James Stanier

James Stanier

James Stanier
Person	James Stanier
Title
First name	James
Middle name(s)
Last name	Stanier
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	James Stanier
Has signoff text	James Stanier
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 Andrew Undershaft
Res town	London
Res county
Res province
Res country	England
Birth year	1606
Marriage year	1638
Death year	December 1663
Probate date	December 29, 1663
First deposition age	44
Primary sources
Act book start page(s)
Personal answer start page(s)
Allegation start page(s)
Interrogatories page(s)
Deposition start page(s)	HCA 13/63 f.391r Annotate, HCA 13/69 Silver 11 f.2r 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)	Sep 5 1650, Dec 6 1653
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

James Stanier, merchant of London, ca. 1643; etching, 141 mm x 95 mm, Wenceslaus Hollar, National Portrait Gallery

James Stanier (Stanyer; Staniere; Staneire; Stainier; Stanneior; Staneior; Stennior; Jacomo Stanier) (b. ca. 1606, London; m. Thomasin(e) Mead, prob. 1639, daughter of Thomas Mead; bur. Dec. 16 1663, Saint Helens Bishopsgate). Merchant.

Father: David Stanier (b. ?; d. 1625) (moved from Cologne to London by 1601) and Mother: Abigail (surname unknown, but possibly Demetrius, the surname of several nephews named in her will) (b. ?; d. 1663). A secondary source states that David Stanier died of the plague in 1625. Abigail Stanier's will was written on January 10th 1663 and proved March 3rd 1663, giving her residence as Bethnal Green in the parish of Stepney.

Elder brother named Robert Stanier Esquire, of Bethnal Green in the parish of Stepney (b. ?; d. ca. 1673) and sister Jane Deards (b. ?; d. ?>1673). Robert Stanier was married to an Esther (surname unknown). He outlived his brother James.

Jane, the sister, married Richard Deards of Great Dunmowe in Essex, gentleman. His will was written on April 26th 1650 and mentions both his wife, Jane, and his brothers in law Mr James Stanier and Mr Robert Stanier, who were appointed executors. Richard Deards had a son, Thomas Deards, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Katherine. Richard Deards appears to be the son of Nathaniel Deards, gentleman, of Great Dunmowe in Essex, who was probably also Nathaniel Deards, grocer, who wrote his will in 1647, when sick and weak in body. A marriage allegation exists for Nathaniel Deards, gentleman, of Great Dunmowe, widower, who was aged 58 in 1632. This would put Nathaniel's age at ca. 73 when he died in 1647.

A Richard Deards is identified in the minutes of the Court Committee of the English East India Company on June 14th 1648 as the "brother" of James Stanier. The two men may have had a trading relationship. Presumably, but not definitely, this is the same man as Richard Deards, London merchant, who was son of the London grocer Nathaniel (Nathanael) Deards (b. ?; d. ca. 1647), with whom Stanier is connected in the EEIC minutes. This is consistent with the will of Peter Deardes, proved in 1654 after the death of his brother Richard in 1650. Peter's will mentions Richard's two daughters Elizabeth and Katherine.

James Stanier had at the time of his death two living sons (Samuel, born 1649, and David), two pre-deceased sons (both named James, born 1642 and 1654), and four living daughters (Abigail, Thomasine, born 1643, Jane and Rebecca)), all living children alive at the time of the writing of James Stanier's will in 1660. Abigail Stanier, the eldest of the daughters, married Ezechiel Lampen, Stanier's former apprentice, in October 1663. Abigail was born ca. 1640 and was about twenty-three at the time of her marriage. The second daughter Thomasine married Daniel Porten, of Saint Catherine Cree, London, from a family of Dutch (and German) descent. The date of the marriage allegation of Daniel Porten and Thomasin Stanier was September 20th 1664. The eldest son, Samuel (later Sir Samuel) Stanier, became a prominent London merchant. The third daughter, Jane, may have married Samuel Strype, an apprentice of her father James Stanier, who was buried in the parish of Saint Katharine Creechurch.

James Stanier's former servant and bookkeeper, Robert Demetrius, states in 1666 (after James Stanier's death) that he had known Daniell Pourteene and Mr Edward Watts, London merchants, for a long period of time. Daniell Pourteene is presumably related to the David Porten who married James Stanier's daughter Thomasine, and Mr Edward Watts is presumably the Edward Watts named by James Stanier as one of his three executors in his last will and testament. According to Demetrius, both men traded in the Eastern Mediterranean. Another Admiralty Court deponent, the mariner William Compton, stated in a separate case on June 30th 1655 that Mr Edward Watts was a London merchant "of good repute and accompt in Saint Lucar". Edward Watts himself gave evidence in the High Court of Admiralty on April 21st 1657, stating his age as thirty-three and describing himself as a merchant of London. He stated that in 1654 he had resided at Saint Lucar in Spain.

According to James Stanier's own testimony in the High Court of Admiralty in 1653, James Stanier was born in London.

James Stanier appears to be of Flemish/Dutch origins, or possibly Huguenot origins. He names his deceased father in his will, written in 1660, as David Stanier. An online genealogical resource has identified an act of English naturalization exists for a David Stanier "borne in Cologne in High Germany" dated November 13th 1604. This identification is consistent with a secondary source (D.M. Low (1937)) which identifies a Thomasine Stanier, granddaughter of David Stanier, who came from Cologne in the last years of the C16th. This Thomasine Stanier married Daniel Porten of Saint Catherine Cree, London, a family of Dutch (and German) descent. The source states that David Stanier (James Stanier's father and Thomasine's grandfather) died of plague in London in 1625. There is a record of a David Stanier acting as a witness to a baptism in the French church in Fenchurch Street in 1601. David Stanier's daughter Elizabeth married a man with the surname Deards. Interestingly, there a Mr Nathanael Deards appears in the French church in Fenchurch Street as a witness to two baptisms, in 1616 and 1621.

