1718 Mr. Theophilus Cater1. 1757 Daniel Midwinter 7, Esq. was laid out in a Monteith and collar, to match with one given in 1666. The two weigh 75 ounces 5 dwts. Theophilus Cater, of the parish of Christ Church, London, June 9, 1718, gave 1000l. to the Company, on condition of their paying him an annuity of 501, for his own life; and, after his death, 40l. to be thus disposed of: To the Minister of St. Martin's Ludgate for a sermon, 1. 19s.; to the Reader, 5s.; to the Clerk and Sexton, 2s. 6d. each, 5s.; to Fourteen poor Freemen of the Company, 141.; to Ten poor men of St. Martin's, 10l.; and to Ten poor men of Christ Church, 11. each; the remainder (being 41.) towards a Dinner for the Master, Wardens, and Assistants. [Mr. Cater received the annuity to Christmas 1719.] "May 3, 1726, Mr. Wood, a member of the Company, gave the King's coat of Arms." 3 A noted Bookseller in Paternoster-row. In 1734, whilst Upper Warden, he gave 20l. to the Company; which was disposed of for the purchase of a branch for illuminating the Hall on public occasions; it was put up at the expence of Mr. William Mount, Master. Mr. Osborne was Master in 1735, and died March 13, 1739. There were at that time three others of the name on the Livery; Mr. Thomas Osborne (who died in 1743); Thomas Osborne, junior, of Gray's-inn (of whom see before, p. 401); and Mr. John Osborne, who died in 1775. • William Mount, esq. Treasurer of St. Thomas's Hospital, and eminent for works of charity, died at Clapham, Feb. 22, 1769. He had been Master of the Company three years, 1733-1735. John Mount, esq. died Feb. 12, 1786. 5 A legacy of twenty guineas, by Mr. Bettesworth, was applied to purchase a pair of silver candlesticks. Mr. Brooke had been sheriff of London in 1738. He died Dec. 5, 1750; and gave by his will a legacy of 50l. to the poor, to be distributed at the discretion of the Court. 7 Mr. Midwinter, an eminent bookseller in St. Paul's Churchyard, died June 19, 1757. By will dated June 20, 1750, proved Feb. 7, 1757, he gave to the Company 1000l. after the decease of his wife, on condition of their paying 141. a year to the parish of Hornsey, and the like sum to the parish of St. Faith in London, for the purpose of apprenticing from each two poor children (boys or girls) annually, and to buy them some cloaths when they go out. The remainder (21.) to be applied towards the expence of a dinner on the first of December. This sum was paid (after the death of the widow) April 4, 1770.-See in vol. I. p. 109. a character of Mr. Midwinter's father. 1758 Jonathan Taylor', Esq. 1760 Nathaniel Cole 2, Esq. 1769 Richard Manby 3, Esq. 1772 Richard Brooke, Esq. 1772 Mrs. Hannah Knaplock 5. 1777 Sir Stephen Theodore Janssen 6, Bart. 1777 William Fenner, Esq. Mr. Taylor had been formerly a Stationer in London; bat had retired from business to Lyme Regis in Dorsetshire, where he died Dec. 16, 1758. His name is here inserted, as a compliment to his intentions. He left to Christ's, Devon and Exeter, and Bath Hospitals, and to the Society for Propagating the Gospel, 100l. each; the interest of 1001, to be divided every Christmas amongst ten poor widows of the Stationers Company; the interest of 70l. for two boys to be taught navigation at Weymouth; to the Mayor and Corporation of Dover, a silver punch-bowl, of 200 ounces, in commemoration of his recovery from a dangerous fit of sickness gained in France; and if a County Hospital be erected at Dorchester within seven years, 100%. and interest at 4 per cent. But, from some informality in his will, the legacies were set aside by the Lord Chancellor. This respectable gentleman was Solicitor to the East India Company; and in 1726 had been elected Clerk to the Company of Stationers, which office he resigned in Nov. 6,1759; and was on that day elected into the Court of Assistants; but died on the 4th of December following. He gave to the Company 100%.; out of which 40s. to be annually added to Cater's dinner, and 100%. more "to buy silver candlesticks with, for their table on public days.” 3 Mr. Manby was a bookseller of great eminence on Ludgatehill. He fined for the office of Sheriff; was Master of the Stationers Company in 1765; and died at Walthamstow, April 13, 1769. He gave 100l. to the poor. Thomas Manby, esq. died there in 1762; and William Manby, esq. in 1790. Mr. Brooke was Master of the Company in 1764. He died in 1772; and gave 31. a year towards Cater's dinner. 5 Mrs. Knaplock died Nov. 29, 1772; and gave 200l. to the poor. Sir Stephen Theodore Janssen became a Liveryman of the Company in 1723.-He gave 30l. in 1774, as a present to the poor; and 501. more in 1775. In 1776, he gave 1001. half to the poor, and half to purchase a piece of plate with his arms on it (with which a handsome epergne was purchased). He added in 1779 a legacy of 50l. In 1754, when he was Lord Mayor, the arms now in the Hall were painted; Mr. Samuel Richardson being then Master, John March and Thomas Wotton, Wardens. See Memoirs of him, p. 406. 