MRP: C10/155/38 f. 3

C10/155/38 f. 3

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Abstract

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C10/155/38 f. 3 is the answer of Sir William Ryder to a Bill of Complaint (C10/155/38 f. 1) brought by Ryder's former partner, the London merchant, William Cutler. Ryder's fellow defendants were a fellow London merchant, George Cocke; the London goldsmith, Edward Backwell; and Ryder's servant, Samuel Heron. Backwell and Cocke presumably made separate answers to Cutler's Bill of Complaint, but these answers have not been found at the National Archives.

The suit was brought in 1668, eighteen months before Ryder's death. Ryder's lengthy answer details the terms of a series of five contracts made with the Navy Board between 1662 and ?1666 . The contracts were between a partnership led by Ryder, which included William Cutler for all five years. George Cocke, was a partner for several early contracts, whereas Edward Backwell was a partner in the later contracts. The contracts were for the delivery to Portsmouth, Chatham and Woolwich of hemp, tar and pitch from the Baltic and were for sizeable, though varying, quantities and values.

Ryder's answer includes details of a contract made in 1663 between Ryder and Cutler on the one part and the London ironmongers Thomas Westerne and Charles Harvey on the other for the delivery to the latter of Swedish iron. The iron was to be delivered to a location on the River Thames free of all freight and other charges.

Ryder's answer details the responsibilities for book keeping, contract by contract, and gives information about the accrued profits on each of the contracts. He states that the books for a number of the later years are still open, though a preliminary view has been formed of the expected profits for those years.

Ryder describes a series of problems in the 1665 contract year. The partners had agreed between themeselves that Backwell "should looke after the receiving the money from the Navy", that Ryder should "correspond and give orders", and that Cutler should "looke after the affaires immediately relating to the Com:rs of the Navy for procuring XXXXX and ?order(s) from the board for the receipt of the goods and getting Bills for the same." However, during the year Alderman Backwell was overseas on the King's business, and Cutler left the "whole troubles" on Ryder. Due to the sickness of that year the Naval commissioners were dilatory in arranging the regular transfer of money to the partners. As a result Ryder was forced to leave £3000 of his money in Backwell's hands for five or six months to ensure there was sufficient money to meet bills of exchange drawn on the partnership's account with Backwell.

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Transcription

This transcription has not yet been completed, 30/10/CSG

Need a better image of the RH side of the document from top to bottom, plus images of the folds towards bottom of the document

//XXXXX 21 XXX JXXXX 1669 [top LH corner of document]//
//XX ??Willm Child [top LH corner of document]//

//The severall Answeares of S:r William Ryder knt one of the defendants to the//
//Bill of Complant of William Cuttler Esquire Complianant//

//All advantage of excepcon to the incertainties & insufficientyes of the said Bill of complt this defend:t now & att all tymes hereafter being saved & reserved for answer to soe much thereof as materiall for him this defendant to answear unto hee saith That hee beleeves that about the yeare One Thousand six hundred & one there might be occasion//

//to supply his Maties stores with Navall provisions but this defendant denyeth that hee or the plt to his knowledge ?intermeddled therin untill about the month of July One thousand sixty & two Att or about which tyme true itt is that this deft at the earnest ?importunity & sollicitacon of the deft & the other defendant M:r Cocke & some of the principall Officers//

//& Com:rs of the Navy was psuaded to Joyne with the said Comp:lt & the said other defendant in a contract or bargaine with her Matyes said Com:rs the tenor of which bargaine or contract followeth in the these words Whereas in order to the better accomodatinge his Matyes service an offer hath beene lately made by the Crowne of Sweden That for what quantity //

//of hempe his Matyes XXXX affaires may require Itt shalbe att his Matyes pleasure by his Agents at Riga or elsewhere to ??inoye & make use of what ???quantityes or benefitt it may bee to take upp the said hempe to his owne use in the name of the King of Sweden And whereas now XXXXXXXXXXon thereof made to this Board itt hath beene [?possible none or one word illegible]//

//after full enquiry & debate XXXXX most advisable for the ????im?procuring of the said XXXXXXXall to his Matyes best advantage that the management thereof be committed to some psons of knowne ability & integrity as factors for his Matye in that behalfe to be accomptable to the Office uppon Oath for the truth of their proceedings & disbursements [?possible none or one word illegible]//

//therein And moreover in psuance of the said resolucon of this Board choice hath beene made of S:r William Ryder knt M:r William Cutler & M:r George Cocke merchants as psons fully quallified for their undertaking knowe all men by these XXXX that the principall Officers & Com:rs for his Matyes Navy ?have//

//Covenanted & agreed to and with the said S:r William Ryder knt William Cutler and George Cocke Merchants that they the said S:r William Ryder Cutler & Cocke shall for the use of his Matyes Cause to be bought at Riga ??or Quinsborough & delivered at Portsmouth Chatham or Woolwich (as the said principall Officers & Com:rs shall direct XX//

//hereafter betweene the day of the ??signing hereof the ?last of December next ensuinge (the danger of the seas excepted) ffive hundred Tonnes or what part thereof can be conveniently procured imployinge therein to his Maties best advantage the above said offer of the King of Sweden of the best merchandtable Rhyne hempe And//

//that the said Ryder Cutler Cocke shall to the utmost of their care & skill endeavour the buying & shipping of the said parcell of hempe at the XXXXX rate & freight that the then p:rsent markett can afford And for asmuch as twenty four thousand pounds or thereabouts will be the said necessary to be provided for the//

//buying the said quantity of hempe the said principall Officers & Com:rs doe promise to pay to the said Ryder Cutler & Cocke within the tyme of eight weeks next ??ensueing the date hereof by weekly proporconns Three four partes of the said some, the remaining one fourth pte to be upon the credit of the said//

//Ryder Cutler & Cocke untill the Arrivall of the said quantity of hempe & then to be paid them upon delivery thereof according to such propoccons as it shall happily arrive in And for asmuch as through danger of the seas & the ?XXXdents of merchants ?too often to make badd debts by meeting with Bankrupts the//

//delivery of the same as aforesaid may be made hasarduous to his Maty If ?provision be not made therein The said Ryder Cutler & Cocke doe hereby Jointly & personally oblige themselves to cause Assurances upon the said hempe to be made att the ?XXXX ?rates they can (which they have here ?liberly granted them of makeing//

//in his Maty or their owne names) and to make good to the said principall Officers & Com:rs within six moneths after any losse shalbe proved ?aswell Also said Assuances as what somme or sommes shalbe by them delivered by exchange or otherwise or to any pson whatsoever to the use abovesaid And if through//

//XXXXX or any other obstruccon it shall fall out that the sais quantity & prXXXXed cannot be procured that then they shalbe answerable ?immediately to ?the said Board for soe much money with the proffitt or ??losse of exchange as they shall receive above what the price of the hempe delivered by them shall amount unto And in//

