Difference between revisions of "James Stanier"

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Biographical synthesis

James Stanier, merchant of London, ca. 1643; etching, 141 mm x 95 mm, Wenceslaus Hollar, National Portrait Gallery

James Stanier (Stanyer; Stanneior; Staneior; Stennior) (b. ca. 1606, London; m. Thomasin(e) Mead, prob. 1639; bur. Dec. 16 1663). Merchant. Father: David Stanier (moved from Cologne to London) and Abigail.

Two living sons (Samuel, born 1649, and David), two pre-deceased sons (both named James, born 1642 and 1654), and four living daughters (Abigail, Thomasine, born 1643, Jane and Rebecca)), all living children alive at the time of the writing of James Stanier's will in 1660. Abigail Stanier, the eldest of the daughters, married Ezechiel Lampen, Stanier's former apprentice, in October 1663.^[1] Abigail was born ca. 1640 and was about twenty-three at the time of her marriage. The second daughter Thomasine married David Porten, of Saint Catherine Cree, London, from a family of Dutch (and German) descent. The eldest son, Samuel (later Sir Samuel) Stanier, became a prominent London merchant.

James Stanier's former servant and bookkeeper, Robert Demetrius, states in 1666 (after James Stanier's death) that he had known Daniell Pourteene and Mr Edward Watts, London merchants, for a long period of time. Daniell Pourteene is presumably related to the David Porten who married James Stanier's daughter Thomasine, and Mr Edward Watts is presumably the Edward Watts named by James Stanier as one of his three executors in his last will and testament.^[2] According to Demetrius, both men traded in the Eastern Mediterranean. Another Admiralty Court deponent, the mariner William Compton, stated in a separate case on June 30th 1655 that Mr Edward Watts was a London merchant "of good repute and accompt in Saint Lucar".^[3] Edward Watts himself gave evidence in the High Court of Admiralty on April 21st 1657, stating his agge as thirty-three and describing himself as a merchant of London. He stated that in 1654 he had resided at Saint Lucar in Spain.^[4]

According to James Stanier's own testimony in the High Court of Admiralty in 1653, James Stanier was born in London.^[5]

James Stanier appears to be of Flemish/Dutch origins, or possibly Huguenot origins. He names his deceased father in his will, written in 1660, as David Stanier. An online genealogical resource has identified an act of English naturalization exists for a David Stanier "borne in Cologne in High Germany" dated November 13th 1604.^[6] This identification is consistent with a secondary source (D.M. Low (1937)) which identifies a Thomasine Stanier, granddaughter of David Stanier, who came from Cologne in the last years of the C16th. This Thomasine Stanier married Daniel Porten of Saint Catherine Cree, London, a family of Dutch (and German) descent. The source states that David Stanier (James Stanier's father and Thomasine's grandfather) died of plague in London in 1625. The source further identifies one of Thomasine's brothers as "Sir Samuel Stanier, a merchant of Bishopsgate, who had an estate at Wanstead, Essex, was a colonel of the Blue Regiment of militia and crowned his career by holding the Mayoralty of London in 1716."^[7] The source adds in a note "DAVID STANIER, born at Cologne, received certificate of denization I3th November 1604; merchant 5 buried at Great St. Helen's, Bishopsgate, 1625. W. A. Shaw, Letters of Denization y etc., Huguenot Society of London, xviii. 6 and 35, and R. E. G. Kirk and E. F. Kirk, Returns of Aliens, etc., ibid. x. iii. 45."^[8]

Resident in 1650, in 1653, in 1654, and in 1663 in the parish of Saint Andrew Undershaft.^[9]

James Stanier was buried in the parish church of Saint Helen Bishopsgate on December 17th 1663.^[10] His choice of Saint Helen Bishopsgate over Saint Andrew Undershaft is stated in his will to be because his father and two sons (both named James) were buried there.

