Difference between revisions of "MRP: 20th December 1666, Letter from John Lewis to Sir GO, London"
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John Lewis wrote to Sir George Oxenden from London in a letter dated December 20th, 1666. | John Lewis wrote to Sir George Oxenden from London in a letter dated December 20th, 1666. | ||
| − | The letter had both business and social purposes The primary purpose was to chase up some small investments | + | The letter had both business and social purposes The primary purpose was to chase up some small investments made earlier by Lewis, but he also provided news of the naval war and of the great fire in London. His own house had been spared in the fire, and he was spending Christmas in London, due to foul weather and against his own desire. As a result he was without his family, though his wife was with him, she having come to London for the funeral of her mother. |
The letter writer was probably Sir John Lewis, a senior London merchant and ironmonger. | The letter writer was probably Sir John Lewis, a senior London merchant and ironmonger. | ||
| − | + | He can be clearly identified as the writer of an earlier letter<ref>[[MRP: March 1665/66, Letter from John Lewis to Sir GO|March 1665/66, Letter from John Lewis to Sir GO]]</ref> to Sir George Oxenden, since Sir George Smith wrote an accompanying letter, dated March 24th, 1665/66, stating: | |
''These few lynes are only to accompany the inclosed from S:r John Lewys who now is in Yorkshire''<ref>"24th March 1665/66, Letter from George Smith to Sir GO, London"</ref> | ''These few lynes are only to accompany the inclosed from S:r John Lewys who now is in Yorkshire''<ref>"24th March 1665/66, Letter from George Smith to Sir GO, London"</ref> | ||
| − | Sir John | + | Sir John Lewis had acquired Ledston Hall, in Yorkshire, in about 1660. It was a large property, which had earlier been owned by Thomas Wentworth, 1st earl of Strafford.<ref>'Ledston Hall', IoE 428817, http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=428817, viewed 24/01/12</ref> |
| + | |||
| + | Sir John Lewis (alias Leys) (b. ?, d. ca. 1670) was a London merchant, made knight and baronet in 1660. He was Master of the Ironmongers Company, 1657-58, a member of the Council of Trade in 1660, and of the Council of Foreign Plantations in 1661.<ref>XXX Latham & XXX Mathews, ''XXXX'' (XXXX, XXXX), p. XX</ref> | ||
He was a part-owner of the ship the ''Loyal Merchant'', along with Sir George Oxenden. Sir George Smith and others.<ref>See Bill of Complaint in Court of Chancery by 'S:r John Lewis of London Kn:t and Barronett, S:r James Maddifford Kn:t and Barronett, S:r George Smith of London kn:t S:r George Oxenden Knight Thomas Hussey of London Esq Henry Sparstow of London Esq Daniell Pennington [??] Jonathan Dawes, Phillip Mirell [Mirsell?] and Richard Binly of London Merchants and part owners of the good shipp called the Loyall Merchant of London' ([[MRP: C10/488/141|C10/488/141]])</ref> | He was a part-owner of the ship the ''Loyal Merchant'', along with Sir George Oxenden. Sir George Smith and others.<ref>See Bill of Complaint in Court of Chancery by 'S:r John Lewis of London Kn:t and Barronett, S:r James Maddifford Kn:t and Barronett, S:r George Smith of London kn:t S:r George Oxenden Knight Thomas Hussey of London Esq Henry Sparstow of London Esq Daniell Pennington [??] Jonathan Dawes, Phillip Mirell [Mirsell?] and Richard Binly of London Merchants and part owners of the good shipp called the Loyall Merchant of London' ([[MRP: C10/488/141|C10/488/141]])</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | He was married to Sarah XXXX. "Elizabeth Hastings (1654-1688) was the eldest daughter and coheir of Sir John Lewis, baronet, of Ledstone Hall, Yorkshire, and his wife Sarah (Catherine S. Patterson, "Hastings, Theophilus, seventh earl of Huntingdon (1650-1701)", The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography)."<ref>http://www.warwick.ac.uk/english/perdita/html/ms_HUNHAL16_context.htm, viewed 24/01/12</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Sir John Lewis died in ca. 1670. There is a marble memorial to Sir John and his wife in the parish church All Saints, Ledsham, near Leeds in West Yorkshire.<ref>This is the footnote text</ref> | ||
