MRP: Nathan Wright will

PROB 11/274/558 Will of Nathan or Nathaniell Wright of Saint Olave Hart Street, City of London 27 April 1658

PROB 11/274 Wootton 106-155 Will of Nathan or Nathaniell Wright of Saint Olave Hart Street, City of London 27 April 1658

Editorial history

29/11/11, CSG: Created page and posted completed transcription
30/11/11, CSG: Wrote abstract & context
08/12/11, CSG: Revised abstract & context

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Abstract & context

New Merchant?

Nathan Wright has been described by Robert Brenner as a "New Merchant" and as one of the leaders of the alleged East Indies interloping "syndicate", which Brenner asserts was led by Maurice Thomson. Brenner has also described Wright as one of Thomson's "old interloping partners", along with Thomas Andrewes, Nathaniel Andrewes, Jeremy Blackman, and Samuel Moyer, when characterising the Assada plantation joint stock in which Wright invested in February 1650.

This characterisation of Nathan Wright by Brenner as a "New Merchant" is misleading. It fails to capture the nature of Wright's social background and his trading activities, and fails to position him and them in the competitive and risky world of mid-seventeenth century trade.

Family background

Firstly, Nathan Wright came from a socially respectable background, from a family which had land, and whose sons studied at the inns of court and the universities as well as entering commercial life as London merchants. Clarendon, writing of Nathan Wright's younger brother, the merchant Sir Benjamin Wright, called him "a gentleman of a good family in Essex.

Nathan and Benjamin were younger sons of Robert Wright(e), who was admitted pensioner at Trinity college, Cambridge, in 1571, graduating B.A. in 1574 and M.A. in 1578. Robert Wright is described in the Dictionary of National Biography (1885-1900) as "an ardent Calvinist," who "received ordination at Antwerp from Villiers or Cartwright in the Genevan form." Burke (1838) states that Robert Wright was the rector of the parish of Dennington, Suffolk for thirty-four years, dying in the year 1624. According to Burke, who spells the Cranham Hall branch family name as "Wrighte", Nathan Wright was the second of four brother; the eldest being a thrice married barrister-at-law Euseby Wright, and the younger two being the merchant Sir Benjamin Wright and the cleric Ezekiel Wright. This is consistent with the Visitation of Essex, 1552-1634, in which the birth order of the brothers is shown as Euseby, Nathaniell, Benjamin, and Ezekiell, with a further four sisters, Mary (married to Robert Cooper, a London merchant), Eunice (married to Layny Rous of Bricklesey/Brightlingsea, Essex), Martha (married to John Borodale, of N/A, Essex), and Jane. However, Hawes (1798), reproducing a primary manuscript, suggests that Nathan Wright was the fourth rather than the second son.

The eldest son of Rev. Robert Wright, Euseby, is described variously as "Esquire" and "Gentleman" in primary documents. For example, described as "Esquire" he appears with his father in a primary document dated 1615, which relates to land enclosure in Dennington. In the Lincoln's Inn entry book, recording his admission to Lincoln's Inn on January 25th, 1602/03, he is described as "of Suff., gen., of Furnival's Inn." The arms of a Eusebius Wright are recorded in a nineteenth century history of the Inns of Court as appearing in the West window of Lincoln's Inn. In the 1640s Euseby Wright appears in primary records as "Euseby Wright esq. of Great ('Much') Totham."

A modern genealogical sources states that Nathan Wright's mother was Jane Boteler of Thoby, Essex. However, Burke (1838) states that Nathan Wright's mother was Jane Butler, daughter of John Butler, esq., of Sheby, Essex, and sister of Sir Oliver Butler, of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire.

Burke, followed by Foss, states that Nathan Wright was the the grandson of John Wright(e) of Wright(e)'s Bridge near Hornchurch, and that this John Wright(e) was also of Gray's Inn.

Benjamin Wright, one of Nathan Wright's younger brothers, was a London merchant who was based for many years in Madrid. He was knighted by Charles I, and was made baronet in 1645/46 [KNIGHTHOOD AND BARONETCY DETAILS REQUIRE PRIMARY SOURCE CONFIRMATION]. There is an extensive portrait of this brother in the footnotes to Clarendon's History of the rebellion and civil wars in England. Nathan Wright's youngest brother was the Cambridge educated cleric Ezekiel Wright, who was clerk and rector of Thurcaston, Leicestershire.

Nathan Wright's cousin, Sir Henry Wright of Dagenhams, Essex, and Nathan Wright's eldest son, Benjamin Wright, were both knighted and raised to baronets by Charles II in 1660 or 1661 [CHECK]. The father of Sir Henry Wright, Laurence Wright, M.D., who died in 1657, was Nathan Wright's uncle.

Nathan Wright's wife Ann Fleming, of Warley Place, [?Great Warley, ?Essex], came from a XXXX background [SPECULATIVE].

His apprentices and sons-in-law were also drawn from wealthy and socially successful families. Two of his three sons-in-law were themselves merchants and his eldest daughter's two husbands were both possibly London lawyers. For example, Robert Burdett, a former apprentice and later a commercial partner of Nathan Wright, was the second son of Sir Thomas Burdett, Bart. Robert Burdett went on to marry Mary Wright, the second of Nathan Wright's three daughters, and Burdett was himself knighted in 16XX [REQUIRES CONFIRMATION]. Nathan Wright's eldest daughter, Susan, married firstly Charles Potts Esquire, who was possibly a Middle temple bencher [OCCUPATION TBC], and subsequently Francis Drake Esquire, who was possibly also a lawyer of Middle Temple. Nathan Wright's third daughter, Alice, married the London merchant John ?Wolfrie.

