MRP: 20th March 1662/63, Letter from Ralph Flyer to Sir GO, London

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20th March 1662/63, Letter from Ralph Flyer to Sir GO, London

BL, Add. MS. XX, XXX f. 33

Editorial history

22/05/09, CSG: Completed transcription
14/12/11, CSG: Created page & posted transcription to wiki






Abstract & context


Ralph Flyer wrote a letter to Sir George Oxenden dated March 20th, 1662/63, sent from London.

In the letter he asked Oxenden for assistance in the administration of the estate of his brother Edward Flyer, who had died in the Company's service in Gombroone. His unnamed father had resigned the administration in favour of him. He wrote at the suggestion of John Jolliffe and "some other my good ffreinds of y:e Hon:ble Comp:a."

Ralph Flyer, the author of this letter to Sir George Oxenden, does not himself appear to have been a merchant and his name does not appear in the calendars of the English East India Company court minutes.

His brother, Edward, had previously been appointed as the number three in the Deccan factory, under Henry Revington, though he was almost immediately reallocated to the Surat factory, in March 1658, to replace John Gray.[1]

It is probable that the letter writer, Ralph Flyer (b. ca. 1628, d. 1685, or 1686), was a doctor of physic, who was ?later a senior fellow of King's College, Cambridge.[2] A description and pedigree of the Flyer family of Hertfordshire shows that Dr Ralph Flyer was the third of seven sons of the London merchant Francis Flyer and of Martha Boothby, daughter of Thomas Boothby of London, Esquire. The fourth son was named Edward Flyer, though no further details are given in the pedigree. The family was armigerous.[3]

John Jolliffe, the merchant friend Ralph Flyer mentioned in his letter to Sir George Oxenden, was married to Rebecca Boothby (b. 1633/34, d. 1674). Jolliffe was well known to Sir George Oxenden, having been a subscriber in the Smirna Venture Joint Stock. Jolliffe's wife, Rebecca, was the daughter of Walter Boothby (b. 1600, d. ?1669), a London merchant, haberdasher, and alderman, who was of Tottenham, Middlesex.[4] Rebecca's aunt, Martha Boothby (b. 1596, d. 1658), the sister of Walter Boothby, had married Francis Flyer (b. ?, d. 1678), father to Dr Ralph Flyer and to Edward Flyer.[5]

It is possible that Ralph Flyer and John Jolliffe were both resident in the parish of St Martins Outwich at the time of writing. Preparing his will in 1679, Jolliffe referred to "now dwelling house in the said Parish of St. Martin-Outwich in London." When, in the same year, Dr Ralph Flyer gave permission for his niece to marry, her parents being dead, the marriage was at St. Martin Outwich.[6]

The accompanying description to the pedigree provides a profile of Francis Flyer, the father of Ralph and Edward. He was a younger son of the London merchant Mathew Flyer.[7] Following Mathew Flyer's death, his mother remarried another London merchant, William Freeman. He raised Francis Flyer as a merchant under his brother, Sir Ralph Freeman, sending him to Aleppo for nine years. Francis Flyer appears to have become a substantial merchant, retaining his interest in Turkish trade. A mercer, he was elected twice as Master of the Mercer's Company of London, and was also an Alderman and Sheriff of London.[8]

Francis Flyer purchased Brent Pelham Hall in Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire as his country home, the Flyer family having historical links to both Devon and Uttoxeter in Staffordshire. A plate accompanying the article on the Flyer family shows Brent Pelham Hall as of 1826. As shown, the building was constructed in the form of an E, and was eight bays wide (including the wings).

The eldest son of Francis Flyer was Thomas Flyer (b. ca. 1622, d. ca. 1659), brother to Ralph and Edward. His marriage licence shows that described himself as a gentleman and that he was born ca. 1622.[9] Dr Ralph Flyer was born ca. 1628.[10] However, no birth dates have emerged for their younger brothers.

