MRP: 11th October 1667, Letter from Francis Clarke to Sir GO, London

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11th October 1667, Letter from Francis Clarke to Sir GO, London

BL, Add. MS. XX,XXXX, f. 45

Editorial history

13/12/11, CSG: Created page




Abstract & context


Sir Francis Clarke (b. 1622 or 1623, d. ?1690) wrote to Sir George Oxenden in a letter dated October 11th, 1667, sent from London.

He had written twice before, with letters dated April 7th, 1663, and March 1665/66.[1]

The two men were of similar age; both in their mid-forties at the time of the letter. Sir Francis had been knighted two years previously, but had lost his first wife. Hence his reference in the letter to being "still in my widowers estate."

The letter was a friendly one, with Clarke promising that:

If I make any alteration, yo:w shall know it by ye generall shipps in ye spring, in ye meanetime I kisse yo:e hand most affectionatly, & am You:e trew hearted freind

He probably had a candidate in mind when he wrote these words, since three months later he remarried. His second wife was a thirty year old spinster, Elizabeth Proby, of Mortlake, Surrey.[2]

Clarke's London house was on the south side of Fenchurch Street in the parish of St Gabriel, Fanchurch. It was a relatively modest ten hearth residence.[3] He also had a house in Putney, Surrey (TBC).[4]

Like a number of London merchants, Sir Francis Clarke was from Devon and Dorset born parents. His father was Christopher Clarke, a justice of the peace in Exeter, and his mother, Francis Pitt, was from Weymouth, Dorset.[5]

Steven C.A. Pincus has suggested that Francis Clarke can be regarded as an "Anglican Royalist" amongst the Levant Company committees in 1664:

On 30 March 1664 the Levant Company appointed a committee to report the conditions of their trade to the Commons committee. This committee was dominated by Anglican Royalists - men like Sir George Smith, John Buckworth, Nicholas Penning, Alderman John Langley, Sir Thomas Bludworth, Thomas Vernon, and Francis Clarke.[6]

He died intestate in 1690, at the age of ca. sixty-eight, and was buried at St. Helen's, Bishopsgate, in London.[7]


Suggested links


See 7th April 1663, Letter from Francis Clarke to Sir GO, London
See March 1665/66, Letter from Francis Clarke to Sir GO


To do



Transcription


This transcription has been completed, but requires checking

[BL, Add. MS. XX,XXXX, f. 45]

London ye 11th Octob: 1667

Worthy Sir George Oxinden

Much respected friend, I was not in towne w:n ye generall lre were signed, nor was I willing to lett y:s small shipps pass for Suratt wthout giving yo:w a few lines a acco:t of my healthe & ffamillies w:th a greate mercy a midst these many & great afflictions, it hath pleased god to send amongst us these 2 or 3 latter yeares; now it hath pleased him to give us peace w:th our enimies Ye ffrench & Dutch, & I hope ye parlim:t nowe mett will in love & kindness to o:r King & Kingdome settle ye great affaires, too great comfort & prospirity by w:t I gather ye Comp:a intends considerable stock & shiping this season for India, of w:ch yow will have a good proportion, & I pray god give us yo:w good success in our undertakings, ??p:w freind S:r George Smith[8] departed y:e wourld some few months since, his daughter[9] presently after mared to M:r ffenn,[10]

The last week walking w:th S:r Henry Oxinden,[11] hee discourse was thoug yo:w ware desirous to com for England, I told him getting of mony was a very desirous thing, But he answered me better y:t when twas well, tis enough

I am still in my widowers estate,[12] if I make any alteration, yo:w shall know it by ye generall shipps in ye spring, in ye meanetime I kisse yo:e hand most affectionatly, & am

You:e trew hearted freind
Frances Clarke


Notes

J.R. Woodhead (1966), Francis Clarke (A)


"CLARKE, Francis (A)

Ald Broad Street, 24 Jul-17 Aug 1666, disch, F £420 (1) Little St Helens, 1677, St Helen, 1668, Putney, Surr (2) DR, fr, 1648, by R, M, 1667 and 1687 (3) b 1622, bur 13 Apr 1690, at St Helen (4) PCC Admon, 4 Jun 1690 and 4 Dec 1708 f Christopher Clarke of Exeter, Devon, JP, m Frances Pitt of Weymouth, Dors, mar (A) 1648, Anne, da of William Essington, DR, of London, (B) Elizabeth, da of Henry Proby, Common Serjeant of the City, of Mortlake, Surr (5) Merchant Comm EIC, 1660-73, 1674-5 Co Assis LC, 1664-5 (6) Kt, 31 May 1665 (7) ? Tory, not Whig (8) Cf Francis CLARKE (B)