---- | ---- | ||
| Line 70: | Line 76: | ||
---- | ---- | ||
| + | ===Ledston Hall, Yorkshire=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | "[1712. September.] 27. Morning, read, &c.; then, had Dr. Tomlin-son's company to Ledstone Hall, where most kindly received by the excellent and most pious Lady Elizabeth Hastings, who showed me some valuable books and pictures of relations, both of the Earl of Huntingdon's family and Sir John Lewis's, the benefactors ; amongst other, the Lady Davis's, (the Irish prophetess,) and a treatise of her husband's, (the Attorney-General,) concerning the Immortality of the Soul; these and the agreeable conversation tempted us to stay too long, that we were late enough home ; but, blessed be God, had good weather, (though sore rains this morning,) and tolerable way."<ref>Joseph Hunter (ed.), The diary of Ralph Thoresby, author of the topography of Leeds (1677-1724), 2 vols. (London, 1830), reproduced on website of the Thoresby Society, http://www.thoresby.org.uk/diary/1712.html, viewed 24/01/12</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | ===Ledsham from Fairburn Ings, Yorkshire=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | There is a memorial to Sir John Lewis in the saxon parish church of Ledsham from Fairburn Ings, Yorkshire, withreclining white marble figures of both Sir John Lewis and his wife | ||
| + | |||
| + | See [http://www.flickr.com/photos/hortoris/5473128057/lightbox/ Photograph of Sir John Lewis monument, parish church, Ledsham from Fairburn Ings, Yorkshire] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Effigy of Sir John Lewis holding a skull, All Saints Church, Ledsham, near Leeds, West Yorkshire. | ||
| + | |||
| + | http://www.godsowncounty.co.uk/02/yorkshire/ledsham-from-fairburn-ings/ | ||
| + | ---- | ||
| + | |||
==Possible primary sources== | ==Possible primary sources== | ||
| + | ===TNA=== | ||
| + | |||
| + | C 6/41/65 Short title: Bush v Lewis. Plaintiffs: Edward Bush. Defendants: John Lewis. Subject: money matters, Middlesex. Document type: answer only. 1659 | ||
| + | C 6/192/122 Short title: Wilson v Wilson. Plaintiffs: Richard Wilson. Defendants: Thomas Wilson, Francis Tindall, Sir John Lewis baronet, Sir Joseph Ash baronet and Lewis Palmer. Subject: property in North Wheatley, Nottinghamshire. Document type: bill, answer. 1669 | ||
| + | |||
| + | C 10/69/87 Sir John Lewis baronet and Jane Lewis widow v Josiah Prymate, Jeremy Elwes, Thomas Levett, George Lilbourne, George Grey, George Grey and Cuthbert Morley: Harraton and others, Durham. Answer 1663 | ||
| + | C 10/73/77 Sir John Lewis baronet v Edward Bush: money matters, Middlesex. Bill and answer 1664 | ||
| + | C 10/109/85 Sir John Lewis baronet v Edward Bush: money matters. Answer and demurrer 1665 | ||
| + | C 10/469/170 Sir John Lewis baronet v Edward Bush: money matters, Middlesex. Bill only 1664 | ||
| + | '''C 10/488/141 Sir John Lewis baronet, Sir James Muddiford baronet, Sir George Smith knight, Sir George Oxendon knight, Thomas Hussey and others v Nicholas Millett, William Kennon, George Male, William Stevens, John North, Samuel Roberts and others: money matters, Middlesex. 1666''' | ||
Revision as of 14:59, January 24, 2012
20th December 1666, Letter from John Lewis to Sir GO, London
BL, Add. MS. XX, XXX, ff. ?
Editorial history
06/02/09, CSG: Completed transcription
18/12/11, CSG: Page created
22/12/11, CSG: Posted transcription to wiki
Contents
Abstract & context
John Lewis wrote to Sir George Oxenden from London in a letter dated December 20th, 1666.
The letter had both business and social purposes The primary purpose was to chase up some small investments made earlier by Lewis, but he also provided news of the naval war and of the great fire in London. His own house had been spared in the fire, and he was spending Christmas in London, due to foul weather and against his own desire. As a result he was without his family, though his wife was with him, she having come to London for the funeral of her mother.
The letter writer was probably Sir John Lewis, a senior London merchant and ironmonger.