His will was proved on December 29th 1663.^[11]

Married Thomasin(e) Mead. His marriage was probably in 1638, the year of a marriage bond entered into by James Stanier with Thomasine's father, as recorded in James Stanier's will. Thomasin(e) was buried in the parish of Saint Helen Bishopsgate on November 19th 1676.^[12] Her will was proved on January 7th 1676.^[13]

Thomasin Stanier appears in the hearth tax returns for the parish of Saint Andrew Undershadft in 'Leadenhall Street north' and with a total of six hearths.^[14]

Two separate engravings were made by Wenceslaus Hollar of James Stanier, dated 1643 and 1650.^[15]

Records from the High Court of Admiralty in the 1650s show that James Stanier had trading relationships with Antwerp, Bruges, Amsterdam and Cadiz in the late 1640s and throughout the 1650s. For example, James Stanier was the London correspondent of Bruges based merchant Paulus Cobrisse in the late 1640s and early 1650s.^[16]

Robert Demetrius was James Stanier's cashier and bookkeeper, as Demetrius states in a deposition in the High Court of Admiralty dated July 27th 1659.^[17]

Ezechiel Lampen was James Stanier's apprentice from ca. 1651 to at least May 1654, when Lampen deposed in the High Court of Admiralty on an allegation in "The clayme of the sayd Cornelius and Henry Hillewervin for their sylver in the Sampson.^[18]

Evidence from High Court of Admiralty

Forty-four year old James Stanier deposed on September 5th 1650 in the High Court of Admiralty. He was examined on interrogatories "Quoad navem the Peace da home".

James Stanier stated that John Cornelison Yonge John was the commander of the ship the Pease of Home and that the ship ran aground near Portland, and after refloating, ran aground again in Cornwall in 1648. At the second grounding the ship was allegedly "staved a peeces by the souldiers and countrey people". The ship's lading consisted largely of silk, with ninety odd bales belonging to "Cornelius Gysbertson von Gore and other merchants of Holland."^[19]

James Stanier gave his age on November 25th 1652 as forty-six, describing himself as a merchant of London, when he was examined on interrogatories on behalf of the State in the case of "The keepers of the Libertie of England by authoritie of Parliament against the Sampson, Salvador, Peter et cetera and goods therein".^[20]

On August 5th 1653 ffrancis Boesdonck, cashier and bookkeeper of the Antwerp merchant James Pincquett, was examined on an allegation in support of "The clayme of James Pincquett merchant of Antwerpe for the plate and sylver in the shipp the Morning Starr whereof Michael van Lupkin (sic) is master taken by some of the Parliaments shipps".^[21] Referring to bills of lading for Pincquett's goods, Boesdonck stated that "the said bills of ladeing were sent in a letter by the post or passage boat from Antwerp to Mr Stanier a merchant at London."^[22]

On March 12th 1654 Robert Demetrius, cashier and bookkeeper of James Stanier, was examined on an allegation in support of the claim of Pedro Michelson of Antwerp for silver and goods on board the Sampson, the Salvador and the Saint George. Demetrius stated that James Stanier had been requested to make a claim for the silver by Pedro Michelson. Stanier appears to have had a trading relationship with Michelson and on behalf of Michelson with Cadiz in Spain. Demetrius stated that "in the yeare 1649. and about the 19th day of January of the same yeare this deponents master James Stanier did send to Cadiz consigned to one of the producents factors there whose name att present he remembreth not 840. peices of Norwich stuffes. and ten packes of Bayes amounting in value to the summe of 2720 li 14 s. sterling, and the same were laden att this port of London on board the shipp Maydenhead of London Captaine James Lutton commander one third part of which stuffes and bayes were for the sole accompt of the producent Pedro Michaelson, and putt and stated to and upon his accompt by the sayd James Stanier, in his bookes of accompts which this rendent hath laetely consulted, which goods came safe to the hands of the sayd foresayd factor att Cadiz".^[23]

A further Admiralty Court case in 1656 led to depositions "On the behalfe of Mr Stanier and others touching the Saint Phillip.^[24]

A further Admiralty Court case in 1657 led to depositions "Touching goods in the Santa Maria John Van Lynen captaine". Twenty-eight year old London merchant Robert Demetrius stated that he was the bookkeeper of James Stanier, London merchant. ("That the last past master James Stanier of London merchant (with home this deponent liveth in the quality of booke keeper) did receive letter from Mr Phillip Van Hulten of Amsterdam merchants, wherein the said Phillip Van Hulten adviseth the said Mr Stanier, that hee hath given order to his ffreinds at Marsellis for the ffreighting of a ship, to take on board all the goods that are or shalbe unladen out of the ship the Santa Maria at Tollon and to bring the same to Amsterdam, but by the way to touch at Cadiz in Spaine, there to dispose of a parcell of cacoa part of the said lading."^[25]

