Orphanage

Orphanage.

I. 6. Letter from the Lord Mayor to............, stating that, upon the receipt of a communication from the Lords of the Council, he had committed to ward one Hewson and others that were parties to the abduction of Judeth, the orphan of William Cox, and requesting that, as considerable delay had occurred in their examination, he might be empowered to release them from close arrest.
19th March, 1579.

I. 7. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Lincoln, Lord High Admiral, and other Lords, acknowledging the receipt of their letter, requesting that Clement Draper might have the custody of his wife's child by John Rember, her former husband, and also the child's portion. The Court of Aldermen requested their Lordships to leave the disposition of the orphan to them, according to the laws and usages of the City.
12th April, 1580.

I. 93. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Recorder, stating that, from information received by them, it appeared that Robert Huson, with the assistance of certain confederates, had stolen away Judeth Cox, an orphan, of the age of fourteen, and had conveyed her to Gravesend, where she was discovered by her friends and brought back, and directing steps to be at once taken to arrest and commit to prison Huson and his confederates, in order that a stop might be put to this evil practice, which had of late greatly increased.
15th March, 1579.

I. 136. Letter from the Lord Mayor to Lady Martin, touching the orphan children of Sir Roger Martin, (fn. 1) and suggesting certain arrangements for their benefit.
15th September, 1580.

I. 203. Letter from the Lord Mayor and certain Aldermen to Sir Thomas Bromley, Lord Chancellor, as to a complaint exhibited to them by William Sherington and Thomas Castill, Her Majesty's ward, against Mr. Wood and Mr. Fullwood concerning Orphanage, and requesting the Lord Chancellor to grant a commission to some discreet persons in the City to examine the whole case.
25th May, 1581.

I. 305. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Bishop of London (John Aylmer), informing him that his servant, Mr. Benyon, being chargeable by law and custom, had been often required to give assurance for the portions of his wife's children, being orphans and in the charge of the City, which he neglected to do. The Lord Mayor requested that he might be reminded of his duty, and so prevent the necessity of any legal steps being taken to enforce the same.
20th March, 1581.

I. 309. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Duchess of Somerset, (fn. 2) stating that, according to the custom of the City, Elizabeth Saunders, the daughter and orphan of George Saunders, deceased, was committed, during the pleasure of the Court of Aldermen, to the custody and care of her Grace's late husband, Francis Newdigate, the child's uncle. The Court had been informed that she desired to be disburdened of her, and requested that the orphan might be sent to attend the next Court at Guildhall.
23rd March, 1581.

I. 310. Letter from Anne, Duchess of Somerset, to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen in reply, stating her surprise that, after having brought up the orphan from infancy, and being earnestly requested by the will of her late husband to continue the care of her education her brother, or any other, should have persuaded the Court to remove her from out of her custody; and requesting that she might still remain under her care.
28th March, 1582.

I. 311. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Duchess of Somerset stating that, as she desired to continue the care of the orphan, subject to the Court being made privy to her bestowing, they heartily consented, and thanked her for her great consideration for the child's welfare.
1st April, 1582.

I. 355. Letter from Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Knight, Master of the Rolls, to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, referring to them for consideration certain matters in dispute concerning the orphans of one Robinson, a Freeman of London.
The Rolls, Ist June, 1582.

I. 357. Letter from the Lord Mayor to Sir Gilbert Gerrard Knight, reporting the proceedings of the Court of Aldermen thereon, and stating that, for his satisfaction, they had directed the parties to attend and explain the matter to him.
26th June, 1582.

I. 367. Letter from (Mr. Justice) Thomas Meade to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, reminding them of their promise to Sir James Dyer, (fn. 3) Knight, late Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, to grant to his nephew, Richard Dyer, Citizen and Merchant Taylor, the sum of 100l. of Orphanage money, he putting in sufficient security for the repayment thereof; and requesting them to grant the same with all convenient speed.
Serjeants' Inn, 5th July, 1582.

