Miscellaneous papers concerning the following parishes, St. Martin-in-the-Fields,...

ST. MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS

[29 July 1714]. Proposals by Alexander Hay and James Hunter that a church be built and a parish established near the chapel in Russell Court in St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Endorsed, 'Rejected Augt 5th 1714' (f.1).

7 November 1714. Representation by the vestry that two additional churches will be sufficient, especially considering the services in Whitehall, St. James's House, and the Horse Guards in the parish. Propose they be erected on the north side of Long Acre and near Hyde Park. For the former there is a site in Wood Yard belonging to the Mercers' Company, and for the latter crown land opposite the Duke of Devonshire's house in Piccadilly. There are no chapels fit to be made parish churches (f.3).

[1717-24]. Petition by the vicar, churchwardens, vestry, and inhabitants that one of the four churches intended in the parish be built in one of the two Outwards (19 signatures) (ff.5v-6).

[-]. Table of burial fees (ff.7-8).

ST. MARY LE STRAND

Inventory of papers (ff.9-10).

7 April 1697. Subscription of Samuel Prat, curate of St. Mary Le Savoy alias Le Strand. Copy and translation (ff.11-12v).

[1711]. Representation by the minister and parishioners of St. Mary Le Strand stating that the church, which stood on the site of Somerset House, was demolished in the reign of Edward VI, and the private chapel of the Hospital of St. John Baptist Le Savoy has been used for services. It is too small; the Hospital has a separate vestry; the parish has to pay for ground to bury the poor; there is no steeple or bells. Propose parish be enlarged to include the Hospital and part of St. Clement Danes (f.13).

[6 November 1711]. Petition by the minister and inhabitants to Queen Anne to approve conversion of chapel of St. John Baptist into a parish church and to rebuild the same (f.14).

[-]. Petition by the churchwardens, vestry, and inhabitants, that the Act of 12 Anne to build a new church be amended (f.15r-v).

[-]. Petition by the churchwardens, vestry, and inhabitants that part of St. Clement Danes be added to the parish (11 signatures) (f.17).

[-]. Petition by the minister, churchwardens, and inhabitants for the completion of the church, the chapel of St. John Baptist being ruinous (f.19).

[-]. Petition by parishioners for the completion of the church, the chapel of St. John Baptist having become ruinous since no Master of the Savoy has been appointed for sixteen years. They also seek a churchyard (ff.21-2).

[23 July 1713]. Petition by John Walker, esq., for compensation for diminution of rent caused by loss of trade due to the church fronting the street where the stage coaches from Chelsea and Fulham stopped. A fishmonger's shop and conduit must be demolished (f.23r-v).

25 November 1713. John Walker agrees to accept £200 for land at the Maypole in the Strand (f.25).

[-]. Petition by Thomas Carter, esq., surviving trustee for the benefit of the children of the late John Walker, that the sum of £200 for the site of a church be paid into Chancery (f.27).

14 October 1714. Certificate by Nicholas Hawksmoor of brickwork of the foundation of the new church (f.29).

[October 1714]. Petition by Henry Hester and Francis Withers, bricklayers, for payment for laying foundations of the new church (f.30).

9 November 1714. Letter from John Talman to Henry Smith, treasurer, from Rome, asking for £200 to be remitted to Leghorn in part payment for a brass statue of Queen Anne now being made in Florence under his direction and by order of the commission (f.32).

[9 March 1715]. Petition by Henry Hester and Francis Withers, bricklayers, for payment for bricklayers' work. Certified by James Gibbs, 9 March 1715 (f.34r-v).

1714-15. Account by John Talman of his expenses concerning a statue of Queen Anne by Giovanni Battista Foggini in Florence (f.36).

9 March 1715. Letter from John Talman to [Henry] Smith, from Rome, asking for a further remittance for the statue of Queen Anne (f.38).

23 March 1715. Letter from the same to the same, from Rome, asking for money (f.40).

4 May 1715. Letter from the same [to the same], from Florence, with proposals for alterations to the statue (f.42).

24 May 1715. Letter from the same to the same, from Venice, stating that the statue will cost £800. Gilding ought to be done in Italy (f.44).

5 August 1715. Petition by John Townsend, mason, for payment for work on the church. Certified by James Gibbs (ff.46-7).

[28 June 1715]. Petition by the same for the removal of stone by Strong and Tufnell for 'the pillar', since he is prevented from laying in stone for the winter when ships cannot come (f.48).

