tower cooper, at the next S. P. and G. D. for Middlesex, to answer to what "shall be objected against him by Mr. Corsellis of London merchant upon suspition of feloniously taking away out of a cellar belonging to Mr. Corsellis [a] six quarte caske (sic) of brandy." G. D. R., 10 Oct., 18 Charles II.

6 October, 18 Charles II.—Recognizance, taken before Peter Sabbs esq. J.P., of Thomas Plummer of Creed parish London gentleman, in the sum of forty pounds; For the said Thomas Plummer's appearance at the next S. P. for Middlesex, "to prosecute Edmund Nunne and Anne his wife for imbezilling his goodes in the late fyre, which goodes (as he hath sworne) were to the value of above thirty pounds." S. P. R., 4 Oct., 18 Charles II.

2 November, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Sir (?) Richard Everard knt. (?) J.P., of Richard Braywood gentleman, Mary Raven spinster and Mary Harris spinster, all three of . . . . -inthe-Fields, in the sum of twenty pounds each; For the appearance of the said Richard Braywood, Mary Raven and Mary Harris at the next S. P. for the City and Liberty of Westminster, "to give evidence against Apolonia Ha . . . . De Brill being charged for concealing of Ludlow and suspected to bee privy to the fireing of London." S. P. West, R., 7 Jan., 18 Charles II.

20 November, 18 Charles II.—Recognizances, taken before Francis Lucy esq. J.P., for the appearance of Francis Lane . . . . at the next Q. S. P. for the City and Liberty of Westminster, to answer the complaint of Anne, the wife of William Hamper, "for defrauding her of certaine goods delivered to him by her in the time of the late fire of London." S. P. West., R., 7 Jan., 18 Charles II.

. . . . November, 18 Charles 11.—Recognizances, on eight several parchments, taken on divers days of the said month before Sir John Robinson knt. and bart. Lieutenant of the Tower of London J.P.; For the appearance of John Lewin one of the Overseers of the Poor of St. Katherin's, Guilford Elvee one of the Churchwardens of the hamblett of Ratcliffe, Jeffery Winthurst one of the Churchwardens of the hamblett of Ratcliffe, Thomas Mathew one of the Overseers of the Poor of St. Katherin's precinct, William Goodwin and John Cant and William Browne, the three Churchwardens of Whitechappell, John Carter the Churchwarden of the hamblett of Limehouse, and John Case the immediate constable of the Uppe-Hamblett of Whitechappell, to answer "for obstinately refusing to make an assessment" in their respective hambletts or other districts "for and towards satisfying the charges contracted in the late visitacion in maintayning the visited poor." S. P. R., 10 Dec, 18 Charles II.

10 December, 18 Charles II.—Order that divers persons (whose names were set forth in a schedule not copied into the S. P. Register) forthwith depart and remove themselves out of St. James's Clerkenwell unto the several parishes, where they were last settled before the late great fire; the said order being made on the petition of the churchwardens and overseers for the poor of St. James's Clerkenwell, representing that the said persons were first received into the saide parish "in obedience to His Majesties Proclamacion lately published upon the occasion of the late calamitous fire in the City of London commanding all the neighbouring parishes to receave into their churches and publique places the persons and goods of such whose habitacions were destroyed by the said fire for their present releife and shelter," and representing that divers of the persons so received "have already fallen and more are likely to fall on the charge" of the said parish. S. P. Reg.

15 December, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at Stepney co. Midd. on the said day, knowing that Robert Stiles and Edward Drewett had in their keeping in a boat called a hoy, at the said parish, a certain box containing ninety paires of silke stockinges worth fiftyfour pounds, and a certain trunck containing two hundred and twentytwo paires of worsted stockinges worth forty-three pounds, of the goods and chattels of Richard Pendarves of London merchant, about to be transported to parts beyond sea, Thomas Pratt, Henry Duncombe and William Barrett, all three late of the said parish gentlemen, forged a certain false writing, running in the names of George Lawson wharfenger and Edward Drewett one of the owners of the said hoy, and addressed to the aforesaid Robert Stiles, and being in these words, to wit, "Robert Stiles you . . . . deliver to this gentleman Mr. Thomas Pendarves the box covered with canvas marked with No. D. P. 1 and alsoe the truncke . . . . a matt corded and this shall be your discharge from your freinds George Lawson, Edward Drewett &c. . . . ." and that afterwards on the same day, to wit, the 15th Dec., 18 Charles II., the aforesaid Thomas Pratt, Henry Duncombe and William Barrett delivered this writing so fabricated and forged &c. by them to the said Robert Stiles and by colour and force of the same spurious document obtained and received the said box and trunk from the same Robert Stiles &c. On their arraignment Thomas Pratt gentleman and Henry Duncombe gentleman confessec the indictment, whilst William Barrett gentleman put himself on a jury who found him 'Guilty.' Each of the three gentlemen was sentencec to stand, with a paper on his head setting forth his offence, on the pillory for two hours on two several market days between eleven and one o'clock, to wit, on one day in Holborne street near Greyes Inne and on the other day in the Strand near the New Exchainge, and then to pay a fine of twenty marks, and to remain in Newgate Gaol till he should have paid the fine, and put in sureties for his good behaviou for a year. G. D. R., 16 Jan., 18 Charles II.

24 December, 18 Charles II.—True Bill that, at Stepney co. Midd. on the said day, James Barnes late of the said parish weaver, in the presence and hearing of divers persons, spoke these malicious and devilish words, "Heere is a health to George Mounke, and the Devill lake the King." James Barnes was found 'Not Guilty.' G. D. R., 16 Jan., 18 Charles II.