D.M. Low (1937) further identifies one of Thomasine's brothers as "Sir Samuel Stanier, a merchant of Bishopsgate, who had an estate at Wanstead, Essex, was a colonel of the Blue Regiment of militia and crowned his career by holding the Mayoralty of London in 1716." The source adds in a note "DAVID STANIER, born at Cologne, received certificate of denization I3th November 1604; merchant 5 buried at Great St. Helen's, Bishopsgate, 1625. W. A. Shaw, Letters of Denization y etc., Huguenot Society of London, xviii. 6 and 35, and R. E. G. Kirk and E. F. Kirk, Returns of Aliens, etc., ibid. x. iii. 45."

James Stanier was resident in 1650, in 1653, in 1654, and in 1663 in the parish of Saint Andrew Undershaft. James Stanier's house may have been in Leadenhall Street in the above parish. This is where his widow Thomasin Stanier appears in 1666 in a property of six hearths.

James Stanier was buried in the parish church of Saint Helens Bishopsgate on December 17th 1663. His choice of Saint Helen Bishopsgate over Saint Andrew Undershaft is stated in his will to be because his father and two sons (both named James) were buried there.

His will was proved on December 29th 1663.

Married Thomasin(e) Mead. His marriage was probably in 1638, the year of a marriage bond entered into by James Stanier with Thomasine's father, as recorded in James Stanier's will. Thomasin(e) was buried in the parish of Saint Helen Bishopsgate on November 19th 1676. Her will was proved on January 7th 1676.

Thomasin Stanier appears in the hearth tax returns for the parish of Saint Andrew Undershaft in 'Leadenhall Street north' and with a total of six hearths.

Two separate engravings were made by Wenceslaus Hollar of James Stanier, dated 1643 and 1650.

Trade with Flanders, Amsterdam and Spain

Records from the High Court of Admiralty in the 1650s show that James Stanier had trading relationships with Antwerp, Bruges, Amsterdam and Cadiz in the late 1640s and throughout the 1650s. For example, James Stanier was the London correspondent of Bruges based merchant Paulus Cobrisse in the late 1640s and early 1650s, and involved in shipping cloth from England to Spain on behalf of Cobrisse.

James Stanier's trade with Spain appears to have been considerable, and to have stretched from at least the late 1630s to the mid-1650s. A record in the House of Lords from 1646 refers to a legal dispute concerning Spanish trade in 1637.

James Stanier appears to have had a close trading relationship with both Peter Vandeputt and Giles Vandeputt, merchants of London. Prior to the first Anglo-Dutch war, in November 1650, Peter Vandeputt and James Stanier wrote in November 1650 to the English Council of State, to seek their encouragement for the import of bullion from Spain to Dover, with the re-export of two thirds of such imported bullion to Flanders. They sought regular English convoys for the transport of bullion from Cadiz and San Lucar, after the annual arrival of the Spanish Plate fleet. Their request was met with a favourable response by the Council of State, dated January 8th 1651.

James Stanier appears to have been briefly arrested and sent to the Tower of London as a result of correspondence with the United Provinces in late 1652. Lorenzo Paulucci, Venetian Secretary in England, wrote to Giovanni Sagredo, the Ambassador in France in December 1652, in connection with the Silver Ship litigation in the High Court of Admiralty. Referred to in the dispatches as "An important merchant of this city named Stanier", the ambassador states that Stanier "wrote to Holland reporting that the affair was about to be settled favourably through the favour of certain members of the Council of State. His letters were opened and he was sent on the sudden to the Tower. (fn. 8) Since it may be inferred from his correspondence that the Dutch are interested in the business, the surrender of the money will prove the more difficult and consequently the misunderstanding between Spain and this country may be expected to grow."

Six months later, in June 1653, an intercepted letter from Jacomo Stanier to Mr. Cornelis and Henry Hillewerwen was translated out of Dutch. It is not clear whether the addressees were resident in Antwerp or Amsterdam.

The letter is reproduced in the English Calendar of State Papers

"Laus Deo, 17th June 1653, in London.

Vol.iii.p.281.

Mr. Cornelis and Henry Hillewerwen,

I am sorry I have nothing that is good to advise you. My courage doth fail me. I do now very much fear, that the business will end very ill; for without doubt the ambassador of Spain hath received some particular order from the king his master, that doth make against the interessed. The judges of the admiralty are turned out of their places; the silver is a coming, and particular notice taken of the marks, weight, and fineness. They do likewise report, that they have found some bags or little barrels, wherein were pieces of eight, and some papers, wherein was written, these parcels belong to such and such indifferent places of Holland. My lord is so troubled with these proceedings in the admiralty, that I have not yet spoken with Mr. Vander Put. God comfort the interessed.

Your servant,

Jacomo Stanier.

Despite the implication that Mr Cornelis and Henry Hilleweren were citizens of the United Provinces, it appears that they were based in Antwerp. A Hendrick van Hillewerven is listed as an ordinary officer of the Antwerp mint in a document dated August 5th 1654. According to testimony in the High Court of Admiralty Cornelius Hillewervin (alt. Hill wer den Ven) lived in Antwerp as a merchant, as did Henry Hillewervin. They were "merchants of great quality residing at Antwerpe and drive a great trade to Cadiz and Saint Lucar in Spaine where they have their factors that receyve goods for their accompt out of fflanders and England and make them returnes in moneyes and sylver". The two men were claimants for silver in the Morning Star (Master: Michael van Lubkin). According to Michael van Lubkin, master of the Morning Star, Cornelius and Henry Hille wer den Ven were fflandrians by birth and merchants of Antwerp. Sandra van Ginhoven (XXX) identifies Hendrick Hillewereven as a private collector and merchant who was a client of the Antwerp based art dealer Guilliam Forchondt. Interestingly, there is a C17th text by Balthasar Moretus titled "Reijse van Antwerpen op Italien ghedaen door Balthasar Moretus le jeun in compagnie van mijn heer Hillewerven, mijnheer van Immerseel, mijn heer Torlinckx en mijn heer Petrus Goos (1664-1665)"