//?consideracon of the care paines creditt & adventure to be imployed by the said S:r William Ryder M:r William Cutler & M:r George Cocke in the manageing thereof Itt is further by these p:resents agreed that the said principall Officers shall pay all costs & charges whether freight factorage assurances customes or//
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

//whatever XXX they may be put shall appeare to have been expended in the buying transporting or delivering the said hempe & allow besides & above the said costs & charges to the said Ryder Cutler & Cocke therfore fowre p centum upon the whole Lastly for better satisfaccon to his Maty or to whome he may//

//?appeareth XXXXXXXXX unto the benefitt or disadvantage accrewinge to his Maty by this contract the said Ryder Cutler & Cocke did bynde themselves as aforesaid to produce the originall Accompts relating to the matter herein & XXXXXXXXXXX from their severall ffactors beyond the seas and (being themselves first satisfyed with the//

//XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX of the ?prices & XXXX by them demanded) to deliver them to the principall Officers & Com:rs from whome alone they shall expect their discharge and (if thereXXXX required) wilbe ??deposed before a Master in Chancery that the said accompts are in all respects true & iust to the best of their//

//knowledge & informacon In witnesse whereof the said principall Officers & Com:rs of the Navy with the said S:r William Ryder Cutler & Cocke have ??interchangeably sett their hand & seale this third day of July in the yeare of our Lord God One thousand six hundred sixtye & two As by a copy of the said//

//contract (the originall thereof appeXXXXXing by the XXX owne XXXXX to be in his custody appeareth And this deft saith that in order to the complyance with the said contract the plt plus deft & the said other deft M:r Cocke did by ioynt consent imploy Agents & Correspondents beyond the seas vizt Beniamine//

//?Ailiffe & Thomas Cutler in the bill named XXXX ffrances Sanderson to provide the said hempe to be transported & lodged in his Maties Storehowses here But this deft denyeth that the ??Invoyces or Bills of ladeing thereof or of any other the hempe & tarre sent over for his Matyes use upon the fower//

//succeeding contracts hereafter menconned to be made with his Mat:ties said Com:rs were sent over to this deft pticullarly or that he undertooke or did keepe any of the accompts thereof but by like XXXXX XXXXX one Samuell Heron another deft in the bill also named was imployed to keepe all accounts of the

//said affaire & about the fifth day of ffebruary one thousand six hundred sixty & two the said accomts upon the said first contract were by ??royal XXXXX of the plt & of this deft & the deft Cocke delivered for the said Com:rs & principall Officers to ?gather with the originall Invoyces or bills of ladeinge accompts//

//& other writeings & papers belonging hereunto And the proffitt ??ariseinge upon the said imployment upon that contract upon a Royal adviXXXX & accompt made upp betweene ?this defendt and the plt & the said M:r Cocke amounted unto One Thousand Nynety fowere pounds fowre shillings & eleaven//

//pence & was more As by the said accompts whereunto this deft for his greater certainty therin referreth himselfe appeareth And the said One thousand Nynty fowre pounds fowre shillings and Eleaven pence was accordingly ?XXXX and devided equally betweene this def:t the plt & the//

//said M:r Cocke and all proffitt outher by the Insurance made generally by the ptners or otherwise ariseing upon that contract was included in the said One thousand Nynety foure pounds fowre shillings and Eleaven pence And

//fXXXX & ought not to be further XXXXXX into or questioned as this deft is advised And what XXXX Insurance the plt pticularly made in relacon to the businesse of ?that or any other the contracts hereafter menconned hee had his premium XXX for the same or dXXX XXX a pticular XXXX in XXX XXX//

//what or how much this plt p
any of the said contracts this deft doth not know nor is itt in XXXXXXXXXXX as this deft is advised the premium beinge paid as aforesaid but the plt after this first contract as this deft XXXXXXX ??refused to ?underwrite//

//any pticular Assurances whatever And this defendt confesseth that another contract was made with the said Comissioners or XXXX principall Officers of the Navy by the plt this deft & the said M:r Cocke on or about the fowre & twentieth day of March one thousand sixty & two//

//the ?tenor whereof followeth in these words Know all men by these XXXX that wee S:r William Ryder kt William Cutler & George Cocke Merchants have covenanted & agreed & doe hereby covenant & agree with the principall Officers XXXXX of his Matyes Navy That//

//the said William Ryder William Cutler & George Cocke will for use of his Maties Com:rs to be bought for the use of his Maty at Riga & Quinbrow (sic) or elsewhere thereabouts & do lande at Chatham Portsmouth & Woolwich as the said principall Officers & com:rs shall [? one or two illegible words]//

//?direct XXXXX the day of the
of October next XXXXXXXXXXX (the danger of seas excepted) ffive hundred Tuns (or what pte thereofe can be by us conveniently procured) of the best merchandizable Riga Rhine hempe and
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX//

//Stockholme ?Tarre the best that can be had (where the said Tarre may be XXXX proply had) or the best ?termes for his Matie & that wee the said William Ryder William Cutler and George Cocke will XXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

LARGE GAP

SEE IMAGE: P1080039 FOR TEXT BELOW

//or otherwise & by the proffitt on a parcell of iron that were joynty supported by the plt this deft and the said defendt Cocke amounted to Eight hundred
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

//XXXXXXXXXXXX who was intrusted with ?Rixdollars two thousand as by the said accompts ??remayneinge with the Com:rs of the Navy & the Accompt of the said
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

//truth of those accompts according to the ??purport of the said last menconned contract as this deft remembreth And this deft saith that he hath beene informed
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

//the XXXX & vallue of the said hempe & Tarre bought under the said ??forward contract and the said was supplyed by the said Samuell Heron the
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

//XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

//XXXXX & XXXXX XXXXX for
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

THIS LINE MAY HAVE BECOME DISPLACED //Afford and for a fourth as Twenty five thousand two hundred pounds or thereabouts wilbe the somme necessarily to be provided

THIS LINE MAY HAVE BECOME DISPLACED //
deft spake to the plt to take care to prodyXX & furnish his XXXXXXXXXXX thereof who p:retending want of p:rsent money ?intreated this deft to supply the same promising that he would
XXXX

SEE IMAGE P1080039 FOR TEXT BELOW

//Navy by the said XXXX & this defend:t without the other deft M:r Cocke on or about the eight moneth of Aprill 1664 the tenor of w:ch said contract followeth in these words Know all men by these psents That wee
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

//covenant & agree with the principall Officers & Com:rs of his Matyes Navy That wee the said S:r William Ryder & William Cutler will for the use of his Matye cause to be bought at Stockholme & XXXXXX at Chatham Portsmouth Woolwich
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

//day of the ?signing hereof & XXXXX next ensuieing (the danger of the seas excepted) Three hundred lasts of Tarre the best that can be had there on the best termes for his Matye & wee will to the XXXX or our care
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

//freight the then ??Markett can afford And for aXXXXX as Three Thousand pounds or thereabouts will be the somme XXXXXXXXXXXX to be provyded for the buying of the said quantity of Tarre the said principall Officers & Com:rs
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