William Isaacson also wrote to Sir George Oxenden in a letter dated March 24th 1662/63, sent from London, and enclosing the letter form Ralph Flyer. He described him as "Mr. Flyer", rather than "Doctor," so the tentative identification of Ralph Flyer with a doctor of physic in Cambridge may be wrong:

Inclosed are fromm one M:r fflyer whose Broth:r dyed in psia Somew:t was left in M:r Mathew Gray’s hands w:ch he Advised his bro:r of; It seemes M:r Flyer hath made meanes w:th y:e Comp:a y:t what lyes in Surr:tt (belonging to him now) may be putt into theire hands to pay him ?here when they shall know what y:e Amo:t wilbe, he desires yo:r Worp: s Assistance & to y:t and hath sent y:e enclosed[11]



Suggested links


See Dr Ralph Flyer will

See Gombroon
See Surat



To do


(1) Check transcription against physical manuscript at BL.

(2) Look at the will of Ralph Flyer, doctor of physic. King's College, Cambridge

(3) Look at Alumni Cantagbrigiensis for Ralph Flyer

(4) When did Francis Flyer purchase Brent Pelham Hall?

(5) Look at PROB 11/286 Pell 1-49 Will of Thomas Flyer of Brent Pelham, Hertfordshire 11 January 1659 (possibly the elder brother of Dr Ralph Flyer and Edward Flyer, and heir of Francis Flyer, London merchant)

(6) Check XXX to see if Francis Flyer subscribed to the Massachusetts Bay Company in 1629



Images

Brent Pelham Hall, Chauncy, 2nd edn. 1826 (orig. 1700)


BOOK PLATE Chauncy Brent Pelh Hall Hert 1826 Betw280281 IArch DL CSG 070212.PNG



Brent Pelham Hall, Page, 1914


BOOK ENGRAVING VCHHert Brent Pelham Hall Page W 1902 IArch DL CSG 070212.PNG



St Martin Outwich, London, North East prospect, Bannerman, 1905


BOOK ENGRAVING Bannerman St Mart Outw NEProsp Registers 1905 IArch DL CSG 070212.PNG



Image credits & copyright information


(1) 'Brent Pelham Hall', stone engraving, C.L. Tyler, plate, betw, pp. 280 & 281 in Henry Chauncy, The historical antiquities of Hertforshire, vol. 1 (Bishops Stortford, 1826)[12]

(2) 'Brent Pelham Hall', engraving, anon, in William Page, The Victoria history of the county of Hertfordshire, vol. 4 (London, 1914), p. ?[13]

(3) 'North East prospect of St. Martin Outwich', plate, in W. Bruce Bannerman, The registers of St. Martin Outwich (London, 1905), betw. pp. vii & 1[14]



Transcription


This transcription has been completed , but requires checking

[BL, Add. MS. XX, XXX f. 33]

Hon:d Sir

I have beene psuad:d by M:r John Jollyfe[15] & some other my good ffreinds of y:e Hon:ble Comp:a to give you y:e Trouble of this lre humbly begging of you y:t you wold be pleased to call into yo:r hands all goods, or proceed of goods, belonging to my Bro:r Edward Flyer deceased at Gombroone & to give me Creditt in y:e Comp:a Bookes for w:t shall be receaved, I having Administered by my ffathers[16] consent, w:t I suppose y:e hon:ble Comp:a lres will make mention of, S:r by y:e last Shipp s from Surr:t M:r Mat: Gray[17] (to whome I am pticulerly oblidg:d for it) sent me an Acco:t of: 4667:ma:d 9pitie, in his hands & some small things he had not then Sold, & I am Informed by M:r Buckridge[18] y:t M:r Randolph Taylor[19] is indebted to my Bro:r for y:e proceed of 10:ba:e of Ruinas sold at Rajap:o to good proffitt w:ch were bought of M:r Buckridge for 3000:shas, S:r you will forever in a most speciall man:r oblidge yo:r Serv:t in takeing these things mentioned, & whatsoever else you shall find due to my Bro:r Edw:d[20] in any psons hands in yo:r possession & giveing me Creditt for ?y:em, who humbly begs yo:r pardon For this bold Trouble wishing you all prosperities

