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The number of courts in early London often seems infinitesimal, including not only civil courts, but ecclesiastical, royal and guild courts. Even the number of civil courts was large, including not only the Court of Aldermen and Court of Common Council, but also the Courts of the Wards. The Records Office of the Corporation of the City of London (CLRO) holds numerous of these records, many of which have never been published.
Records of the
Corporation of the City of London
(1550-1633)
One source for determining if one's ancestor might be in these records is London Citizens 1550-1603 by R. M. Benbow (unpublished), which is held by the CLRO (and available for inspection at their office). According to CLRO Archivist Jim Sewell, Benbow's Index is based on a variety of surviving records including the Repertories of the Court of Aldermen, the Journals of the Court of Common Council, the Minute Books of Bridewell, Christ's, and St. Bartholomew's Hospitals, the records of the livery companies, and parish records. Mr. Sewell adds, however, that not all entries include a source reference, and no attempt has ever been made to document them. Neither the Repertories (minutes of the Court of Aldermen), nor the Journals of the Court of Common Council (both held in their original form at the CLRO) have been published.
This report is in three parts: (1) extractions of Archdales, Combs &c. from Benbow's Index for the period 1550-1603; (2) transcriptions of records from the Orphans Recognizances Vol. 2, 1590-1633; and (3) more about the parties whose names appear herein (At this time, the only two items extracted in full from the Orphans Court records are for Martin ARCHDALE (-1597) and his nephew-in-law, John COMBE (-1610)).
Extractions from Benbow's Index (1550-1633)
John COMBE/COMBES/COOMES, p. 2711583 John COMBE was admitted to freedom, City of London. Company: Drapers.Martin ARCHDALE (ACHDALE), p. 1407:
1589 John was a feoffee for church lands.
1589-90 John was elected sideman
1591 John was a searcher for Jesuits.
1596 Court of Orphans Recognizances included John COMBE, recognitor for £350. Suretors: Thomas ARCHDALE 03, Matthew ARCHDALE 03, William PALMER 10.
1596 John COMBE was suretor for £350 with Robert PALMER 02, William PALMER 10, and Matthew ARCHDALE 03.
1598 John COMBE was suretor for £350 with Matthew ARCHDALE 03, Robert PALMER 02, and William PALMER 10. (Total involvement of John COMBE as recognitor/suretor was £1050).
1598 John COMBE entered the livery.
1606 John COMBE was first elected Warden, Parish Church: St Mary Aldermanbury. He served as an auditor of the Church Warden Accounts; was assigned to three committees (JS: This is a rough count which seeks to indicate the degree of activity as a Commoner).
John COMBE was Commissioner of Assurances [City of London Court of Policies of Assurance].
1607 John COMBE entered the ... Court of Assistants [governing body of the Drapers].
1610 John COMBE died, buried as a Common Councillor.
(paraphrased, from extractions by both Mr. Sewell and Mr. Neil - See 27 Dec 2000 and 03 Mar 2001 Combs list postings by Researcher Denise Mortorff. [Bracketed] words are by Combs &c. editors. See 27 Dec 2000 Combs List)4 Oct 1570 the Grocer's Court granted £100 from legacy money as a loan to Martin ARCHDALE, who was in Hamburg; the suretors were George STODDARD 02, John VIOLET 04, and Edward HERDSON 06.Surnames checked in this source include:
1573-1577 the Wardens Accounts listed Martin ARCHDALE as resident in Aldgate, Mark Lane, and Fenchurch.
1575 the Court of Orphans Recognizances included Martin ARCHDALE as suretor for £250 with Thomas ARCHDALE 03, Lawrence SMITH 01 and Thomas DUFFIELD 03.
1581 the Orphans' Recognizances included Martin ARCHDALE as suretor for £250 with Thomas ARCHDALE 03, Thomas DUFFIELD 03, and John PITMAN 33.