//the space of three weekes next ensueing the date hereof by weekly proporcons two thirds of the said somme, the remaining third pte upon the creditt of the said S:r William Ryder & William Cutler untill the Arrivall of
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

//?such proporcons as itt shall happily aXXXX in And for XXXXXXXX as through danger of the seas & other accidents of Merchants to make badd debts by XXXXXXXXX with ??bankrupts the delivery of the somme aforesaid may be rendred
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

//Ryder & William Cutler doe hereby oblige XXXX ?Jointly & severally to cause XXXXXXXXXXXXXX upon the said Tarre to be made whos Ma:ties or our owne ??hands accordinge to the liberty granted to us by the said principall Offiers & Com:rs all the
XXXXXXXXXXX

//XXXX any losse shalbe ??procured aswell the said XXXXXXXXXXXXXX as what XXXX or XXXXXXX shalbe by us delivered by exchange or otherwise to any person whatsoever ??thereofe aforesaid And if through scarcity or any other
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

//??answerable and XXXXXX to the said principall Officers & Com:rs for soe much money with the proffitt or loss of exchange as wee the said S:r William Ryder & William Cutler shall receave above what the price of Tarre by us
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

//adventure to be imployed by the said S:r William Ryder & William Cutler in the manageing hereof Itt is farther by these ?paper agreed that the said principall Offiers & Com:rs shall pay all costs & charges whether freights factorage
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

//in the buying transportinge & delivereing of the said Tarre & allowe besydes & above the said XXX & charges to bee paid S:r William Ryder & William Cutler therefore foure p cent upon the whole Lastly for better satisfaccon to his Matye or whom he may
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

//by this contract wee the sayd S.r William Ryder & William Cutler doe promisse & ?bind ?ourselves to pduce the originall Accts relatinge to the matters herein expressed from severall ffactors beyond the seas & XXXXXXXXXXXX for satissXXX of the ??moderating of the XXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

//alone wee will export & discharge & (if thereunto required) wilbe deposed before a Ma:r in Chancery that the said accompts are in all respects true & up to the best of XX knowledge & informacon In witnesse the said principall Officers & Com:rs of the
XXXXXXXXXX

//their & our hands & seales this 28:th day of Aprill 1664 As by the said third contract whereunto this defendant for his full certanty therein referreth himselfe appeareth And this deft saith that there beinge need for a supply of
XXXXXXXX

//?factorag to make for export paym:t at as the said contract was specifyed this deft spake to the plt to take care to provyde & furnish his XXXXX thereof who pretending want of
with the said Com:rs & principall Officers of the Navy on or about the tenth of Aprill 1667 upon the oath of the plt & this deft to be before a M:r of this Court
XXXXXXXXXXXX

//of ladeing factorage & other  ??costs relatinge to the Accompts under the said third contract were alsoe delivered up to the said principall Officers & Com:rs of the Navye And the said Com:rs & Officers of the Navye having failed to make good XXXX pounds according to the said contract his Matye XXXX XXXX XXXX//

//Xesed debtor upon that accompt the somme of One thousand Eight hundred & Nyne pounds three shillings & Nyne pence whereof onely Two hundred thirty one pounds sixteene shillings & eight pence was allowed for the proffitt & provison of the sayd ??paym:t under the said third contract XXXX XXX XXX XXXX//

//allowed for the Accomptants XXXXXXX XXXXX XXX XXXX of the said 1809:li 3:s 9:d ought as this defend:t is advised to be made good by the said Comp:lt to that debt w:th

w:th interest And in such case this deft is pXXXXX that this plt be admitted to Edward ?the moyety of the said 1809:li 3:s 9:d soe due from his Matie XXX XXX XXX//

//And this deft further saith That on or about the twentieth of January 1664 a fourth contract was made betweene the plt & this deft And Alderman Backwell on the one pte and the said principall Officers & Com:rs of the Navy on the other pte the tenor whereof followeth in these words Knowe that//

SEE IMAGE P1080042 FOR TEXT BELOW

//by these presents That S:r William Ryder K:t Alderman Edward Backwell & William Cutler Merchant have covenanted & agreed & doe hereby covenant & agree with the principall Officers & Com:rs of his Matyes Navye That they the said S:r William Ryder Edward Backwell & William Cutler will for the ?use of the XXXX//

//Cause to be bought at Riga & Quinsbrough or elsewhere thereabouts & deliver at Chatham Portsmouth or Woolwich as the said principall Officers & Com:rs shall hereafter direct betweene the principall Officers & Com:rs shall hereafter direct betweene the day of the suXXding hereof & the last day of October ensuinge that XXXXX of ??shall expressed S:r William Ryder XXXXX what XXXX//

//thereof be by them convenyently procured of the best merchantable Rhine hempe And that the said S:r William Ryder Edward Backwell & William Cuttler will to the utmost of their care & their endeavor the buyinge & transportinge of the said pcell of hempe att the XXXX XXXX & XXXXX the then XXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX//

//Afford and for a fourth as Twenty five thousand two hundred pounds or thereabouts wilbe the somme necessarily to be provided for the buying the said quantity of hempe The said principall Offic:rs & Com:rs doe ?promisse to pay them the said S:r William Ryder Edward Backwell & William Cutler within the space of tenne dayes next ensuinge the [one word illegible] of

//the somme of twelve thousand pounds & within three moneths after by two thousand fowre hundred pounds p mensem the further somme of seaven thousand two hundred pounds and upon the delivery into his Ma:ties stores as aforesaid three hundred of the said six hundred Tunnes of hempe the further said three thousand pounds And ?last//

//upon the delivery of the remayninge moyetie of the said six hundred ??Tunnes the further summe of Three Thousand pounds or the XXXX ?as upon advising of Accompts shalbe found due to the said S:r William Ryder Edward Backwell & William Cutler for the said six hundred Tunnes or soe much thereof as they shalbe able to procure ?And//

//for XXXXXXXX as through danger of the seas & exchange XXXXXX & the ?Judem:t of Merchants to make badd debts by meeting w:th bankrupts [?four or five words obscured by fold] may be rendred has hasardous to his Maty of aXXXXXon be not made thereon The said S.r W:m Ryder Edward Backwell & W:m Cutler doe hereby oblige themselves Joyntly & severally//

//not onely to make good to the said principall Officers & Com:rs within six moneths after any losse shalbe proved what price or prices shalbe be them delivered by XXXXX or otherwise to any XXXXXXXXXXX use XXXXXX ?applicaton to said principall Officers & Com:rs touching the [?one word illegible]//

//insurance in his Ma:ties name or their owne names upon any pte or pcell of the said hempe & to make good to the said principall Officers & Com:rs within six moneths such [words hidden by fold in document] w:th what damages shall arise in his Matyes [?three words illegible]//

//thereof ?due of the [words obscured in fold in document] fall out that the full quantity of hempe before ??described cannot be provided [words obscured in fold in document] principall Officers & Com:rs [words obscured in fold in document]//