Commercial strategies and business approach

Secondly, Nathan Wright was pursuing a set of commercial strategies and approach to business building, which were common to many London based merchants in the 1640s and 1650s of quite varied social backgrounds and initial geographical interest. Key was the ability of a London based merchant to combine transoceanic acquisition (whether Atlantic or Indian) of goods of varied sorts and to make sale of these in a variety of European countries and ports, of which England and London were only part. Other merchants employed a similar strategy, but sourced their commodities closer to home, from ports on the Baltic and Mediterranean seas. The ability to arbitrage prices for specific types of goods across different geographies is likely to have enhanced the overall profitability of a portfolio of trading ventures, and to have distinguished substantial merchants with staying power from those working a narrower geographical and product agenda.

Examples of merchants pursuing similar strategies and approaches to business, who had contact with Sir George Oxenden and where there is sufficient documentation of commercial activities to make a judgement, include Sir William Ryder, Sir Mathew Hollsworthy, Sir Stephen White, and Sir James Modyford. The number and proportion of subscribers to the SVJS who pursued such strategies and approach is likely to have been high, but documentation of commercial activity over time is frequently poor making any quantitative judgement problematic.

Little documentation is available on Nathan Wright's commercial activities prior to the mid-1640s, though Wright may have been located in Bordeaux in 1628. If this is so, he may have started in the French wine trade, as did the Bristol born, but later London based, merchant, Sir Mathew Hollsworthy, whose family had strong historical links with Spanish trading.

It has been suggested, but not substantiated from primary sources, that Nathan Wright and Samuel Mico may have been commercial partners early in their commercial careers.

Wright had links to the English East India Company from early in his commercial life, being made free of the Company through redemption by fine on January 14th 1629. In August 1632 Nathan Wright appears in the Court Minutes of the English East India Company, buying pepper both with Alderman Clitherowe and Mr. Mico (probably Samuel Mico).

In January 1640 Nathan Wright and Richard Crandley purchased a large quantity of fish from the London manager of the adventurers to Newfoundland, which they subsequently refused to pay for.

In the period 1643-1658, Nathan Wright traded in a broad range of goods, as is revealed from a variety of sources, including letters of advice, Chancery court cases, and parliamentary records. Prior to the Navigation Act of October 1651 Nathan Wright used Dutch as well as English shipping, as can be seen from parliamentary records of a case involving silks laden by Nathan Wright, Robert Burdett, and others at Messina, Naples and Leghorn bound for Amsterdam. Letters of advice sent from Alicante, in Spain and elsewhere for the period 1648-1652 reveal exports of tobacco, XXXX, and XXXX by Nathan Wright and Robert Burdett from London to various Mediterranean destinations, including XXX, XXX, and XXX.

Spanish connections of London merchant Nathan Wright and of his Madrid merchant brother and assentista Sir Benjamin Wright (Benjamin Ruit)

The two brothers, Nathan and Sir Benjamin Wright, had a strong orientation towards Spain. Nathan was heavily involved in trade with Alicante, as is documented in a substantial number of letters sent to him or mentioning him and his firm in the period 1648-1651.

In the mid-1640s Nathan Wright was explicitly described in an ordinance before the House of Lords as a "Spanish merchant." Others so described in the same ordinance included "Mr. Lentall," whose name was adjacent to Wright's. The same may have been the merchant Francis Lenthall, with whom Wright lent a substantial sum to parliament for the defence of the Devon ports. In September 1644 he, together with fellow London merchants Francis Lentall (alias Lenthall), and George Henly, lent £5,000 "for the defence of Plymouth, Poole, and Lyme Regis."

Benjamin's involvement in Spanish trade was perhaps even more significant; he was located in Madrid, where he died, whereas Nathan was based in London. The Visitation of Essex, 1552-1634 records describes Benjamin as "Benjamin Wright of London merchant and in Spain a:o 1638."

Clarendon noted that Sir Benjamin Wright was:

Bred a merchant in Madrid; where he had great business, and great reputation, and having married a wife of the family of Toledo, was become a perfect Spaniard, not only in the language, but in the generous part of their nature and customs.

Clarendon had considerable experience of Sir Benjamin Wright's generosity to draw on for his later reminiscences, and the Clarendon Papers for the period 1649 to 1654 are full of references to Sir Benjamin Wright. In 1651, as Sir Edward Hyde, he had departed Madrid in debt to Sir Benjamin to the tune of 25,656 ryals. In May 1650, prior to his departure from Madrid, and presumably as some sort of quid pro quo, Hyde had made proposals to the King of Spain for the settlement of Wright's accounts with the King of Spain and for "entering into a new contract to supply the latter with 150,000 crowns." An earlier memorial delivered by Hyde and Cottington to the King of Spain at an audience on Easter Tuesday 1650 reveals that the King of Spain had yet to repay Sir Benjamin Wright "certain great sums lent by him to the Spanish crown in 1643."

There is no direct evidence of a trading relationship between Nathan Wright and his younger brother Benjamin, however Benjamin's location in Madrid is likely to have been of assistance to Nathan in his Mediterranean trading. Moreover, Benjamin Wright used his brother Nathan Wright as a conduit for letters of intelligence he addressed from Madrid to John Thurloe, starting in 1655.

