Part 45

27th January, 1617. fforasmuch as this Companie have no assuraunce of the Irish Landꝭ for their monie disburssed for Ireland It is therefore ordered by this Court that this Companie shalbe suters unto the Governor & Comittees for the plantac͠on of the Irish landꝭ to thentent this Companie maie have a perpetuitie in the Irish plantac͠on aswell as the Companie of Iremongers under whose lott o{r} Companie have fallen Accordinglie & in such sorte as the Carpenters & other the inferior Companies joyned w{th} them doe now sue for.

19th March, 1635. The Company contributed their proportion of the expenses incurred by the City Companies in defending the suit against them in the Star Chamber, as also a sum of money towards the erection of a church in Ulster.

The Copye of S{r} John Bancks his letter he being his Ma{ts} Attorney Generall sent to the Companie of Ironmongers that they should with the Associate Companies surrender up their right together with their evidences concerning the plantac͠on in Ireland was here reade and for answere thereunto this Court doth referre to the advice of M{r} Bierly Councello{r} at Lawe w{ch} is to surrender up o{r} right.

8th November, 1638. Judgment being given against the Companies whereby they forfeited all their lands in Ireland, the City was fined £8,000 to the King “for the losse of o{r} landꝭ in Ireland by the late decree of Starrchamber,” to which fine the Barber-Surgeons were compelled to contribute £64.

10th February, 1642. Alsoe was read to this Court the Lord Maiors letter concerning reliefe of the Protestants in Ireland in the City of London Derry this Court doth order 100{li} to be given towards theire releife presently.

7th March, 1642. It is ordered that xx{li} shalbe presently payd over towards the releife of London Derry and noe more at the present.

Alsoe it is ordered that there shalbe CC{li} given towards the releife of Ireland generally to have a thousand Acres upon the stateing of the Kingdome according to the Act of Parliament lately made, and that CC{li} to be payd according to the provision in that Act by 50{li} downe presently and the remainder at 3 monethes.

9th June, 1642. It was agreed to Lend £800 to the Releife of Ireland [at 8 per cent. Interest] upon the faith and order of the Parliament.

31st October, 1642. The Company having agreed to lend this £800 could not find the money, and so petitioned to lend but £400; even this they had a great difficulty about, having to sell their plate (except Henry VIII’s cup) to enable them to raise the money.

16th July, 1724. The Court having been informed that a lease had been agreed to be granted by the Ironmongers of the Manor of Lizard, of which they were seized in trust for this Company as to the sum of £350 (part of the sum of £5,000 being the whole purchase money originally given for that estate), and that a person had bid £12,800 for a lease of the estate for 41 years and had deposited one-third of that amount with the Ironmongers’ Company. It was ordered that the Clerk should wait upon the Clerk of the Ironmongers and get what particulars he could as to the respective shares of the associated Companies, with a list of the tenants’ names and rentals, and it was further ordered that this Company’s proportion of the fine agreed to be given for the lease should be invested in South Sea annuities.

3rd December, 1765. The Ironmongers’ Company having proposed that the associated Companies should purchase the tithes arising from the lands called Aghwey, in Ireland, the same was considered by the Court and agreed to, this Company’s proportion of the purchase money being about £80.

10th November, 1766. The Clerk reported that he had received from the Ironmongers £1,377 16_s._ 10_d._ for this Company’s share of the fine of the lease granted to Mr. Josias Dupre and for rents and dividends due in October last.

10th August, 1775. The Company agreed to contribute £100 towards rebuilding the Church of Desertoghill in Ireland.

CHARITIES.

FERBRAS’ CHARITY.--Mr. Robert Ferbras, Citizen and Barber-Surgeon, by his Will, dated 2nd December, 1470 (_see_ p. 161), devised two Freehold Houses in the Parish of St. John, Walbrook, London, to the Company, upon Trust after doing the repairs, to divide one moiety of the surplus receipts among poor Members of the Company, which are distributed Quarterly among 28 poor Freemen and Widows.

_N.B.--The above houses have been taken down and sold, and the proceeds invested in the purchase of the moiety of a Freehold House, No. 69, Leadenhall Street, and of a Freehold House, No. 57, Lansdown Road, Notting Hill._

BANCKS’ GIFT.--Mr. Thomas Bancks, by his Will, dated 15th October, 1595, gave to the Company an Annuity of _Twenty Shillings_, on condition that they should yearly distribute equally amongst 12 poor people of the Company, 12 Twopenny Loaves, 6 Stone of Beef, and Two Shillings in Money. And Mr. JOHN BANCKS, his Son, by indenture, dated the 20th May, 1619, also gave an Annuity of _Twenty Shillings_, to be distributed in the same manner and on the same day as his Father’s Charity.