7 Mr. Fenner's father, who was a Printer in Lombard-street, died young; and his mother was re-married to Mr. James Waugh, an apothecary, but continued to carry on the business of a Printer till her death. The son was for some time her assistant and partner; and afterwards, for a short period, followed the profession of a Bookseller in Paternoster-row; but, marrying early, and 1777 William Bowyer1, Esq. 1778 Mrs. Beata Wilkins 2. 1778 John Nichols 3, Esq. and satisfied with a very moderate competence, he retired from the bustle of trade, in the prime of life; and, for more than 40 years, prolonged a life devoted to acts of kindness and philanthropy. Possessing a strong mind, improved by habits of early industry, and gifted by Nature with a fine manly form, improved by polished manners, his conversation was always pleasing; his friendship was very generally courted; and his advice was frequently requested in cases of difficulty, and always given freely and judiciously. He died Oct. 30, 1809, in his 83d year, at his house in Addington-place, Camberwell. He had been twice married; and the second wife survived him; but he left no child. At the time of his death he was Father of the Company of Stationers, of which he had been Master in 1786; and to whom in 1777 he had given a large silver coffee-urn, with a set of tea-spoons, &c.; and, by his last will, left a Reversionary Legacy of 2500l. Three per cent. Consols to the Company; the interest of which (751.) to be thus applied : 507. in annuities of 50s. each to ten poor freemen, and ten widows; 201. for a dinner for the Court of Assistants, who are to attend divine service, on the 29th of July, at St. Martin's church; 20s. to the Clerk of the Company; 30s. to the Rector, for a Sermon; 20s. to the Curate, for reading Prayers; 5s. each to the Clerk, Organist, and Sexton; and 5s, each to the Beadle, Porter, and Housekeeper of the Company. 'Mr. Bowyer gave to the Company 1901. a year for specific charitable purposes; and 250l. to the Court of Assistants, for their trouble in selecting the Annuitants. He gave also a small silver cup. See his Will at large, p. 270. "Item, I give the Interest and produce of all the money arising for my Forty Pounds share in the Stock in the Stationers Company, which is computed at Three Hundred and Twenty Pounds, to the Master, Wardens, and Court of Assistants of the said Company for the time being, and their successors for ever, in trust that the Interest thereof be by them distributed annually amongst Six poor men and Six poor Widows, not Pensioners to the said Company; which Principal Money I desire may be by them placed at Interest, and such Interest is to be by them paid in the month of December, before Christmas every year, at the time when the Company pay their Pensioners, and equally divided between the said poor Men and poor Widows, as they the said Master, Wardens, and Court of Assistants, shall in their discretion think proper. This Sum was laid out in the purchase of 3581. 11s. 4d. Five per Cent. Navy Annuities, and from the yearly dividends twelve persons receive yearly 30s. each."-See before, p. 584. .3 Mr. Nichols, in 1778, gave the portrait of Robert Nelson, esq. and of the elder Bowyer, with a bust of the younger Bowyer; to which, in 1798, he added those of Abp. Chichley, Sir Richard Steele, and Matthew Prior; with the quarto copper-plate (finely engraved by the Father of the present Mr. Basire), that an im pression 1779 John Boydell', Esq. Alderman. 1784 William Strahan 2, Esq. 1786 Thomas Wright 3, Esq. Alderman. . 1795 Mr. Richard Johnson 4. pression of it may be constantly given to each Annuitant under Mr. Bowyer's will.-Mr. Nichols was Master of the Company in 1804. Of this worthy Alderman, and the elegant pictures which he presented to the Company, see before, pp. 411. 581, 582. 1 * Of this very eminent Printer, and generous Benefactor, see also before, p 390.