In a letter to John Thurloe dated April 20th, 1655, the by then knighted Sir Benjamin Wright acknowledged the risks he was taking corresponding with Thurlos, writing:

I depend and build my safety upon the promise your honor gave unto my brother, as he writt me, that his highnes would take me into his protection, and free me of any danger I might fall into. But my danger is, that before it can come to his highnesse notice, so suddayne a resolution may be taken agaynst me heere, that my head may be cutt off, before his highnes can have notice of my being in prison; and then, although he would take satisfaction for me, by cutting off other heades ther, none would be found to fitt my shoulders....The former written is the copie of my letter to your honor, sent by the way of France, under cover to my brother Nathan Wright

Nathan Wright's son, Benjamin, as the newly knighted Sir Benjamin Wright, accompanied Sir Richard Fanshawe on his embassy to the courts of Madrid in 1664. The son had clearly been exposed to the Spanish trade during his early adulthood since Sir Richard's wife, Lady Fanshawe, described him in her memoirs of the embassy as her "interpreter."

Politics of the two merchant brothers

The politics and quite possibly the religious beliefs of Nathan and Benjamin Wright were significantly different. Whereas Nathan Wright was active in advancing money to parliament during the first civil war, Sir Benjamin Wright made his home in Madrid available to visiting senior royalists, including Lord Cottington and Sir Edward Hyde, between 1649 and 1651.

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To do

(1) Clarify the major discrepancies between my primary focused reconstruction of the family background of Nathan Wright and the Visitation of London, 1633-1635 entry for "Nathaniell Wright". The Visitation is neither consistent with Clarendon, nor with other secondary and primary sources.
- See 'Wright' in J.J. Jackson, J.L. Chester, The visitation of London, anno domine 1633, 1634, and 1635 (London, 1883), p. 371

(2) Confirm award and date of knighthood and baronetcy of Benjamin Wright, Nathan Wright's younger brother

(3) Confirm award and date of knighthood of Nathan Wright's son-in-law, Robert Burdett

(4) Confirm award and dates of knighthoods of Sir Henry Wright of Dagenhams, essex, Nathan Wright's cousin, and Sir Benjamin Wright, Nathan Wright's eldest son

(5) Investigate background of Nathan Wright's wife, Anne Fleming of Warley Place, ?Essex

(6) Confirm occupation of Susand Wright's first and second husbands as being lawyers of the Middle Temple

(7) Look for primary documentation of links between Nathan Wright and Nicholas Gould, Francis Lenthall, and Robert Abdy

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Transcription

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN The fiveth day of ffebruarie In the yeare of our Lord God according to the Computation of the Church of England One Thousand Six hundred ffiftie and Seaven I Nathan Wright of the parish of Saint Olave Hartstreete in the Cittie of

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LONDON Esq:r being att this present sick and weake in Bodie but of good and perfect minde and memorie (thankes be therefore given to Almightie God doe make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following (that is to say)

IMPRIMIS and before all Earthlie things I commend my Soule into the hands of Almightie God my heavenly ffather trusting and confidently beleiving by the merritts death oassion and glorious ascention of his deare sonne and my alone and all sufficient Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ to be saved and to have full and free remission and forgiveness of all my sinns and iniquities and by noe other wayes or meanes whatsoever, And my Bodie I committ to the Earth from whence it came to be decentlie interred and buried in the chancell of the parish church of Cranham in the countie of Essex in such decent and Christianlike manner as to my executors hereunder named shall be thought most convenient But for theire beter direction it is my minde and desire that they shall bestowe noe superfluous or extraordinarie charges thereupon

ITEM I give and bequeath to Ann my well beloved Wife according to the custome of England for and in Lieu of her dower out of my reall Estate One Third part of all my Mannors Messuages Lands and Tenements with theire Appurtenances wheresoever they lye within the Commonwealth of England for and during the Tearme of her naturall life Soe that my said Wife or her assignes make noe waste or spoyle thereuppon or upon anie part or parcell thereof: And it is my will minde and true meaning (that the said Anne my Wife shall (if she shall soe please) have hold , occupie possesse and inioy for and during the tearme of her naturall life in part of her said Dower my Mannorhouse Commonly called ?Cremhorn Hall in the said Countie of Essex with all my Lands Meadowes pastures ffarmes Tenements and all other the Appurtenances to my said house and Mannor belonging or in anie wise appertaining for and in Lieu of the value thereof out of some others of my said Mannors Messuages Lands and Tenements as it shall be indifferentlie rated and valued: And further it is my mynde and true meaning that the said Anne my Wife and her assignes for and during the tearme of her naturall life shall have the ffree use of all my plate and householdstuffe remaining and being in and about my said Mannor house and in my dwelling house in London

ITEM I give devise and bequeath unto my well beloved Sonne Benjamin Wright and to his heires and assignes for ever All my said Mannors Lands and Tenements with theire and everie of theire Appurtenances Two Thirds parts whereof presently after my decease, and the other Third part thereof after the death of the said Anne my Wife Togeather alsoe from and after the death of my said Wife withall my said plate and householdstuffe remaining in and about my said House in London

ITEM as concerning my goods Chattells Debts and other my personall Estate which God of his infinite mercie and goodnes hathe endowed mee withall I devide the same into three equall parts and portions according to the laudable Custome of the Cittie of London And whereas I have marryed three of my daughters (videlict) my daughter Susan ffirst unto Charles Potts Esquire deceased and since unto ffrancis Drake Esquire, my daughter Mary unto Robert Burdett of London Esq:r and my daughter Alice unto John ??Wolfrie of London Merchant with whome and with every of them I have given competent portions and I have severall discharges for the same under hand and seale

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BUT to my daughter Susan in regard She is my eldest and first borne child I have given a larger portion Than to my other Daughters. And I am advised that I am not obliged either by Lawe or by the Custome of the Cittie of London to make anie further augmentation thereunto but that I am att Libertie and have power in my selfe to give my said Estate to my Wife and to my other Children not yett advanced Wherefore I proceed to dispose of my said Estate as followeth