I. 372. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, enclosing a supplication made to the Council on behalf of the daughter of Mrs. Blackwell, complaining of her mother's hard dealings towards her, contrary to the custom of the City, whereby she had not only fallen into great poverty, but had become distracted in her wits. Being a Citizen's daughter, they desired the Court of Aldermen to take the matter into their consideration; to send for the mother, and use such means to bring about some final order as should be agreeable to equity and justice. If she refused to stand by the agreement, then to certify their opinion to the Council, that they might take such further action as should seem convenient.
10th July, 1582.

I. 390. Letter from Sir Thomas Bromley, Knight, Lord Chancellor, to Sir James Harvey, Knight, Lord Mayor, concerning the orphans of Henry Stanley, wax-chandler.
Weldhall, Essex, 30th July, 1582.

I. 397. Letter from the Lord Mayor to Mrs. Hungerford, widow, informing her that there remained in the custody of the Chamberlain a chest of evidences, which by indenture had been delivered to him to be kept to the use of the heirs of James Barnard, and that Francis Allen, son and heir of Francis Allen and of Winifride, daughter and heir of the said Barnard, had prayed the Court of Aldermen to deliver the same to him, according to the indenture; and requiring her, as she had been some time wife of Barnard, to signify what lawful cause she might know why the chest and evidences should not be delivered to Allen, or else they could not in equity further delay their delivery.
4th September, 1582.

I. 398. Letter from the Lord Mayor to Mr. Powell, informing him of a complaint by Robert Good, concerning certain orphanage money belonging to the orphan of one Dunn.
6th September, 1582.

I. 401. Letter from Thomas Powle to Sir James Harvey, Knight, Lord Mayor, in reply.

Dated from his poor-house at Clayhall, 13th September, 1582.

I. 402. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council, informing them that steps had been taken to examine into the unnatural variance existing between Mrs. Blackwell and Richard Calley, her son-in-law; the matter had been referred to Mr. Recorder and to Aldermen Osborne, Hart, (fn. 4) and Woodcock, (fn. 5) who, after hearing both parties, recommended a settlement, which Mrs. Blackwell had refused to comply with; and forwarding the petition to be dealt with by the Council.
15th September, 1582.

I. 405. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Chancellor, informing him that Joan Martin, daughter of the late Sir Roger Martin, had come to full age, and desired to receive her portion. For so much as the City had the custody of, they were ready to pay. It appeared, by a decree made by his Lordship in the Court of Chancery, that Alexander Denton, one of the executors of Sir Roger Martin, had, by colour of his office while he lived, got into his hands and converted to his own use some of the money. They therefore requested his lordship to take such steps as might appear to him desirable to recover out of the estates of the said Denton the remainder due to the said orphan.
13th September, 1582.

I. 510. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer, informing him that, upon the death of Ellis Hartop, certain lands descended to Joan Hartop, an orphan of the City, one of Her Majesty's wards. There had been left in the custody of one Burbage Skinner a chest, containing evidences concerning lands belonging to the orphan, which had been deposited with the Chamberlain. Hartop's executors pretended that there were in the chest money, leases, and writings not pertaining to the orphan, and desired that the chest might be opened and the things belonging to them delivered up, and such as pertained to the ward retained for her use. If the Lord Chancellor agreed therewith, he begged that some one might be sent to see the chest opened, and delivered to such custody as he should think meet.
16th May, 1583.

I. 524. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor, informing him that there had been for some time a matter of variance between Sir James Harvey, Alderman, and Alexander Avenon, (fn. 6) son and heir of Sir Alexander Avenon, (fn. 7) deceased, about the non-performance of certain promises made by the said Sir James in respect of a marriage, concluded chiefly by his own means, between his daughter and the aforesaid Avenon; and directing the Aldermen to take effectual pains in the cause, to call the parties before them, and to make some speedy and friendly end between them, or to certify to the Council who was in default, and the cause of the disagreement.
April, 1583.

I. 525. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor, stating they had been credibly informed that Sir James Harvey, being unwilling that the marriage should be proceeded with, had made a deed of gift of all his goods to his other children, to the end that he might disinherit his said daughter, contrary to the ancient customs of the City; and requiring the Aldermen forthwith to obtain from him a resolution whether he would perform his promises made to Avenon in marriage of his daughter, and to certify the steps taken, with their opinion thereon.
20th May, 1583.