Hon:d Sir
Yo:r most humble Serv:t
Ralph Flyer



Notes

Ralph Flyer

Ralph Flyer was possibly a doctor of physic at King's College, Cambridge

See PROB 11/379 Cann 1-51 Will of Ralph Flyer, Doctor in Physic of Kings College University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire 11 February 1685

"Ralph Flyer, A.M. 1652, was born in London, and became M.D. He afterwards travelled in France and Italy."[21]

"Jackson, Issac, of Stepney, Middlesex, silkthrower, widower, and Margaret Washington, of Euen, co. Herts, spinster, 20, her parents dead, she at the disposal of her uncle and guardian, Ralph Flyer, doctor of physic, senior fellow of King's College, Cambridge, who consents - at St. Martin Outwich, London. 7 June, 1679. F."[22]



Edward Flyer

EEIC, 1655-1659


"[January 1658] In the Deccan: Henry Revington to be Chief, Robert Herbert second, Edward Flyer third, Randolph Taylor fourth, and Richard Taylor fifth."[23]

"[March 1658] Edward Flyer, to take the place of John Gray at Surat"[24]



=EFI, 1655-1660


"XXXXentrusted to the care of Randolph Taylor and Edward Flyer, with whom went Richard Napier and Philip Giffard. A factor named Robert Ferrand was already at Rājāpur, providing goods on the Company's account; and he, with Napier and Giffard, was to proceed with this task, while Taylor and Flyer sailed further along the coast to buy pepper and cardamoms. On the return voyage XXXX"[25]



Thomas Flyer


"Flyer, Thomas, of Burnt Pelham, Herts, gent, bachelor, 27, and Elizabeth Mustars, of same, spinster, 21, at her own disposal, her father dead - at Burnt Pelham aforesaid, or St. Mary, Aldermanbury, London. 2 March, 1648/49. F."[26]

- See possibly PROB 11/286 Pell 1-49 Will of Thomas Flyer of Brent Pelham, Hertfordshire 11 January 1659
- See also possible second son of Thomas Flyer: PROB 11/363 Bath 60-123 Will of Thomas Flyer, Gentleman of University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire 27 June 1680



Richard Flyer


A Richard Flyer's name appears on a list of members of English merchants at Aleppo in a letter addressed to Winchelsea, dated March 18th 1661/62[27]

- This conceivably could be the sixth son of the London merchant Francis Flyer, and the younger brother of Dr Ralph Flyer and Edward Flyer (who died in Persia and who is referred to in the letter from Ralph Flyer to Sir George Oxenden)



Visitation of England and Wales, 1893


XXXX[28]



Funeral wall monument, Catharine Floyer, 1758, Brent Pelham, Herfordshire


""To the memory of her dear relations by the will of Catharine Floyer 1758
This family was settled soon after the conquest at Floyers Hayes near Exeter..from whence after many generations their fear was removed by an eldest son to Dorsetshire.
The descendents from a younger branch have long flourished in Staffordshire, an eldest son of which house MATTHEW, whose father was RICHARD of Hints.. traveling into Turky became useful to his country and family by promotin the beneficial trade in its infant state and raising such a fortune as enabled his son treading in the footsteps of his father to purchase this manor of Brent Pelham with others and here settle.
MATTHEW married ELIZABETH CROWCH of Corney-bury afterwards wife to WILLIAM FREMAN of Aspeden
He died 1596 leaving his eldest son FRANCIS his heir married to MARTHA BOOTHBY of Essex by whom he had 6 younger sons all deceased without issue and 3 daughters ELIZABETH married to ADAM WASHINGTON, MARTHA to EDWARD CASON, and JANE to SIR HENRY CHAUNCY. His death in 1678 and his eldest son was THOMAS who married ELIZABETH MUSTERS of London and by her had one younger son and 2 daughters all deceased single. He died 1659 and was succeeded by FRANCIS his eldest son who having lost his parents in his tender years was much obliged to his grandfather for a prudent and liberal education, the great benefit whereof he shewed by well performing the duties of mature life.....&quot