ITEM I give and bequeath unto the said Anne my well beloved Wife One Third part of my said personall Estate hopeing that hse will be very Kind loving and Tenderly affected towards my children and lett them inioy the benefitt and partake of her said part and portion, One other Third part of my said personall Estate I givea nd bequeath to be equally devided betweene my other three children unadvanced, namelie Benjamin Wright ffrances Wright and Jane Wright part and part like And the other part thereof I keepe and reserve to my selfe to pay such Legacies and bequests as I shall give and bequeath to anie person or persons whatsoever

ITEM out of my intire love and affection unto my said daughter Susan Drake wife of the said ffrances Drake and for and addition into her said portion I give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Susan Drake the Summe of Two Thousand pounds of lawfull monie of England, hopeing and desiring my said Sonne ffrancis Drake and my said Daughter his Wife that the children begotten or to begotten by him of the bods of my said Daughter may partake of all or the most part of the said Two Thousand pounds

ITEM out of the like love and affection which I doe beare unto my said Daughter Mary Burdett Wife of the said Robert Burdett and for an addition into her foresaid portion I give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Mary Burdett the like Summe of Two Thousand pounds of like lawfull monie of England part wherof to be paid unto her by her said husband out of the debtes w;ch he doeith or will owe mee by bond and uppon Accompts and the rest by my Executors hereunder named

ITEM out of the like love and affection which I doe beare unto my said daughter Alice Wolfris Wife of the said John Wolfris and for and assition unto her foresaid portion I give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Alice Wolfris the like Summe of Two Thousand pounds of like monie part whereof to be paid unto her by her said husband out of the debts which he doeth or will owe mee upon Accompts and the rest by my Executors hereunder named

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my Grandchildren and Godsonnes Nathan Drake and Nathan Burdett the summe of Threescore pounds a peece of lawfull monie of England to be paid nto them severallie att theire severall ages of one and Twentie yeares

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my Grandchild Susanna Potts the Summe of Twentie pounds of lawfull monie of England to be paid unto her forth with after my decease to buy her a ring in remembrance of my love

ITEM I give and bequeath unto all the rest of my Grandchildren that are now liveing the summe of ffiftie pounds a peece of lawfull monie of England The male to be paid att theire severall ages of one and Twentie yeares and the demales to be paid att theire severall ages of one and twentie yeares or severall dayes of marriage which shall first and next happen

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my Grandchild Ann Wolfris the summe of ffiftie pounds more of like lawfull monie of England to be paid unto her att her full age of one and Twentie yeares or dayes of marriage which shall first and next happen

ITEM it is my true intent and meaning That if anie of my said Grandchildren shall happen to die or decease before the receipt of theire said legacies That then the Legacie of him

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OR her so deceased shall remaine and come unto my Sonn Beniamin Wright above named

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my two Sisters Martha Barradell and Jane Joslin the Summe of Twentie pounds a peece of lawfull monie of England as a remembrance of my Love (if they be liveing) att the time of my decease

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my Cozin John Tysons Wife the Summe of Three pounds of like monie

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my anncient and faythfull Servant John Oliver the Summe of Twentie pounds of lawfull monie of England And I doe hereby require and charge my heire and Executors that they see not my said Servant to want during his life but that they from tyme to tyme will supplie his necessities

ITEM I give and bequeath unto the poore of the parish of saint Olvave hartstreete where I now dwell the Summe of twentie pounds of lawfull monie of England to be distributed by and att the discretion of the Minister and Churchwardens of the same parish for the time being

ITEM I give and bequeath unto the Master, Wardens and Comminaltie of the Companie of Skinners London whereof I am a free member the Summe of One hundred pounds of Lawfull monie of England to be by them from three yeares to three yeares for ever lent gratis to ffower young men ffree of the same Companie by five and Twentie pounds a peece for three yeares giveing good securitie unto the said Companie according to theire likeing for the repayment thereoff att three yeares end

ITEM I give and bequeath unto the said Master Wardens and Comminalitie of the said Companie of Skynners the summe of Thirteene pounds Six shillings eight pence of lawfull monie of England to buy a peece of plate for the same Companie in remembrance of mee

ITEM I give and bequeath to the poore of the parish of Cranham aforesaid the Summe of five pounds of like mony to be distributed among them by the Minister and Church Wardens of the same parish for the tyme being

ITEM I give and bequeath to Robert and Nathan The Two Sonnes of my brother Ezekiell Wright Clarke the Summe of Twentie pounds a peece of lawfull monie of England to be paid unto them severallie att theire severall ages of one and Twentie yeares (if they shall be then liveing

ITEM it is my will and minde that if anie of my Legatees shall be displeased with theire Legacies or shall make any disturbance in or against the probate of this my will That then and from thence forth the Legacie given to him her or them makeing such difference shall be void and of none effect

ITEM I doe nominate and appoynte my said three Sonnes in Lawe ffrancis Drake Robert Burdett and John Wolfris and my said Sonne Benjamin Wright ioynt Executors of this my last Will and Testament and because my said Sonn Benjamin is under age it is my will and pleasure that my said Three Sonns in Lawe shall take upon them the execution of this my will and to act therein in trust for the use and benefit of my said Sonn Benjamin during his minoritie and to resigne and make apointe unto him of the whole Estate when andas soone as he shall attaine to his full age of one and Twentie yeares or att any time after when he shall require the same And I doe hereby give and bequeath unto my said Sonn Benjamin Wright, after my debts legacies and funerall expences shall be paid and discharged all the rest and residue of my goods and Chattells whatsoever unbequeathed

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my said Three Sonnes in Lawe for theire care and paines to be taken in the premisses the summe of Twenty pounds a peice of lawfull monie of England desiring them