_N.B.--This Charity is now administered by the Mercers’ Company, under an order of the Court of Chancery. The estate consists of Freehold Property at Holloway, the income from which amounts to about £40 per annum, and is distributed half-yearly in July and January among poor Members of the Company._

BAKER’S GIFT.--Mr. Alexander Baker, by his Will, dated the 25th of September, 1835, gave to the Company an Annuity of _Three Pounds_ charged upon a Freehold House, No. 195, Upper Thames Street, to be yearly distributed to Six decayed Freemen of the Company, which is done on the first Tuesday in July.

Mr. MICHAEL I’ANS’ CHARITY.--Mr. Michael I’Ans, by his Will, dated the 21st of August, 1759, gave to the Company _Two Thousand Pounds_, the interest of which he directed to be applied and distributed among 20 poor Liverymen’s Widows of the Company. And Mr. JOHN DRIVER, by his Will, dated the 15th of February, 1810, gave the sum of _Twenty Pounds_ to be applied in addition to the said Gift.

_N.B.--This Fund, with accumulations, now consists of £4,759 18s. 7d. Consols, the Dividends of which are distributed half-yearly to twenty poor Widows of Liverymen of the Company, on the first Tuesdays in February and August._

DECAYED LIVERYMEN’S FUND.--The Court of Assistants, by an Order of Court, dated the 3rd day of June, 1823, set apart from the Funds of the Company the sum of _Nine Hundred Pounds_, Old South Sea Annuities, for the purpose of forming a fund for the Relief of Decayed Liverymen of the Company; the Dividends whereof are distributed, half-yearly, amongst Seven Poor Liverymen of the Company, on the first Tuesdays in May and November.

_N.B.--The Old South Sea Annuities having been paid off, the proceeds were invested in the purchase of a Freehold House, No. 46, Church Street, Minories. The Fund, with accumulations, now consists of £876 7s. 8d. Consols._

Mr. THOMAS KIDDER, one of the Court of Assistants, by his Will, dated the 18th of December, 1828, gave unto the Master and Wardens _One Hundred Pounds_, Three per Cent. Consolidated Annuities, and directed the interest to be applied for the relief of one poor Freeman’s Widow of the Company for ever, on the first Tuesday in February and August.

Mr. THOMAS COTTRELL’S CHARITY.--Mr. Thomas Cottrell, by his Will, dated 28th of January, 1833, gave to the Company, _Three Thousand Three Hundred and Thirty-three Pounds Six Shillings and Eight Pence_, Three per Cent. Consols, subject to the Legacy Duty, the Dividends to be equally divided between 25 Widows of Decayed Liverymen of the Company, which are distributed on the first Tuesdays in February and August.

_N.B.--This Fund, with accumulations, now consists of £3,100 Consols._

Mr. WILLIAM LONG’S CHARITY.--Mr. William Long, by his Will, dated 7th July, 1834, gave to the Company, _One Thousand Pounds_, Three per Cent. Consolidated Bank Annuities, and he directed one Moiety of the Dividends thereof to be paid half-yearly unto so many of the poor Liverymen as the Company should appoint to receive the same, and the other moiety thereof he directed to be paid half-yearly among 20 poor widows of Liverymen of the Company, in like manner as Mr. Michael I’Ans’ Charity is disposed of.

_N.B.--This Fund, with accumulations, now consists of £1,045 Consols._

Mr. MALCOLM DUNNETT’S CHARITY.--Mr. Malcolm Dunnett, by his Will, dated 30th August, 1842, gave to the Company the sum of _Two Hundred Pounds_, Three per Cent. Reduced Annuities, to be applied by the Company for the Support of Decayed Liverymen, preference being at all times given to the two Senior Liverymen of the Company who shall apply for relief, and be in addition to any other aid which they would otherwise be entitled to receive from any other Charitable Fund of the Company. This Charity is distributed on the first Tuesdays in May and November.

Mr. PETER SKIPPER’S CHARITY.--Mr. Peter Skipper, by his Will, dated 25th of September, 1846, gave _One Hundred Pounds_, free of Legacy Duty, in aid of the Decayed Livery Fund, with which Charity the amount is now amalgamated.

Mr. PHILIP LAWTON’S CHARITY.--Mr. Philip Lawton, by his Will, proved 13th August, 1856, gave _Five Hundred Pounds_, less Legacy Duty, upon Trust to pay the Interest and Dividends to poor Decayed Liverymen and Freemen or their Widows.