I. 526. Letter from the Lord Mayor to Sir Christopher Wraye, (fn. 8) Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench, forwarding copies of the letters received from the Council as to the variance between Sir James Harvey, Alderman, and Alexander Avenon; and informing him that on account of the continual sickness of Sir James, and his subsequent death, they had been prevented from proceeding therein. He understood that Sir James in his lifetime had committed in trust to him and certain others the order and disposition of things among his children. He therefore requested him, with the aid of his cotrustees, to deal between the executors and Alexander Avenon, and so effect a friendly settlement.
(Circa 1583.)

I. 527. Letter from Sir Christopher Wraye to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen in reply, stating that he had seen Mr. Avenon, and offered to leave the matter to some friends to be appointed on both sides; this offer had been made ten days ago, since which time he had not heard from him.
Serjeants' Inn, 24th June, 1583.

I. 529. Letter from the Lord Mayor and Aldermen to Sir Christopher Wraye, expressing their satisfaction that the difference between the parties had been committed to him. According to the custom of the City, the children being orphans, they had called upon Sebastian (Harvey), (fn. 9) the sole executor, to bring in an inventory of the effects, &c., within a reasonable time, but he had refused; whereupon fourteen days had been granted to him to make the return. In contempt he had departed the City. Before doing so, however, as the Court had been credibly informed, he had put his sister Clare (for whom this controversy had been) out of doors, and left her to the world. The Court fully approved of the order made by Sir Christopher, and Mr. Avenon being willing to submit himself thereto, they requested him to direct Mr. Harvey to exhibit the inventory of his father's goods and debts within a reasonable time.
July, 1583.

I. 530. Letter from Sir Christopher Wraye to the Lord Mayor, stating that he had advised Mr. Harvey to comply with the reasonable demand of the Aldermen, and to furnish the information required; and expressing his opinion that, if he did not comply, the Court should deal with him according to the laws and customs of the City, and that he would assist them all in his power.
8th August, 1583.

I. 578. Letter from Sir Christopher Hatton, Knight, to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, stating that he had been informed that by the decease of John Walker, Scrivener, near Temple Bar, his three daughters, according to the custom of Orphanage, had been left to the disposition and government of the City, and, according to usage, they would commit them and their portions to the custody of those who would be mindful of their good education. He recommended that the custody of the youngest, with her portion, should be committed to William Bromeley, his steward.
Ely Place, Holborn, 5th January, 1587.

I. 587. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer, stating that an attachment had been issued against John Clark, who, to avoid suit entered against him in a cause of Orphanage, had withdrawn out of the Liberties of the City, and had exhibited a complaint in writing, wherein he had charged the Lord Mayor with partial dealings and other slanderous things; and requesting the Lord Treasurer to appoint some indifferent persons to hear the matter, and to report to him thereon.
5th March, 1590.

I. 623. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Treasurer, touching the estates left by his only son who had lately died, leaving an infant, upon whose behalf he felt anxious lest any unquiet person might hereafter question the title; he therefore requested his lordship's favour in his behalf.
8th January, 1592.

II. 40. Letter from Sir John Puckering to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, concerning the portion of Edmond Hills, an orphan, paid into the Chamber of London.
18th November, 1594.

II. 50. Letter from Sir Robert Cecil to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, for permission to have the use of the money belonging to his ward, the heir of Mr. Alderman Buckle. (fn. 10)
19th February, 1594.

II. 51. Letter from the Lords of the Council to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, requesting them to remove Blanch Loftis, and orphan, from the custody of John Watts, who, as executor of Bartholomew Quiney, who married her mother, pretended to have her in ward, and to place her to her liking with some of her kin.
31st March, 1596.

II. 169. Answer of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to Sir John Fortescue, who desired to have the custody of an orphan, only daughter of the late Thomas Ridge, regretting their inability to comply with his request, it being against the ancient customs of the City, he not being a Freeman.
22nd April, 1601.

II. 222. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Keeper, informing him that in accordance with the order made by the Court of Chancery, the 29th May, in the cause depending between Richard Coop and others, plaintiffs, and Baldwin Dereham, defendant, touching the custody of the children and orphans of the late Mr. Coop, they had referred the same to Mr. Richard Whecler, Common Serjeant, Baptist Hickes, and others, who had held several meetings, but the plaintiffs would not appear before them, denying their jurisdiction.
26th October, 1602.

