Fathers of the City | British History Online

The Aldermen of the City of London Temp. Henry III - 1912. Originally published by Corporation of the City of London, London, 1908.

Citation:

Alfred P Beaven, 'Fathers of the City', in The Aldermen of the City of London Temp. Henry III - 1912( London, 1908), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/london-aldermen/hen3-1912/pp250-254 [accessed 23 November 2024].

"FATHERS OF THE CITY." (Senior Aldermen.)

It is difficult to make a satisfactory list of "Fathers of the City," inasmuch as there is more than one principle upon which the allocation of that designation may be based. Strictly speaking, the "Father of the City" is the senior Alderman, i.e., the Alderman who, at the particular date, has held that dignity for the longest period, but when, as in earlier times was not infrequently the case, one who had ceased to be an Alderman subsequently returned to the Court, it is open to question whether the seniority should be reckoned by priority of admission or unbroken continuity of service.

Again, official precedence is regulated by the order of succession to the chair, so that all Aldermen who have served as Lord Mayor rank above those who have not attained to that dignity, and those who have filled the office are placed in order of accession to it, hence, an Alderman who has become Lord Mayor before one of his seniors in Aldermanic rank henceforth takes precedence of him. For more than 130 years (since the death of Sir W. Baker, who, though senior Alderman in point of duration of time, had never served as Sheriff, and consequently was not eligible for the office of Lord Mayor), it has happened that the senior ex-Lord Mayor has also been the senior Alderman in respect of date of admission; in the few instances in which an Alderman has been chosen Lord Mayor before one of his seniors, a still earlier Lord Mayor has survived as a member of the Court both of his juniors thus affected. There has been no instance of an ex-Alderman resuming his membership of the Court since that of Sir Charles Duncombe, who had been an Alderman for a brief period during the suspension of the Charter and was subsequently rechosen in 1700.

In the following list I have taken the official standard of precedence, i.e. priority of accession to the Mayoral Chair, no regard being had to priority of admission to the Court of Aldermen. On this basis the succession runs thus:—