//?immediately to them the said principall Officers & Com:rs for soe much money with the proffitt or losse of exchange as they the said ?S:r William Ryder Edward Backwell XXX by them be XXX the price of the said hempe by them delivered shall amount XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX pounds & further [?seven or eight words illegible]//

//moneths tyme And in consideracon of the paines care creditt & adventure abovesaid to be employed by them the said ?S:r ?William ?Ryder Edward Backwell [?two or three words obscured by fold in document] the said S:r William Ryder Edward Backwell and William Cutler foure pounds p cent upon the whole LXXXX XXXX XXXX satisfyed to his maty XXX XXXX he may appoynt [?two or three words illegible]//

//else they may bee) which shall appeare to have beene expended with buying transportinge & delivering of the [?four or five words obscured by fold in document] & XXXX themselves not onely att all tymes ?readily to ?communicate to the said principall Officers & Com:rs all letters & advice papers to XXXXX them the said S:r William Ryder [?seven or eight words illegible]//

//the benefitt or disadvantage accruinge to his Maty by this contract They the said S:r William Ryder [?five of six words obscured by fold in document] from their severall ffactors & beinge thXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX ??first satisfied of them XXXXXXXXXX prices rates & charges by them demanded to deliver them to the said principall Officers & Com:rs from whome [?eight to ten words illegible]//

//their severall correspondents abroad but moreover to procure the XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX from their severall ffactors & XXXXXXXXXXX satisfied XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Pxxxxx & charged by them demanded to
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX SORT THIS MESS OUT//
& being themselves ?first satisfied of ?them prices rates & charges by them demanded to deliver them to the said principall Officers & Com:rs from whome [?eight to ten words illegible]//

//required wilbe deposed before a Ma:r in Chancery that the said accompts are made reported true XXXXXXXXX to the best of their knowledge iudgment & informacon In witness whereof the said principall Officers & Com:rs of the Navy & with them the said S.r William Ryder Edward Backwell & Willm Cutler have unto XXX sett under hands & ?seales [?two words illegible]//

//day of January 1664 As by the said fourth contract whereunto this deft for his full certainty therein referreth himselfe appeareth And afterwards ??that on or about the first day of May 1665 another contract was made in the name of the plt & this deft but the name of the other deft Edward Backwell was not therein used [?three or four words illegible]//

STITCHED JOIN ACROSS THE WHOLE PARCHMENT

//XXXXXX therein XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX this defend:t the tenor whereof followeth in the words Know all men by these prsents That S:r William Ryder K:t & William Cutler Merchant XXXX Covenant & agreeXX doe hereby covenant & agree with the principall Officers & Com:rs of his Matyes Navy that they the said S:r William Ryder & William Cutler [?three or four words illegible]//

//Cause to be bought at Stockholme ?or elsewhere thereabouts & deliver at Chatham Portsmouth or Woolwich as the said principall Officers & Com:rs shall hereafter direct betweene the day of the XXXXXXXXXXX hereof & the last day of October next ensuinge (the danger of the seas excepted) seaven hundred Lasts or what parte [?six or seven words illegible]//

//XXXXXX of the ?Bs Merchantable Swedish Tarre & soe much ?Pitch not exceeding one hundred lasts as they shall finde necessary to buy with the said Tarre And that the said S.r William Ryder & William Cutler will be to the XXX of their care & skill endeavor the buyinge & transporting of the said pcell of Tarre att [?three or four words illegible]//

//?then XXXX ?Markett can afford And forasmuch as seaven thousand ?eight hundred pounds or therabouts wilbe the said necessaryly to be provided for the buying the said quantity of Tarre & Pitch The said principall Officers & Com.rs doe procure to pay unto the said S:r William Ryder & W:m Cutler within the ?terme [?six or seven words illegible]//

//?hereXX the some of Three thousand Nyne hundred pounds: and within three moneths after by seaven hundred & ffifty pounds p mXXXX the somme of Two thousand two hundred & fiftye pounds And upon the delivery in to her Maties Stores as aforesaid Three hundred & ffifty of the said seaven hundred ?lasts ?of ?Tarre [?three or four words illegible]//

//Pitch the further some of eight hundred twenty & five pounds And lastly upon the delivery of the ?remayninge moyety of the said seaven hundred Lasts the further summe of Eight hundred twenty & five pounds or soe much as upon advantage ?of accompt ?shall XXXX due to the said S.r William Ryder & ?William Cutler XXXX//

//for the said seaven hundred Lasts of Tarre & Pitch or soe much thereof as they shalbe able to promise And for as much as through dangers of the seas & ??endangers thereon & the Judgment of merchants to make badd debts by meeting with bankrupts The ?delivery XXXX XXXX aforesaid [?six or seven words illegible]//

//Matie if possession be not made therein The said S:r William Ryder & William Cutler doe hereby oblige themselves Joyntly & severally not onely to make good to the said principall Officers & Com:rs within the monthes after the losse shalbe proved what ?said XXXX of money shalbe due [?six or seven words illegible]//

//otherwise to any pson whatsoever for the use aforesaid But also from tyme to tyme to him to make reasonable applicacon to the said principall Officers & Com:rs ??watching the ??Judgements in his Maties or their owne names upon XXX pte & pcell of the said Tarre & ?Pitch [?six or seven words illegible]//

//Officers & Com:rs within six moneths such Insurance as shall by them be directed against the danger of the seas onely not charging themselves with with what damage shall arise to his Maty from any XXXX in the Transportaton thereof And if through XXXXX or any XXXXXXXXX XX XXXX XXX out that [?six or seven words illegible]//

//XXXX cannot be promised or if promised shall not with the said ?pitch ?waist in value to the somme which shall have beene paid unto them by the said principall Officers & Com:rs Then they the said S:r William Ryder & William Cutler to XXXXXXXXXX ??privately to them the said principall Officers [?four or five words illegible]//

//the proffitt or losse of Exchange as they the said S:r William Ryder & William Cutler shall ?have received about what the price of the Tarre by them WhereXX shall amount unto XXXXXXXXXXX and sixth pte thereof & for that sixth pte of the said Tarre & Pitch they shall be [?six or seven words illegible]//

//care paines creditt & adventure above said to be imployed by them the said S:r William Ryder & William Cutler in the managing thereof Att or further by those prsents agreed that the said principall Officers & Com:rs shall pay all costs & charges within XXXXX [?six or seven words illegible]//

//may bee which shall appeare to have lXXXXd & ?procured in the ??byinge transportinge & delivereinge of the said Tarre & Pitch and allowe ??before & about the said costs to them the said S:r William Ryder and William Cutler//

STITCHED JOIN ACROSS THE WHOLE PARCHMENT

[SEE DIGITAL IMAGES P1080045, P1080046, & P180057]

//the rate of four pounds p hundred pound in the whole Lastly for better satisfaccconn to his Matie or whome he may appoint to enquire into the benifitt or advantage accrueing to his Mat:ie by this contract they the said William Ryder William Cutler doe promise and bind themselves [?two or three words illegible]//

