MRP: Richard Hill will (1660)

Richard Hill will (1660)

PROB 11/297 Nabbs 1-51 Will of Richard Hill of Saint Dionis Backchurch, City of London 14 March 1660

Editorial history

08/12/11, CSG: Created page & posted partial transcription to wiki

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Abstract & context

Overview

Richard Hill was a cordwainer in Lime Street in the parish of St. Dionis Backchurch. He was descended from a Devon family. He became alderman of Candlewick Ward, London, in 1654 and was made Master of the Cordwainers Company in 1655.

Robert Brenner on Richard Hill

Robert Brenner positions the London merchant Richard Hill as "an outstanding new-merchant leader." He goes on to provide a number of examples of Richard Hill's trading activities, drawing on R.H.E. Hill's article 'Richard Hill, of Moreton, Alderman of London.'

Brenner emphasises a close relationship between William Pennoyer and Richard Hill, including a partnership with William Pennoyer to adventure to Guinea in the 1645 to 1647 period. Additionally, William Pennoyer's brother, Samuell Pennoyer, nominated Richard Hill in 1654 as one of the the overseers of his will.

Brenner suggests that Richard Hill was a leader from circa 1640, if not earlier, "in the colonial tobacco and sugar trades." He identifies a trading relationship between the tobacco trader and Richard Hill dealing in Newfoundland fish-oil.

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Suggested links

See William Pennoyer will (Richard Hill and William Pennoyer were partners in Guinea trade, 1645-1647)
See Samuell Penoyer will (Richard Hill was one of Samuel Pennoyer's overseers)

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Transcription

This transcription has been partially completed

RICHARD HILL HIS WILL: I GIVE to my wife two thousand pounds, land, which John Johnson holds by lease my said wife to have dureing her life, after her to my sonne Abraham Hill dureing his life then to my sonne Thomas Hill, then to my sonne Sa: Hill, the rest of three lives and one XXXX Thirtie yeres after he lives, To my wife all my plate pewter and brasse giveing to my children what shee thinks good. To my sonne Thomas two Thousand pounds, to my sonne Samuell one thousand pounds, to my wife all my Jewells plate brasse and housholdstuffe of all sorts and kinds at her dispose To my sonne Abraham Hill whome I ordayne my executor the rest of my estate, the benefitt of the lease of my house: my wife haveing it to herselfe to dispose of for her owne use: The Lord be praysed: In London the 26:th of ffebruarie 1658/59

Richard Hill

To: Elizabeth Allen tenne pounds to Alice XXXXX

ON THE FOURTEENTH daye of March in the yere of our Lord one Thousand six hundred fiftie Nyne (English stile) issued forth letters of Administracon with the will annexed To Thomas Hill the naturall and lawfull sonne and legatee named in the last will and testament of Richard Hill late of the parish of Dionis Backchurch London esquire deceased to administer all and singular the goods chattells and debts of the said deceased according to the tenor and effecte of the said will for that Abraham Hill one other of the sonnes of the said deceased and sole and onely exec.r named in the said deceaseds will hath actually and Judicially renounced the probate and execucon thereof as by the act of court appears And for that Agnes Hill widdowe the relcite of the said deceased and one other legatee named in the said will is alsoe since departed this life, and did not any wise intermeddle with the said deceaseds estate he the said Thomas Hill being first legally sworne wel and truely to administer XXX

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Notes

Saint Dionis Backchurch

"The Fourth Classis comprised a group of eleven parishes at the northern end of London Bridge, with three additional parishes farther to the north. With one or two exceptions, these were parishes of well-to-do tradesmen. Although few of them could boast of a large number of great merchants among their inhabitants, some of these parishes produced active and influential Oresbyterian civic leaders in Puritan London - such as james Bunce of St, Benet Gracechurch, John Bellamy of St. Michaell Cornhill, Edward Hooker of St. mary at Hill, John Gase of St. Andrew Hubbard, Edward Bellamy of St. Magnus, Richard Hill and Thomas Manwaring of St. Dionis Backchurch, Tobias Lisle and John and Nehemiah Wallingham of St. Leonard eastcheap, and so forth."