By 1582, Martin ARCHDALE seems to have been resident in St Olave, Jury [St Olave Jewry] when he was cessed at £40 in the subsidy. A Martin ARCHDALE was also cessed in 1582 for £80 in the Tower ward subsidy.
1585 Martin ARCHDALE was elected to the Wardmote Inquest
1587 Martin ARCHDALE served as Collector for the Poor.
1588 Recognizances in the Court of Orphans included Martin ARCHDALE as suretor for £300 with Michael PINDER 12, Thomas ARCHDALE 03, and John COLBY 12 (his total Total involvement as a suretor was £800).
1589 Martin ARCHDALE was a Churchwarden, but by August of 1590 he had left the parish.
11 Apr 1591 The Privy Council dealt with a complaint by Adolph STATES, merchant stranger of London, whose cloths were unlawfully bought by STEVENS, servant of Martin ARCHDALE, for ARCHDALE's use (APC 21, 50-1).
13 Apr 1592 The Court of Aldermen ordered that Martin ARCHDALE, who had been elected a Constable in Tower ward, was to serve in his own person or appoint a deputy approved by SALTONSTALL. (Repertories, Court of Alderman. 22, 368).
A Martin ARCHDALE was buried in St Margaret Pattens.
(ibid.)ARCHDALE: No results other than as shown herein
CLIFTON: No results.
COMBE: No results other than shown herein
KENDALL: No results.
PALMER: Andrew, 832; Edward, 833; Henry, 1693; Lawrence, 834; Simon, 2218; Robert and William (none other than as recorded below)
SAYER: John, 958.
Orphan Court Recognizances: 1590-1633 To secure an inheritance the Court of Orphans, insisted that three or four sureties give a recognizance, or promise, guaranteeing that the child would be paid his or her patrimony when he or she came of age.The Recognizances were usually taken by the Common Sergeant, the City official who had responsibility for much of the administration of the Orphan's Fund. A recognitor was the person who entered into a bond, by which they engage themselves to perform some act or observe some condition; also to pledge a certain sum of money as a surety for such a performance. (Provided by CLRO Archivist Jim Sewell from The Court of Orphans by Charles Carlton, Leicester University Press, 1974, pp.24-26).
From Orphans Recognizances Vol. 2, 1590-1633. CLRO, transcribed and translated from the original Latin for Combs &c. Researcher Denise Mortorff by S. Neil, English historical researcher, records agent and translator:__________________________________________________ 31 Jan 1597/98. Court of Orphans. Recognizances.* SN Note: This surname could have been LOWE or ROWE.
Folio 5, No. 267, 269, 270. AA 161-3.
Orphans of Martin ARCHDALE, grocer, deceased
The last day of January 40 Eliz. [1597/98)
John, Martin, Robert, Samuel, Daniel, Alice and Sarah, the children and orphans of Martin ARCHDALE, grocer, deceased.
Michael PINDER, clothw(orker) }as recognitors £350 Richard PROCTER, mercer 267 } John PROCTER, mercer }AA 161 Adam WASHINGTON, mercer }as suretors £300 Allan DUCKETT, mercer. 10 .4 . 43 Eliz. (1601) RIDER William COLLIER, clothworker 23. 5. 44 Eliz. (1602) GARRARD James PROCTER, mercer 8. 7. 1604 2 Jas. I (1604) BENNETT Thomas CLARKE, haberdasher 9. 6. 1605 3 Jas. I (1605) LOVE* Thomas PROCTER, mercer 13. 1. 1610 8 Jas. I (1610/11) CRAVEN**
** SN Note: This surname could also have been Craben.On the same day and in the same year:* SN Note: I.e. John, Martin, Robert, Samuel, Daniel, Alice and Sarah
The same orphans:*
Richard MARSHE, grocer }as recognitors £350 Robert MARSHE, grocer 269 } Henry MARSHE, grocer }AA 162 John VINCENT, grocer } as suretors £300 Robert MARSHE, scribe 25. 1. 45 Eliz. (1602/3) LEE Daniel MARSHE, grocer 1. 5. 1 Jas. I (1603) BENNETT Charles HARVYE, fishmonger 26. 4. 4 Jas. I (1606) WATTS Anthony STILE, grocer 16. 4. 5 Jas. I (1607) ROWE John DAVIS,** draper*** 29. 3. 1610 8 Jas. I CRAVEN
** SN Note: This surname could also have been Dams
*** SN Note: The Latin word here is "pannarius", which can mean either clothier or draper.On the same day and in the same year:* SN Note: This might not have been a "3".