//to the said principall Officers and Com:rs all Letters and Advise passing betweene them the said S:r William Ryder and William Cutler and there severall Correspondents abroad but moreover to produce the originall accounts relating to the matters XXXXXXXXXX from ?them [?one or two words illegible]//

//being themselves first satisfied as the XXXXXXXXXXX to the prices rates and charges by them demanded to deliver them to the said principall XXXX and XXXXX from ??hence alone they will ??accept theire discharge and if there unto XXXXXXXXX will be [?seven or eight words illegible]//

//accompts are in all respects true just and reasonable INSERTION AS FOLLOWS: to y:e best of their knowledge in ??jdgm:t & information END OF INSERTION In witnesse whereof the said principall ffactors (sic) and Com:rs of the Navy w:th XXXXXX the said S:r William Ryder and William Cutler have interchangeably sett theire hands and seales the first day of may one thousand six hundred sixty and [?two or three words illegible]//

//said contract appeares And this Defendt haveing entred into certaine Articles of Agreem:t w:th Thomas ??Westerne and Charles Harvey of London Ironmongers the tenth XXXXX following in these words Articles [?seven or eight words illegible]//

//Anno Dom one Thousand six hundred sixty and three and in the ?sixteenth yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne Lord King Charles the second of England xr Betweene S:r William Ryder and William Cutler of London Merchant on the one parte and [?three or four words illegible]//

//Charles Harvey of London Ironmongers of the other part as followeth First Imprimis the said S:r William Ryder and William Cutler for them and either of them theire and either of theire Executors and Administrators (sic) doe covenant promisse and agree to and??w:th the said Thomas Westerne and Charles//

//Harvey and either of them their and either of their Executors or assignes by these p:rsents (thXX they the said S.r William Ryder and William Cutler their Executors or Assignes shall and will deliver or cause to be delivered into the said [?seven or eight words illegible]//

//Executors and Assignes to theire owne proper use and uses and free of all costs and charges to be paid for the same ?uses then the moneys hereafter menconned aboard some shipp or shipps in the River of Thames betweene the day of the ?date XXXX and the fXXXX and XXXth pXXXXX day of//

//December ?now next XXXing the full penalty of six hundred tuns of fine Merchantable Swedish Iron of good melte and sort according to the XXall delivery whereof one hundred and fifty tuns att least to be voyage Iron and all the rest to be flatt Iron XX XXXXX and four hundred XXXX XXXX//

//of the like XXXX of Iron If they the said S.r William Ryder and William Cutler shall thinke fitt or soe ??mny thereof above the said six hundred tuns as they shall thinke fitt and can conveniently deliver XXXXXX and XXXXX the said Thomas Westerne and Charles Harvey//

//?them and either of them and either of their Executors and Assignes doe covenant promise grant and agree to and w:th the said S:r William Ryder and William Cutler and either of them their and
either of their Executors and Assignes by the XXXX that they XXXX XXXX [?Thomas]//

//Westerne and Charles Harvey theire Executo:rs or Assignes shall and will not only accept and receive on board each ship and ships respectively upon arrival thereof in the River of Thames and notice thereof given unto them and ?according to ??s:d Invoyces or ??factorage [?one or two words illegible]//

//all such other said Iron as shalbe delivered or XXXX to or for them according to this contract But alsoe shall and will well and truly pay or cause to be paid to the said S.r William Ryder and William Cutler their Executors and Assignes XXX XXXX XXXX the same Iron w:ch XXXX XXXXX XXXX XXXXXX [?three words illegible]//

//?tendred be delivered aboard according to the true meaning of these p:rsents att and after the rate and prize of twelve pounds and five shillings of Lawfull money of England p ?hund. for every ??tun thereof and XXXXX XXXXXX for any great XXXX XXX quantity [?two or three words illegible]//

//accompting XXXXXXXXXXXX p pound and a halfe Stockholme weight to each XXXX thereof XX the said S:r William Ryder and Willm Cutler doe covenant promise and agree to & with the said S:r William Ryder & [?four or five words illegible]//

//paid after the delivery of each severall parcell In this manner vizt  ?The third part thereof upon such delivery of ?each parcell proporconably in ready XXXXXXXX XXXXX thereof XXXXINSERTION CONTINUES

//agreed betweene all the said parties to those p:rsons and thesaid Thomas Westerne and Charles Harvey for them and either of them their Executors and Administrators (sic) doe covenant promisse and agree to

//?either of their Executors and Assignes by these p:rsents That the said Thomas Westerne and Charles Harvey their Executo:rs or Assignes or some of them shall and will well and truely pay

//or Assignes the summe of two Thousand pounds of lawfull money of England w:thin sixty dayes now next comeing w:ch by agreem:t is to be defalked w:th interest att six pound per cent p Ann out of the last moneys to growe due to be paid for the said Iron ITEM it is XXXX XXXXX agreed XXXXX//

//??betweene all the said parties to these p:rsons for themselves there Executors and Adm:s that the said Thomas Westerne and Charles Harvey shall disburse and pay all freight for the said Iron according to Contract or Bill of Lading And shall likewise pay or disburse all Customes//

//factorage (OR, Latorage) weighing and porterage to Lay the same on Land XXX freight customs ?Laytorage weighing and porterage to ??pay the same on land w:ch Freight Custome ?Laytorage Weighing and porterage is to be allowed by the said S:r William Ryder and William Cutler and XXX//

//??defalked out of the first payment of each parcell provided the said Customs XXXXXXXXXXXX ?Laytorage Weighing and Porterage XXX XXXX XX contrXXXX doe not exceed tenne shillings p hund and if they exceed tenne shillings p hund the said Thomas Westerne and Charles Harvey are to ?beare the//

//?same But the said S.r William Ryder and William Cutler are to pay all the freight whatsoever XX XXXX XXXX it is provided and agreed by and betweene the said parties to these p:rsents for themselves there Executors and Administrators that in case of losse of any of the//

//afoemenconed Iron att seas in comeing over or in case of Warre W:ch ?Duty Sweden or ?Dane the said William Ryder and William Cutler ?are XXXX to deliver soe ??much of the aforesaid quantity as they can

//??made in ??any case any thing aforesaid to the Contrary Notwithstanding In witness whereof the parties aforesaid to these p:rsent ?Articles of XXXX XXXXX ?interchangeably have put theire hands and seales

//w:th Westerne and Harvey did agree to buy severall goods and Merchandizes or ?partnership to be ?exported to Stockholme to buy Iron Copper and deales there and in order thereof ?that it is their said XXXXX

//in the Articles menconned and goods and Merchandizes were provided to be exported accordingly amounting to about one thousand pounds ??now then the said two thousand

//this defend:t to the value ofe three Thousand five hundred pounds nere or thereabouts for the better managem:t of the affaire in ptnershipp this defd:t

//on the said ptnershipp and better performance w:th Westerne and Harvey But the said Comp:lt p:rtending want of p:resent money for the XXXX through hee intreated this