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TO have speciall care of my Sonne and to advise him in all his affaires wishing him upon my blessing to hearken diligently and to follow theire admonition and it is my will and meaning that if it shall please God That my said Sonn Benjamin Wright shall die before he attaine his age of one and Twentie yeares or after unmarried That then and in such case my executors shall be accomptable to all my daughters and children equallie and that they shall be Executors in trust onlie for those purposes

ITEM I doe nominate and appointe my said brother Ezekiell Wright and my loveing Cozin Edward ?Herris of Lincolns Inn Esquire Overseers of this my last Will and Testament unto whome for theire paines to be taken therein I give and bequeath Twentie pounds a peece of lawfull monie of England

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my Cozein William Herris of Lincolns Inne Gentleman the Summe of five pounds of lawfull English monie to buy him a ring hopeing if need be that he will be helpfull in the manageing of my Estate

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my Apprentice Thomas Wilson the Summe of five pounds of lawfull English monie

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my Apprentice John Wise to place him else where for the remainder of his tyme the summe of Two hundred pounds of lawfull monie of England which I had with him when he was bound And alsoe it is my Will and I doe hereby give unto my said Apprentice being a very honest and an able Servant his ffathers bond whereby he is obliged to pay mee one hundred pounds more hereafter soe that the said John live with my Executors by the space of one whole yeare next after my decease to helpe to manage my Estate and to gather in my debts

ITEM I give and bequeath to all the rest of my Servants That shall live with mee and take wages of mee att the tyme of my decease the summe of fortie shillings a peece of lawfull English monie

IN WITNES whereof I the said Nathan Wright To this my last Will and Testam:t have sett my hand and seale XXXX the day and yeare first above written

Nathan Wright:

Signed sealed and published by the within named Nathan Wright as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us Tho: Pennant John Willis Rich: Wise

THE WILL was proved att LONDON The Twentie Seaventh daye of Aprill In the yeare of our Lord God One thousand Six hundred ffiftie and Eight before the Judges for probate of Wills and granting Administrations lawfully authorized by the oathes of ffrancis Drake Esquire and John Wolfris Marchant Two of the Executors under certaine limitations named in the above written Will To whome Administration of all and singular the goods Chattells and debts of the said deceased was grannted and Committed they being first legallie sworne truly and faithfully to administer the same Power being first reserved to make like probate and grannt like Administration unto Robert Burdett the other Executor in trust when he shall come and in legall manner desire the same.

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Notes

High Court of Admiralty

"15 May 1637. 182. Nicholas Polhill versus Nathan Wright and James Napper..."

James Napper and James Napper junior are mentioned in Richard Houncell & Co.'s correspendence in the late 1640s & early 1650s, with their locations given as Dartmouth and Naples:

"358. Nápoles. James Napper junior (23-6-1649)
383. Dartmouth. James Naper (18-7-1649)"

Sir Benjamin Wright and Sir Nathan Wright: son and grandson of Nathan Wright

"Wright, Nathan. Lord Keeper, 1702. King Charles II. in the first year after his restoration created two baronets in the Essex family of Wright; the one, Sir Henry of Dagenhams, being the grandson of John Wright of Wright's Bridge near Hornchurch; and the other, Sir Benjamin of Cranham Hall, being his great-grandson. The latter was the eldest son of Nathan Wright, and alderman of London, whose younger brother, Dr. Ezekiel Wright, was rector of Thurcaston in Leicestershire, and by his wife Dorothy, sister and co-heir of Sir John Onebye, left a son, Nathan, the future lord keeper. Both baronetcies are now extinct, the first failing in 1681, and the last in 1738.

Nathan Wright was born in 1653, and was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He took no degree, but became a student at the Inner Temple on February 8, 1671. He is described in his admission as of Belgrave, which is nearly equi-distant between Thurcaston and Leicester. He was called to the bar on November 29, 1677."

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Cranham Hall, Essex

"William Petre died in 1572 and his son (Sir) John, later Lord Petre, succeeded to the family estates. (fn. 57) In 1605 he settled Cranham and other properties on his third son Thomas on marriage. (fn. 58) Thomas (d. 1625) left as heir his younger son (Sir) Francis Petre (Bt.). (fn. 59) Francis sold Cranham for £6,100 in 1647 to Nathan Wright, a London merchant and alderman. (fn. 60) He died in 1658 and was succeeded by his son Benjamin who became a baronet in 1660. (fn. 61) Cranham descended with the baronetcy until the death in 1738 of Sir Samuel Wright."

"Of the monuments that were retained from the old church [All Saints', Cranham, Essex], the marble tablet to General Oglethorpe (d. 1785) was replaced on the south chancel wall. In the chancel floor were set a brass inscription to Nathan Wright (manor owner 1647-1743) dated 1658 and a floor slab to his daughter Susannah (d.1664), successively the wife of Charles Potts and Francis Drake."

"In 1648 Nathan Wright, a merchant in London, acquired another Catholic house in Essex, Cranham Hall in Bishop's Ockendon."

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Robert Burdett, son-in-law of Nathan Wright

"Merchants Complaints: The Narrative of the several Merchants trading into the Levant Seas, whose Names are subscribed, concerning certain Silk, and Silks, laden before the late Act of Prohibition, aboard a Dutch Vessel, called The Prophet Jonas, at Misena, Naples, and Leghorn, bound for Amsterdam.

THEY humbly present unto your Honours, that the Petitioners Nicholas Gould, Nathan Wright, John Gould, Robert Burdett, Charles Tharell, Thomas Bludworth, Henry Spurstow, Richard Wynne, Humfry Hill, and John Hill, Andrew Hopegood, Michael Custell, Edward Bovery, and others, had several Bales of Silk laden aboard the said Dutch Vessel, called The Prophet Jonas, on or about the Seventh of September, New Stile, which is our 28th of August, according to the English Computation.

