Difference between revisions of "Baldwin Mathews"

Revision as of 13:32, November 15, 2016

Biographical synthesis

Baldwin Mathews (alt. Mathewes) (b. ca. 1620; d. ?). Merchant.

Brother of London merchant Peter Mathews.^[1] Peter Mathews appears to have been married to Maria Vanbrugh, the sister of Anna Vanbrugh, who married London merchant Simon Delboe (b. ?; d. ca. 1676).^[2]

Resident in 1657 in Middleburg (alt. Middleborowe).

Living at Ghent in Flanders, later in London, and then in Middleburg; claimant with Peter de Cock for silver in the Saint John Baptist (sic); The London merchant Peter Mathews, brother to Baldwin Mathews, stated in January 1654 that "Baldwin Mathewes hath for most of the time interrate been a traveller and hath remained in severall parts beyond the seas, and now liveth in this City of London^[3]

Baldwin Mathews may have been in partnership with, and related in marriage to, Peter de Cock [alt de Coecke], a merchant of Ghent. Peter Mathews describes "letters of advise from the said Baldwin Mathewes from Gant intimating and importing that severall parcells of fflanders linnen were by his and his said copartners order sent from fflanders to Spaine for their accompt, and beleeveth the silver in question to be the proceed thereof"^[4]

Evidence from High Court of Admiralty

April 1650

"Arnold Beake Peter et Baldwin Mathewes interes indra Nave the Lucretia alias the Elizabeth et bonis".^[5]

January 1655

Thirty-seven year old Peter Mathews, elder brother of Baldwin Mathews, deposed on January 10th 1655 in the High Court of Admiralty. He was examined on an allegation in the cause of "Peter Cock and Baldwin Matthewes for their silver in the shipp Saint John Baptist.^[6]

October 1657

Thirty-seven year old Baldwin Mathews deposed on October 6th 1657 in the High Court of Admiralty. He was examined on a libel in the cause of "Vanbroughs and Nicholas against the Abrahams Offering and Rois".^[7]

The case concerned a fatt of black thread laded onto the ship the Abrahams Offering (Master: ffrancis Rois) at Flushing of Middleburg. The thread was for transportation to London for the account of William Vanbrugh (alt. Vanbrough). Baldwin Mathews handled the lading of the thread onto the ship, but stated that he did not see the thread itself "the same comming to this deponent from Sluce in fflanders readie made up in the said fatt".^[8]

The thread received water damage whilst on the ship. Mathews noted that "the port of fflushing is a drie port, soe as shipps when the tide is out, alwaies lie drie, and rest upon the ground; by meanes whereof shipps there doe many times mark or crush and their goods receive dammage; soe that (as hee taketh it) it is the use and custome there amongst merchants and masters to [XXXX] any dammage there received from beneath, to casualtie".^[9]

Comment on sources

1617

"1617. July 12. Baldwin Mathewes, born beyond the seas. (Patent Roll, 15 James I., part 20)"^[10]

1653

In her will, written on July 20th 1653, but only proved in 1676, Anne Delboe, wife of London merchant Simon Delboe, made reference to "my brother William Vanbrugh" and to "my sister Susan Vanbrugh". Prior to her marriage, an agreement had been made in 1652 "Whereunto the said Simon Delboe I the said Anne Timothy Crusoe my Brother William Vanbrugh Peter Mathewes and Peter Mathewes Baldwin are parties".^[11]

1657

"(Letter) 122. to William Clerke at Antwerp
13 March 1657

...I am sorry my letter with the bill of exchange did not come according to course. What might be the reason I know not. Sure I am there was nothing wanting in me. But I admire, seeing you carried Mr Jollife's credit, that you could want for such a sum whereby to prejudice your affairs. But it seems that proved like Baldwin Matthew's credit, otherwise you could not have wanted...."^[12]

"(Letter) 125b.