-He gave 1000l. to purchase annuities for ten poor printers, four pounds to each, of whom five to be Freemen of London, the other five to be Natives of Scotland. This gentleman was for 50 years in partnership with Mr. Gill, as a wholesale Stationer, in Abchurch-lane (see p. 605); and survived his partner only a fortnight. He died suddenly, after taking a walk in his grounds, at Dulwich, Surrey, and without any previous complaint. He was attacked with an epileptic fit, and expired before any medical assistance could be procured. Alderman Gill was stated to have amassed the sum of 300,000l.; and the fortune of Alderman Wright was supposed to have been equal, if not to a greater amount. They commenced business together, as Stationers, on London-bridge, retained the most respectable characters, and were remarkable for great application and frugality. Mr. Wright was several years one of the Common Council for Candlewick Ward, where he was elected Alderman in 1777. He was Sheriff in 1779; and Lord Mayor in 1785. In 1786, he presented to the Company a large silver tea-urn. April 7, 1798; and in his Will, dated Nov. 24, 1794, says, He died "I give to the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery or Art of a Stationer of the City of London, Two Thousand Pounds, Four per Cent. Bank Annuities, upon trust, to pay, apply, and distribute the Dividends and yearly Produce thereof upon the first Day of January in each year, or as soon after as conveniently may be, in manner following; that is to say, "The Sum of Fifty Pounds Eight Shillings, part of such Dividends, unto and amongst Twenty-four poor Freemen of the said Company, not receiving any other Pension from the Company, in equal shares and proportions at Two Pounds Two Shillings each." To the Clerk of the said Company for the time being, the Sum of Three Pounds Three Shillings, other part of such Dividends, for his trouble upon this occasion. And the sum of Twenty-six Pounds Nine Shillings, residue of such Dividends, in and towards the providing and defraying the expence of a Dinner for the Master, Wardens, and Assistants of the said Company upon the day of such Distribution. [The said Sum of 2000l. was, soon after the death of Mr. Alderman Wright (which happened on the 9th day of April 1798), transferred by his Executors, to, and now stands in the Name of, the, Corporation; the Yearly Dividends being 801. Son of Mr. Richard Johnson, who has been mentioned in p. 441, as an Editor of the Baronetage, and who was a very useful 1797 James Dodsley', Esq. 1798 William Gill, Esq. Alderman. useful Corrector of the Press, and occasional Editor for the Booksellers. The son was for some years principal clerk to Thomas Curtis, esq. (a worthy Member of the present Court of Assistants); in which station he had saved a considerable sum of money. He became a Liveryman in 1785; died in January 1795; and was buried, with his father, in Hendon church-yard. In his last Will, dated Jan. 3, 1795, he says: "I give and bequeath all the Remainder of Property whatever to the Worshipful Company of Stationers, upon the following conditions: That they will allow my sister Mary Johnson, Fifty Pounds per annum, to be paid half-yearly to her only; and Ten Pounds per annum, to my uncle Lockington Johnson, or to his wife Elizabeth Johnson, during their natural lives. So that after the deaths of my sister Mary Johnson, my uncle Lockington Johnson, or his wife Elizabeth Johnson, all my whole Property to be divided Half-yearly, viz. the Interest as the Dividends shall become due (after deducting one guinea for an annual sermon at Hendon, and three guineas for a dinner for the Master and Wardens, when they hear the sermon and visit his grave) among "Five very poor widows who have seen better days, above the age of sixty, whose Husbands were Liverymen, and in a good way of business; were either Stationers, Printers, Booksellers, or Binders:" the choice of these objects to be left to the Master, Wardens, and Court of Assistants of the Company of Stationers. — N. B. To avoid any Dispute, in case my Uncle and Aunt outlives my Sister, the Fifty not to go to them, but to be divided amongst the Five Widows. [Besides the Sum of 1000l. Four per Cent. Bank Annuities, found in the Testator's name, the Executors, with his other property, purchased 8001. like Annuities; the whole of which has been transferred to, and stands in the name of the Corporation, with a balance in cash of 421. 10s. 10d. paid over by the Executors to the Master and Wardens. Since which the Sum of 501. like Annuities has from a surplus of cash been purchased, and stands in the name of the Corporation.-There is also a Sum of 501. Five per Cent. Bank Annuities, in the name of the Testator's Father, which cannot be transferred until the event of the Testator's Sister either marrying or arriving at the age of Forty; but the Dividends of it are received by the Company.The half yearly Dividend on the whole 1900l. being S81. 5s.] Mr. Dodsley, by his will, gave 320l. to the Company. See memoirs of him in vol. VI. p. 437. This gentleman (partner with Mr. Wright, as stated in p. 604) was several years one of the Common Council of the ward of Candlewick, and was elected Alderman of Walbrook in 1781. He served the office of Sheriff the same year, and that of Lord Mayor in 1788; and was elected Treasurer of Christ's Hospital in 1785. He died March 26, 1798; and by his will gave 30 shillings a year, to be added to Cater's dinner. |