c1280	Henry le Waleys [Cordwainer]
	[He appears to have retired from the Court about 1294, when the City was in the King's hands under a Custos (John le Breton), and there was no other Alderman who had been Mayor. On the restoration of the City's franchises, in April, 1298, le Waleys was re-elected Mayor, though, apparently, not an Alderman. He ceased to be Mayor in October, 1299, but was present at a Court of Aldermen on August 5, 1300 (Letter Book C, fo. 49), although, unless he represented Aldgate for a few months in that year, of which there is no evidence, there was no vacant ward for which he could have been returned]
c1300	Elias Russell [Billingsgate]
1303	John le Blund [Cheap]
c 1309	Nicholas de Farndone [Ludgate and Newgate] died 1334.
1334	John de Grantham [Cordwainer], died c January, 1345.
1345	Henry Darci [Walbrook]
1346	Reginald de Conduit [Tower] died about December, 1347.
1347	Henry Darci [Walbrook]
1349	Andrew Aubrey [Cordwainer]
1355	Simon Fraunceis [Cheap]
c1358	John Lovekyn [Bridge] died August 4, 1368.
1368	Adam Fraunceis [Lime Street] died 1375.
1375	John de Stodeye [Vintry] died 1376.
1376	John de Chichester [Farringdon]
1377	(March), Nicholas Brombre (Mayor). [Not an Alderman]
1378	(March), John Pyel [Castle Baynard]
1379	(March), John Warde [Aldgate]
1380	(March), William Walworth [Bridge] [Ceased to be Alderman, March, 1381, but remained Mayor]
1381	(October), John de Northampton (Mayor).
1382	(March), Sir William Walworth [Bridge]
1383	(March), John de Northampton (Mayor).
1383	(October), Sir Nicholas Brembre (Mayor).
1384	(March), Sir William Walworth [Bridge] died December, 1385.
1385	(December), Sir Nicholas Brembre [Bread Street] died February, 1388.
1388	(February), John Hadle [Lime Street]
1393	(March), William Venour [Castle Baynard]
1393	(October), John Hadle (Mayor).
	[Not an Alderman: re-elected for Tower in March, 1394]
1407	John Heende [Walbrook]
1409	William Staundon [Cheap] died 1410.
1410	Richard Whityngton [Lime Street] died 1423.
1423	Thomas Knolles [Cordwainer] died 1435.
1435	Nicholas Wotton [Dowgate] discharged April 5, 1446.
1446	John Gedney [Cornhill]
1449	Henry Frowyk [Bassishaw]
1457	Stepheu Broun [Billingsgate] discharged February 14, 1460.
1460	John Hatherle [Queenhithe] discharged December 5, 1460.
1460	William Gregory [Cordwainer] discharged March 5, 1461.
1461	John Norman [Cheap] died 1468.
1468	William Hulyn [Lime Street]
1470	Richard Lee [Walbrook] knighted May 20, 1471; died 1472.
1472	Sir Matthew Philip [Aldersgate] died 1476.
1476	Sir Ralph Josselyn [Cornhill] died October 25, 1478.
1478	Sir John Yonge [Billingsgate] discharged February 14, 1481.
1481	Sir William Taillour [Cheap] died 1483.
1483	Robert Drope [Cornhill] died 1487.
1487	Richard Gardyner [Bassishaw] died 1490.
1490	Sir John Brown [Cheap] died Jan. 1, 1498.
1498	John Warde [Bishopsgate] died 1501.
1501	Sir Henry Colet [Cornhill] died October 1, 1505.
1505	Richard Chawry [Candlewick] died 1509.
1509	Sir John Tate [Langbourn], died January, 1515.
1515	Sir William Capel [Walbrook] died September 6, 1515.
1515	Sir Richard Haddon [Bridge] died 1516.
1516	Sir Lawrence Aylmer [Walbrook] discharged July 12, 1524.
1524	George Monoux [Bassishaw] discharged March 31, 1541.
1541	Sir John Aleyn [Lime Street] died 1545.
1545	Sir John Champneys [Cordwainer] died October, 1556.
1556	Sir Martin Bowes [Langbourn] died August 4, 1566.
1566	Sir Thomas Whyte [Cornhill] died February 12, 1567.
1567	Sir William Garrarde [Lime Street] died September 27, 1571.
1571	Sir Thomas Offley [Aldgate] died August 29, 1582.
1582	Sir Rowland Heywarde [Lime Street] died December 5, 1593.
1593	Sir Wolstan Dixie [Bassishaw] died January 8, 1594.
1594	Sir Richard Martin [Farringdon Within] removed to Bread Street, May 2, 1598; discharged Aug. 31, 1602.
1602	Sir John Harte [Lime Street] died February 8, 1604.
1604	Sir John Spencer [Bassishaw] died March 30, 1610.
