MRP: 2nd October 1667, Letter from John Portman to Sir GO, London

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2nd October 1667, Letter from John Portman to Sir GO, London

BL, Add. MS. XX, XXXX, ff. 20-21

Editorial history

13/12/11, CSG: Created page




Abstract & context


John Portman (b. ?, d. 1683) wrote to Sir George Oxenden from London in a letter dated October 2nd, 1667.

Although the precise London location was not specified in the letter, John Portman's pre-1666 fire business location was "Greate Lumbard streete...Street syde", where he had an eight hearth residence, adjacent to fellow goldsmith Charles Everard, and close to the goldsmith Edward Backwell, Esquire.[1]

He was on friendly terms with Sir George Oxenden. They were both from Kent: John Portman being born at Tunstall, near Sittingbourne, in Kent, and Sir George Oxenden at Wingham, in Kent. Portman's first wife, Joane Munns, was also from Kent. Hence Portman's signature:

Yo:r Affectionate ffriend & Cuntryman,
 to serve yo:w
Jo:n Portman

Portman had intended a cask of wine for Oxenden, but:

By reason of y:e troubles & her voyage not proceeding, I was fforced to take home & spend in my owne house in Comp:a of sume ffreinds off yo:e & mine whose Names att presant I thinke fitt to conceale

Why Portman chose to concel his drinking partners, friends of both Portman and Oxenden, is unclear. Perhaps one was Sir William Ryder, who had commercial links to Portman and who had written earlier to encourage Sir George Oxenden to help Portman's son.[2]

In his letter John Portman thanked Sir George Oxenden for Oxenden's letter to him dated September 10th, 1666, which dealt with a possible passage of his son John Portman Junior to the East Indies. By October 1667, John Portman Junior may already have been in Surat, since an earlier letter from Sir William Ryder to Sir George Oxenden mentioned John Portman's son, and the help that Oxenden was providing:

Pray yo:w to shew kindness to M:r Jn:o Portmans son who went on y:e Affrican as I am Informed[3]

John Portman hints at some difficulties his son was in before he left England, writing:

Y:e Cause of his removall from hence still remanes, so y:t if hee should returne hether wee Could looke upon him but as a Child lost & utterly ruined for ever

He added:

I doe not doubt but yo:w have been pleased to Consider our Condition as parents to a sonn for whom wee once had feare

It appears from Portman's letter of October 2nd, 1667, that Oxenden had agreed to accept John Portman's son, John Portman junior, as a personal servant in Surat, with the possibility that he might be taken on by the Company.

Portman wrote in a postscriptum:

I am informed y:t if yo:w finde my sonn fitt for y:e Comp:a service y:t yo:w have power to imploy him but if yo:w thinke it Convenient for me to addres y:e Comp:a I am informed yo:r lreoff recommendation is y:e reddiest meanes to offert itt

John Portman [junior] remained in the East Indies until his death, circa 1671 or 1672. He was posted from Surat to Queddah (alias Kedah) in 1669, to serve as number two under George Davies. The factory at Queddah had been failing commercially, but its performance made worse by the deaths of both Davies and then Portman.[4]

John Portman [senior] eventually received his son's due wages of £40, but there was a lawsuit over his son's probate[5]

John Portman senior engaged in a broad range of commercial activities, more so perhaps than some other London goldsmiths. For example, he was involved together with London merchants in the ownership of ships. In 1652, his name appeared alongside that of Sir William Ryder, James Modyford, Robert and Jonathan Dawes, Phillip Scarth, John Robinson, Isaac Taylor, and the executors of Abraham ?Moace and Thomas Hodges as a part-owner of the Thomas and William of London. This was a substantial four hundred and forty four tun ship.[6] He also invested in new merchant ventures. In 1670, his name appeared on the Charter of the Hudson's Bay Company, adjacent to that of John Fenn, a London merchant who had married Sir George Smith's only daughter, Katherine Smith.[7]


Suggested links


See 25th March 1666/67, Letter from John Portman to Sir GO, London


To do


(1) Check the transcription

(2) Transcribe John Portman's earlier letter (25th March 1666/67, Letter from John Portman to Sir GO, London)

(3) Look again at the post stop of the Exchequer account books of John Portman. How did the deposit and lending business of John Portman compare in terms of scale, customer number, and customer and lending character?[8]

(4) Look at a couple of additional Chancery cases involving John Portman[9]

(5) Look at probate suit documents regarding the estate of John Portman's son[10]