(Francis Flyer / Floyer 1648 High Sherriff of Hertfordshire in 1648 was a merchant, twice master of the mercers' company, alderman and sheriff of the City of London. He lived in Brent Pelham Hall and died leaving an annuity of £7 16s for weekly distribution of bread to the poor.
His granddaughter Catherine Floyer died single in 1758 left bequest to the poor.
The inscriptions finishes with -
"Reader having passed through so many scenes of this short state, reflect now seriously upon thy own and carry on thy gravest most resolving thoughts to the never ceasing duration of Eternity"."[29]



IGI/Family Search


"Francis Floyer (alias Flier, Flyer, Floer) (sic)
Birth: St. Katherine Coleman, London
Chr: 6 Jun 1591, St. Lawrence, Jewry, London
Bur: 28 Sep 1678, Brent Pelham, Hertfordshire

Father: Mathew Flyer: bur. 23 Jun 1596, St. Olave, Hart Street, London
Mother: Elizabeth Crouch, chr: c. 4 Jan 1566, St. Lawrence, Jewry, London; bur: 17 Jun 1633, Aspenden, Hertfordshire

Mar: Martha Boothby; chr. 27 Aug 1596, St. Antholin, Budge Row, London; bur: 25 Dec 1658, Brent Pelham, Hertfordshire"[30]

- Note: The birth order of the children does not match Henry Chauncy, The historical antiquities of Hertfordshire, vol. 1 (Bishops Stortford, 1826), pp. 281-282



Possible image sources


'2401 Brent Pelham Hall and Church, with arms of Francis Flyer, interesting bird's-eye view by J. Drapentier, 1700, 16 by 111/2.-in., 7s 6d', in Walter V. Daniell, Frederick J. Nield, Manual of British topography (London, 1909), p. 65[31]
- Reference only; no image



Possible primary sources

Parliamentary Archives


Parliamentary Archives: Records of the Parliament Office, House of Lords HL/PO 1497-: Main Papers HL/PO/JO/10/1/38 7 Feb 1629 - 18 Jun 1629:
- 10 February 1629 -- Petition of Francis Flyer, merchant, praying to be discharged from further liability to the creditors of the Muscovy Company, having paid to Alderman Ducie the sum required of him by the order of the House.



TNA


C 2/ChasI/B105/49 Short title: Bladwell v Flyer. Plaintiff: Bladwell. Defendant: Flyer and others. Document type: Answer. 1625-1660

PROB 11/135 Soame 1-64 Will of Mathew Flyer, Merchant of London 22 January 1620
PROB 11/286 Pell 1-49 Will of Thomas Flyer of Brent Pelham, Hertfordshire 11 January 1659
PROB 11/324 carr 59-116 Will of Sir Ralph Freeman of East Betchworth 29 August 1667
PROB 11/330 Coke 57-107 Will of Walter Boothby of Tottenham High Cross, Middlesex 15 July 1669