The same orphans:
Matthew ARCHDALE, draper }as recognitors £350 John COMBE, draper 270 } Robert PALMER, grocer }AA 163 William PALMER, haberdasher }as suretors £300 Thomas ARCHDALE, draper 8. 3.* 42 Eliz. (1599/1600) MOSELY William JACKSON, grocer 11. 2. 1610 8 Jas. I (1610/11) CRAVEN14 Dec 1598. Court of Orphans. Recognizances.* SN Note: This is surely where the 1598 reference for John Combe as surety along with Matthew Archdale, Robert Palmer and William Palmer should have been. I have either missed out John's name by accident or neglected to copy down the next entry, which probably included his name.
Folio 7, No. 17, AA 225.
Orphans of Martin ARCHDALE, deceased.
14 Dec 41 Eliz. (1598)
John, Martin, Robert, Alice, Sarah, Samuel and Daniel, the children and orphans of Martin ARCHDALE, grocer, deceased.
Matthew ARCHDALE, draper }as recognitors £240 Thomas ARCHDALE, draper 17 } William PALMER, haberdasher }AA 225 Edward BROWNE, grocer* }as suretors £200 Robert PALMER, grocer 10. 3. 42 Eliz. (1600) MOSELEY__________________________________________________ 4 Jun 1611. Court of Orphans. Recognizances.* SN Note: There are two more entries identical to this one, and for the same amounts of money as above in the first entry.
Folios 75, 76.
Orphans of John COOMBES, draper, deceased.
Folio 75
4 Jun 9 Jas. I (1611)
John, William and Archdal', sons and orphans of John COOMBES, draper, deceased.
Margaret COOMBES, widow } as recognitors £350 William PALMER, haberdasher } Richard ARCHDALE, draper } Ranulph MANINGE, skinner } as suretors £300 Robert PALMER, grocer 24. 12. 1616 14 Jas. I (1616) (...)Folio 76
On the same day and in the same year:
The same orphans:
The same recognitors, and Robert PALMER, grocer.*12 Dec 1611. Court of Orphans. Recognizances.* SN Note: There are two more entries identical to this one, and for the same amounts of money as above in the first entry.
Folio 79.
Orphans of John COOMBES, draper, deceased.
Folio 79
12 Dec 9 Jas. I (1611)
John, William and Archdal', sons and orphans of John COOMBES, draper, deceased.
Humphrey STYLE, grocer } as recognitors £350 Simon LAWRENCE, grocer } Ranulph MANNING the younger, skinner } William SPEIGHT, mercer } as suretors £300 William JOHNSON, mercer 30. 9. 162(...) (...) Jas. I (...)On the same day and in the same year:
The same orphans:
The same recognitors, and William JOHNSON.*9 Sep 1617. Court of Orphans. Recognizances.* SN Note: There are five more entries identical to this one, and for the same amounts of money as above in the first entry, except for the fifth entry, where the amounts are £300 (as recognitor) and £250 15s 9d (as suretor).
Folios 163, 164,
Orphans of John COMBES, draper, deceased.
Folio 163
9 Sep 1617
John, William and Archdal', sons and orphans of John COMBES, draper, deceased, by virtue of certain letters of administration of the goods of Margaret COMBES, widow, deceased, late wife of the said John COMBES and mother of the said orphans, granted to Barbarie PALMER, wife of William PALMER, citizen and haberdasher of London.
William PALMER, haberdasher } as recognitor £350 } as suretor £200*Folio 164
The same orphans by the said Margaret owing, given to the same orphans and received by the very same woman for them.