Transcription


[f. 20]

Honoured S:r
London ye 2d of October 1667

In my last[11] unto yo:w wth was by ye shipp Charles Capt Samuell Smithe[12] Commander) I gave yo:w Acc:tt of ye receipt of yo of ye 10th off Sept) w:ch did Assure me of so greate kindness shewed by yo: self unto my son,[13] if y:t did afford greate measure of satisfaction to myselfe & my over much afflicted wife,[14] our hopes being y:t God will overt his heart soe to behave himselfe by his dutyfull Carriage & deportment towards yo:w as may ever demonstrate his thankfullnes ffor ye greate ffavours he hath received from yo:w for ye w:ch both myself & my wife

[f.21]

doe send yo:w reall Cordiall thankes & doe Humbly begg ye Continuance of kindness towards him & Care of him, ffor y:e Cause of his removall from hence still remanes, so y:t if hee should returne hether wee Could looke upon him but as a Child lost & utterly ruined for ever; I shall ad noe more for I doe not doubt but yo:w have been pleased to Consider our Condition as parents to a sonn for whom wee once had feare to Great a Measure of Affaction

Y:e Caske of wine w:ch I intended to have sent by y:e London by reason of y:e troubles & her voyage not proceeding, I was fforced to take home & spend in my owne house in Comp:a of sume ffreinds off yo:e & mine whose Names att presant I thinke fitt to conceale,[15] I had to short warning ??recruited y:m by this Vessell, but have sent yo:w as a token of mine and my wifes thankfullness A Meddall of our king[16] whome God grant long to reign of fine Gold refined to y:e weight, weying About 4:oz they are very rare here in England, being Judged, to be good peeces of arte for Workemanshipp, off which I humbly pray yo:r Acceptance ffrom him who shall ever endeavor to approve himselfe to be , deare

S:r
Yo:r Affectionate ffriend &
Cuntryman[17] to serve yo:w
Jo:n Portman

S:r

I am informed y:t if yo:w finde my sonn fitt for y:e Comp:a service y:t yo:w have power to imploy him but if yo:w thinke it Convenient for me to addres y:e Comp:a I am informed yo:r lreoff recommendation is y:e reddiest meanes to offert itt

The box on y:e one side is dyrected to yo:rselfe & marked one y:e other side GIO
w:ch yow may please to demand of Capt Barker[18]

The other gold I intreat yo:w
to deliver to my sonn: w:ch I
have directed him to receave
from yo:r hands


Notes

J.R. Woodhead (1966), John Portman


"PORTMAN, John

Co Co Langborn, 1670-7, Dep, 1673-7 'The Unicorn', Lombard Street, 1644-63 (cf Charles EVERARD), St Mary Woolnoth, 1641, 1674, St Bride, 1670-83 (1) GOLD, appr, 1628, to William Tomson, fr, 1636 (2) d 2 Dec 1683, in the Fleet prison, bur St Mary Woolnoth (3) f Christopher Portman of Tunstall, Kent, yeo, m Joanne, da of John Munns of Mundeboys, Kent, mar (A) Elizabeth, (B) Mary, da of Philip Wergan of Dean, Glouc (4) Goldsmith and banker £76,760 involved in the Stop of the Exchequer 1672 (5) RAG stock £1,500 of original stock, 1671 (6) Son George Portman mar Margaret, da of Thomas WEARGE (7)

(1) Heal, London Goldsmiths, p 226, SBk, Jul-Oct 1674, LVP, 1664, p 112 (2) Boyd 26837, GOLD, Appr Reg, I, f 288, Index of Appr (3) Boyd 26837, Hilton Price, Hand- book, p 131 (4) GOLD, Appr Reg, I, f 288, LVP, 1664, p 112 (5) Heal, London Goldsmiths, p 226, Hilton Price, Handbook, p 131 (6) PRO, T 70/100 (7) Boyd 26837, 26838, 43348[19]


St Mary Woolnoth, London, hearth tax, 1666


"Greate Lumbard streete North syde

Sr Robert Vyner 11 hearths

John Colville 9 hearths

Streete syde

Esqr Edward Backwell 13 hearths

John Portman 8 hearths
Charles Everard 9 hearths

Esqr Isaack Menell 7 hearths"[20]


John Portman, goldsmith, Hudson's Bay company


"THE CHARTER FOR INCORPORATING THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY


Granted by His Majesty King Charles the Second, in the 22nd Year of his Reign, A.D. 1670


Charles the Second By the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faith &c