//taketh if that this defend:t should in the XXXX place be reimbursed the money soe layed out w:th interest out of the profitts of XX that should be

//his share of such losse to the Def:t or to such or the like effort and accordingly this Def:t did pay all the mony for y.e s.d goods & made good all y:e

//said money buXXXXX thereof  ?w:ch the said Iron copper and deales were returned he tooke up and had delivered by his order to the Royall

//of [blank space in document] XX the yeare of our Lord God one Thousand six hundred sixty and seaven the p:lt had an account delivered unto him

//payable by the plt And the defd:t upon this occasion and w:ch this Defend:t alone paid aforesaid and for the dispositcon of all goods imported w:ch were all landed in London and Portsmouth XXX accompt this Def:dt XXX to ?be just and true accompts

//would profitt of that affaire amounted as to all the said goods imported and landed att the port of London amounted unto five hundred forty seaven pound two shillings four pence and noe more and of the said goods ?unpacked and landed ??att ??present to one and ?thirty//

//pound sixteene and six pence as by the said accounts whereunto this Defend:t referreth himselfe appeareth Xad that the said Comp:lt is ?ever paid what is iustly due upon this ?accompt the XXXX of thirty eight pounds one shilling and a penny ?as this defend:t XXXXX XXXXX XXXXX//

//?losse XXX interest And the said Comp:lt to the knowledge of this Defend:t never found any falt (sic) w:th the amount And hath the same in his ?power or custody as this Defend:t [)ten or twelve words illegible]

//accounts touching the said contract w:ch his Maties Com:rs and the ??other of ?accounts XX ?hereafter XXXXX to be betweene this XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX//

//neither the Defend:t Alderman Blackwell XXX XXX XX ? had anythinge to doe w:th this account And this Defend:t XX denyeth that he XXX XXXXXXXX in the said

//XXXXX before hand w:th theire payment?s And the Def:t for

//XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
made XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX of this said contracts w:ch his Matie ??then only the said four pounds p cent provision other than that the Copper and Iron and wood being brought from beyond the seas came across Ballast XXX XXXX the said shipp XXXX XXXX//

//XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
this Defend:t and was XXX XXXX to his Matie as this Defend:t taketh it Nor was or were any of the goods bought for his Mat:ies use bought w:th the product of any ??of the goods transported ?or of the said XXXX thousand ??seaven//

//hundred pounds remitted XXXX by this Defend:t to Stockholme and charged ?on this Defend:t and plt and paid by this Defend:t alone as aforesaid but the matter of the ?Kings contracts were all transferred w:th ready money remitted on and charged upon the plt and this Defd:t paid XXXXX of the ?Kings//

//money ?soe farr as these ??receipts would extend and as those receipts fell short ??therefore it was from time to time to him made good by the said Samuell Heron the accomptant INSERTION (as to y:e XXXX XXXX not the sd contract as aforesaid & XXX of this defts & Ald Backwells oath END INSERTION as to the two latter w:ch the said contracts w:th his Matie And this Defend:t confesseth that Alderman Backwell ?was ??agreed ?to ?be//

//the sole ??Cashere of his Mat:ies money payable upon the two latter contracts ?w:ch was to be drawne ?out of his hands by Samuell Heron the accomptant for that purpose herein before named and not otherwise to supply the contract And for the better management of the contract//

//it was agreed that the said Alderman Blackwell should looke after the receiving the money from the Navy and this Def:t to correspond and give orders and the Comp:lt to looke after the affaires immediately relating to the Com:rs of the Navy for ?procuring XXXXX and ??order//

//from the board for the receipt of the goods and getting Bills for the same but after the said contracts were signed the plt did leave the whole troubles upon this Def:t the other Def:t Alderman Backwell being upon his Mat:ies affaires in parts beyond the seas by XXXXX ??request//

//and an occasion of the ?sicknes that yeare and that the Com:rs did not comply w:th theire orders for money ?there ?was ??reale occasion ??for money to comply w:th the Bills of Exchange drawne from beyond sea And the plt not ??bringing in XXX pXXX this Defd:t was ?forced to lett//

//three thousand pounds and upwards lye in Alderman Backwells hands for five or six moneths to XXXXXXXXXXXX ?w:th his part of the said contract And Notwithstanding all the plt ?faylers the business upon this said [?five to seven words illegible]//

//bee done by the p:lt this Defd:t and the Defd:t Alderman Blackwell hath beene and was performed and an account thereof hath beene taken and beene made up w:th the said Com:rs of the Navy in relacon to the said two last contracts [?five to seven words illegible]//

//ladeing and such other papers as concerned the same now delivered up to them according to the said two last contracts And his Mat:ie or the said Com:rs are debtors upon ?the XXXX XX that accompt one thousand six hundred and fourteene pounds [?six to eight words illegible]//

//?provysion or proffitt upon the said two last contracts was only one thousand three hundred and six pounds six shillings and nine pence XXXXXXXXXXXXX w:ch is to be deducted the accompt and charged and paied being a bond three pXXXs XXXXXXX upon the [?six to eight words illegible]//

//upon the oath of the plt the Defend:t and the other Def:t Alderman Blackwell whereunto this Defd:t for full certainty therein referreth appeareth and the said accompts upn the said five contracts w:ch his Maties Com:rs ought not ?as this Def:t is [?ten to twelve words illegible]//

//confesseth that about the time of entring into the said fourth contract w:th his Maties Com:rs the plt iintimated to this Defend:t And the Defd:t Alderman Backwell that he had received advice from the said Thomas Cutler ??has XXXXX that ??great ??proffitts [?six to eight words illegible]//

//?sayes XXXXX XXXXXXXX?of  ?King and other Comodityes from XXXX to Stockholme there upon the p:lt this Defd:t and Alderman Backwell agreed to buy and send over such goods to Stockholme and other parts beyond the seas to XXXX XXXXXXXXXX [?six to eight words illegible]//

SEE FOR TEXT BELOW DIGITAL IMAGES P1080051, P1080052, P1080053, & P1080054,

//in Iron or Copper XXXX such like ?weighty goods and this Def:t ?beleeveth that Alderman Backwell did ?issue great summes of money for that purpose And it was agreed that the said Samuell Heron should keepe the accompts of that affaire [?six to eight words illegible]//

//account thereof but XXXXX that ?whereof are not ?yett fully ??made for by XXXX the XXXX XXX that that accompt is yett open but the Defd:t is very well ?content that the said p:lt should have his ?due proporcion of proffitt upon that accompt [?six to eight words illegible]//

//??allowance long made of the ?stocke of money of this Def:dt and Alderman Backwells ?used in that affaire and the interest thereof and that in the XXXXX himselfe may have XXXXXX in to the said accomptys att his pleasure in the hands of the said ?accomptant [?six to eight words illegible]//

//XXXXed from this Defd:t or XXXXXX and XXX XXX beene ?offered to the said Comp:lt XX the said accomptant as he hath informed this Defend:t and as this Defend:t ?beleeveth ?for that ?the ??Result of the ??pltt XXXX & Comp:lt and by his bill of [?six to eight words illegible]//