Deposing in the High Court of Admiralty in connection with the Silver Ships, James Stanier stated on December 1653 in support of Bruges merchant Paulus Cobrisse's claim, that "the sayd Pedro Calvo had divers effects in his hands of great value of the manu facture of England sent to him by this respondent from this port of London in severall shipps to Cadiz for the producents accompt that is to say 29 bales of Norwich stuffs, bayes, perpetuances and some worsted stockins of the cleare value of 2462 li. 1 s. 10 d laden aboard the Sampson of Hamburgh Otto George Master about the month of September. 1648. And 21 bales more of bayes and 6 trunks of stockins of the value of 2476 li. 14 s. 8 d. sterling laden aboard the Culpepper John Thomas Commander about the month of October 1648. and 25. bales more of the stuffs and bayes of the value of 2222. li 16 s. 7 d sterling laden about January 1649. put aboard the shipp Confidence Thomas Crowder commander, and the rest aboard the Maydenhead James Lutton commmander. A Particular whereof faithfully extracted out of this deponents Leiger he hath fomerly left in the Registry of this Court videlicet upon his examination in the producents clayme for his sylver moneys in the Sampson.

Robert Demetrius was James Stanier's cashier and bookkeeper, as Demetrius states in a deposition in the High Court of Admiralty dated July 27th 1659.

Ezechiel Lampen was James Stanier's apprentice from ca. 1651 to at least May 1654, when Lampen deposed in the High Court of Admiralty on an allegation in "The clayme of the sayd Cornelius and Henry Hillewervin for their sylver in the Sampson.

Robert Stanier's book bequest (1673)

Robert Stanier's book bequest (1673), Results excerpted from Robert Stanier's will, London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Library Manuscripts Section, Clerkenwell, London, England; Reference Number: MS 9172/63; Will Number: 177

The elder brother of James Stanier, Robert Stanier Esquire, left a detailed schedule of books in his will, which he bequeathed in 1673 to the eldest son of his younger brother James Stanier, Samuell Stanier. Samuell Stanier, like James Stanier, was a London merchant.

The books are in English, and include translations of Ancient and Spanish classics, and show an interest in exploration and in history.

Evidence from High Court of Admiralty

Forty-four year old James Stanier deposed on September 5th 1650 in the High Court of Admiralty. He was examined on interrogatories "Quoad navem the Peace da home".

James Stanier stated that John Cornelison Yonge John was the commander of the ship the Pease of Home and that the ship ran aground near Portland, and after refloating, ran aground again in Cornwall in 1648. At the second grounding the ship was allegedly "staved a peeces by the souldiers and countrey people". The ship's lading consisted largely of silk, with ninety odd bales belonging to "Cornelius Gysbertson von Gore and other merchants of Holland."

James Stanier gave his age on March 16th 1652 as forty-six, describing himself as a merchant of London, when he was examined on an allegation on behalf of Vaugen in "The claime of Cornelius Vaugone of Amsterdam for his plate and money or bullion mentioned in the schedule hereunto annexed taken in the shipp the Golden Eagle whereof Dingman Govertson was master by the shipp the Tyger wherof Captaine Peacock is commander in the service of the Commonwealth".

James Stanier gave his age on November 25th 1652 as forty-six, describing himself as a merchant of London, when he was examined on interrogatories on behalf of the State in the case of "The keepers of the Libertie of England by authoritie of Parliament against the Sampson, Salvador, Peter et cetera and goods therein".

[ADD A SUMMARY OF THE CASE AND DATA ABOUT STANIER. ADD ALSO A SECTION ON ROBERT DEMETRIUS' DEPOSITION, WHICH FOLLOWS STANIERS]

The London merchant Giles Vandeputt stated on December 9th 1654 in the High Court of Admiralty in the case of the "Protector against the Sampson that insurance policies were taken out in London on behalf of the Antwerp merchant Jan Bollart to the value of £400 for the Sampson, £400 for the Salvador and £400 for the Saint George. Gile Vandeputt claimed that he drew up the policies on October 28th 1652 at the Assurance Office inn London, "All which assurances this deponent caused and procured to be made - and duely drawne as aforesaid, And to be subscribed upon the 29th day of the said moneth of October 1652. by Nicholas Skinner, 'James Stainier for and in the name of James Johnson Peter Bultel and others Merchants residing in England, And saith That hee this deponent did thereupon satisfie unto the said Assurers their severall premiums after the rate of 10 li per Cent and did Charge the same by bill or bills of Exchange upon the said John Bollart, who accordingly payd the said bills.

On August 5th 1653 ffrancis Boesdonck, cashier and bookkeeper of the Antwerp merchant James Pincquett, was examined on an allegation in support of "The clayme of James Pincquett merchant of Antwerpe for the plate and sylver in the shipp the Morning Starr whereof Michael van Lupkin (sic) is master taken by some of the Parliaments shipps". Referring to bills of lading for Pincquett's goods, Boesdonck stated that "the said bills of ladeing were sent in a letter by the post or passage boat from Antwerp to Mr Stanier a merchant at London."