(1) Beaven, I, p 76 (2) Directory, 1677, Boyd 5671 (3) Beaven, II, p 98, LVP, 1664, p 41 (4) LVP, 1664, p 41, Boyd 5671 (5) LVP, 1664, pp 41-1, Boyd 5671, 9378, 32089 Re m, cf m of Jonathan ASH (6) LVP, 1664, p 41, Directory, 1677, Beaven, II, p 98 (7) Beaven, II, p 98 (8) H of L, MS 154 (f)"[13]


EEIC, 1655-1659


"[July 10, 1657] The following securities are accepted for various goods : William Cockayne, Senior, Thomas Blackerby, Thomas Andrew, Richard Clutterbucke, William Vincent, George Smyth, Francis Clarke, John Tutchin, Jacob Strange, and Robert Ostler"[14]


EEIC, 1660-1663


"[XXXX] Francis Clarke is contracted with to deliver quicksilver aboard the Constantinople Merchant"[15]

I think Francis Clarke was an EIC Committee [WHICH YEARS?] SEE: p. 200, CCM 60-63)


EEIC, 1664-1667


"Sir Francis Clarke and Messrs. Kendall, Paige, and Boone desire that it may be held at Putney, which they leave to his consideration, ' the rather because the sicknesse is much increased the last weeke in Stepney parrish, ..."[16]


Anne Essington


"IGI/family Search

Anne Essington, bur. 29 Nov 1667 [Comment: this is highly unlikely, given that Francis Clarke states in his letter of October 11th, 1667, that he is still a widow]

Father: William Essington, bur, 1649 1649, St. Swithin, London Stone, London

Spouse: Francis Clarke:

Marriage: 24 Jul 1648, Wimbledon, Surrey

Children:

1. Francis Clark, b. 1652, bur. 29 Sep 1700
2. John Clark, d. Yes, date unknown
3. Josias Clark, b. 1662, d. Yes, date unknown
4. Anne Clark, bur. 15 Jun 1724, St. Helen, Bishopsgate, London
5. Sarah Clark, bur. 25 Jun 1727
6. Hester Clarke, bur. 11 Sep 1709, St. Helen, Bishopsgate, London
7. Mary Clark, bur. 19 Jan 1700
8. Alice Clarke, bur. 7 Feb 1713, St. Helen, Bishopsgate, London
9. Frances Clark, bur. 29 Nov 1667
10. Hannah Clark, c. 31 Jul 1663, d. Yes, date unknown"[17]

- Comment: The later burial dates look unlikely


London marriage licences


"Clarke, Sir Francis, of London, kn'ght, widower, about 45, and Elizabeth Proby, of Mortlack, Surrey, spinster, about 30, and at own disposal - at Putney, Surrey. 18 Jan. 1667/8. V"[18]


St Mary, Putney


St Mary, Putney parish register:
Baptisms 1620-1799
Burials 1620-1754
Marriages 1620-1799


Christopher Clarke, Exeter, Devon, d. 1659


"Will of Christopher Clarke dated 1657

Clarke, Christopher, the elder of Exeter, Merchant. Dated 18 SEP 1657.

Admon. cum Test 10 FEB 1678/9 to Sir Francis Clarke Kt. uncle & curator of Samuel Clarke, a lunatic.

To my grandchild Francis C. son of my son Francis C. œ1000 at 21, out of money in my sd. son's hands. To my son-in-law Nicholas Broking & his wife my house & gar den holden of Sr. John Yong, kt. by lease dated 1 OCT 1652 for the rest of my term, my daughter Alice C. to have all my household goods in the sd. house except one scriptory in the study which I give to my son Francis C. To my sd. son Broking & his wife œ20 a year out of my tucking mills until my grandchild Samuel C. son of my son Samuel C. dec'd is 21, & to my grandchild Sarah C. sister of sd. Samuel C. œ20 a year during the same period; & the rest of the rent of the sd. mills being œ9 a year beside the high rent which is 20/- a year to the City, as also the rent of my house wherein Philip Condey dwells in Olave's par: to be for the maintenance & education of my sd. grandchild Samuel C. until he is 21, & then to him absolutely. To my sd. grandchild Samuel C. & heirs male of his body my two houses in Exeter, one in Olave's par: bought of John Follett & others & now in tenure of Philip Condey & the other in par: of Petrock's purchased of Robert & Zachary Taylor wherein Dorothy wife of John Lovering hath a life estate, remr. to my son Francis C. & his heirs male, remr. to my daughters Alice Broking & Margaret Davie & heirs of their bodies. If my sd. grandson Samuel C. dies under 21, my two grandchildren Nicholas & John Broking or either of them surviving him, I give to my grandchild Christopher Broking the remr. of my estate in the sd. mills subject to payment of œ60 to my daughter Margaret Davie. My daughter Broking out of my chest in the fore chamber to take œ50 towards my funeral, œ20 for my daughter Davie, œ15 for my daugher-in-law Sarah C. & her children œ10 for Humphrey Levermore & œ10 for poorof Exeter.
RESIDUE to my grandchild Samuel C. son of my son Samuel C. dec'd. whom I make my exor. Overseers, my son-in-law Mr. Nicholas Broking & Mr. William Davie & my son Francis C. & my nephew Mr. Christopher C. desiring them to see my grandchild well educated both in learning & carriage.
(wit) Humphrey Levermore, Otho Bastard, Edward Eveligh, John Elwill.
(P.C.C. 15 King)"[19]