James Stanier was the London correspondent of Paulus Cobrisse (alt. Paul Cobrisse; Paul Cobrysse; Pauwels Cobrysse), a merchant living in Bruges in Flanders. Giving his age as forty-eight, Stanier deposed on December 6th 1653 in the High Court of Admiralty that "Paulus Cobrisse was by common repute borne in fflanders, and for these 12 yeares last past of the knowledge of this deponent being his correspondent hath bene a merchant of great accompt living att present in Bridges, and so hath done five or six yeares now past and before that for six or 7 yeares he lived in Spaine and was and is a subiect of the King of Spaine"^[26]

Comment on sources

1603

E 115/337/23 Description: Certificate of residence showing David Stanier (or the variant surname: Stanyer) to be liable for taxation in London. (Details of which pouch this certificate was removed from are now lost.) 1603

1642

"(BURIAL. 1642) James Stanier the sonne of James Stanier Marchant was buryed in the Church the 26th of September"^[27]

1643

"(CHRISTENING. 1643) Tomsen Stanneior (sic) daughter of Mr James Stenneior (sic) and Tomsen his wife was Christenned the ffirst day of November 1643."^[28]

1644

London Metropolitan Archives: Reference: ACC/0088/81 Title: Copy of covenant to levy fine. 1. Richard Deardes of Dunmowe, Essex, gent. 2. James Stanier of London, merchant and Peregrine Herbert of Stanwell, gent. Description: Premises: 23½ acres of freehold arable, meadow and pasture in common fields of West Bedfont and Stanwell; 5 acres meadow in Southmead, Denham, Bucks.; 23 acres of arable in common fields in Denham (14 acres in Long Furlong and 9 acres in Marnefield); cottage and 2 acres meadow in Southmead, Denham. (1) to levy fine to (2) for use of (1) and wife Jane for life and then their heirs; annual income of £100. being guaranteed to Jane for life. Date: 1644/5 Jan. 23

1649

"(CHRISTENING. 1643) Sammuell Stannier sonn of James Staneior (sic) and Tomsin his wife was Christened the 5th March 1648 (modern 1649)."^[29]

1654

"(BURIAL. 1654. James Stanier sonne of James Stanier of London Marchant aged about 19 moneths was buryed in the Church under (?sir) Martin Lomeley stone in a very shallowe grave the 27 of ffebruary"^[30]

1656

C 5/27/42 Short title: Forth v Stanier. Plaintiffs: Hugh Forth. Defendants: James Stanier and others. Subject: money matters, London or Middlesex. Document type: bill, plea, schedule. 1656.

1663

"(1663). Oct. 8. Ezechiel Lampen, of Saint Antholin's, Lond., Mercht, Bachr., abt. 29, & Abigail Stanier, of St Andrew Undershaft, London, Spr, abt 23, at own disp.; at St Mary Magdalen's, Old Fish Street, Lond."<refMarriage Allegation in the Registry of the Vicar-General of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Date: 8 October 1663; Abigail Stanier, Ezechiel Lampen; Place: St Mary Magdelene's, Old Fish Street, London</ref>

"James Stanier, Merchant of this City, Dec. 16, 1663. And Thomasin, his Wife, Nov. 19, 1676."^[31]

PROB 11/312/556 Will of James Stanier, Merchant of London 29 December 1663^[32]

- Written in full health and strength on July 10th 1660
- Brother Robert Stanier; brother-in-law Thomas Rich, gentleman; Edward Watts, London merchant are appointed James Stanier's executors
- To be buried in parish church of Great Saint Hellens London, where his deceased father David Stanier and his two sons (both named James) lie buried
- Wife Thomasine Stanier to receive £2,000 in money, for which sum James Stanier had signed a bond to his father-in-law, Thomas Mead deceased, in February 1638, before his marriage
- Mother Abigail Stanier (still living)
- Sister-in-law Jane (?Denies), widow (living)
- Sister Elizabeth Mead(living)
- Two brothers, Thomas and Nicholas Mead (living)
- ?MXXXX TXXXXX Apothecary (living)
- Two sons Samuell and David to receive his few books, after his wife has made a selection of them, to be divided between them
- God has blessed him with two sons and four daughters: Samuel and David, Abigail, Thomasine, Jane and Rebecca
- His sons are not yet of age (21), nor are his daughters (20)

1676

PROB 11/350/32 Will of Thomasin Stanier, Widow 07 January 1676

1683

C 10/212/55 Ezechiel Lampen v Samuel Stanyer: money matters, Middlesex. Bill and answer. 1683.