II. 227. Letter from the Lord Mayor and Aldermen to the Lord Chief Justice, in reference to the suit pending between this City and Mr. Caldecott, touching the orphans of Peter Bouncher.
30th January, 1602.

II. 239. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Chancellor, certifying that the Court of Aldermen had taken into consideration the orphanage cause referred to them by the Court of Chancery on the 1st May, 44th Elizabeth, and enclosing their certificate.
8th March, 1603.

II. 243. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lords of the Council, concerning the marriage of Mary Noble, an orphan.
15th April, 1604.

III. 120. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Archbishop of Canterbury (Abbott), stating that Mr. John Gilpin, Gentleman, of Croydon, had got into his custody Mary Rogers, an orphan of the City, who had been committed by the Court of Aldermen to the care of her grandmother, and requesting him to take steps for her delivery to the City's Officer, the bearer of the letter, and either to examine the abuse or bind over the parties to appear before the next Court of Aldermen.
19th December, 1613.

III. 122. Letter from the Lord Mayor to the Lord Chief Justice Coke, requesting him to grant his warrant to the City's Officer for the taking of Mary Rogers and conveying her to the City, where the Court of Aldermen could take course for her safer custody and tuition.
1st January, 1613.

Note in margin.— Upon this letter my Lord Coke granted his warrant to Mr. Apjohn, and the orphan was brought and restored to the City.

IV. II. Letter from Thomas, Earl of Suffolk, to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, on behalf of a widow named Wetherby, who had a case depending before them, concerning an orphan, who had been abused by one Edward Field.
17th January, 1615.

IV. 44. Letter from the Earl of Nottingham, Lord High Admiral, to the Lord Mayor, requesting him to take steps for settlement of an orphanage cause, in which Arthur Grimes, His Majesty's servant, was concerned.
Chelsea, 25th November, 1616.

V. 35. Letter from George (Abbott), Archbishop of Canterbury, to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, stating that he understood a claim had lately been made by some of the City's Officers of a custom that not only Freemen's goods should be ordered by the Orphans' Court, and divided into three parts, or into moieties, if the party died without wife or children, but that the goods of freewomen also, whose husbands had been free, should be ordered and divided amongst their children accordingly, which claim neither he nor any of his officers had heard of until the last year. Being desirous to maintain the jurisdiction incident to his place and to avoid all suits and contentions with the City, he prayed the Court of Aldermen to inform themselves by examination of their ancient courses and records, and by advice of Counsel, of the true state of the custom, and not to challenge a general power in that behalf, or to encroach upon an authority to which he would not entitle himself were he not fully assured it lawfully belonged to him in right of his See. Upon receipt of their answer, he would either receive or endeavour to give satisfaction, so that the difference might be determined without suit.
Lambeth, 16th October, 1619.

V. 51. Letter from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to the Archbishop of Canterbury, in reply. They conceived his Grace had been misinformed. But since he gave them no particulars, either as to the officers who made the claim, or when or where it was made, they were unable to give him the satisfaction he expected. Upon receiving particulars, they would inform themselves and endeavour to satisfy him in the matter.
10th January, 1619.

V. 130. Letter from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to the Lord Chamberlain (William, Earl of Pembroke), forwarding a Petition presented to them, showing the complaint of two orphans, and recommending the same to his consideration.
28th March, 1622.

In margin.— "Touching the orphans of Cornelius."

V. 136. Letter from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to Lucy, (fn. 11) Countess of Bedford, reminding her of their frequent applicauntess of Bedford, reminding her of their frequent applications on behalf of the orphans of Richard Clarke, late of London, Merchant Taylor, deceased, for payment of the money due by her Ladyship to them.
September, 1622.

VI. 22. Petition of William Astropp, and Lucy, his wife, late wife and sole Executrix of Tristram Diamond, Citizen and Draper of London, deceased, to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, concerning certain suits touching the orphans of the said Diamond; and praying the Court to intercede with the Lord Keeper for the appointment of Commissioners to settle all matters in dispute between the parties.
(Circa 1623.)