On March 12th 1654 Robert Demetrius, cashier and bookkeeper of James Stanier, was examined on an allegation in support of the claim of Pedro Michelson of Antwerp for silver and goods on board the Sampson, the Salvador and the Saint George. Demetrius stated that James Stanier had been requested to make a claim for the silver by Pedro Michelson. Stanier appears to have had a trading relationship with Michelson and on behalf of Michelson with Cadiz in Spain. Demetrius stated that "in the yeare 1649. and about the 19th day of January of the same yeare this deponents master James Stanier did send to Cadiz consigned to one of the producents factors there whose name att present he remembreth not 840. peices of Norwich stuffes. and ten packes of Bayes amounting in value to the summe of 2720 li 14 s. sterling, and the same were laden att this port of London on board the shipp Maydenhead of London Captaine James Lutton commander one third part of which stuffes and bayes were for the sole accompt of the producent Pedro Michaelson, and putt and stated to and upon his accompt by the sayd James Stanier, in his bookes of accompts which this rendent hath laetely consulted, which goods came safe to the hands of the sayd foresayd factor att Cadiz".

A further Admiralty Court case in 1656 led to depositions "On the behalfe of Mr Stanier and others touching the Saint Phillip.

A further Admiralty Court case in 1657 led to depositions "Touching goods in the Santa Maria John Van Lynen captaine". Twenty-eight year old London merchant Robert Demetrius stated that he was the bookkeeper of James Stanier, London merchant. ("That the last past master James Stanier of London merchant (with home this deponent liveth in the quality of booke keeper) did receive letter from Mr Phillip Van Hulten of Amsterdam merchants, wherein the said Phillip Van Hulten adviseth the said Mr Stanier, that hee hath given order to his ffreinds at Marsellis for the ffreighting of a ship, to take on board all the goods that are or shalbe unladen out of the ship the Santa Maria at Tollon and to bring the same to Amsterdam, but by the way to touch at Cadiz in Spaine, there to dispose of a parcell of cacoa part of the said lading."

James Stanier was the London correspondent of Paulus Cobrisse (alt. Paul Cobrisse; Paul Cobrysse; Pauwels Cobrysse), a merchant living in Bruges in Flanders. Giving his age as forty-eight, Stanier deposed on December 6th 1653 in the High Court of Admiralty that "Paulus Cobrisse was by common repute borne in fflanders, and for these 12 yeares last past of the knowledge of this deponent being his correspondent hath bene a merchant of great accompt living att present in Bridges, and so hath done five or six yeares now past and before that for six or 7 yeares he lived in Spaine and was and is a subiect of the King of Spaine"

Comment on sources

1601

"L’ÉGLISE DE LONDRES (THREADNEEDLE STREET). BAPTÊMES...1601... De La Barre, Robert, fils de Robert De La B., et de Judict, sa femme. Tém. David Stanier, Marye Soyer, femme de Daniel Sellin. Août 4."

1603

E 115/337/23 Description: Certificate of residence showing David Stanier (or the variant surname: Stanyer) to be liable for taxation in London. (Details of which pouch this certificate was removed from are now lost.) 1603

"1603. July 13 (fn.*)Peter Vandewall, servant to David Staniere, M'chaunt Estranger (fn.* = These entries are marked "Pla" (Plague) in the margin of the original Paper Register)

1616

"L’ÉGLISE DE LONDRES (THREADNEEDLE STREET). BAPTÊMES...1616...Creson, Jeune, fille de Jaques C., et de Elizabeth Destailleur, sa femme. Tém. Nathanael Deards, Jenne Destailleur, Marie Destailleur. Août 15."

1621

"L’ÉGLISE DE LONDRES (THREADNEEDLE STREET). BAPTÊMES...1621...De La Forterie, Susanne, fille de Pierre de la F., et de Lea Desbouuerie, sa femme. Tém. Mr. Nathanael Deards, Marguerite, v® de Sigmond Mengel. Nov. 8."

1624

"Sabbati, 24o Aprilis...DAVID Staniere took the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance."

1632

"`1632. Nathaniel Deards, Gent., of Much Dunmow, Esses, Widower, 58, & Magdalen .Tones, of S' Olave's, Hart Street, 48, widow of Samuel Jones, late Citizen & Grocer of London, dec ; at St Martin's in the Fields."

1635

"1635. Oct. 29 Robert Reynolds, Esq., of Inner Temple, Bachelor, Si, & Mary Deards, of Dunmow, Essex, Spinster, 18, dau. of Nathaniel Deards, of same, Gent., who consents ; at St Olave's, Hart Street."

1642

"(BURIAL. 1642) James Stanier the sonne of James Stanier Marchant was buryed in the Church the 26th of September"

1643

"(CHRISTENING. 1643) Tomsen Stanneior (sic) daughter of Mr James Stenneior (sic) and Tomsen his wife was Christenned the ffirst day of November 1643."

1644

London Metropolitan Archives: Reference: ACC/0088/81 Title: Copy of covenant to levy fine. 1. Richard Deardes of Dunmowe, Essex, gent. 2. James Stanier of London, merchant and Peregrine Herbert of Stanwell, gent. Description: Premises: 23½ acres of freehold arable, meadow and pasture in common fields of West Bedfont and Stanwell; 5 acres meadow in Southmead, Denham, Bucks.; 23 acres of arable in common fields in Denham (14 acres in Long Furlong and 9 acres in Marnefield); cottage and 2 acres meadow in Southmead, Denham. (1) to levy fine to (2) for use of (1) and wife Jane for life and then their heirs; annual income of £100. being guaranteed to Jane for life. Date: 1644/5 Jan. 23

- Richard Deardes of Dunmow, Essex, gentleman, is presumably related to Nathaniel Deards, Grocer (b. ?; d. 1647), father of Richard Deards, who appears to have married James Stanier's sister, Elizabeth.

1646

"Petition of Castile & al. Owners and Master of the St. Nicholas alias St. Peter, complaining of their Ship being taken by Captain Plunkett, and of the Commission for Reprisals granted to Clement and Thompson.

To the Honourable the Lords and Commons now assembled in Parliament.