_N.B.--This Fund now consists of the sum of £477 9s. Consols._

ALMS HOUSE FUND AND Mr. JOHN ATKINSON’S CHARITIES.--The Court of Assistants, by a resolution dated 7th August, 1855, established a Fund for the Erection and Endowment of Alms Houses for Decayed members of the Company and their Widows.

Mr. JOHN ATKINSON, by Deed dated 4th November, 1856, and enrolled, conveyed to the Company Ten Freehold Houses, situate in Cross Keys Court and Half Moon Alley, Cripplegate, London, upon trust to apply the rents and profits thereof in aid of the Alms House Fund. These houses have been taken by the Metropolitan Railway, and the purchase-money was invested in the purchase of £998 12_s._ 3_d._ Consols. The Consols have been sold and the proceeds invested in the purchase of Freehold Houses, Nos. 53, 55, and 59, Lansdown Road, Notting Hill. In addition to the above, there is an accumulated Fund consisting of £1,095 2_s._ 6_d._ Consols, £419 15_s._ 7_d._ New 2-1/2 per Cent. Annuities, and there is a cash balance to the credit of the Fund of £84 12_s._ 4_d._

Mr. JOHN ATKINSON, on the 5th February, 1861, presented the sum of _One Hundred Pounds_ Consols to the Company, the interest thereof to be employed in the purchase of Bibles and prayer books for distribution amongst the poor members of the Company.

Mr. JOHN ATKINSON, by his Will, dated 30th of August, 1858, bequeathed the residue of his personal estate to Trustees therein named, upon Trust, after the death of his wife, daughter, brother, sister, and nephews, to transfer the Stocks, Funds, and Securities whereon the same should be invested to the Masters and Governors of the Company, upon Trust, to found and establish an Institution to be called “The Barbers’ Asylum,” the interest thereof to be applied for the lodging, maintenance, and education of the poor Members of the Company and their Widows and Children.

INVENTORIES.

There is amongst the Records a small folio volume which opens with an undated inventory of the Company’s effects, most probably taken in 1710. Following are inventories spreading over thirty-three years until 1745.

There is much similarity in all of these, and we shall take one of them, that for the year 1728, as an example.

In 1711 there seem to have been two corporate seals, one of steel and another of silver; there was also “a mould with the Company’s arms by w{ch} the Iron Backs were made”; this handsome mould is still preserved over the chimney-piece in the entrance lobby, and an old “iron back” cast from it is built into the wall of the courtyard opposite the entrance door.

A TRUE & PERFECT INVENTORY of the Goods and Chattels Plate Household Stuff & other things belonging to the Worshipfull Company of BARBERS & SURGEONS of London taken the 11{th} of September 1728 M{R} JANUARY FARMER Master M{r} James Fern M{r} John Nicholls & Ambrose Dickins Esq{r} his Majesty’s Serjeant Surgeon, Wardens.

IN THE PARLOUR.

A chimney piece of Assistants Arms & three Sheilds over it. Four Spanish tables & a footstep. One great Russia leather Chair for y{e} Master. 30 other Russia chairs. One pair Bellows. One Turkey workˀt carpett. A brass hearth peice & shovell & tongs with brass heads. A painted Sale Cloath to cover the hearth. One green bays carpett. M{r} Lisle’s picture. M{r} Skinner’s picture. King Henry y{e} 8{ths} picture. Sir John Frederick’s picture. King Charles the Second’s picture. Sir Charles Scarborough & M{r} Alderman Arris’s pictures. Four double glass sconces & two single ones. Two candlesticks with wax candles. A Table of the masters names.[297] D{r} Tyson’s picture. Serj{t} Bernard’s picture. M{r} Johnson’s picture. M{r} Inigo Jones’s picture. A large steel engine with a wooden frame for y{e} Co{s} seal. 3 Cane Sashes for y{e} Windows. 3 most noble Window Curtains in fflorence Persian Silk. Two Spanish Pictures. A fine clock. A large gilt leather screen with 8 folds & the Companys arms painted upon it. A wooden stand for y{e} Chamber pott. Six cushions.

[297] Now in the Ante Room at the Hall.

IN THE CLARK’S CUPBOARD IN Y{E} PARLOUR.

One Box for y{e} Poor. 3 Standishes. One Hammer. Two Testaments. One Bell. One Balloting Box & Balls.

IN THE BEADLE’S CUSTODY.