1724

1. ↑ Marriage Allegation in the Registry of the Vicar-General of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Date: 8 October 1663; Abigail Stanier, Ezechiel Lampen; Place: St Mary Magdelene's, Old Fish Street, London; HCA 13/69 Silver 12 f.5r
2. ↑ HCA 13/76 f.19v; PROB 11/312/556 Will of James Stanier, Merchant of London 29 December 1663
3. ↑ HCA 13/70 f.433v
4. ↑ HCA 13/71 f.574v
5. ↑ HCA 13/69 Silver 11 f.3r
6. ↑ Various Huguenot Extracts, on Rootsweb, viewed 15/10/2016
7. ↑ D.M. Law, Edward Gibbon, 1737-1794 (New York, 1937), pp.16-17
8. ↑ D.M. Law, Edward Gibbon, 1737-1794 (New York, 1937), p.356
9. ↑ HCA 13/63 f.391r; HCA 13/69 Silver 11 f.2r; HCA 13/69 Silver 12 f.5r
10. ↑ John Stow, A survey of the cities of London and Westminster, borough of Southwark, and parts adjacent (London, 1733), p.365
11. ↑ PROB 11/312/556 Will of James Stanier, Merchant of London 29 December 1663
12. ↑ John Stow, A survey of the cities of London and Westminster, borough of Southwark, and parts adjacent (London, 1733), p.365
13. ↑ PROB 11/350/32 Will of Thomasin Stanier, Widow 07 January 1676
14. ↑ 'Hearth Tax: City of London 1666, St Andrew Undershaft ', in London Hearth Tax: City of London and Middlesex, 1666 (2011), British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/london-hearth-tax/london-mddx/1666/st-andrew-undershaft, accessed 15 October 2016
15. ↑ James Stanier by Wenceslaus Hollar etching, 1643 5 1/2 in. x 3 3/4 in. (141 mm x 95 mm) plate size Given by the daughter of compiler William Fleming MD, Mary Elizabeth Stopford (née Fleming), 1931 Reference Collection NPG D27905; [XX]
16. ↑ HCA 13/69 Silver 11 f.2r
17. ↑ HCA 13/73 f.730r
18. ↑ HCA 13/69 Silver 12 f.5r
19. ↑ HCA 13/63 f.391r
20. ↑ HCA 13/66 Silver IMG 118 07 2466
21. ↑ HCA 13/69 Silver 1 f.31v
22. ↑ HCA 13/69 Silver 1 f.32v
23. ↑ HCA 13/69 Silver 12 f.1v
24. ↑ HCA 13/71 f.391r
25. ↑ HCA 13/73 f.730r
26. ↑ HCA 13/69 Silver 11 f.2r
27. ↑ London Metropolitan Archives, St Helen Bishopgate, Composite register: baptisms 1575 - 1649, marriage 1575 - 1655, burials 1575 - 1651, P69/HEL/A/001/MS06830, Item 001
28. ↑ London Metropolitan Archives, St Andrew Undershaft, Composite register, 1634 - 1692, P69/AND4/A/001/MS04107, Item 002
29. ↑ London Metropolitan Archives, St Andrew Undershaft, Composite register, 1634 - 1692, P69/AND4/A/001/MS04107, Item 002
30. ↑ London Metropolitan Archives, St Helen Bishopgate, Composite register: baptisms 1649 - 1700, banns 1653, marriages 1666 - 1695, burials 1651 - 1686, P69/HEL/A/002/MS06831, Item 002
31. ↑ John Stow, A survey of the cities of London and Westminster, borough of Southwark, and parts adjacent (London, 1733), p.365
32. ↑ PROB 11/312/556 Will of James Stanier, Merchant of London 29 December 1663