The inhabitants of London, 1638

"[St. Dionis Backchurch] MS. p. 89.
Fanchurch St.

John Bennet 40 30

Valentine Markeham 40 30

MS. p. 89a.

Roger Vivien 60 45

Francis Tryon 30 22

Thomas Turgis 60 45

Samuel Barnard 35 26"

Richard Hill of Moreton, Devon

Richard Hill of Moreton, including his inventory

"86. RICHARD HILL OF MORETON (IV., p. 49, par. 19). Some further notes supplementary to my remarks on Richard Hill in the April number of this magazine, may prove interesting to the reader, especially as many of them have never before been published.

A statement, first printed in the lifetime of Hill's elder sons, identifies him as a descendant of the Hills of Shilston, an ancient Devon family tracing their ancestry back to Richard II. 's reign. It occurs in an early edition of Guillim's Heraldry, in Hasted's History of Kent, and in Vivian's Visitations of Cornwall, and alleges him to have been the son of a Richard Hill of Truro, who registered his Shilsten descent in the Visitation of 1620, and whose son Richard was six months old at that time. It is obvious, however, that an individual born in 1619 could not have been a married man and a freeman of London in 1632 ; moreover, as Richard Hill of Moreton definitely mentions "Thomas Hill my father" in an inventory which he drew up in 1633, the assertion of his Truro parentage must be absolutely wrong. I mention this legend because it has several times appeared in print without correction, and also because Hill's sons used the arms of the Shilston family apparently in good faith, and believing themselves to be entitled to them.

The inventory above-mentioned is preserved in the British Museum (Add. MS. 5488), and throws a very interesting light upon the business of a general merchant in those times. It begins:- "An Inventory of all the Ready Mony, Goodes, Debtes and Creditors, appertayning unto me Richard Hill of London, Merchant, taken the 30:th daie of June, Anno Domini 1633." Hill seems to have had a large business connection in the West Country, and the following name occur in his record of transactions. The greater number of his friends were Plymouth men, such as George, Lawrence and Philip Andrews, Henry Barnes, Nicholas Bennet, Abraham Biggs, Nicholas Bonnett, Robert Braye (clothier), Hugh Cornish, John Edgcombe, Robert Gawde, Humphry Gayer, Nicholas Harris, Elize Hele Abraham and Ambrose Jennings, Samuel Macey Robert Mase, Thomas Meade, Bartholomew Nicholds, George Paynter, Justynian Peard, Wm. Rowe of Stonehouse, Robert Trelawney, and Philip Tyncombe (marryner). Also Marke Hawkings and John Newman, of Dartmouth; Henry Downe, carryer of Exon ; Allen Bartlett, of Totnis; and William Whiddon, of Chagford, gent. In Cornwall, he had several clients at Fowey Jonathan Rashley, Esq., Thomas Rose, Henry Stephens, Henry Costen, Raphe, Tom and George Bird, William Baker, Diggory Gordge, and John Mayowe. Besides these John Keigwin, of Mousehole; Peter Hallemoor and Anthony Munday, of Penryn; William Trevethan, of Helston; William Cliffton, of Flushing; Tobias Browne, of Maryzion ; William Stacy, of Saltash; and William Burrowes, of Looe. Many ships are mentioned, with the ports to which they belonged, such as the Centuryon, Darling, Elizabeth, Fortune and Hester, Mayflower, William, William and John, all of Plymouth ; the Bernard, of Foye ; Alice Bona, of Dartmouth; Joane Anne, of Swannidge; Virgin and Jane, of Chichester; Mary and Barbara, of Portsmouth; Mary, of Brighthemstone; Experience, Happie Entrance, Hopewell, Successe and Alathia, all of London; the Concord, of Millbrooke; and the Starre, of Amsterdam. Hill also mentions his father Thomas, brother William, father-in-law Thomas Trewolla, Cyprian Sawdy, of Moreton, Thomas Trewolla, of Trewroe, and William Vincent, brothers-in-law, mostly with reference to cash debts. There is a curious entry which may be quoted at length : " Sr Richard Carnsewe Kt. per his bill dated the last of February 1628 payable to Anne Trewolla now my wife on the daie of her marryage - £2. The inventory is altogether a most interesting document, and shews the great variety of Hill's dealings in different kinds of goods, such as Zeres Sacke, Malliga Wynes, White Sugar, St. Christopher's Tobacco, Barrillia, Spanish Iron, Ropes, Sweet Oyle, Rozen, Newfoundland Trayne Oyle, Ginger, Napkening and Tabling, Dyaper and Damaske, Corke, Wheate, Raisons Solis, Pitch, and the building of a ship at Shoreham, &c. It must have been a satisfaction to him to find a balance in his favour of £588 3s. 2d. when he had made up his accounts.