The humble Petitions of Michaell Castell, Walrave Lodowick, John Nicholas, and James Stanier, of London, Merchants, on the Behalf of the Goods and Lading of the Ship St. Peter, Master Nicholas Burt;

Humbly sheweth,

That whereas Gregory Clement, of London, Merchant, and his Partners or Associates, upon false Suggestions of Losses and Damages sustained by the Subjects of the King of Spaine, to the Value of Eighteen Thousand Six Hundred Pounds, have (fn. 5) obtained from the King's Majesty of England Letters of Mart, or a Commission of Reprizal, bearing Date the 4th of April, 1637, (fn. 6) to take the Ships and Goods of the said King of Spaine, or any of His Subjects whatsoever, upon the open Seas; by virtue of which Commission, the said Gregory Clement and Partners have, within a little Time after the Date of the said Commission, taken divers Ships, Goods, and Merchandizes, belonging to the Subjects of the King of Spaine, by far surmounting the Value of any Loss or Damage by them sustained: And whereas the King, by His Proclamation, bearing Date the 19th of October, 1644, hath been pleased to repeal and make void all Letters of Mart and Reprizal granted before the First of July, 1642, and in particular the Commission of Reprizal granted to the said Gregory Clement and Partners, as having already received full Satisfaction for their Losses:

Notwithstanding the Premises, the said Clement and Partners, after the said Repeal and making void of their Commission, not having yet renewed or confirmed by Authority of both or either Houses of Parliament (as far as your Petitioners could ever learn), have presumed, in an unwarranted and hostile Way, to seize upon the Ships, Goods, and Merchandizes of your Petitioners, being Subjects of the King of Spaine and of the Free Republic of Hamburge, both in League and Amity with the Parliament of England; and in particular have, in the Month of November last past, seized and taken at Sea the good Ship named The St. Nicholas, alias St. Peter, of Hamburge, whereof is Master Nicholas Birt of Hamburgh, of the Burthen of about Three Hundred Ton, and laden with Linen Cloth, and divers other Goods and Merchandizes, about the Value of Twenty Thousand Pounds and upwards, by a Man of War named The Discovery, set out in the Parliament's Service, whereof one Captain Plunkett is Captain; and albeit the said Captain Plunkett have a Commission by Authority of both Houses of Parliament to seize and take all such as are in Enmity with the Parliament, or such as trade and traffic with the Enemies, or in such Ports and Harbours as are in Hostility against the Parliament, yet the said Captain Plunkett, bearing the Parliament Colours at Sea, and carrying himself as Friend to those who are Friends to the Parliament, hath fraudulently, and in the Name of the said Clement and Partners, seized upon the Ship and Goods and Merchandizes of your Petitioners, Friends to the Parliament, by virtue and Authority of a Commission from the King, who is in Hostility against the Parliament.

And whereas the [ (fn. 7) said Clement and Partners are bound, by their said] Commission, granted them by the King in April, 1637, to bring all Prizes so taken into some Port of the Kingdom of England, together with Three or Four of the said Ships (fn. 8) Crew of the said Prize, whereof the Master and Pilot to be Two, as also to bring into the Registry of the High Court of Admiralty of England the Bills of Lading, Cockets, Letters, and other Documents, found aboard of such said Prizes; and to keep in Safety such said Ships and Goods so taken, and not break Bulk, sell, spoil, waste, or diminish the same, or any Part thereof, until Judgement have first passed in the High Court of Admiralty of England, that the said Ship and Goods are lawful Prize; or else the said Commission to be void and of none Effect: And whereas the said Captain Plunkett hath, contrary to the Conditions of the said Commission, carried your Petitioners Ship and Goods so taken, as abovesaid into the Port of Kingsale, or some other Port of Ireland, in or about the Month of November last, and there hath broken Bulk, sold, 'bezzled, or diminished the Goods and Merchandizes of the said Ship so taken, without sending up any of the said Ship's Company to be examined here by the Judge of the Admiralty, or bringing in any Letters, Cockets, Bills of Lading, or other Documents, into the Registry of the Court of Admiralty, according to their Bond:

Your [ (fn. 9) Petitioners humbly pray] this Honourable House, that the seizing and taking of the said Ship and Goods by the said Captain Plunkett, by virtue of the said pretended Commission granted to Gregory Clement and Partners by the King; and since repealed, may, by Authority of Parliament, according to the Purport of the said Commission itself, be declared to all Purposes to be void, as well to the Takers as all others that shall buy or meddle with the said Ship or Goods, or any Part thereof; and that such further Reparations may be made for Costs and Damages unto your Petitioners, by the said Clement and Partners, as this Honourable House in their Wisdom and Justice shall think fit.

And your Petitioners shall ever pray, &c.

Michael Castile.
Waldrave Lodwick.
John Nicholas.
James Staneire."

1647

PROB 11/200/808 Will of Nathaniel Deards, Grocer of London 30 June 1647

- Written on March 23rd 1647
- Sick and weak in body
- Estate to go to his wife Anne Deards
- Bequeaths to his son Richard Deards £10
- The rest and residue to go to his son Peter Deards, who is made sole executor
- Witnessed by Thomas Young and Clement Cottsbrucke

"Richard Deards is admitted to the freedom on payment of 5/. Peter Deards, executor to his father Nathaniel Deards, transfers to Richard Deards 400/. adventure and profits in the Fourth Joint Stock."

1648

"James Stanier applying for the division of indigo due upon his brother Richard Deards' adventure, he is told that all the indigo has been sold according to the order of a general court, the time appointed for taking it away having expired."

1649

"(CHRISTENING. 1643) Sammuell Stannier sonn of James Staneior (sic) and Tomsin his wife was Christened the 5th March 1648 (modern 1649)."

1650

PROB 11/212/567 Will of Richard Deards, Gentleman of Great Dunmow, Essex 01 June 1650

Nov 1650

Importing Bullion.

Mr. Challoner reports from the Committee for Trade, The humble Proposals of Peter Vandeputt, and James Stainer, of London, Merchants.