VI. 23. Letter from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to the Lord Keeper, stating that upon the suit above referred to being opened before him he, perceiving that it concerned an orphan of the City, had referred the matter to the Sheriffs, to examine and report how the accounts stood between the parties; they had found the matter would require time and good consideration, and that some of the parties were not able to endure the charge of a suit. The Court of Aldermen therefore prayed that he would refer the determining of the matter to the former Commissioners, or such others as he should think fit.
(Circa 1623.)

VI. 30. Extract from the Repertory of the Court of Aldermen, of the certificate of Sir Thomas Middleton, Knight and Aldermen, Edward Allen, (fn. 12) Esq., Aldermen, and Thomas Jones, (fn. 13) Esq., Common Serjeant, concerning matters in dispute between Roger Roydon and Edward Blount, and Elizabeth his wife, widow and administratrix of Richard Bankworth, Citizen and Stationer, of London, deceased, and the orphans of the said Richard Bankworth, with the Order of the Court of Aldermen thereon.
2nd December, 1623.

VI. 35. Letter from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to Roger Middleton, Ralph Egerton, and John Edwards, Esqrs., of Stanstey, in the county of Denbigh, and Thomas Foster, Gentleman, of Alington, in the said county, or any three of them, requesting them to view the lands there offered to be assured by Roger Roydon for debts due to the orphans of Richard Bankworth, deceased, and to the late wife of the said Bankworth, and to certify their situation, value, &c.
12th January, 1623.

VI. 55. An Order of the Court of Aldermen, reciting that the executors of Mr. Alderman Prescott (fn. 14) had informed them that Roger Haughton, (fn. 15) deceased, had lent 1,000l. to the Earl of Salisbury, (fn. 16) upon his Statute; that his widow and executrix had subsequently married Mr. Alderman Prescott, the said debt (amongst others) having been by a covenant made over to him and his heirs, by which covenant the widow bound herself not to challenge his estate beyond 500l. a year, for her jointure during her life; after the decease of the Alderman, she had married Dr. Lister, and had since died, making him her executor, by virtue whereof he claimed the right and interest of the debt, and had received the same. The Statute still remaining in the hands of the Alderman's executors, the Court referred the case to the consideration of the Recorder, the Common Serjeant, and Mr. Stone.
2nd December, 1624.

VI. 65. Letter from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to Sir Arthur Savage, informing him that Ann, one of the daughters and orphans of Mr. George Smithes, late an Alderman, had with their consent, married, and requiring him to take notice thereof, and provide that her portion and the use-money due according to the custom of the City, might be forthwith paid to her.
(Circa 1624–5.)

VI. 66. Letter from the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen to the Earl of Salisbury, with reference to the debt of 1,000l. due by him to the estate of the late Alderman Prescott, and requesting him to pay the same into the Chamber of London.
(Circa 1624–5.)

VIII. 86. Letter from the King to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, with respect to the case of Edmond Waller, (fn. 17) who had married Anne Banks, the orphan of John Banks, late a citizen of London, stating that, having pardoned the said Waller and the other defendants to the information before the Court of Star Chamber, he expected of the Court a like clemency on their part, and required that such sums of the said Anne's portion as were in their hands might be paid to the said Waller.
13th December, 1631.

VIII. 88. Letter from the King to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, requesting them to use all expedition for putting an end to the suits brought by the son and heir, who was also the sole executor, of Robert Angell, late of London, merchant, against his father's late widow, Dame Elizabeth, now the wife of Sir George Marshall, Knight, with intent to defraud her of the thirds due to her by the custom of the City.
July, 1631 or 2.

VIII. 191. Letter from the King to the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen: he had been informed that administration had been granted by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury to William, Lord Craven, (fn. 18) of the goods of Thomas Craven, his brother, who died intestate, aged eighteen years, where he had given security to account, and requiring them, for preventing of all differences between the Archbishop's Court and the Court of Orphans, to attempt no innovation to the prejudice of the jurisdiction ecclesiastical, or impeachment of the said administration.
23rd April, 1637.