The inventory drawn up in 1660 for probate purposes, which was referred to in the previous article, shews that the Alderman's house in Lime Street was a fairly spacious building, containing nine bedrooms, two garrets, two dining rooms, a gallery, a parlour, counting house, and the usual offices. Among the host of items mentioned we may particularly notice a billyard table, 607 ounces of plate at 5s. the ounce, an iron bath, a leaden cistern worth £5, old tapestry hangings, three musketts, one pike, two payre of pistolls, and a parcell of old armour. It is worth noting that this is seven years earlier than the reference to a "billyard table" in Dr. Murray's great English Dictionary, which is dated 1667. Besides tapestry hangings, there were others of "white dymithy wrought," East India callicoe, greene perpetuana, "redde Searge with gilded leather, and fine East India stuffe lyned with callicoe." The total value of the Alderman's effects amounted to £1,073.

The following "Perticular of plate, 21 Feb. 1659," is no doubt a list of that referred to in the inventory. It includes:- "One bason and ewer, a standing cupp with a cover, two cupps rounde with covers, two salt cellars with feet, six small salt cellars, a sugar dish flatt, a small sugar dish, three tankards, a candlestick and snuffers, four porrengers, two dozen spoones, two tumblers, a caudle cupp, two tobacco boxes, and an aqua vitae bottle."

Though much of his sons' correspondence in later years is still in existence, only one private letter from the Alderman's pen is at present known, and that is only a rough draft signed with his initials, without the name of the person to whom it was sent. It will be found in Add. MS. 5501, which also contains many of Hill's official papers, and it runs as follows:-

My deare Friend.

Sr. At ye earnest request of that noble Gent Capta Wm. Parsons so much in distresse by his very great losses many years past by the bloudy rebells in Ireland, I begg of you in his behalf to tender this peticone of his to ye Committee of Gouldsmyths hall, and to assist him what you can in his just demaund, wch is I think but equall, that thareby by your meanes he may have some support, without wch I am assured his condicon may be sad. Herein you will doe a courtesie to an honest Gentleman, and I suppose a Charitable world.

I leave it with you, he will attend you tomorrow at 2 of the Clock at ye late house of Lords, if you thinke not well of it, be pleased to returne it me in ye morning, retaining this . . . yourself that I am always Sr.

Yours in all Love R.H.

Limestreete London I3th D:ber 1649.

From his son's papers in the British Museum I give the following items of Hill's effects, which shew that he left his family well provided for. His wealth eventually descended to the children of his brother William, a merchant of Falmouth, as the Alderman's line became extinct in 1736.

ACCOUNT OF THE EFFECTS OF ALDERMAN RICHARD HILL, DECD.