To the honourable Council for Trade,

The humble Proposals of Peter Vandeput, and James Stainer, of London, Merchants.

THAT having, by our Letters, encouraged divers Merchants beyond the Seas, that usually did import Bullion into this Land, to reassume that Trade again; unto which we find them inclined; but that, for Fear of the Dangers at Sea, by the many Enemies of this Commonwealth, they are disheartened thereunto; we therefore, willing to contribute our best Endeavours to so good a Work, tending to the Honour of this Commonwealth, and the Increase of Trade, humbly offer unto the Consideration of this honourable Council.

First, Whether it were not expedient, That, seeing the Plate Fleet is daily expected in Spaine, certain Men of War of this Commonwealth should be appointed forthwith, as a Convoy to such Merchant Ships, as shall be ready to go for Cadize, and St. Lucar; and to return back with them, or such others as shall be there ready; unto the Port of Dover, or Downes, within Thirty Days after their Arrival in Spaine: And that, from thenceforward, every Three Months, or oftner (if need require), the like Convoy may be appointed to go and come, as aforesaid: And that such their Resolution be declared publickly in Print, that all Persons concerned may take Notice thereof, and prepare their Goods accordingly.

Secondly, That the Parliament would be pleased to declare as formerly, by Ordinance of the Twenty-fourth of February 1643, That all Plate and Bullion so to be imported, shall have Protection, and free Passage, as well by Sea as by Land, unto the Port of Dover and London; and not to be detained or seized on, in Part, or in All, either at Sea, or in any Place within the Dominions of this Commonwealth, nor any of the Proceed thereof, by Order of this State, or by any other Person, upon any Pretence whatsoever, be the same in the Hands of Denizens or Strangers; but that the same may be brought up to London, and there remain with Safety, to be disposed into the Mint, or otherwise, as the Owners shall think fit, together with the Proceed thereof, without any Interruption.

Thirdly, Moreover, that they may have Liberty to transport the Two-Thirds of such Plate and Bullion, imported from the Port of Dover, paying the Duty of Two per Cent. the other One-Third Part remaining in this Commonwealth, to be disposed of as above: And that the usual Convoy may be allowed them from the Downs, to the Ports of Flanders, for the Transportation of the aforesaid Two Third Parts.

All which being established and declared, We humbly conceive, will be an Inducement to the Merchant beyond the Seas, to turn the Stream of sending such vast Sums unto our Neighbour Countries; and to make use of our English Shipping again: Wherein, by the Help of an established certain Convoy, they will find so much Security: All which, as Well-wishers to this Commonwealth, we humbly offer to the Consideration of this honourable Council, this Fifteenth November, Anno 1650. London. Signed,

Peter Vandeputt, and James Stainer.

At the Council for Trade, at Whitehall.

THAT whereas a Remonstrance hath been presented to this Council by some Merchants Strangers, and others, setting forth, That, by Intercourse with their Correspondents beyond the Seas, they find a Willingness and Inclination in them (if encouraged) to reassume that Trade of Bringing of Bullion and Plate in our English Shipping, as formerly, from several the Ports of Spaine, which might much tend to the Increase of Coin, and Advance of the Trade of this Nation; and, in order thereunto; desiring that a Convoy might, at sit Seasons of the Year, be sent with our Shipping to Saint Lucar and Cadiz in Spaine; and that an Act or Declaration of Parliament, according to the Tenor of that made in February 1643, be again set forth, to the Encouragement of Merchants Strangers, or others: All which being granted and declared, it may, as is alledged, be a Means very effectual to induce the Merchants beyond the Seas to turn the Stream of sending such vast Sums of Plate, and Foreign Coin, unto our Neighbour Countries, and to make use of our English Shipping; as is more at large contained in their Proposal hereunto annexed.

The Council having taken the said Proposals into their Consideration, and further advised with the said Merchants, do offer it as their humble Opinion,

That such an Act or Declaration of Parliament, for securing the Bullion that shall be imported by Merchants, or others, is necessary to encourage again that Trade of bringing in Plate from Spaine, and other Parts in English Shipping: A Copy of a Declaration to which Effect is herewith also humbly tendered.

That also, if Instruction to the Commanders of such Ships as the Parliament shall please to appoint, both now, and hereafter, at certain Seasons of the Year, to go as Convoy to the Southward, be given, to take into their special Care the Ships bound with Plate from Cadiz or Saint Lucar, this will likewise (if published) be a very great Eucouragement to the Merchants to lade their Plate in our Shipping.

All which is submitted to the Wisdom of Parliament; with a Desire from this Council, that, if the Parliament shall please to allow of it, their Resolves herein may be forthwith published; the Importance of the Thing, and Hazard of losing the present Opportunity, requiring it.

He also reports, A Bill touching Importing of Foreign Bullion.

Which was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to the Committee of the Navy: And

Ordered, That it be brought in To-morrow Morning, the first Business."

1652

"Dec. 3rd. 1652. Council of State. Day's Proceedings.

1. Cols. Thompson, Fielder, and Purefoy, Mr. Scott, Allein, and Lister to be a Committee to examine further Jacomo Stanier, in accordance with an order of Parliament of December 1st. [I. 68, pp. 11-17.]"

"Dec 9. 1652.

5. Mr. Scott to report the examination of Mr. Stanier to Parliament, according to their order."

Dec. 21. 1652.

13. The bills of lading taken from James Stanier on his apprehension to be restored to him, after a list has been first taken of them, and he is to give a receipt for them."

"Dec. 20. (1652). Senato, Secreta. Dispacci, Francia. Venetian Archives.