Possible primary sources


C 6/86/1 Short title: Clarke v Teddar. Plaintiffs: Sir Francis Clarke kt. Defendants: John Teddar. Subject: money matters, Middlesex. Document type: bill, answer. 1679

PROB 11/171 Pile 43-89 Will of John Clarke, Merchant of Exeter, Devon 07 May 1636
PROB 11/197 Twisse 102-148 Will of Robert Clarke, Fuller of Exeter, Devon 07 July 1646
PROB 11/359 King 1-65 Will of Christopher Clarke, Merchant of Exeter, Devon 10 February 1679


Possible secondary sources


W. Bruce Bannerman, The parish register of Putney, in the county of Surrey, vols. 1-3 (Croydon, 1913)

- No Internet Archive copy
  1. ↑ 7th April 1663, Letter from Francis Clarke to Sir GO, London; March 1665/66, Letter from Francis Clarke to Sir GO
  2. ↑ "Clarke, Sir Francis, of London, kn'ght, widower, about 45, and Elizabeth Proby, of Mortlack, Surrey, spinster, about 30, and at own disposal - at Putney, Surrey. 18 Jan. 1667/8. V" (Joseph Foster (ed.), London marriage licences, 1521-1869 (London, 1887), p. 283)
  3. ↑ 'Hearth Tax: City of London 1666: Saintt Gabrill Fanchurch ', London Hearth Tax: City of London and Middlesex, 1666 (2011). URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=118504 Date accessed: 07 February 2012
  4. ↑ This is the footnote text
  5. ↑ 'Clarke, Francis (A)', in J.R. Woodhead, 'Cade - Cutler', The Rulers of London 1660-1689: A biographical record of the Aldermen and Common Councilment of the City of London (1966)
  6. ↑ Steven C. A. Pincus, Protestantism and Patriotism: Ideologies and the Making of English Foreign Policy, 1650-1668 (Cambridge, 1996), p. 242
  7. ↑ J.R. Woodhead, 'Cade - Cutler', The Rulers of London 1660-1689: A biographical record of the Aldermen and Common Councilment of the City of London (1966)
  8. ↑ Sir George Smith, London Merchant. He died in XXXX. See XXXXX for a report of his death
  9. ↑ Katherine Smith, Sir George Smith's only daughter
  10. ↑ Alderman John Fenn, London merchant, an associate of Captain George Cocke, married Katherine Smith
  11. ↑ Sir Henry Oxenden, elder brother of Sir George Oxenden. Sir Henry Oxenden had taken over as Sir George Oxenden's London agent, following the death of their sister Elizabeth Dallison in ?March 1666
  12. ↑ Sir Francis Clarke's deceased wife was XXX. See Missing faces
  13. ↑ 'Clarke, Francis (A)', in J.R. Woodhead, 'Cade - Cutler', The Rulers of London 1660-1689: A biographical record of the Aldermen and Common Councilment of the City of London (1966)
  14. ↑ 'A Court of Committees for the United Joint Stock, July 10, 1657' (XXXX, p. 579) in CCM 55-59, p. ?
  15. ↑ XXXX, probably Feb 1661, CCM 60-63, p. 90
  16. ↑ 'XXX', in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A calendar of court minutes, etc. of the East India company 1664-1667 (Oxford, 1925), p. 161
  17. ↑ http://histfam.familysearch.org/getperson.php?personID=I73107&tree=London, viewed 07/02/12
  18. ↑ Joseph Foster (ed.), London marriage licences, 1521-1869 (London, 1887), p. 283
  19. ↑ 'Devon, England, Clarks, submitted by David Goodwin; http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lksstarr/reports/devonclk.txt, viewed 07/02/12

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