They humbly remonstrate, that these Silks so laden, were for the proper Account of Themselves and Company, all People of this Nation:

That the said Goods being of small Bulk, there was no Charter-Party made between the Freighters and Master of the Ship; but only Bills of Lading formed: Which Bills of Lading or Invoice, affirmed by the respective Factors, declare the said Silks are for the Account of Themselves and Company, all People of this Nation.

They humbly remonstrate, that, presently after the Lading of the said Goods at Mesina, the Ship forthwith parted from that Port; and, since the Knowledge of the late Act prohibiting Importation, they had no Opportunity or Means to unlade or relade the said Goods in English Ships.

The Petitioners Nathan Wright, Robert Burdett, Samuel Mico, James Stavere, and George Poyner, and others, had several Bales of Silk, and Cases of Silk, laden aboard the said Ship, on or about the 10th of September last, at Naples; and, in the latter End of September, and Beginning of October, at Legorne.

They humbly remonstrate for themselves as before,

That the said Goods were for themselves and Company, all People of this Nation: And that the said Goods could not be taken out of the aforesaid Ship, to be laden aboard any English Ship, after Knowledge of the late Act of Prohibition.

Resolved, That the Commissioners for the Customs be authorized and required to forbear to make any Seizure of the Dutch Ship, called, The Prophet Jonas, bound with Convoy for Amsterdam, from thence to be sent to London; and of the divers Sorts of Silk, and Silk Ware, laden therein by virtue of the Act of Parliament, intituled, An Act for Increase of Shipping, and Encouragement of the Navigation of this Nation: And that the said Ship, and the Silks, and Silk Ware, laden in the said Ship, be freed and discharged of and from any Seizure or Confiscation, made or to be made by force of the said Act, as if the same had come in before the First Day of December last: And that all Officers, and other Persons, concerned, do take Notice hereof, and yield Obedience hereunto accordingly."

"[Beckenham: north wall of parish church] On the same wall are the monuments of Benjamin Burdett (fn. 32) , merchant, son of Robert Burdett, Esq. (second son of Sir Thomas Burdett, Bart.) by Mary, daughter of Nathan Wright, merchant, 1710"

"Robert Burdett, servant to Nathan Wright, is admitted to the freedom of the Company by service"

"[Letters]

1648

p.115

19. Londres. Nathan Wright (3-6-1648)
46. Londres. Nathan Wright (27-7-1648)

pp. 116-117 - not viewable in Google preview

1649

p. 118

334. Londres. Nathan Wright (23-5-1649)
388. Londres. Nathan Wright (18-7-1649)

pp. 119-120- not viewable in Google preview

1650

p. 121

626. Londres. Nathan Wright (23-3-1650)
665. Londres. Nathan Wright (18-5-1650)
676. Londres. Nathan Wright (4-6-1650)
693. Londres. Robert Burdett (23-6-1650)
714. Londres. Nathan Wright (20-7-1650)

p. 122

734b. Londres. Nathan Wright (22-8-1650)
749. Londres. Nathan Wright (29-9-1650)
757. Londres. Nathan Wright & Robert Burdett & Richard Houncell (29-9-1650)
774. Londres. Nathan Wright (2-11-1650)
789. Londres. Nathan Wright & Robert Burdett & Richard Houncell (23-11-1650)

p. 123

792. Londres. Nathan Wright (26-11-1650)
793. Londres. Nathan Wright & Robert Burdett & Richard Houncell (26-11-1650)
819. Londres. Nathan Wright & Robert Burdett & Richard Houncell (25-12-1650)

1651

p. 123

848. Londres. Nathan Wright & Robert Burdett (15-1-1651)
894. Londres. Nathan Wright & Robert Burdett & Co. (7-2-1651)
905b. Londres. Nathan Wright & Robert Burdett (22-2-1651)
912. Londres. Nathan Wright & Robert Burdett (28-2-1651)

p. 124

959. Londres. Nathan Wright & Robert Burdett (4-4-1651)
962. Londres. Nathan Wright (sin fecha)
968. Londres. Nathan Wright & Robert Burdett (sin fecha)
970. Londres. Nathan Wright & Robert Burdett (11-4-1651)
982. Londres. Nathan Wright & Robert Burdett (1-5-1651)
1000. Londres. Nathan Wright & Robert Burdett (25-5-1651)

p. 125

1013. Londres. Nathah Wright (26-6-1651)
1015. Londres. Nathan Wright (26-6-1651)
1022. Londres. Nathan Wright & Robert Burdett (7-7-1651)
1043. Londres. Nathan Wright & Co. (28-8-1651)
1055. Londres. Nathan Wright & Co. (28-9-1651)
1067. Londres. Nathan Wright (10-10-1651)
1071. Londres. Nathan Wright (10-10-1651)
1075. Londres. Nathan Wright (15-10-1651)

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Sample extracts from letters to Nathan Wright & associates or mentioning Nathan Wright & associates

"27. Leghorn. John Parsons (Alicante, 16-6-1648)