//have layd ?out XXXXXXX XX hath or XXXXXXxed any stocke XXXing to this Defd:ts knowledge and hath put such ??greate troubles upon ?this Def:t in the Business yett he hath received his full share of the proffitt of the  ?first contract w:ch ??he ??hath [?six to eight words illegible]//

//XXXXXXXXXX and the proffitt upon the third fourth and fifth contract is still ???accrueing and hee hath receaved more than ?hee charged of the proffitts ?of the ptnershipp XXXXXXXX him and the Def:t ?alone and XXXXXXX [?eight to ten words illegible]//

//?quarter ptnershipp XXXXXXXXXX him this Defend:t and Alderman Backwell is still upon and soe may see it upon XXXXXXXXX And this Defd:t denyeth all and all manner of combinacon in the Bill charged//

//?Charles ??Rushe [Signature, bottom RH corner]

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Commentary

The five annual naval contracts for the supply of hemp, tar and pitch referred to in C10/155/38 ff. 1-3 have not previously been explored in the historiographical literature. Raymond W. K. Hinton in his book The Eastland Trade and the Common Weal in the Seventeenth Century (Cambridge, 1959) notes the importance of Sir William Ryder and William Cutler in naval supply, and to a lesser extent George Cocke, but does not examine the contractual relations. He suggests that neither Ryder nor Cutler were members of the Eastland Company.

C10/155/38 f. 3 includes reference to a contract between Sir William Ryder and William Cutler on the one part and the London ironmongers Thomas Westerne and Charles Harvey. The contract was dated 1663 and was for 600 tuns of "fine Merchantable Swedish Iron of good melte and sort" to be delivered by Ryder and Cutler into the hands of Westerne and Harvey at a location on the River Thames, free of shipping and other charges.

Thomas Westerne (alias Western), citizen and ironmonger, of London, was of St. Dunstan in the East and of Rivenhall, Essex. His daughter, Martha Western(e), married Peter Gott, her cousin, who was the son of Samuel Gott of Battle, Sussex. Samuel Gott was a lawyer and ironmaster, who had extensive ironworks in Sussex, and who was also a Presbyterian M.P. during the Interregnum and in the 1660 Convention parliament In January 1658 Thomas Westerne had supplied the English East India Company with iron to be shipped in the Marigold for Guinea, and he was presumably well known to Ryder and Cutler.

Financial detail is available on the partnership of Thomas Westerne and Charles Harvey in a law report of a court case between Elizabeth Harvey, the daughter of the deceased Charles Harvey, and Thomas Western, his former partner. The law report states that a partnership between Western and Harvey was formed in 1663 with £6000 of capital, two thirds from Western and one third from Harvey. By 1670, after seven years of trading, the stock had increased to £35,028, of which £5,000 was classified as doubtful debts. The trade is described as "the making and casting of iron guns, and other iron wares." Thomas Harvey, brother of Charles Harvey, was himself an apprentice to the joint trade "and kept the cash, and managed the trade for the copartners in Harvey's last sickness."

The report states that a new partnership was formed by articles dated 31st July 1671, with the partnership to last for ten years starting on March 1st, 1670. The whole balance of the 1670 accounts was transferred into the new partnership, together with £7,488 borrowed on joint credit, making a joint stock of £42,500. They traded until October 28th, 1672, when Charles Harvey died.

On Harvey's death two thirds of his estate was to go to his widow, and one third to his only child, a daughter, then aged six. The accounts of the partership were delivered late to the widow and allegedly "so intricate, immethodical, erroneous, and unfair" that no certain estimate could be made of the value of Harvey's partnership share. Western allegedly refused to produce the books and offered only arbitration with two arbitrators, "one of them a country gentleman, wholly unskilled in accounts." Though Harvey's widow accepted an allegedly derisory settlement from Western, her daughter, after coming of age, submitted a bill for an account and satisfaction of her share of the estate in 1695, and in 1696 the court of Chancery required her bill to be answered. The Chancellor ultimately dismissed her claim, but found her neverthless wrong. The daughter appealed to the Lords against the dismission. She took considerable time and expence with the aid of two accountants to examine and copy the books, and reduced to writing her objections to the accounts. However, the Lords found against the apellant and on April 29th 1699 affirmed the dismission.

The three correspondents appointed in Stockholm were Samuell Sowton, Thomas Cutler, and XXXX. In 1674, five years after Sir William Ryder's death, his fourth daughter, Anne Ryder, married a Samuell Sowton. Sowton was then reportedly twenty nine years old. It is likely, but not definite, that he was the factor who had been employed by Ryder et al in the 1660s.

Ryder, Cutler, Cocke, and Backwell were all subcribers to the Royal Africa Company in January 1663, as were several other trading partners of Ryder - Sir Richard Ford, Sir John Robinson, Sir James Modyford, and Sir George Smith.

---

Notes

Technical terms in the contract

Voyage iron

"A form of BAR IRON used as a trade good in Africa: 'voyage-iron, as called in London, is the only sort and size used throughout all Nigritia, Guinea, and West-Æthiopia, in the way of trade' [Barbot (1746)]. The export of standardised bars to Africa began in the early seventeenth century. Their manufacture was common across northern Europe. Sweden was the leading maker, but English slave traders also re-exported voyage iron from the Liège district and the Rhineland.

Because it was intended as a form of currency in slave marts, voyage iron had to be made to exact dimensions. 'The correct length of voyage iron or Guinea iron', it was said in the 1660s, 'is about 11 feet, and of such weight that 18, 19 or 20 bars of it make 5 cwt', that is, 72 to 80 bars to the ton [Iron and Steel (1982)]. There was, however, a tendency for the bars to shrink in size between the mid seventeenth and mid eighteenth century. A Bristol merchant stipulated in 1731 that the bars being made for him in Sweden should 'run neare about 92 to ye ton', and be '10 foott 6 Inch or 10 foott 8 long' [Prankard (mss), Graffin Prankard to Francis Jennings, 1 December 1731]. Voyage iron would be cut down into more manageable lengths by African smiths, although the foot-long bars recovered from the wreck of the English slave ship Henrietta Marie, lost off Florida in 1700, indicate that this might be done in Europe [Henrietta Marie (online)]. Bars might also be 'bent double two or four times, so that in foreign places [they] can be carried on a donkey' [Rinman (1788-89)].

Chris Evans

Sources: Newspapers.
References: Alpern (1995), Barbot (1746), Henrietta Marie (online), Iron and Steel (1982), Prankard (mss), Rinman (1788-89)."