To All to whome these presentes shall come greeting

Whereas Our Deare and entirely Beloved cousin Prince Rupert Count Palatyne of the Rhyne Duke of Bavaria and Cumberland &c Christopher Duke of Albemarle William Earle of Craven Henry Lord Arlington Anthony Lord Ashley Sir John Robinson and Sir Robert Vyner Knightes and Baronettes Sir Peter Colliton Baronett Sir Edward Hungerford Knight of the Bath Sir Paul Neele Knight Sir John Griffith and Sir Phillipp Carteret Knightes James Hayes John Kirke Francis Millington William Prettyman John Fenn Esquires and John Portman Cittizen and Goldsmith of London have at theire owne great cost and charge undertaken an

Expedicion for Hudsons Bay in the North west part of America for the discovery of a new Passage into the South Sea and for the finding some Trade for Furrs Mineralls and other considerable Commodityes and by such theire undertaking have already made such discoveryes as doe encourage them to proceed further in pursuance of theire said designe by meanes whereof there may probably arise very great advantage to us and our Kingdome

...Doe give grant ratifie and confirme unto our said Cousin Prince Rupert Christopher Duke of Albemarle William Earle of Craven Henry Lord Arlington Anthony Lord Ashley Sir John Robinson Sir Robert Vyner Sir Peter Colleton Sir Edward Hungerford Sir Paul Neile Sir John Griffith and Sir Phillipp Carterett James Hayes John Kirke Francis Millington William Prettyman John Fenn and John Portman That they and such others as shall bee admitted into the said Society as is hereafter expressed shall bee one Body Corporate and Politique in deed and in name by the name of the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England tradeing into Hudsons Bay and them by the name of the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England tradeing into Hudsons Bay one Body Corporate and Politique in deede and in name really and fully for ever for us our heirs and successors"[21]


Sir Stephen White, pearl necklace & diamond locket, from John Portman, 1678


"ITEM I give and bequeath unto my Neice Susanna Orme One necklace of Pearles contayning ffifty and One Large Pearls Together with a Lockett or XXXX sett with diamonds belonging unto the said necklace of Pearls The which I formerly bought of Jn:e Portman and paid one hundred and ffoure xxxx pounds for the same"[22]


Possible primary sources

TNA


C 5/540/23 Portman v. Gipps: Middlesex. 1676

C 6/151Pt2/28 Short title: Moudiford v Greaves. Plaintiffs: James Moudiford, Robert Dawes, Jonathan Dawes, William Rider, John Portman and Philip Scarth. Defendants: Abraham Greaves, Sarah Greaves his wife and Richard Hutchinson. Subject: money matters, Middlesex. Document type: answer only. 1659
C 6/161/102 Short title: Startute v Portman. Plaintiffs: William Startute. Defendants: John Portman. Subject: money matters, Middlesex. Document type: bill, answer. 1663
C 6/206/34 Short title: Herbert v Pemberton. Plaintiffs: Henry Herbert. Defendants: Francis Pemberton, James Fortree, John Portman and John Lee. Subject: property in Plumstead, Kent. Document type: bill, answer. 1673

C 9/120/6 Bankes v. Portman and Jenkinson 1689
C 9/70/49 Low v. Portman 1678
C 9/82/100 Coventry v. Portman 1682

C 10/189/46 Morgan v Portman, Mansell: Middlesex 1677
C 10/470/94 Maynard v Colvile, Portman, Cutler, Royle and Bradford: Middlesex 1670
C 10/495/141 Portman v Maynard, Gomeldon, Buckland, Ryder, Dennis, Herne and others: Middlesex 1678

C 104/261 BUNDLE No 10: 3 assignments of rent granted to John Portman of London, goldsmith, by royal letters patent and payable out of the hereditable revenue of excise (marked 89-91). 1677-1712

E 406/25 Portman 1676-1704
- GOLDSMITHS' ASSIGNMENT BOOKS

PROB 11/349 Dycer 106-147 Will of John Portman of Quedah, India 20 December 1675
- Probably the will of John Portman's son, to whom the letter writer refers above
PROB 11/377 Hare 98-140 Will of Samuel Smith, Mariner of Saint Paul Shadwell, Middlesex 04 September 1684
- Possible the commander of the ship referred to by the letter writer
- See also PROB 11/440 Pyne 178-218 Will of Samuel Smith, Mariner of Wapping, Middlesex 08 September 1697