Wee have not more time to answere Mr Francis Bisshopes letter of the 20 May rec'd per your recapitto then to tell you that one the arrivall of the Arabella to this porte where wee have ben vissetted with some sickenisse the Master James Gooddey hath ben pleased to pase for Val'a, where wee have ordered Lazaro dell Mar that yn case hee doe not finde a competent price of 6 to 7 d per (...) of tobacco cleere abord then to lett passe unto you 770 rolls which wee have abord the shipp as will apeare unto you by the three inclossed bills of ladinge, viz'd 1/3 acc'o of Mr Nathan Wright, 1/3 acc'o Robert Burdett, 1/3 for the perteccallar acco'o of me Richard Hown: for whose proceede you are to followe each mans perteecullar order advertisinge that the 100 rolls marked B is better 1s per (...) then the other & cost upward of 5d. the pound in England in another bill there is 150 rolls for the acco'o Mr John Wulfis and in another bill there is 120 rolls for acc'o of Cap'n Wm Rider wee dessier you to keepe ane acco'o aparte of the 3 parcells and to advanse the salles as much as possible you cane for the benifitte of the intresseds unless other parsells should come in upon this wee dessier you to make present salle of itt wee undarstand itt is worth 23 sueldos the great rolls & 15 the small and understandinge the commerce of Naples is deere if you know itt to bee worth more money there then in Livorno you maie transporte itt thether for the intresseds advantedge adviseinge us w'th you acctt therein & exkuse us to Mr Bishope to whome wee will write per next occation wee take leave."

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William Herris, Lincoln's Inn

"Among the State Papers (Dom. Ser.) are the following letters relating to this event:-
June 1667. Chelmsford. Sir John Bramston to William Herris, Lincolns Inn...."

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Plymouth duty

"14 September 1644 Ordinance securing to Nathan Wright, Francis Lenthall, and George Henly, merchants, the sum of £5,000 lent by them for the defence of Plymouth, Poole, and Lyme Regis."

"The petition of Fras. Lenthall and Jn. Wolfrey, executor of Nathan Wright, — shewing that Wright and Lenthall being collectors for the Plimouth duty during the late war, the petitioners are now required to account before the Treasury Commissioners, and pray allowance for several demands, viz., for lawsuit charges, QQl.
4s. 8d. ; for interest of 5,000i. lent to the State from 25 March 1646 to May 1646, 1U. 6s. 8d ; for collection of the duty, SOL 8s. \d. ; in all, 169?. 19s. \d. — referred to the said Treasury Commissioners, to examine the grounds of demand, and report if they should be allowed.

His Highness present."

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Francis Lenthall, merchant of London

"1644: Gulielmus Lenthall, filius unicus Thomas Lenthall, mercatoris, natus Londoni in paroecia de St. Mary Hill, Sept. 24, 1628, annorum 16 admissus est in scholam liberam Mercatorum Scissorum Maii 13, 1644, solvitque pro ingressu....2s. 6d."

"Francis Lenthall, eld. son of Francis, merchant, b. in par. of St. Mary Hill, 26 May, 1634
Edmund Lenthall, second son of the same, b. in same par. 26 Aug. 1635."

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George Henly, merchant of London

"569. George Henly, of London, merchant £300
570. Robert Henley, [of London, merchant] £300
571. John Maynard, [of London, merchant] £300"

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Reverend Robert Wright, of Dennington, Suffolk: father of Nathan Wright, merchant

"Dennington Town Land in Framlingham
'Nathan Wright, Esquire, Merchant and Citizen of London, forth Sonne of Robert Wright, Batchellor of Divinity, late Rector of this Parish, did give that Towne Land Laying in Framlingham, knowne by the name of Pitman's Grove, to this Parish, (Dennington) the whole yearely rent whereof is to be distributed amongst the most aged pious poor of this Parish, in bread weekly, and coats yearly, as in the account of John Clayton and Robert Kellam, Church wardens, for the Yeare 1654, may appeare.' (See pa. 353.) - MS. penes Rev. G. Ashby"

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Possible primary sources

TNA

C 2/ChasI/B81/53 Short title: Boone v Lenthall. Plaintiff: Boone. Defendant: Lenthall. Document type: [Bill and answer or answers]. 1625-1660

C 5/5/107 Lenthall v. Ford: Devon. 1649
C 5/32/73 Lenthall v. Middleton: Middlesex. 1656
C 5/390/85 Massey v. Lenthall: Devon. 1651
C 5/40/63 Trott v. Lenthall: Middlesex. 1662

C 6/129/224 Short title: Wright v Cockayne. Plaintiffs: Nathan Wright and Thomas Hussey. Defendants: William Cockayne, Thomas Jennings and William Williams. Subject: property in Normanton on Soar, Nottinghamshire. Document type: bill, answer. 1655
C 6/131/217 Short title: Wright v Wright. Plaintiffs: Sir Benjamin Wright baronet and Ezekiel Wright. Defendants: Nathan Wright, Benjamin Wright and Jane Wright. Subject: property in Maldon, Springfield, Boreham, and Woodham Ferrers, Essex. Document type: bill, two answers. 1655
C 6/140/147 Short title: Wright v Benlowes. Plaintiffs: Nathan Wright. Defendants: Edward Benlowes, Elizabeth Benlowes, Walter Blount and Philippa Blount his wife. Subject: manor of Brentham Justices alias Hawksells (unidentified), Essex. Document type: bill, two answers. 1657

C 10/11/21 Samuel Browninge v Eusebius Wright and Jane his wife: personal estate of William Browninge, deceased, of London, Middx 1650
C 10/18/29 Cowper v. Cockaine, Wright, Bassano and Hare:Staffs 1653
C 10/19/66 Robert Levett v Jacob Searle, Nicholas Gould, Robert Abdy, William Williams, Andrew Rickards, Nathan Wright and others: money matters, Middlesex. Bill and answer 1653
C 10/121/42 Francis Lenthall v Thomas Smith and Nathan Wilson: money matters, Middlesex. Bill and two answers 1669

E 115/434/127 Certificate of residence showing Nathan Wright (or the variant surname: Write) to be liable for taxation in London, and not in the hundreds of Edmonton and Gore, Middlesex, the previous area of tax liability. (Any information not given in this certificate comes from its old pouch, no 443. 1640-1641
E 122/236/14 MISCELLANEOUS. Account of Nathan Wright and Francis Lentall "for 1/10th part more of the present custom and subsidy". 1643-45

