Henry Bowyer
| Henry Bowyer | |
|---|---|
| Person | Henry Bowyer |
| Title | |
| First name | Henry |
| Middle name(s) | |
| Last name | Bowyer |
| Suffix | |
| Spouse of | |
| Widow of | |
| Occupation | Merchant |
| Secondary shorebased occupation | |
| Mariner occupation | |
| Associated with ship(s) | |
| Training | Not apprentice |
| Is apprentice of | |
| Was apprentice of | |
| Had apprentice(s) | |
| Citizen | Unknown |
| Literacy | Signature |
| Has opening text | Henry Bowyer |
| Has signoff text | Henry Bowyer |
| Signoff image | (Invalid 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 Olave Old Jewry |
| Res town | London |
| Res county | |
| Res province | |
| Res country | England |
| Birth year | 1613 |
| Marriage year | |
| Death year | |
| Probate date | |
| First deposition age | 42 |
| Primary sources | |
| Act book start page(s) | |
| Personal answer start page(s) | |
| Allegation start page(s) | |
| Interrogatories page(s) | |
| Deposition start page(s) | HCA 13/70 f.72r 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) | Jan 24 1655 |
| How complete is this biography? | |
| Has infobox completed | Yes |
| Has synthesis completed | No |
| Has HCA evidence completed | No |
| Has source comment completed | No |
| Ship classification | |
| Type of ship | N/A |
| Silver Ship litigation in 1650s | |
| Role in Silver Ship litigation | None |
Biographical synthesis
Henry Bowyer (b. ca. 1612; d. ?). Merchant.
Resident in 1654 in the parish of Saint Olaves Old Jury.
Henry Bowyer was probably related to the merchant Thomas Bowyer, who was buried in February 1659 in the parish church of Saint Olave Old Jury.[1] This Thomas Bowyer was presumably the Thomas Bowyer, grocer, of London, whose will was proved on March 3rd 1659.[2]
Robert Brenner (1993 & 2003) identifies Thomas Bowyer as a leading Levant Company merchant. He states that Thomas' two grandfathers were Francis Bowyer and Thomas Cordell and had been London aldermen and central figures in Elizabethan trade expansion. Thomas' father was Robert Bowyer, who was a director of the Levant Company and the English East India Company.[3]
Possibly related to the Bowyer family of Denham Court. See pedigree of Bowyer family of Sussex in William Berry (1830).[4]
A letter from Charles II to the Earl of Winchilsea, dated September 29th 1660, refers to "Henry Bowyer, merchant of London", and states that he wrongfully suffered a great loss at Tunis some years earlier "almost to the ruin of himself and his family".[5]
A subsequent letter from the Earl of Winchilsea to Sir Heneage Finch, dated March 5th 1661, provides details of the wrong suffered by Henry Bowyer and company. Following the seizure of the ship the Goodwill (Master: Stephen Mitchell) by Maltese galleries, delivering Muslim passengers travelling from Tunis to Smyrna into the hands of their enemies, inhabitants of Tunis revenged themselves by seizing the goods and estate of Henry Bowyer in Tunis.[6]
Evidence from High Court of Admiralty
Forty-two year old Henry Bowyer deposed on January 24th 1655 in the High Court of Admiralty. He was examined on an allegation of 17 articles in the case of "ffrederick and others against Keate and others".[7]
Comment on sources
1659
"2. Carduus Benedictus. The advantage of affliction, & c. A Sermon at the funerals of Mr. Tho. Bowyer merchant who died 8 Febr. 1659, & was buried 22 of the same moneth in the parish church of St. Olaves Jury. On Jam. I. 12. Ded. to Mr. Henry Bowyer, merchant. Lond. 1659. 4to."[8]
PROB 11/288/593 Will of Thomas Bowyer, Grocer of London 03 March 1659
1660
"CHARLES II. TO THE EARL OF WINCHILSEA.
1660, Sept. 29. Whitehall. Recommending the case of James Man, merchant of London, and his sons, James and George Man of Leghorn, from whom a considerable estate is said to be detained by William Pearle and Francis Driver of Constantinople. If these latter cannot be made to give satisfaction, they are to be sent to England. Sign manual, countersigned by Nicholas. 1 p.
Also, Same date. A like recommendation for Henry Bowyer, merchant of London, who some years since wrongfully sustained great loss at Tunis, "almost to the ruin of himself and his family." Signed ut supra. 1 p."[9]
1660-1661
"THE EARL OF WINCHILSEA TO SIR HENEAGE FINCH
1660-1, March 5. Some years past, the commander of the Goodwill (Stephen Michell) agreed to transport certain Mahometans from Tunis to Smyrna, but soon after, meeting with some Malta gallies, without the least opposition delivered the men into the hands of their enemies. Those of Tunis immediately seized the goods and estates of Mr. Henry Bowyer and Co., London merchants, who have yet no redress, and Sir Thomas Bendyshe desires that a warrant should be granted to the English consul at Tunis, to make a moderate levy on English goods, and so to satisfy them. Has the King's letters authorising him to do what is consonant to justice in the business, but fearing unknown difficulties, prays his "oracle" to counsel him."[10]
1667
"INSTRUCTIONS to SIGNOR GEORGIO DRAPERHS.
1667, June 7. Belgrade. To repair to Adrianople and procure (1) order for departure of the London Merchant; (2) a barat for Anthony Bowyer to remain Consul at Cyprus ; (3) a barat for one Harrico to be druggerman at Smyrna. Is to remain at Adrianople until further orders, and to visit the Polonian ambassador when he arrives. Ibid. p. 378. 1 p."[11]
1675
PROB 11/348/503 Will of Henry Bowyer, Gentleman of Saint Sepulchre, City of London 11 October 1675- ↑ Anthony A. Wood, Athenae Oxienses, vol.3 (Oxford, 1817), p.898
- ↑ PROB 11/288/593 Will of Thomas Bowyer, Grocer of London 03 March 1659
- ↑ Robert Brenner, Merchants and Revolution (London & New York, 1993 and 2003), p.295
- ↑ William Berry, County Genealogies: Pedigrees of the Families in the County of Sussex (London, 1830), pp.134-135
- ↑ Report on the manuscripts of Allan George Finch, esq., of Burley-on-the-Hill, Rutland, vol. 1 (London, 1913), p.81
- ↑ Report on the manuscripts of Allan George Finch, esq., of Burley-on-the-Hill, Rutland, vol. 1 (London, 1913), p.100
- ↑ HCA 13/70 f.72r
- ↑ Anthony A. Wood, Athenae Oxienses, vol.3 (Oxford, 1817), p.898
- ↑ Report on the manuscripts of Allan George Finch, esq., of Burley-on-the-Hill, Rutland, vol. 1 (London, 1913), p.81
- ↑ Report on the manuscripts of Allan George Finch, esq., of Burley-on-the-Hill, Rutland, vol. 1 (London, 1913), p.100
- ↑ Report on the manuscripts of Allan George Finch, esq., of Burley-on-the-Hill, Rutland, vol. 1 (London, 1913), p.465
