Thomas Swinsen
| Thomas Swinsen | |
|---|---|
| Person | Thomas Swinsen |
| Title | |
| First name | Thomas |
| Middle name(s) | |
| Last name | Swinsen |
| Suffix | |
| Spouse of | |
| Widow of | |
| Occupation | Cheesemonger |
| Secondary shorebased occupation | |
| Mariner occupation | |
| Associated with ship(s) | |
| Training | Not apprentice |
| Is apprentice of | Mr Prince |
| Was apprentice of | |
| Had apprentice(s) | |
| Citizen | Unknown |
| Literacy | Signature |
| Has opening text | |
| Has signoff text | Thomas Swynsen |
| Signoff image | {{{Transcription image}}} |
| Language skills | English language |
| Has interpreter | |
| Birth street | |
| Birth parish | |
| Birth town | |
| Birth county | |
| Birth province | |
| Birth country | |
| Res street | |
| Res parish | Saint Michael Crooked Lane |
| Res town | London |
| Res county | |
| Res province | |
| Res country | England |
| Birth year | 1635 |
| Marriage year | |
| Death year | |
| Probate date | |
| First deposition age | |
| Primary sources | |
| Act book start page(s) | |
| Personal answer start page(s) | |
| Allegation start page(s) | |
| Interrogatories page(s) | |
| Deposition start page(s) | HCA 13/68 f.577r Annotate |
| Chancery start page(s) | |
| Letter start page(s) | |
| Miscellaneous start page(s) | |
| Act book date(s) | |
| Personal answer date(s) | |
| Allegation date(s) | |
| Interrogatories date(s) | |
| Deposition date(s) | Feb 21 1654 |
| How complete is this biography? | |
| Has infobox completed | |
| Has synthesis completed | |
| Has HCA evidence completed | |
| Has source comment completed | |
| Ship classification | |
| Type of ship | |
| Silver Ship litigation in 1650s | |
| Role in Silver Ship litigation | |
Biographical synthesis
Thomas Swinsen (alt. Swynsen; Swinson) (b.ca.1635; d.?). Cheesemonger.
Resident in 1654 in the parish of Saint Michael Crooked Lane.[1]
Apprentice of Mr. Prince of Saint Michael Crooked Lane, who may have been Thomas Prince, cheesemonger. A Thomas Prince, merchant, sent his son, born in Saint Michael Crooked Lane, to the Merchant Taylors' school in 1657.[2] Speculatively, this is also the same man as Thomas Prince (b.ca.1630, West Garforth, Yorkshire; d.aft.1657), Clothworker, but active as cheesemonger and merchant, who was associated with the Levellers.[3]
Evidence from High Court of Admiralty
Thomas Swinsen, a nineteen year old cheesemonger, deposed on February 21st 1654 in the High Court of Admiralty. He was examined on an allegation on the behalf of Prince and Company. The case was "Prince and Company against the shipp the Charity and gods in the same."[4]
Swinsen stated that on January 17th or 18th 1654 he had been in the company of Paul Paulson in the house of a victualler, Mr Bingeon, on Thames Street, London. Swinsen stated that he had heard Paul Paulson, the master of the Charity, say in the victualler's house that his ship was laden with pitch, tar, deals, iron, two masts and some spars. All these goods were laden for Paulson's account, with the exception of twelve of the thirty barrels of tar, which belonged to the ship's company. There was no charter party nor bill or lading recording the goods.[5]
"Thomas Swinson, a servant of Mr Prince" is mentioned in a separate High Court of Admiralty deposition by ffrancis Meare, thirty year old merchant of Saint Michael Crooked Lane.[6] Though this separate deposition was made a year after the first deposition, on February 28th 1655, this Thomas Swinson is clearly the same man as "Thomnas Swinsen", subject of this biography, since Meare's deposition is also given in the case of "Prince against the goods in the Charitie, though in response to a different allegation.[7] It is clear from Meare's evidence that Thomas Swinsen was the apprentice and servant of Mr. Prince, who was presumably a cheesemonger. Meare is resident in the same parish as Thomas Swinsen, cheesemonger, and goes on to state he "knoweth one John Swinson, brother of the said Thomas".[8]
Given the earlier testimony about pitch, tar and other goods laden on the Charity, it may be that Mr. Prince's business, though a cheesemonger, was that of ship chandler.
Comment on sources
Possible related material
A "Thomas Prince" (b.ca.1630, West Garforth, Yorkshire; d.aft.1657) was resident in the parish of Saint Martin Orgar. He was a member of the Clothworkers, but was a cheesemonger by trade. He supported the Parliamentary cause in the English civil war, and supplied the Parliamentary armies with cheese and butter.[9]
"Merchant Taylors' School Register, 1656-7....Thomas Prince, eld. son of Thomas, merchant, b. in Michael's, Crooked Lane, 18 April, 1646."[10]- ↑ HCA 13/68 f.577r
- ↑ Charles John Robinson, A register of the scholars admitted into Merchant Taylors' School : from A. D. 1562 to 1874, vol.1 (Lewes, 1882), p.235 viewed 31/07/2016
- ↑ Wikipedia article: Thomas Prince (Leveller), citing Baker, P. R. S. (January 2008) (2004). "Prince, Thomas (fl. 1630–1657)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/66672
- ↑ HCA 13/68 f.577r
- ↑ HCA 13/68 f.577r
- ↑ HCA 13/70 f.246v
- ↑ HCA 13/70 f.246r
- ↑ HCA 13/70 f.246v
- ↑ Wikipedia article: Thomas Prince (Leveller), citing Baker, P. R. S. (January 2008) (2004). "Prince, Thomas (fl. 1630–1657)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/66672
- ↑ Charles John Robinson, A register of the scholars admitted into Merchant Taylors' School : from A. D. 1562 to 1874, vol.1 (Lewes, 1882), p.235 viewed 31/07/2016