PROB 11/192 Rivers 1-56 Will of George Henley of Saint Botolph Aldgate London 28 February 1645
PROB 11/231 Brent 319-367 Will of Charles Potts of Middle Temple London 27 April 1653
PROB 11/239 Alchin 303-356 Will of Richard Hounsell, Merchant 31 January 1654
PROB 11/286 Pell 1-49 Will of Francis Lenthall of Saint Andrew Holborn, Middlesex 07 January 1659 [Probably not correct match to merchant associated with Nathan Wright]
PROB 11/307 Laud 1-52 Will of Arthur Henris or Herris of Lincolns Inn, Middlesex 06 March 1662
PROB 11/314 Bruce 49-96 Will of Sir Henry Wright of Dagenham, Essex 14 June 1664
PROB 11/329 Coke 1-56 Will of Ezethiell Wright, Batchelor in Divinity and Rector of Thurcaston, Leicestershire 30 December 1668 pp. 1-7
PROB 11/331 Coke 108-166 Sentence of Ezekiel Wright, Clerk of Thurcaston, Leicestershire 28 January 1669
PROB 11/360 King 66-124 Will of Thomas Lenthall, Fishmonger and Merchant of London 18 September 1679

LOOK FOR

Nicholas Gould
Francis Lentall
Robert Abdy/Nathan Wright links

SP 78/83 Order in Council concerning Nathan Wright and others residing at Bordeaux. 1628 Apr. 21
SP 78/90 Nathan Wright to Geo. Rooks concerning the James. 1631 Aug. 26/Sept. 5
SP 89/5 Petition of the merchants trading to Portugal and those residing at Lisbon, asking for the appointment of Francis Lenthall as Consul General at Lisbon, in place of Thomas Maynard, who had been appointed by Cromwell, and Francis Holbech, who was a Roman Catholic. n.d. [? 1662] [London ? Lisbon ?]

Derbyshire Record Office

DRO: Burdett family of Foremark: estate, family and personal papers: Family and Business Papers D5054/12 c.1540 - c.1710: D5054/12/3 1648-1652
- Contents: Letter book of merchants trading to Alicante, Spain. Robert Burdett was a partner

Essex Record Office

ERO: Estate and Family records: PETRE FAMILY OF INGATESTONE AND WEST HORNDON: Estate: D/DP E59A
- 1652; Defeazance on a Statute Staple from Thomas Vyner, Alderman of London and NATHAN WRIGHT of London, to William, Lord Petre, who stands bound in £12000 to them, all the parties being bound to Richard Wareing, merchant, and Michael Herring, alderman of London, in £6000, the condition thereof being that Lord Petre perfect his account with `Mr Auditor Sherwin' and pay such sums as are adjudged by the Commissioners for Compounding to be due for the arrears of rent out of his estate to the Commonwealth

ERO: D/DBe T29
- 1605-1746; 27 documents; Deeds: Of manor of Wokenden Episcopi alias Bishop's Ockendon alias Cranham alias Cranham Hall; advowson of parish church of Cranham; and messuages, lands, tenements, woods and woodgrounds [no details]; deeds, 1605, 1645, including manors of Thorpe, Thorpehall alias Little Thorpe alias South Thorpe, North Thorpe alias Thorpe Nevell and Little Thorpe in Southchurch, and manors of Tintinhull and Charlton Adam (county Somerset); deed, 1605, including in addition manor of Little Birch and mansion house called Little Birch Hall alias Tendrings, with park (200acres), lands and tenements (50acres) called Cookes Woode, messuage, lands, meadows, pastures, woods and underwoods (100acres) called Nothes, Parmenters and Chamberlaines alias Chamberleyes; watermill with lands (20acres) in Little and Great Birch; lands (50acres) and tenements called the Warren, lying outside pale of above-mentioned park directly before above- mentioned mansion house and church of Little Birch on North; messuages and lands (230acres) called Po

Suffolk Record Office

SRO: Dennington Parish Records: GENERAL FC 112/A [n.d.: Agreement FC 112/A4/1 1615]
- Contents: Between Sir John Rous, Henham, lord of the manor of Dennington, Robert Wright, Denyngton, preacher of the sacred word, Enseby Wright, Esq., Henry Edgar, gent., and others, and Nicholas Howell, Denyngton, tailor, that the said Nicholas may enclose a piece of waste ground or common together with a water pit adjoining his house, called the Toll House in Denyngton Street, which piece of ground is set out by the inhabitants by certain marks or 'dooles'. 1 Sep 1615

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Possible secondary sources

Arnold, Patrick, Sue Burton, A Transcript of the Register of Burials 1558-1817: All Saints Cranham, Essex (XXXX, XXXX)
Burke, John, John Bernard Burke, 'Wright, of Dagenhams' and 'Wrighte, of Cranham Hall' in A genealogical and heraldic history of the extinct and dormant baronetcies of England (London, 1838), p. 586
Chesney, H. Egerton, 'The Transference of Lands in England, 1640–1660' in Transactions of the Royal Historical Society (Fourth Series) (1932), 15 : pp 181-210
- Mentions Nathan Wright's acquisition of Cranham Hall from Francis Petrie
Ruiz, José Ignacio Martínez, & Perry Gauci, Mercaderes ingleses en Alicante en el siglo XVII: estudio y edición de la correspondencia comercial de Richard Houncell & Co (XXXX, 2008)

- Contains a listing of a large number letters of advice to Nathan Wright, and to Nathan Wright and Robert Burdett, with a few to the combined grouping of Nathan Wright and Robert Burdett and Richard Houncell