The same recognitor }as recognitor £60 }as suretor £34 10 shillings
The same orphans for the increase of finding money for £1,200 remaining in the hands of Ranulph MANNINGE and others for the orphans aforesaid.
The same recognitor } as recognitor £320 } as suretor £270The same orphans for the increase of finding money for £1,200 late remaining in the hands of the said Margaret, mother of the orphans, for the same orphans.
The same recognitor } as recognitor £350 } as suretor £300
The same orphans for the increase of finding money for £1,200 late remaining in the hands of the said Margaret, mother of the orphans, for the same orphans.
The same recognitor } as recognitor £100
} as suretor £45
4 Jun 1611. Court of Orphans. Recognizances.
Folio 181.
Orphans of John COOMBES, draper, deceased.
Folio 181
22 Sep 1618 16 Jas. I (1618)
John, William and Archdale, sons and orphans of John COOMBES, draper, deceased, by virtue of certain letters of administration of the goods, etc, of Margaret COOMBES, widow, deceased, wife of the said John COOMBES and late mother of the said orphans, granted to Barbarie PALMER, wife of William PALMER, citizen and haberdasher of London.
William PALMER, haberdasher } as recogitor £350 } as suretor £300 The same orphans by virtue of the letters of administration, aforesaid. William PALMER, haberdasher } as recogitor £350 } as suretor £300 The same orphans by virtue of the letters of administration, aforesaid. William PALMER, haberdasher } as recogitor £240 } as suretor £195 11s 3d
More About the Parties Named Herein
ARCHDALE
Martin, Matthew and Thomas ARCHDALE were sons of John ARCHDALE of Stafford, Staffordshire. Martin, a grocer of Allhallows Barking by the Tower, married 13 Jun 1575, Barbara SEXTON of St. Olave Hart St, d/o Thomas SEXTON of London and Suffolk. Martin died, as noted above at St. Margaret Pattens, Tower Ward, 1597. Matthew ARCHDALE, a draper, died in 1599, a resident of St. Michael Royal Paternoster. Thomas ARCHDALE, also a draper, married 31 Oct 1568, St Antholin Budge Row, Mary CLIFTON (d/o Richard and Mary MORTON Clifton).
Richard ARCHDALE, also a draper of London, was the son of Barnard ARCHDALE, also a son of John of Stafford, and Anne FERNE, d/o (Ralph?) and Dorothy of Cuddesden, Oxfordshire.
COMBE
John COMBE, born ca 1561, died 1610, St. Mary the Virgin Aldermanbury, was also a draper. He married in 1587 at St. Antholin Budge Row, Margaret ARCHDALE, d/o the above Thomas and Mary CLIFTON Archdale.
PALMER
William PALMER, haberdasher, also of Aldermanbury, married before 1600, Barbara ARCHDALE, also a daughter of Thomas and Mary CLIFTON Archdale. He and his brother, Robert (next), were sons of Thomas and Joan FOX Palmer of Staffordshire.
Robert PALMER, grocer, of St. Dunstan in the East, brother of the above William PALMER, married 10 Jun 1595, St. Lawrence Jewry, Mary CRADDOCK.
BROWN
Edward BROWN, grocer, married bef 1597, Katherine ARCHDALE, also a child of Barnard and Anne FERNE Archdale.
MANNING
Randall MANNING, skinner, of Edmonton, Middlesex, s/o Randall and Katherine DERING Manning, married 13 Dec 1608, Aldermanbury, Mary COMBE, d/o John and Margaret ARCHDALE Combe
STYLE
Humphrey STYLE, grocer, married Sarah MANNING, sister of Randall MANNING, the elder.
Anthony STILE, grocer, may have been kin to Humphrey (who has not been actively researched).