1610	Sir Stephen Soame [Cheap] died May 23, 1619.
1619	Sir John Garrarde [Candlewick] died May 7, 1625.
1625	Sir Thomas Bennet [Bassishaw] died February 16, 1627.
1627	Sir Thomas Myddelton [Coleman Street] died August 12, 1631.
1631	Sir John Leman [Cornhill] died March 26, 1632.
1632	Sir Edward Barkham [Cheap] died January 15, 1634.
1634	Sir Martin Lumley [Bread Street] died July 3, 1634.
1634	Sir John Gore [Walbrook] died December, 1636.
1636	Sir James Cambell [Lime Street] died January 5, 1642.
1642	Sir George Whitmore [Langbourn] discharged May 2, 1643.
1643	Sir Nicholas Rainton [Cornhill] died August, 1646.
1646	Isaac Penington [Bridge Without] discharged October 23, 1657.
1657	Sir John Wollaston [Bridge Without, from Aldersgate] died April 26, 1658.
1658	Sir Thomas Atkyn [Bridge Without, from Lime Street] discharged February 12, 1661.
1661	Sir Thomas Adams [Cornhill] died February 24, 1668.
1668	Sir Richard Chiverton [Bridge Without] died 1679.
1679	Sir Thomas Alleyn, Bart. [Bridge Without, from Aldgate] superseded October, 1683.
1683	Sir William Turner [Castle Baynard] discharged August 2, 1687.
1687	Sir William Hooker [Cornhill]
1688	(October 3; on the Restoration of the Charter), Sir Thomas Alleyn, Bart.
	[Bridge Without] died Sept., 1690.
1690	Sir John Lawrence [Queenhithe] died January 26, 1692.
1692	Sir William Turner [Castle Baynard] died February 22, 1693.
1693	Sir Robert Clayton [Cheap] died July 16, 1707.
1707	Sir Thomas Stampe [Cripplegate] died July 25, 1711.
1711	Sir John Fleet [Langbourn] died July 7, 1712.
1712	Sir William Ashhurst [Billingsgate] died January 12, 1720.
1720	Sir Thomas Abney [Bridge Without] died February 6, 1722.
1722	Sir Samuel Garrard, Bart. [Bridge Without, from Aldersgate] died March 10, 1725.
1725	Sir Gilbert Heathcote [Bridge Without, from Walbrook] died Jan. 25, 1733.
1733	Sir William Humfreys, Bart. [Bridge Without, from Cheap] died Oct. 26, 1735.
1735	Sir Charles Peers [Tower] died January 29, 1737.
1737	Sir Gerard Conyers [Bridge Without] died July 20, 1737.
1737	Sir John Eyles, Bart. [Bridge Without, from Vintry] died March 11, 1745.
1745	Sir Robert Baylis [Bread Street] died November 21, 1748.
1748	Sir Edward Bellamy [Bridge Without] died March 28, 1749.
1749	Sir John Thompson [Bridge Without, from Candlewick] died Feb. 17, 1750.
1750	Sir John Barnard [Bridge Without, from Dowgate] discharged July 18, 1758.
1758	Sir Robert Ladbroke [Bridge Without, from Castle Baynard] died October 31, 1773.
1773	Robert Alsop [Bridge Without, from Coleman Street] died May 24, 1785.
1785	Right Hon. Thomas Harley [Bridge Without, from Portsoken] died December 1, 1804.
1801	Sir Watkin Lewes [Bridge Without, from Lime Street] died July 13, 1821.
1821	Sir William Curtis, Bart. [Bridge Without, from Tower] died January 18, 1829.
1829	Sir Richard Carr Glyn, Bart. [Bridge Without, from Bishopsgate] discharged February 3, 1835.
1835	John Ansley [Bridge Without, from Bread Street] discharged November 24, 1835].
1835	Sir Claudius Stephen Hunter, Bart. [Bridge Without, from Bassishaw] died April 20, 1851.
1851	William Thompson [Cheap], died March 10, 1854.
1854	Sir Peter Laurie [Aldersgate] died December 3, 1861.
1861	William Taylor Copeland [Bishopsgate] died April 12, 1868.
1868	Samuel Wilson [Bridge Without] discharged March 22, 1871.
1871	Sir James Duke, Bart. [Farringdon Without] died May 28, 1873.
1873	Thomas Challis [Cripplegate], died August 20, 1874.
1874	Thomas Sidney [Billingsgate] discharged, June 22, 1880.
1880	Thomas Quested Finnis [Tower] died November 29, 1883.
1883	Sir Robert Walter Carden [Bridge Without] died January 19, 1888.
1888	Sir William Lawrence [Bread Street] removed to Bridge Without, October 3, 1895, died April 18, 1897.
1897	Sir James Clarke Lawrence, Bart. [Bridge Without, from Walbrook] died May 21, 1897]
1897	Sir John Whittaker Ellis, Bart. [Broad Street]