713. Lorenzo Paulucci, Venetian Secretary in England, to Giovanni Sagredo, the Ambassador in France. (fn. 6)

...Nothing has yet been settled about the Spanish pieces of eight, the government here declaring that sufficient proof has not been offered that they belong to subjects of his Catholic Majesty. An important merchant of this city named Stanier wrote to Holland reporting that the affair was about to be settled favourably through the favour of certain members of the Council of State. His letters were opened and he was sent on the sudden to the Tower. (fn. 8) Since it may be inferred from his correspondence that the Dutch are interested in the business, the surrender of the money will prove the more difficult and consequently the misunderstanding between Spain and this country may be expected to grow...."

1653

June 1653

"An intercepted letter, translated out of the Dutch (fn. 4).

Laus Deo, 17th June 1653, in London.

Vol.iii.p.281.

Mr. Cornelis and Henry Hillewerwen,

I am sorry I have nothing that is good to advise you. My courage doth fail me. I do now very much fear, that the business will end very ill; for without doubt the ambassador of Spain hath received some particular order from the king his master, that doth make against the interessed. The judges of the admiralty are turned out of their places; the silver is a coming, and particular notice taken of the marks, weight, and fineness. They do likewise report, that they have found some bags or little barrels, wherein were pieces of eight, and some papers, wherein was written, these parcels belong to such and such indifferent places of Holland. My lord is so troubled with these proceedings in the admiralty, that I have not yet spoken with Mr. Vander Put. God comfort the interessed.

Your servant,

Jacomo Stanier.

1654

"(BURIAL. 1654. James Stanier sonne of James Stanier of London Marchant aged about 19 moneths was buryed in the Church under (?sir) Martin Lomeley stone in a very shallowe grave the 27 of ffebruary"

1655

"The Spanish embassador to the protector.

Vol. xxv. p. 645.

Most serene lord,
The king my master having given me order to pass out of hand into Flanders, it grieveth me, that your highness hath not been pleased to give way, that I might make you reverence before the performance thereof; and it not being in my power to defer my journey any longer, I find myself obliged to perform this office, and to take my leave of your highness by writing, desiring you to believe, that my affection towards your service and the welfare of this nation remains still very conformable to what hath hitherto appeared in me at all occasion. God preserve your highness.

[London, 10 May,/30 April, 1655.]

The Spanish embassador to the protector.

Vol. xxv. p. 659.

Sermo señor,
Havendose presentado el decreto (cuya copia authentica và inclusa) a los comisarios de presas para que en conformidad del, restituyessen los 30000 reales contenidos en la cedula aneja, dilataron la respta todo este tiempo, y la que dan aora es, que no pueden satisfazer dicha suma, porque no ha llegado a su poder, sino llevadose a la Torre, y acuñadose con otras partidas de plata, por orden del consejo de estado que entonces era. Con que me hallo obligado a recurrir a V. A. y suplicarle se sirva de mandar luego se restiuyan dichos 30000 reales que hazen patacones 3750 que valuados cada uno a esquilines 4–6. conforme a la certification aqui inclusa del precio a que corre, firmada de diversos mercaderes de esta placa, son 843 l. 15 esquilines de esta moneda; y siendo esta plata del rey mi señor, como consta por dicho decreto no puedo dudar de que V. A. darà sin ulterior dilacion las ordenes necesrias para que se restituya. Deviendolo esperar de la justicia de V. A. cuya serrna persona gde Dios muchos años como deseo.

Londres, 10 de Mayo, 30 de Avril, 1655.

Serenissimo señor,
B. l. m. de V. A. su mor servor
Don Alonso de Cardenas.

Inclosed in the preceding.

Vol. xxv. p. 93.

We the merchants undernamed, resideing in London, doe heereby certifie, that peeces of eight of Mexico coyne have beene usually sold heere in London at any time for these three months past, for four shillings and sixpence English money for every such peece of eight, or more; and at the same price wee know they are now usually sold, and not under. Witnesse our hands, the 4th of April, 1655.

Peter Vandeput.
Giles Vandeput.
Gerard Vanheythuysen.
James Stanier.
John Gardner."

1656

C 5/27/42 Short title: Forth v Stanier. Plaintiffs: Hugh Forth. Defendants: James Stanier and others. Subject: money matters, London or Middlesex. Document type: bill, plea, schedule. 1656.

1663

Will of Abigail Stanier (mother of James Stanier), written January 10th 1663, proved March 3rd 1663

- Written on January 10th 1663
- Living in the parish of Stepney in Middlesex
- Of good mind and memory and sound judgement
- Bequeath to the poor of Bethnal Green in parish of Stepney 40 shillings
- Bequeath to son James Stanier £500
- Bequeath to daughter Jane Deards £140
- Bequeath to Samuel and David Stanier, sons of James Stanier, 40 shillings each
- Bequeath to daughters son James Stanier (Abigail, Thomasine, Jane and Rebecca) twenty shillings each ("in gold of Queene Elizabeths Gold)
- Bequeath to "every of my children Robert and James Stanier and Jane Deards one gold Rose Noble"
- Bequeath to my nephew Emanuel Demetrius £3 and to his wife Digna Demetrius £3, and to his son James Demetrius £3
- Bequeath to my nephew Samuel Demetrius £3
- Bequeath to my nephew Robert Demetrius £3
- Beueath to my niece Abigail Greaves widdowe £3, and to her daughter Abigail Greaves £3
- Bequeath to my cousin Elizabeth Emans £3
- Bequeath to my cousin  ?Luke Emans 40 shillings
- Bequeath to my cousin ?XXX Emans 40 shillings
- Bequeath to my cousin Elizabeth Wright 40 shillings
- Bequeath to my Godaughter Abigail ?Dovy 20 shillings
- Bequeath to my Goddaughter Abigail Foord 20 shillings
- Bequeath to my eldest son Robert Stanier "my greatest Diamond Ring, my Wedding Ring, one of my Gold Bracelets, and my bigger Cabinett"
- Bequeath to my daughter Jane Deards "my Chaine of Gold, One silver Tankard guilt, my silver Beson, my Indian Quilt, The Feather bed and Boulster whereon I use to lye with my Curtaines of Moehaire and their valence, and the Bedsted to which they belong, one chest of Drawers of walnutte furnisged with Childbed Linnen, And one smal Cabinet Trunke of ?XXX covered with black Leather guilt
- Bequeath to my daughter Thomasin Stanier the wife of my sonne James Stanier ?XX Bracelets
- Bequeath to my son James Stanier his Eldest sonne Samuel One Spanish Flatband of Gold, and to his sonne David one other Spanish flatband of Gold
- Bequeath to his daughter Abigail "my Double Salt of Silver guilt, one of my silver Chaines, and a Pair of knives with silver hafts"
- Bequeath to his daughter Thomasine "another silver Salt, one of my Silver Chaines and a Purse belonging to it, my smallest Cabinet and one of my Garnet Bracelets
- Bequeath to his daughter Jane "one of my Silver Takards, one of my Silver Chaines and a Purse belonging to it, and my other Garnet Bracelet"
- Bequeath to his daughter Rebecca "one Cup and Cover of Silver guilt and my Bracelet of Agete and Pearle"
- Bequeath to my Cousin Elizabeth Mede "?XXXX Damaske for a Peticote"
- Beueath to my son Robert Stanier "all my money and plate that shall remayne..."
- Witnessed by Daniel Porten and Henry Cooke, January 10th 1662 (modern 1663)