PROB 18/4/105 Probate lawsuit Portman v Portman, concerning the deceased John Portman, bachelor of Quedah [Quetta ?], East Indies. Allegation

PROB 18/5/91 Probate lawsuit Portman v Portman, concerning the deceased John Portman, bachelor of Quedah [Quetta ?], East Indies. Interrogatory 1673
  1. ↑ 'Street syde' in 'Hearth Tax: City of London 1666: St Mary Woolnoth ', London Hearth Tax: City of London and Middlesex, 1666 (2011), viewed 24 January 2012
  2. ↑ 16th April 1667, Letter from William Rider to Sir GO, London
  3. ↑ 16th April 1667, Letter from William Rider to Sir GO, London
  4. ↑ XXXX (ed.), Thomas Bowrey's A geographical account of countries round the Bay of Bengal, 1669 to 1679 (XXXX, repr. 1993), p. 268
  5. ↑ XXXX, Ethel Bruce Sainsbury (ed.), A Calendar of the Court Minutes of the East India Company, 1674-76 (Oxford, 1935), p. 76; PROB 11/349 Dycer 106-147 Will of John Portman of Quedah, India 20 December 1675; PROB 18/4/105 Probate lawsuit Portman v Portman, concerning the deceased John Portman, bachelor of Quedah [Quetta ?], East Indies. Allegation 1672; PROB 18/5/91 Probate lawsuit Portman v Portman, concerning the deceased John Portman, bachelor of Quedah [Quetta ?], East Indies. Interrogatory 1673
  6. ↑ C 6/151Pt2/28 f. 1
  7. ↑ 'Charter of Hudson's Bay, 1670', at http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Charter_of_Hudson%27s_Bay, viewed 24/01/12
  8. ↑ C 104/261 BUNDLE No 10: 3 assignments of rent granted to John Portman of London, goldsmith, by royal letters patent and payable out of the hereditable revenue of excise (marked 89-91). 1677-1712; E 406/25 Portman 1676-1704 (GOLDSMITHS' ASSIGNMENT BOOKS)
  9. ↑ C 5/540/23 Portman v. Gipps: Middlesex. 1676; C 6/161/102 Short title: Startute v Portman. Plaintiffs: William Startute. Defendants: John Portman. Subject: money matters, Middlesex. Document type: bill, answer. 1663; C 9/70/49 Low v. Portman 1678; C 9/82/100 Coventry v. Portman 1682; C 10/189/46 Morgan v Portman, Mansell: Middlesex 1677; C 10/470/94 Maynard v Colvile, Portman, Cutler, Royle and Bradford: Middlesex 1670; C 10/495/141 Portman v Maynard, Gomeldon, Buckland, Ryder, Dennis, Herne and others: Middlesex 1678
  10. ↑ PROB 18/4/105 Probate lawsuit Portman v Portman, concerning the deceased John Portman, bachelor of Quedah [Quetta ?], East Indies. Allegation; PROB 18/5/91 Probate lawsuit Portman v Portman, concerning the deceased John Portman, bachelor of Quedah [Quetta ?], East Indies. Interrogatory 1673
  11. ↑ 25th March 1666/67, Letter from John Portman to Sir GO, London
  12. ↑ Captain Samuell Smith, commander of the Charles, was XXXX. See Missing faces
  13. ↑ John Portman junior
  14. ↑ John Portman's wife was Mary Wergan, daughter of Philip Wergan, of Dean, Gloucester. She was his second wife
  15. ↑ It is unclear why John Portman felt the need to conceal the friends of his and Sir George Oxenden who drank Sir George Oxenden's intended cask of wine at John Portman's house on Great Lombard street
  16. ↑ Gold medals of Charles II were struck in quantity and have survived. See XXXX
  17. ↑ John Portman was born at Tunstall, near Sittingbourne, in Kent and Sir George Oxenden was born at Wingham, East Kent, just over twenty miles away
  18. ↑ Captain Barker was XXXX
  19. ↑ 'Portman, John' in 'Pack - Pyers', The Rulers of London 1660-1689: A biographical record of the Aldermen and Common Councilment of the City of London (1966), pp. 124-134
  20. ↑ 'Street syde' in 'Hearth Tax: City of London 1666: St Mary Woolnoth ', London Hearth Tax: City of London and Middlesex, 1666 (2011), viewed 24 January 2012
  21. ↑ 'Charter of Hudson's Bay, 1670', at http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Charter_of_Hudson%27s_Bay, viewed 24/01/12
  22. ↑ Sir Stephen White will

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