If priority of admission to the Court of Aldermen be taken as the basis, without regard either to unbroken continuity or to service as Mayor, the succession runs thus:



c 1292	Henry le Waleys [Cordwainer]
1294	Ralph le Blund [Bassishaw] died c1295.
c 1295	Robert de Basyng [Candlewick]
c 1297	Stephen Eswy [Cheap]
1298	Henry le Waleys (Mayor).
c 1300	William le Mazeliner [Aldersgate]
1305	John le Blund [Cheap]
c 1309	Nicholas de Farndone [Ludgate and Neugate] died 1334.
1334	Anketin de Gisors [Vintry]
1336	William de Caustone [Bassishaw] died 1355.
1355	Andrew Aubrey [Cordwainer]
1355	Richard le Lacer [Farringdon] discharged December, 1357.
1357	Simon Fraunceis [Cheap]
1358	Roger de Depeham [Candlewick] died 1359.
1359	Nicholas de Aldgate, Prior of Holy Trinity [Portsoken] died July 16, 1377.
1377	(July) Nicholas Brembre.
	[Thence to 1382 inclusive, as in list A]
1383	(March) Sir Nicholas Twyford [Lime Street]
1383	(October) Sir Nicholas Brembre (Mayor)
	[Thence to 1388 inclusive, as in list A]
1393 (March)	Roger Elys [Aldersgate]
1393 (March)	William Baret [Tower]
	[Adam Karlill (Aldgate) was of the same seniority in respect to priority of admission, but had served in all one year less than Elys or Baret]
1393	(October) John Hadle (Mayor)
	[Not an Aldermen: elected for Tower, March, 1394]
1407	John Heende [Walbrook]
1409	William Staundon [Cheap]
1410	John Shadworth [Bassishaw]
c1415	Drew Barentyn [Bishopsgate] died December 15, 1415.
1415 (Dec.)	Richard Whityngton [Lime Street) died 1423.
1415 (Dec.)	Thomas Knolles [Cordwainer] died 1435.
1435	Nicholas Wotton [Dowgate] discharged April 5, 1446.
	[Thence to 1461 inclusive, as in list A]
1468	Thomas Pomeroy, Prior of Holy Trinity [Portsoken]
1481	Sir William Taillour [Cheap] died 1483.
	[The above is correct on the assumption that Pomeroy remained Prior of Holy Trinity till 1481, the year of Percy's accession to that office, of which there is only the negative evidence that no other person is named as Prior during that period, the holder of the office being only referred to by his official and not his personal name—see note D, p. 187. If Pomeroy ceased to be Prior before 1468, or between that date and 1481, the Senior Alderman would be as in list A]
1483	Robert Bassett [Aldgate] died 1484.
1484	Robert Drope [Cornhill] died 1487.
1487	Richard Gardyner [Bassishaw] died 1490.
1490	Sir John Brown [Cheap] died Jan. 1, 1498.
1498	Sir Henry Colet [Cornhill] died October 1, 1505.
1505	Richard Chawry [Candlewick] died 1509.
1509	Sir John Tate [Langbourn] died January, 1515.
1515	Sir William Capel [Walbrook] died September 6, 1515.
1515	Sir Richard Haddon [Bridge] died 1516.
1516	Sir Stephen Jenyns [Lime Street] died May 6, 1523.
1523	Sir Lawrence Aylmer [Walbrook] discharged July 12, 1524.
	[Thence to 1545 inclusive, as in list A]
1556	(October) Sir Henry Huberthorn [Bread Street] died October, 1556.
1556	(October) Sir Martin Bowes [Langbourn] died August 4, 1566.
	[Thence to 1571 inclusive, as in list A]
1552	Sir William Alleyn [Bridge] died May, 1586.
1586	Sir Rowland Heywarde [Lime Street] died December 5, 1593.
	[Thence to 1643 inclusive, as in list A]
1646	Sir John Cordell [Bassishaw] discharged September 9, 1647.
1647	Sir Thomas Soame [Cheap] discharged July 1, 1649.
1649	Thomas Atkyn [Lime Street]
	[Removed to Bridge Without, May 11, 1658]
1660	(September 25) Sir Thomas Soame [Cheap] (restored to his Aldermanry) discharged January 22, 1667.
1667	Sir Thomas Adams, Bart. [Cornhill] died February 24, 1668.
1668	Sir Richard Browne, Bart. [Langbourn] died September 24, 1669.
1669	Sir Richard Chiverton [Bridge Without] died November, 1679.
	[Thence to 1692 inclusive, as in list A]
1693	Sir John Moore [Walbrook] died June 2, 1702.
1702	Sir Robert Clayton [Cheap] died July 16, 1707.
1707	Sir Charles Duncombe [Bridge] died April 9, 1711.
1711	Sir John Parsons [Bassishaw] died January 25, 1717.
1717	Sir William Ashhurst [Billingsgate] died January 12, 1720.
	[Thence to 1737 inclusive, as in list A]
1745	(March 11) Sir Harcourt Master [Coleman Street] died March 15, 1745.
1745	(March 15) Sir Robert Baylis [Bread Street] died November 21, 1748.
	[Thence to 1750 inclusive. as in list A]
1758	Sir Joseph Hankey [Langbourn] died June 28, 1769.
1769	Sir William Baker [Bassishaw] died January 23, 1770.
1770	Sir Robert Ladbroke [Bridge Without] died October 31, 1773.
	[Since 1773, as in list A]

If, however, in cases of broken continuity of service, no account be taken of the period of service previous to re-election, the succession would be as follows:—



	[1292–1297 inclusive, as in list B]
1298	William le Mazeliner [Aldersgate]
	[Thence to 1334 inclusive as in list B]
1336	Reginald de Conduit [Cheap]
1339	John de Preston [Dowgate] died c November, 1339.
1339	Richard de Hakencie [Billingsgate] died c March, 1343.
1343	John de Grantham [Cordwainer] died c January, 1345.
1345	(January), John de Caustone [Billingsgate]
1350	William de Caustone [Bassishaw] died 1355.
	[Thence to 1377 July, inclusive, as in list B]
1378	(October), William de Risyng, Prior of Holy Trinity [Portsoken], died August 1, 1391.
1391	John Fraunceis [Farringdon], died December 16, 1405.
1465	John Shadworth [Bassishaw]
	[Thence omitting Barentyn as in list B to 1647 inclusive]
1649	Thomas Atkyn [Lime Street] discharged February 12, 1661.
	[Removed to Bridge Without, May 11, 1658]
1661	John Fowke [Tower] died April 22, 1662.
1662	Richard Chiverton [Cordwainer] died 1679.
	[Removed to Cripplegate, October 1, 1663, Bridge Without, March 5, 1667, knighte 1 October 12, 1663]
1679	Sir Thomas Alleyn, Bart. [Bridge Without, from Aldgate] superseded October, 1683.
1683	Sir William Turner [Castle Baynard] discharged August 2, 1687.
1687	Sir William Hooker [Cornhill] discharged July 9, 1689.
1689	Sir Jonathan Raymond [Bishopsgate] discharged December 24, 1696.
1696	Sir Peter Daniel [Bridge] died May, 1700.
1700	Sir William Ashhurst [Billingsgate] died January 12, 1720.
	[From 1720, as in list B.]