£ s. d.
In Cash the I5th January 1659 (1660) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 676 16 7

The Lease of a Tenement at Mevagessy in Cornwall during
two Lives and 31 years after : yielding £17 6s. 4d.
per annum ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 225 0 0

One-eight part of the Shipp Society and one-quarter pte of
the stock in the Masters hand ... ... ... ... .... .... ... ... ... 780 0 0

One one-sixteenth part of the Shipp Jonathan ... ... ... 50 0 0

One-eight part of the Shipp Olive branch ... ... ... ... ... 340 0 0

A Subscription of £2000 in the United Joint Stock of ye
E. India Comp:a

A Subscription of £2000 in the present stock whereof paid in 2000 0 0
Adventure of one-sixteenth pte of the Tho and William
£527 10s., whereof received £100 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 427 10 0

Tyn ii Barrells sent to Smirna ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 328 7 4

Hounscott sayes 100 ps at Legorne ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 280 14 10

The Household Stuffe as p. appraizm:t ... ... ... ... ... ... 598 1 0

Adventure of £100 in ye Jonathan ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 0 0

Resting upon an adventure in ye Allan friggat for one-
sixteenth part ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 15 7

Upon account of one-twelfth part of ye Morning Starr ... 112 13 4

Upon account of one-sixteenth part of ye 3 Brothers ... 3 10 0

The Lease of a Tenem:t in Limestreet for 27 yeares or
thereabouts, 50 p. annum received ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 450 0 0

Due upon a Mortgage from Jn Trewolla ye 5th July 1658 990 0 0
After these items there follow the names of twenty-nine
debtors, among whom occur William, John, Andrew and
Hillary Hill, brothers of the deceased; William Blunden,
an apprentice ; Thomas Spoore, of Looe; George Rescorla;
the Commissioners of Prize Goods; and the Levant
Company. R. H. ERNEST HILL."

Captain Walter Maynard

"Captain Walter Maynard of Knight's Place, Limehouse..."

East Indies trade

"The year for which the present Committees were chosen having expired, it is resolved to make a fresh election of fifteen men, and the following are chosen: William Cokayne, Andrew Riccard, Thomas Andrew, Maurice Thomson, Samuel Moyer, Richard Hill, William Pennoyer, Hugh Wood, William Vincent, Nathaniel Wyche, Anthony Bateman, Captain William Ryder, Jeremy Blackman, James Edwards and Aaron Baker."

"A list of the adventurers is read and William Cokayne, Andrew Riccard, Maurice Thomson, Thomas Andrew, William Pennoyer, Samuel Moyer, Richard Hill, Captain William Ryder, Hugh Wood, William Vincent, George Smyth, Nathaniel Wyche, Edward Wood, Anthony Bateman and John Nelson are chosen as the fifteen Committees to whom, or to any seven of whom, the management of the affairs of this Stock for the ensuing year is to be left."

Miscellaneous

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Possible primary sources

BL

BL, Add. MS 5488, fo. 115, 'Inventory of Richard Hill, 1659

TNA

C 3/447/83 Short title: Hill v Keevell. Plaintiffs: Richard Hill. Defendants: Francis Keevell alias Francis Keeble, Jenepher Keevell alias Jenepher Keeble his wife and others. Subject: money matters in Cornwall. Document type: bill only. 1647

C 6/108/12 Short title: Ballard v Hill. Plaintiffs: Richard Ballard. Defendants: Richard Hill. Subject: articles of apprenticeship, London. Document type: bill, answer. 1650
C 6/140/71 Short title: Ibbott v Hollis. Plaintiffs: Thomas Ibbott. Defendants: Thomas Hollis, Richard Hill, William Rider, Jeremiah Blackeman, Sir Christopher Wray and [unknown] Wray his wife. Subject: property in Sutton-at-Hone, Kent. Document type: bill, answer. 1657

PROB 11/297 Nabbs 1-51 Will of Richard Hill of Saint Dionis Backchurch, City of London 14 March 1660

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Possible secondary sources

Maddison, R. E. W., 'Abraham Hill, F.R.S. (1635-1722)', Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London, vol. 15, (Jul., 1960), pp. 173-182

-Abraham Hill was one of Richard Hill's sons