He can be clearly identified as the writer of an earlier letter[1] to Sir George Oxenden, since Sir George Smith wrote an accompanying letter, dated March 24th, 1665/66, stating:
These few lynes are only to accompany the inclosed from S:r John Lewys who now is in Yorkshire[2]
Sir John Lewis had acquired Ledston Hall, in Yorkshire, in about 1660. It was a large property, which had earlier been owned by Thomas Wentworth, 1st earl of Strafford.[3]
Sir John Lewis (alias Leys) (b. ?, d. ca. 1670) was a London merchant, made knight and baronet in 1660. He was Master of the Ironmongers Company, 1657-58, a member of the Council of Trade in 1660, and of the Council of Foreign Plantations in 1661.[4]
He was a part-owner of the ship the Loyal Merchant, along with Sir George Oxenden. Sir George Smith and others.[5]
He was married to Sarah XXXX. "Elizabeth Hastings (1654-1688) was the eldest daughter and coheir of Sir John Lewis, baronet, of Ledstone Hall, Yorkshire, and his wife Sarah (Catherine S. Patterson, "Hastings, Theophilus, seventh earl of Huntingdon (1650-1701)", The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography)."[6]
Sir John Lewis died in ca. 1670. There is a marble memorial to Sir John and his wife in the parish church All Saints, Ledsham, near Leeds in West Yorkshire.[7]
Suggested links
See March 1665/66, Letter from John Lewis to Sir GO (letter sent with Sir George Smith's letter)
See 24th March 1665/66, Letter from George Smith to Sir GO, London
To do
(1) Check transcription against physical manuscript at BL
(2) Verify the writer is Sir John Lewis. Lewis was a common name and there is no identification of other partners or places
Transcription
This transcription has been completed, but requires checking
[RH SIDE]
London: Decemb: y:e 20:th 1666
Honoured S:r
Having answered yo:s of y:e 6:th March 1664: y:e 16:th ditto 1665, & not having reced any from yo:w since, have at this time little of enlargement, more y:n to ?improve this opportunity by y:e tending of my humble service w:th these ?paxanessingers, & so reitterating former intreaties for y:e dispatching of those small ??Concernmen:ts x:th I made bold to trouble yo:w w:th; if it may ly in my power to make part of a retaliation heere, by any service, amongst many abler friends, yo:w shall find me really greatefull, & sensible of soe greate a kindnes, The not hearing from yo:w by land, as y:e not yet arrivall o:e this years ships puts us into some ?panink feares, but God, I hope, will bless us w:th auspitious tidings of y:m, & prosp: o:e royall Navy, a squadron or 2: being suddenly intended out in quest of o:e Insolent enimies, who hath made a strong Confederacy w;th both french & danes, y:e sad disolation of y:e late merciless fire brought me to towne to look after my pticular Concernmen:ts, & dispose of my house w:tch providence had spared from soe great a Consumaton & am now by fowle weather forced to keepe my Christmas in London, & not w:th my family more y:n my wife,[8] who came heither to y:e buriall of her mother[9], I shall at y:s time in large no more, but to intreate yo:e kinde respect & kindness to ?Lans y:e Comp:a linguister in Persia[10], & I doubt not but yo:w have done him justice in y:e wine business, as was by y:e Comp:a Comended to yo:w; y:e rest is y:e subscription of
[RH SIDE]
S:r
Yo:e most affectionate frend & humble servant
John: Lewis
Notes
Samuel Pepys, Sir John Lewis, Saturday 22 March 1661/62
"At the office all the morning. At noon Sir Williams both and I by water down to the Lewes, Captain Dekins, his ship, a merchantman, where we met the owners, Sir John Lewes and Alderman Lewes, and several other great merchants; among others one Jefferys, a merry man that is a fumbler, and he and I called brothers, and he made all the mirth in the company. We had a very fine dinner, and all our wives’ healths, with seven or nine guns apiece; and exceeding merry we were, and so home by barge"[11]
J.R. Woodhead (1966), Alderman Thomas Lewis
"LEWIS, Thomas
Ald Broad Street, 11-20 Jun 1661, disch, F £620 (1) St Mary Colechurch, 1647, St Helen, 1677 (2) VIN, appr, 1632, to Edward Darling (£300 bond), fr, 1640, L, 1645 (3) f George Lewis of Peckleton, Leic, gent, mar (A) 1647, Frances, da of Ald Zachary Highlord of St Olave Hart Street, (C) Elizabeth, da of Ald Francis Dashwood of St Botolph Bishopsgate, Turkey merchant (4) RAC stock £1,000 of original stock, 1671 (5) Land Bucks (? land agent for Samuel DASHWOOD) (6) MP Wycombe, 1679, 1679-81, 1681, 1689-90 Sheriff of Bucks, 1673-4 (7) ? Dissenter (8) Bro-in-law of Samuel DASHWOOD Son Thomas Lewis, MP Wycombe, 1690-5, 1695-6 (d) (9)
(1) Beaven, I, p 75 (2) Boyd 28161, VBk, St Helen (3) Beaven, I, p 75, VIN, Appr Pres, 6 Nov 1632, Co Bk, 1638-58, ff 11, 184 (4) VIN, Appr Pres, 6 Nov 1632, Boyd 28161, Pink MS 306, f 172, Lipscombe, Buckinghamshire, III, p 654 (5) PRO, T 70/100 (6) Lipscombe, Buckinghamshire, II, p 482, III, pp 653-4 (7) Pink MS 306, f 172 (8) H of L, MS 154 (m) (9) Boyd 14016, Pink MS 306, f 172"[12]
Ledston Hall, Yorkshire
"[1712. September.] 27. Morning, read, &c.; then, had Dr. Tomlin-son's company to Ledstone Hall, where most kindly received by the excellent and most pious Lady Elizabeth Hastings, who showed me some valuable books and pictures of relations, both of the Earl of Huntingdon's family and Sir John Lewis's, the benefactors ; amongst other, the Lady Davis's, (the Irish prophetess,) and a treatise of her husband's, (the Attorney-General,) concerning the Immortality of the Soul; these and the agreeable conversation tempted us to stay too long, that we were late enough home ; but, blessed be God, had good weather, (though sore rains this morning,) and tolerable way."[13]
Ledsham from Fairburn Ings, Yorkshire
There is a memorial to Sir John Lewis in the saxon parish church of Ledsham from Fairburn Ings, Yorkshire, withreclining white marble figures of both Sir John Lewis and his wife
See Photograph of Sir John Lewis monument, parish church, Ledsham from Fairburn Ings, Yorkshire
Effigy of Sir John Lewis holding a skull, All Saints Church, Ledsham, near Leeds, West Yorkshire.