1663

"(1663). Oct. 8. Ezechiel Lampen, of Saint Antholin's, Lond., Mercht, Bachr., abt. 29, & Abigail Stanier, of St Andrew Undershaft, London, Spr, abt 23, at own disp.; at St Mary Magdalen's, Old Fish Street, Lond."

"James Stanier, Merchant of this City, Dec. 16, 1663. And Thomasin, his Wife, Nov. 19, 1676."

PROB 11/312/556 Will of James Stanier, Merchant of London 29 December 1663

- Written in full health and strength on July 10th 1660
- Brother Robert Stanier; brother-in-law Thomas Rich, gentleman; Edward Watts, London merchant are appointed James Stanier's executors
- To be buried in parish church of Great Saint Hellens London, where his deceased father David Stanier and his two sons (both named James) lie buried
- Wife Thomasine Stanier to receive £2,000 in money, for which sum James Stanier had signed a bond to his father-in-law, Thomas Mead deceased, in February 1638, before his marriage
- Mother Abigail Stanier (still living)
- Sister-in-law Jane (?Denies), widow (living)
- Sister Elizabeth Mead (living)
- Two brothers, Thomas and Nicholas Mead (living)
- ?MXXXX TXXXXX Apothecary (living)
- Two sons Samuell and David to receive his few books, after his wife has made a selection of them, to be divided between them
- God has blessed him with two sons and four daughters: Samuel and David, Abigail, Thomasine, Jane and Rebecca
- His sons are not yet of age (21), nor are his daughters (20)

"ST. HELEN'S BISHOPSGATE: FLOOR SLABS WITHIN THE CHURCH

78. JAMES STANIER, 1663.

H. S. L.
Iacobvs Stanier huiusce
Civitatis Mercator satis Insignis
Denatus
Xbris XVI clolocLxiii cum vixisset An Lix
Nec non
Thomasina Vxor Ejus Quæ obijt
—bris [cio i]o ocLxxvi
Ætat Sua lx[ii]
Conjugale Foedus quam Pijssime
inter se Coluere
Annos circiter xxv
quibus Procreati funt iv Filii ac
totidem Filiæ

Iacobus; Abigail
Samvel; Thomasina
Iacobus; Iana;
David; Rebecca

sors intermittit Vitam non Eripit
Veniet iterum qui Nos in Lucem
Reponat Dies

Coat-of-arms: (Azure) a cheveron between three horse-bits (argent) impaling a cheveron between."

1673

Will of Robert Stanier, elder brother of James Stanier, proved December 2nd 1673.

- Robert Stanier of the Parish of Stepney alias Stebenheath in the County of Middlesex Esquire
- Written on October 6th 1673
- Being of good and perfect memory and sound judgement
- Bequeath to the poor of the Hamlett of Bethnall Greene in the parish of Stepney 40 shillings
- Bequeath all my houses and lands lyeing in Hamlett of Bethnall Greene and all my lands in parish of Hackney to Samuell Stanier the Eldest sonne of my late brother James Staniar deceased
- For want of issue the lands are to go to my Nephew Daniell Porten and after his decease to his son James Porten, then to Francis the second son of Daniell Porten
- Esther Stanier, my wife Living at time of writing will)
- Anne Lambert my servant
- My nephew David Stanier
- Lists as executors Edward Watts, Cittizena nd Draper of London and Daniell Porten of London Merchant
- Witnesses: Streynsham Master, John Upton Junior, James Paul, Richard Piers
- Schedule annexed to will:
-- My sister Jane Deards
-- My sister Thomasine Stanier
-- My niece Thomazine Porten
-- My nephew Samuell Stanier
-- My niece Jane Fane
-- My niece Rebeccah Hoare
- Signed in presence of John Owen and William Stilles

1675

PROB 4/11451 Deards, Richard, of St. Michael, Crooked Lane, London 1675 7 May

PROB 11/347/282 Will of Ann Dearde or Deardes, Widow of Saint Bartholomew by the Exchange, City of London 05 March 1675

- No mention of the Stanier family name
- Does not identify her husband

1676

PROB 11/350/32 Will of Thomasin Stanier, Widow 07 January 1676

1683

C 10/212/55 Ezechiel Lampen v Samuel Stanyer: money matters, Middlesex. Bill and answer. 1683.

1724

PROB 11/599/216 Will of Sir Samuel Stanier, Alderman of City of London 09 September 1724