PROB 11/379 Cann 1-51 Will of Ralph Flyer, Doctor in Physic of Kings College University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire 11 February 1685
  1. 'A Court of Committees for the New General Stock, January 13-13, 1658' (Court Book, vol. xxiv, p. 51), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A calendar of the court minutes of the East India Company, 1655-1659 (Oxford, 1916), p. 212; 'A Court of Committees for the New General Stock, March 8, 1658' (Court Book, vol. xxiv, p. 84, in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A calendar of the court minutes of the East India Company, 1655-1659 (Oxford, 1916), p. 237
  2. PROB 11/379 Cann 1-51 Will of Ralph Flyer, Doctor in Physic of Kings College University of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire 11 February 1685
  3. Henry Chauncy, The historical antiquities of Hertfordshire, vol. 1 (Bishops Stortford, 1826), pp. 281-282
  4. 'Pedigree of Boothby', in Frederick Arthur Crisp (ed.), Visitation of England and Wales, Notes, vol. 12 (London, 1917), p. 150
  5. 'Pedigree of Boothby', in Frederick Arthur Crisp (ed.), Visitation of England and Wales, Notes, vol. 12 (London, 1917), p. 149
  6. "Jackson, Issac, of Stepney, Middlesex, silkthrower, widower, and Margaret Washington, of Euen, co. Herts, spinster, 20, her parents dead, she at the disposal of her uncle and guardian, Ralph Flyer, doctor of physic, senior fellow of King's College, Cambridge, who consents - at St. Martin Outwich, London. 7 June, 1679. F."(Joseph Foster (ed.), London marriage licences, 1521-1869 (London, 1887), p. ?)
  7. Probably PROB 11/135 Soame 1-64 Will of Mathew Flyer, Merchant of London 22 January 1620
  8. Henry Chauncy, The historical antiquities of Hertforshire, vol. 1 (Bishops Stortford, 1826), pp. 280-281
  9. Joseph Foster (ed.), London marriage licences, 1521-1869 (London, 1887), p. ?
  10. Ralph Flyer's floor slab states that he died ?20 January 1685 in his fifty-eighth year (Robert Willis, The architectural history of the University of Cambridge, and of the colleges of Cambridge and Eton (Cambridge, 1886), p. 589)
  11. 24th March 1662/63, Letter from William Isaacson to Sir GO, London
  12. 'Brent Pelham Hall', stone engraving, C.L. Tyler, plate, betw, pp. 280 & 281 in Henry Chauncy, The historical antiquities of Hertforshire, vol. 1 (Bishops Stortford, 1826)
  13. 'Brent Pelham Hall', engraving, anon, in William Page, Victoria County History of Hertfordshire, vol. 4 (London, 1902), p. 95
  14. 'North East prospect of St. Martin Outwich', plate, in W. Bruce Bannerman, The registers of St. Martin Outwich (London, 1905), betw. pp. vii & 1
  15. John Jolliffe, London merchant. He was subscriber to the SVJS
  16. Father of Ralph and Edward Flyer is unknown, though he may have been the London merchant Francis Flyer, whose country residence was Brent Pelham Hall, Bishop's Stortford, in Hertfordshire. See Missing faces
  17. Mathew Gray
  18. Probably Nicholas Buckeridge
  19. Randolph Taylor
  20. Edward Flyer was XXXX. See Missing faces
  21. [XXXX Alumni etonenses: or, A catalogue of the provosts & fellows of Eton College & King's College, Cambridge, from the foundation in 1443 to the year 1797 : Thomas Harwood, Alumni etonenses: or, A catalogue of the provosts & fellows of Eton College & King's College, Cambridge, from the foundation in 1443 to the year 1797 (Birmingham, ?1797), p. 242]
  22. Joseph Foster (ed.), London marriage licences, 1521-1869 (London, 1887), p. ?
  23. 'A Court of Committees for the New General Stock, January 13-13, 1658' (Court Book, vol. xxiv, p. 51), in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A calendar of the court minutes of the East India Company, 1655-1659 (Oxford, 1916), p. 212
  24. A Court of Committees for the New General Stock, March 8, 1658' (Court Book, vol. xxiv, p. 84, in Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A calendar of the court minutes of the East India Company, 1655-1659 (Oxford, 1916), p. 237
  25. William Foster, English Factorires om India, 1655-1660 (Oxford, XXXX), p. 152
  26. Joseph Foster (ed.), London marriage licences, 1521-1869 (London, 1887), p. ?
  27. 'The factory at Aleppo to the Earl of Winchelsea, 1661[-2], March 18', in H.M.C., Report on the manuscripts of Allan George Finch. Esq.. of Burley-on-the-hill, Rutland, vol. 1 (London, 1913), p. 182
  28. 'Pedigree of Boothby', in Frederick Arthur Crisp (ed.), Visitation of England and Wales, Notes, vol. 12 (London, 1917), pp. 149-150
  29. http://www.flickr.com/photos/52219527@N00/4856537712/, viewed 07/02/12
  30. http://histfam.familysearch.org/getperson.php?personID=I69897&tree=London, viewed 07/02/12
  31. '2401 Brent Pelham Hall and Church, with arms of Francis Flyer, interesting bird's-eye view by J. Drapentier, 1700, 16 by 11½.-in., 7s 6d', in Walter V. Daniell, Frederick J. Nield, Manual of British topography (London, 1909), p. 65