Two Staves with y{e} Companys arms & crest in Silver. Two Beadles gowns purchased by the Company.

IN THE PASSAGE BEFORE THE PARLOUR.

One Spanish Table. A tortoise shell the gift A Table of orders. of M{r} Henry Boone. 3 Brass Sconces. Two new tables. 3 Tressells & a bench y{t} 6 Leather chairs. goes under the wall. Two new benches. An Elks head.

IN THE ELECTION ROOM.

One Turkey workt Elbow chair. One folding table. One large brass hearth piece & a pair of tongs fire shovell & Dogs with fine brass heads. M{r} Ferne’s Picture. A picture of the Prince Elector Palatine. A looking glass over the chimney. 30 other Turkey worked chairs. A green cloth carpett. M{r} Thomas Allen’s picture. One painted sale Cloth & a marble slabb. King Charles the Seconds picture.

IN THE BALCONY.

Three green & white Window Curtains & curtain rods.

IN THE LONG GALLERY UP ONE P{R} OF STAIRS.

Two Elbow chairs. A little table. The figures of the Muscles. 15 old Turkey worked chairs. A large iron hearth piece with shovell & tongs. A skeleton frame with black curtains around it, a pulley & cord, a skeleton. 20 cain bottom chairs. A Scrutore.[298] A print of a Skeleton. An iron back.

[298] Called elsewhere an “Escrutore.”

IN THE THEATRE.

One skeleton in a frame. Two muscular figures finely painted in gilt frames. Two humane skins on figures of wood. Two figures of Angels presenting a Garland. Two skulls the one a Mummy the other a Moss with seven other figures. King Charles the first’s head in stone. A Skeleton in a frame the gift of M{r} Knowles. A green velvet cushion for the Anatomy Reader. One cedar table & cover. One new skeleton pendent from the Center of the Roof. One figure of anatomy in a frame. Two pair of green window curtains.

IN THE TREASURY.

The Company’s seal. A great chest with several Charters & by laws & other writeings.

IN THE HALL.

Three great tables. 11 forms beside benches and footstep to y{e} Masters chair. Two sheilds fixed to y{e} Screen. One large ensign of green & white. Two large green streamers. Two Green bays carpetts. Two green Kidderminster curtains. A table of the Examined Surgeons & Examiners. A table of officers ffees. A squabb going round the Halfe moon table[299] & one small one for y{e} Mas{rs} seat. A long moveable table for the Hall. Two Banners, the King’s Arms & y{e} City’s arms. A wainscoat desk. A clock the gift of M{r} Henry Carter. A glass Lanthorne.

[299] This half-moon table stood at the upper end of the Hall in the bastion, where the Masters and Court sat.

IN THE MUSICK GALLERY.

One table. 8 great staves for y{e} fflags. Two forms.

IN THE PASSAGE GOING TO Y{E} KITCHEN.

One dresser. One table & two shelves.

IN THE KITCHIN.

Three dresser boards. 10 large spitts & one little One form. one. 2 large iron racks. One iron fender. Two iron dripping pans. Two peels. A 1/2 hundred iron weight. One chopping block. 8 Shelves. 3 Iron oven lids. 3 Irons in Stewing places. One new peele.

IN THE KITCHIN LARDER.

Two rounds of Shelves & a dresser round it.

IN THE KITCHIN YARD.

A leaden cistern & a leaden pipe going up to it.

THE PEWTER & BRASS.

Nine dozen & 11 plates. 7 saucers. Two pewter basons. Three great flaggons. Four pye plates. One iron hearth for charcoal. Ten brass candlesticks. Two pair of snuffers. An earthen monteth. One beer still & a plate rack. Eighteen brass sconces for A charger. the Theatre. Two chamber potts. seven salvers.

IN THE BUTTERY.

A Binn for bread. 3 Shelves. A dressing board. 3 Shelves in the Cupboard. 4 little bottles for oyl & vinegar. 1 doz 4 Water glasses. 2 doz & 11 Wine glasses. 7 stone muggs. 3 small beer glasses. 2 flower potts. 3 Stone bottles. 2 knife basketts. A painted Sale cloth. A bench.

IN THE CUPBOARD IN THE BUTTERY.

Two dozen & a halfe of black handled knives & forks with a box to put them in. 1 Dozen and a halfe of Oyster knives. 30 White handled knives & forks ivory. 4 voiders. A flaskett.

IN THE CLARK’S YARD & CELLAR.