http://www.godsowncounty.co.uk/02/yorkshire/ledsham-from-fairburn-ings/
Possible primary sources
TNA
C 6/41/65 Short title: Bush v Lewis. Plaintiffs: Edward Bush. Defendants: John Lewis. Subject: money matters, Middlesex. Document type: answer only. 1659
C 6/192/122 Short title: Wilson v Wilson. Plaintiffs: Richard Wilson. Defendants: Thomas Wilson, Francis Tindall, Sir John Lewis baronet, Sir Joseph Ash baronet and Lewis Palmer. Subject: property in North Wheatley, Nottinghamshire. Document type: bill, answer. 1669
C 10/69/87 Sir John Lewis baronet and Jane Lewis widow v Josiah Prymate, Jeremy Elwes, Thomas Levett, George Lilbourne, George Grey, George Grey and Cuthbert Morley: Harraton and others, Durham. Answer 1663
C 10/73/77 Sir John Lewis baronet v Edward Bush: money matters, Middlesex. Bill and answer 1664
C 10/109/85 Sir John Lewis baronet v Edward Bush: money matters. Answer and demurrer 1665
C 10/469/170 Sir John Lewis baronet v Edward Bush: money matters, Middlesex. Bill only 1664
- ↑ March 1665/66, Letter from John Lewis to Sir GO
- ↑ "24th March 1665/66, Letter from George Smith to Sir GO, London"
- ↑ 'Ledston Hall', IoE 428817, http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=428817, viewed 24/01/12
- ↑ XXX Latham & XXX Mathews, XXXX (XXXX, XXXX), p. XX
- ↑ See Bill of Complaint in Court of Chancery by 'S:r John Lewis of London Kn:t and Barronett, S:r James Maddifford Kn:t and Barronett, S:r George Smith of London kn:t S:r George Oxenden Knight Thomas Hussey of London Esq Henry Sparstow of London Esq Daniell Pennington [??] Jonathan Dawes, Phillip Mirell [Mirsell?] and Richard Binly of London Merchants and part owners of the good shipp called the Loyall Merchant of London' (C10/488/141)
- ↑ http://www.warwick.ac.uk/english/perdita/html/ms_HUNHAL16_context.htm, viewed 24/01/12
- ↑ This is the footnote text
- ↑ John Lewis' wife was XXXX. See Missing faces
- ↑ John Lewis' mother-in-law was XXXX. See Missing faces
- ↑ CHECK THE NAME. This may be an Armenian. Several years earlier, a letter from the English East India Company in London to Surat had stated: "Wee have received a peticion from one William Bell an Armenian, whoe hath formely lived as an interpreter to Mr William Garway and Mr Buckridge in Persia. Hee hath peticioned to us, to recomend him to you, that hee may bee imployed as one of those for the making of wine in Persia, to which his request wee condiscend, and referr him unto you." ('Company in London to Surat, 10 August 1663, E/3/86 Extract from ff. 150-150v.' in Vahé Baladouni, Margaret Makepeace, Armenian Merchants of the Seventeenth and Early Eighteenth Centuries: English East India Company Sources, (Philadelphia, 1998), p. 54)
- ↑ http://www.pepysdiary.com/archive/1662/03/22/index.php, viewed 24/01/12
- ↑ 'Lewis, Thomas', in J.R. Woodhead, 'Lambert - Lytler', The Rulers of London 1660-1689: A biographical record of the Aldermen and Common Councilment of the City of London (1966), pp. 104-101
- ↑ Joseph Hunter (ed.), The diary of Ralph Thoresby, author of the topography of Leeds (1677-1724), 2 vols. (London, 1830), reproduced on website of the Thoresby Society, http://www.thoresby.org.uk/diary/1712.html, viewed 24/01/12