...Mr Baldwin Matthews [at Middelburg] hath drawn on me mere £58 6d which he furnished you withal. I have 3 weeks since remitted Mr John Shaw [at Antwerp] £150 more for your account which, with the abovesaid, makes above £200 which he writ me was accepted. I would have remitted it sooner, it had been all on to me, but I considered it with your brother [George] it was not convenient until we did hear of your arrival at Bilbao, not knowing but you might allot the said money to be paid Mr Francis Clarke, seeing you gave us no answer about it before you took shipping at Zeeland. But I find you were straitened with time, as per Mr Millington's relation. However, [Mr] Francis Clarke now begins to murmur, complaining that you and I have drawn him into an inconveniency in regard that he hath [not] his half money nor his obligation for the other moiety, which pray send per first, else he will have just cause to complain of you as you have of me about the account, though in the end you will find it's [to] my prejudice...".^[13]

"(Letter) 126 to William Clerke at Madrid
8 Sept. 1657

I have yours 8 and 15 past where I find you still complaining of your unhappiness in that cannot receive a line from your friends, at which I admire that mine of 8 July was not come to hand when your last letter was writ. It went under covert Mr Whitt of that city. And as for other letters, I fear they may be intercepted because they go immediately directed to you, which in mine and most men's opinion that know that place apprehend a danger. As for the £200 you so much complain of is not come to hand, I do admire at it, seeing I remitted Mr John Shaw [at Antwerp] 19 June £150 sterling with order to remit it you with expedition, which was 20 days before I received any letter from you of your being in Madrid. The other 50 odd pounds I paid Mr Baldwin Matthews [at Middelburg] for the value paid you in those parts. Your news of the island of Santa Catalina proves contrary, as per late advice from Jamaica..."^[14]

1675

"Naturalization Acts. 27t Car. II, No. 3.

Baldwin Matthews, born at Midleburgh in Zealand, son of Baldwin Matthews. (See C. J. IX., 326.)"^[15]

1692-1714

Toon Franken and Anneke van Waarden of the Zeeuws Archief (Zeeland Archives) note that a Baudoin Mattheeus became elector (voter) by paying recognition in 1689. They add that Boudoin Mattheeus was member of the city council of Middelburg in 1713 as ‘raad’ (counsellor) and 1714 as ‘schepen’ (alderman). Baldwin Matheuson was elder in the English Church in Middelburg in 1692 and was member of the church in September 14 in

1. ↑ HCA 13/70 f.171v
2. ↑ ADD REFERENCE
3. ↑ HCA 13/70 f.172r
4. ↑ HCA 13/70 f.172r
5. ↑ HCA 13/63 f.20v AnnotatHCA 13/63 f.20v
6. ↑ HCA 13/70 f.171v
7. ↑ HCA 13/72 f.125v
8. ↑ HCA 13/72 f.126r
9. ↑ HCA 13/72 f.126r
10. ↑ William A. Shaw (ed.), Letters of denization and acts of naturalization for aliens in England and Ireland, 1603-1700 (Lymington, 1911), p.24
11. ↑ PROB 11/352/515 Will of Anne Delboe, Wife of London 23 December 1676
12. ↑ 'Letters: 1657', in The Letters of John Paige, London Merchant, 1648-58, ed. G F Steckley (London, 1984), pp. 142-149. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/london-record-soc/vol21/pp142-149, viewed 6 November 2016
13. ↑ 'Letters: 1657', in The Letters of John Paige, London Merchant, 1648-58, ed. G F Steckley (London, 1984), pp. 142-149. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/london-record-soc/vol21/pp142-149, viewed 6 November 2016
14. ↑ 'Letters: 1657', in The Letters of John Paige, London Merchant, 1648-58, ed. G F Steckley (London, 1984), pp. 142-149. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/london-record-soc/vol21/pp142-149, viewed 6 November 2016
15. ↑ William A. Shaw (ed.), Letters of denization and acts of naturalization for aliens in England and Ireland, 1603-1700 (Lymington, 1911), p.111
16. ↑ Communication of Toon Franken and Anneke van Waarden of the Zeeuws Archief (Zeeland Archives) wurg the MarineLives editorial team, citing H. Kesteloo's printed city accounts of the city of Middelburg