---

Possible primary sources

C 5/165/50 Harvey v. Westerne: Middlesex. 1695
C 5/66/61 Stinton v. Western: Sussex. 1690
C 5/94/72 Stacy v. Westerne 1676
C 5/218/47 Stinton v. Westerne: Sussex. 1690
C 5/632/5 Stacy v. Westerne: Essex. 1646
C 5/41/126 Wilson v. Westerne: Middlesex. 1659
C 5/104/41 Westerne v. Westerne: Middlesex. 1692
C 5/415/123 Winstanley v. Westerne 1661
C 6/158/41 Short title: Bradshaw v Westerne. Plaintiffs: Nathaniel Bradshaw. Defendants: Thomas Westerne, Charles Harvey and William Carter. Subject: money matters, Middlesex. Document type: bill, answer. 1662
C 6/219/45 Short title: Westerne v Marsh. Plaintiffs: Thomas Westerne. Defendants: Elizabeth Marsh widow, Frances Turner, Henry Mallery, William Taylor, John Phillipps and William Ashburnham. Subject: manor of Mountfield, Sussex. Document type: bill, answer. 1676
C 6/252/17 Short title: De Gelder v Holman. Plaintiffs: Cornelius De Gelder. Defendants: John Holman, Joseph Stretch, Samuel Sowton, Hannah Sowton, Sir Nathaniel Powell and Thomas Westerne. Subject: rectory of Staplehurst, Kent. Document type: bill, answer. 1685
C 6/425/57 Short title: Harvy [Harvey] v Westerne. Document type: bill, answer. 1695
C 6/425/69 Short title: Harvey v Westerne. Document type: answer, schedule. 1697
C 6/502/36 Short title: Western v Bard. Document type: bill, answer. 1693
C 6/500/58 Short title: Western v Bard. Document type: bill, two answers. 1693
C 10/138/31 Bowyer v. Westerne: Sussex 1680
C 111/189 PACKET 27: UNKNOWN CAUSES: Bargain and sale of Samuel Wyseman of Rivenhall, Essex, to Thomas Western of London of land and property in Rivenhall, Mucking, Braintree, Osea Island, Great Stambridge, Paglesham and Canewdon, Essex 1692

PROB 11/282 Wootton 524-574 Will of Tobias Harvey, Ironmonger of Saint Sepulchre London 01 October 1658
PROB 11/340 Eure 108-157 Will of Charles Harvey, Draper of London of Clapham, Surrey 05 November 1672 (unlikely match, since not an ironmonger)
PROB 11/452 Pott 129-167 Will of Samuel Western or Westerne of Rivenhall, Essex 13 October 1699

East Sussex Record Office: Archive of the Roberts family of Boarzell in Ticehurst and the Dunn family of Stonehouse: Title deeds: Farnden family [no ref. 1587-1724: Deeds of the Manor of Crowham, Crowham forge, Conster forge and furnace in Brede [no ref.] 1632-1697: Counterpart assignment of a 21-year lease DUN 27/3 9 May 1662]
- Contents:
Samuel Gott of Battle, esq, and Peter Farnden of Sedlescombe, gent, to Thomas Westerne and Charles Harvie of London, ironmongers
Two ironworks called Brede forge and furnace in Brede, Sedlescombe and Udimore, and woods and underwoods in those parishes and in Ewhurst, leased by Thomas Sackvill of Sedlescombe, esq, to Nathaniel Powell of Ewhurst, esq for 21 years, 28 Feb 1652, assigned by Powell to SG and PF (with a bargain of woods and underwoods in Brede and Udimore sold him by John Porter, esq on 13 Dec 1651), 30 Dec 1659
SG and PF may work out their stock of coal and sows into bar-iron at the forge, not prejudicing the blowing of the furnace, until 1 May 1663, for which they will pay £20, but they must have finished all carting away by 29 Sep 1663
W: Thomas Bard, John Hedger, William Cogger; John Busbridge, Robert Sturtupp

East Sussex Record Office: Archive of the Roberts family of Boarzell in Ticehurst and the Dunn family of Stonehouse: Title deeds: Farnden family [no ref. 1587-1724: Deeds of the Manor of Crowham, Crowham forge, Conster forge and furnace in Brede [no ref.] 1632-1697: Partition of the estate late Peter Farnden DUN 27/7 18 Oct 1692]
- Contents:
...6 Forge or ironworks called Westfield Forge with 20a belonging to it, in Westfield, occupied by Thomas Westerne, esq and Peter Minnage

[Ashburnham family archive: deeds (ASH/4501) East Sussex Record Office: Ashburnham family archive: deeds (ASH/4501): Articles of Agreement ASH/4501/886 20 Sep 1669]
- Contents:
Between Sir THOMAS DYKE of Horeham in Waldron, knt., and JOANE BUSBRIDGE of Dallington, widow, of the one part and THOMAS WESTERNE, citizen and grocer of London, and CHARLES HARVEY, citizen and draper of London, of the other part for the sale to the said Thos. Westerne and Chas. Harvey of all the woods and underwood except timber trees and and all such tellows and standells as were left standing at the last felling, and twelve young tellowes, standells or steddles on every acre, if so many be found fit to be left, upon 6 pieces of woodland in Battell and Mountfeild called Hucksteepe and the Footeway wood and 3 other pieces of woodland lying near an old Furnace Pond and a Forge called Whodsell Forge, at the price of 3s. 9d by the cord, the wood to be cut 3 ft. long and to be set 3 ft. in height and 14 ft. in length according to the custom of the country thereabouts for 14 ft. cord
Signatures, Thomas Dyke and Joane Busbridge and seals

East Sussex Record Office: Ashburnham family archive: Inquisition ASH/4501/1043 28 Oct 1678
- Contents:
...The Upper Forge with waters, ponds &c. in Ashburnham and Penhurst, with a house adjoining the Upper Forge in the occupn. of Thos. Westerne, gent., worth £5
Dallington Furnace with ponds &c. and a messuage in the occupation of Tho. Westerne, £10

East Sussex Record Office: Ashburnham family archive: Assignment ASH/4501/931 17 Aug 1674
- Contents:
By NICHOLAS BARHAM of Wadhurst, co. Sussex, gent. to THOMAS WESTERNE of Thamestreet, London, ironmonger, of a Mortgage dated 20 Dec., 13 Chas. II by Anthony May late of Ashbornham, gent., to the said Nichs. Barham of 3 pieces of land called Braies feilds containing 13 ac. 2 r. in Ashbornham, and also a piece of meadow or brookland containing 1 ac. 3 r. in Ashbornham and Penhurst
Signature, Nichs Barham, and seal (covered)
Witnesses:- Edw. Polhill, William Hickes

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Possible secondary sources

Brown, R.R., 'Thomas Westerne: The Great Ironmonger by Ruth Rhynas Brown' in Ordnance Society Journal, vol. 13 (XXXX, 2001), pp. ?-?
Straker, Ernest, Wealden iron: a monograph on the former ironworks in the counties of Sussex, Surrey and Kent comprising a history of the industry from the earliest times to its cessation (XXXX, 1931)
Tomlinson, Howard C., 'Wealden Gunfounding: An Analysis of its Demise in the Eighteenth Century' in The Economic History Review, vol. 29, Issue 3, pp.383–400, August 1976

Hinton, Raymond W.K., The Eastland Trade and the Common Weal in the Seventeenth Century (Cambridge, 1959)