LAWRENCE
Simon LAWRENCE, grocer, may have been the same who married 14 May 1605, St Margaret Lothbury, Marie STILES
SPEIGHT-SPAIGHT
William SPAIGHT (SPEIGHT), mercer, was likely the same who married 15 Jun 1601, St. John Hackney, Middlesex, Elizabeth MANNING, d/o John and sister of Randall MANNING the elder.
PINDER
Michael PINDER, clothworker, may have been the same who married 18 Jun 1594, St Lawrence Jewry Rachel PROCTOR (A Michaell PINDER was christened in Aldermanbury in 1558). Nothing more is known of Richard, John, James or Thomas PROCTER at this time.
COLLIER
William COLLIER
CLARKE
Thomas CLARKE, haberdasher, has not been identified although he may be somehow related to George CLARKE, h/o Barbara PALMER, d/o the above-noted Robert and Mary CRADDOCK Palmer.
DUCKETT-WASHINGTON
An ancestral file (documentation, if any, unknown) indicates that a Joyce HUNGATE (d/o Harry HUNGATE and Martha Maye BASHERVILLE "of Saxton Hall, Yorkshire"), born about 1570, married (1) abt 1593, Allen DUCKETT (s/o Anthony and Alice (Ann) DACRE Duckett "of Greyrigg, Westmoreland"), born abt 1566, died 3 Feb 1601/2 "St. Conards, Eastcheap, England;" married (2) 7 Nov 1602, Adam WASHINGTON; (3) 16 Jun 1607, Thomas HUNGATE; and also (no date) John NORTON. No children are listed except by DUCKETT, i.e., Thomas, Mary, Ann and Mary (sic), the last christened at St. Leonard Eastcheap, 16 Jan 1601/2.
On 9 Apr 1592, an Anne DUCKETT was christened to an Allyne DUCKETT at St. Leonard Eastcheap, and on 28 Jul 1594, a Thomas DICKETT was christened at St. Mary Colechurch. A Mary DUCKETT, d/o Alyn DUCKETT, was christened 11 May 1590, St Mary Colechurch, and a second (Marie) on 9 Apr 1598 [sic] at St. Leonard Eastcheap (IGI parish extracts). A Joyse HUNGATE, d/o Harry HUNGATE, was christened 06 Feb 1657 at St Stephen Coleman St., and a Harry HUNGATE, s/o Harry, was christened there on 30 May 1578. (ibid.). Middlesex marriage records include the marriage at Edmonton, MiddlesexEdmonton, Middlesex of a Steven DUCKET and Anna BASKERFIELD [sic] on 12 Jul 1575.
SMITH
One Lawrence SMITH married 1575, St. Mary Woolchurch Haw (where FARRINGTON and DITCHFIELD are also found), Elizabeth REY. See also 1601 St. Dunstan, Stepney marriage of Clement COMBE and Katherine REA [sic]. Not known if significant.
Sarah ARCHDALE, d/o Thomas and Mary CLIFTON Archdale, born ca 1574, m (1) unknown SMITH by whom Mary SMITH; and (2) Ady SARE. Might Lawrence SMITH be a clue to her first husband's identity?
STODDARD-VIOLET
According to an ancestral file submission (that is not supported by IGI parish extracts), George STODDARD married 14 Nov 1559, St. Dunstan East, Ann SEXTON. Presumably, she was somehow related to Barbara SEXTON, d/o Thomas SEXTON of London and Suffolk, and wife of Martin ARCHDALE. Based on PRO index extractions of The Archdale, Sexton, Stoddard Papers, Martin ARCHDALE and George STODDARD also had a business relationship. According to an ancestral file submission (no documentation), one John VYOLETT married a Margaret STODDARD abt 1537 in Kent.
DUFFIELD
Thomas DUFFIELD, Draper, apprenticed the above Thomas ARCHDALE who was freed in 1559.
PITMAN
STAC 8/113/31 earl of Salisbury v. COMBE, PITMAN, MUNCKE, SENDYE, WEARE, COURTNEY, SAULE and others: Dorset. 04/03/1603-27/03/1625
WASHINGTON
COLBY
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