A leaden cistern. A pipe to lead the water from the street through the Beadles Cellar into y{e} Clarks yard & so through y{e} Companys into y{e} Kitchin. One large chest to putt the candles in. One clock in a case. 4 new pepper castors.

THE COMPANY’S PLATE.

oz. dwt. Eighteen silver spoons wt. 43 6 another silver spoon 6 0 One Bason the gift of M{r} Robert Andrews 74-3/4 0 One Ewer the gift of M{r} Tho{s} Collins 54 10 King Henry y{e} 8{ths} cup & cover 26-1/2 0 King Charles the 2{ds} cup & cover 62-1/2 0 A punch Bowl the gift of Queen Anne at the request of M{r} Serjeant Bernard then Mas{r} of this Corporation 160 0

FOUR GREAT STANDING CUPS.

The gifts of the several pˀsons following, viz{t} Sir John Frederick 38 10 Martin Brown Esq{r} 45 10 M{r} Tho{s} Bell 65 0 M{r} Tho{s} Bowden 38 0

FOUR BEER BOWLES.

The gift of Alderman Arris weighing viz{t} oz. dwt. First 9 8 Second 9 8 Third 8 6 fourth 6 15

SEVEN TANKARDS.

The gifts of the several pˀsons following, viz{t} The first of M{r} John Dorrington 39 0 The second of M{r} George Gray 37 2 The third of M{r} Abraham Deviatt 23 0 The fourth of M{r} Thomas Fothergill 24 15 The fifth of M{rs} Eliz. Clarke 17 10 The sixth of M{r} Abraham Perrott 26 15 The seventh of M{r} Edward Arris 26 15

THREE GREAT SALTS.

First 45 0 Second 37 0 Third 38 0 One small salt 3 11 Four coronetts 26-3/4 0

A voider the gift of M{r} Thos Gill. An Iron Chest to putt the plate in.

THE TABLE LINNEN.

1 Dozen & 2 Huckaback Towells. 1 Dozen & one old odd towells. 11 Dozen & 4 napkins. 8 Holland sheets. 1 Large diaper towell. 4 side board cloths. 1 Dozen & 8 oyster cloths. 11 Table cloths & the chest they lye in.

IN THE LONG WALK.

Two ladders one great one & one small one. 24 Bucketts with the Companys arms on them. 4 Settles.

IN THE CHEST BELOW THE STAIRS.

The Rich cloth that lies over the Anatomy. A black coffin cloth. 19 flatt caps. 19 Dimothy waistcoats. 19 Badges & the Readers Robes.

IN THE LOWER THEATRE.

A pewter cistern & a leaden laver. An anatomy chest. A table to dissect on & a hatch for y{e} Theatre door. In the Closetts 2 Drawers & two planks to stand on.

PLATE.

The Barber-Surgeons’ Company has at various periods in its history possessed large quantities of plate, a great deal of which is now unfortunately lost to us, most of it having been parted with during the troublous times of the seventeenth century, when the money demands made upon the Company necessitated its sale. We have however, been fortunate in preserving some very distinctive and beautiful plate, among which are no less than three Royal gifts from Sovereigns of England, viz., Henry VIII, Charles II, and Anne.

Throughout our Minutes are numerous references to gifts and purchases of plate; some of these will be found elsewhere in this work, and the following extracts in particular referring to this subject, are additional examples.

14th December, 1557. The same daye beyng The xiiij{th} daye of Descember in An{o} Dñ 1557 and fourth and fyfte yeares of the Raignes of Kynge Phyllippe and Quene Marys Most Noble gracꝭ It ys Condescended and Agreed by the m{r} and Govˀnors and w{th} thassent of all the Assystaunce of the howse whose Names are before Nomynated and Wrytten That M{r} Thomas Vycary shall paye and dyscharge the Debtꝭ of the howse w{ch} rest unpayde and the saide M{r} Vycary shall have the plate of the Crafte in pawne or pledge Untyll suche tyme as the sayde sum̃es of monye be un to hym Repayde agayne.

7th December, 1581. It was agreed that the som̃e of xl{li} shalbe diffrayed and laid owte of the stock of the howse to buy plate viz. one nest of pots one nest of booles, and in v gilt spones to make up one dozen, and in exchange of a silver pot geven unto the Companie by M{r} George Corrons[300] who depˀted his lief beinge m{r} of the companie.

[300] Master 1575.

10th March, 1599. Richard Larden on being admitted to the Livery presented one “beaker of silver pˀcell gylt.”

15th April, 1600. John Robson being made free made a similar gift, as also, 3rd June, 1600, did Walter Meeke on the like occasion.