[1718-19]. Letter from Nicholas Hawksmoor stating that nothing has been done on the statue since the Queen's death, and that 'a person of note' offers to take it off the commission's hands and bring it to England. A plumber should be appointed for Bloomsbury church; Mansfield is willing to continue plastering the church in Spitalfields (f.49).

[-]. Petition by William and John Townsend, masons, for payment for masons' work on the new church (f.51).

4 February 1716. Receipt by James Gibbs for wooden model of the church (f.52).

[-]. Bill of Peter Bunningham and William Langley for inspecting joiner's work (f.53).

[-]. Petition by John Webster, of London, carver, to carve the new church. Has followed the mystery 23 years and been employed on the king's palaces (f.54).

[-]. Memorial by the same concerning carving in the church (f.56).

[-]. Letter from the same to the Bishop of Norwich seeking an order for carving the church (f.57).

[1717]. Proposals by James Ellis for plastering the church (f.58r-v).

[-]. Petition by James Preedy to paint the stonework over the altar (f.60).

20 June 1717. Proposals by Chrysostom Wilkins for plastering the church. Endorsed by Hawksmoor and James that Wilkins' estimate is the lowest (f.62r-v).

1713-17. Minutes of the commission concerning the statue of Queen Anne. Copies (ff.64-6).

[-]. Petition by inhabitants living near the church that a sewer be built (36 signatures) (ff.68v-69).

[-]. Petition by Peter Christien, of St. Mary Le Strand, for leave to make a drain linked to the commission's sewer (f.70).

[-]. Petition by Thomas Hollins, apothecary in Drury Lane, and Florence his wife, against nuisance caused by diversion of water-course from Little Drury Lane to Witch Street (f.72).

[-]. Petition by the same that the nuisance previously complained of be inspected (f.74).

10 March 1720. Certificate of the value of the rectory (f.75).

11 January 1721. Petition by the churchwardens of St. Mary Le Strand and the chapel wardens of the precinct of the Savoy that the new church be used for worship until the chapel of St. John, the roof of which is removed, is repaired (f.77).

[20 March 1721]. Petition by Thomas Hollins for compensation for damage (f.78).

3 May 1721. Memorandum by Hawksmoor and James of directions for painting the altar by James Priddy (f.80).

1721-2. Bill of John Skeat for smith's work (f.82).

1 February 1722. Letter from Hawksmoor and James stating that the cost of removing New River water pipes on laying the foundations of the church should be met by the proprietors of the water supply (f.83).

11 July 1722. Petition by John Simmons that joiner's work not included in his contract be valued (f.85).

[18 October 1722]. Petition by inhabitants of St. Clement Danes and St. Mary Le Strand for the rebuilding of two watchhouses under one roof near the old Maypole. Many have been robbed and several murdered for want of them (25 signatures) (ff.87v-88).

8 November 1722. Petition by John Simmons, joiner, that the surveyors be ordered to agree with him the cost of the pulpit, reader's desk, altar and altar-rails (f.89).

23 November 1722. Letter from the same requesting payment and order for completion of joiner's and carver's work (f.90).

[22 February 1723]. Memorial of inhabitants of St. Mary Le Strand concerning church and poor rates, which fall heavily on about 70 out of the 176 houses liable for rates in the parish (f.92).

10 October 1723. Petition by the churchwardens and inhabitants of the same for a churchyard, minister's house, bells, font, and vault. Also that the pews be moved as the pulpit has been moved from the east end to near the middle of the church (f.94).

7 November 1723. Proposals by Moses West, joiner, to sell land in the parish of St. Paul, Covent Garden, for a churchyard for St. Mary Le Strand. Plan (ff.95-6).

22 November 1723. Letter from John James stating that the inhabitants of the parish desire a bell and that the church be cleaned (f.97).

[24 August 1724]. Table of burial fees proposed by rector, churchwardens, and vestry (f.99).

[26 January 1725]. Petition by the rector, churchwardens, and vestry, for galleries to be built (f.100).

[14 March 1725]. Petition by John Heylyn, Rector of St. Mary Le Strand, that maintenance be granted him from the date of consecration of the church (f.102).

21 April 1725. John Easington consents to be party to a conveyance of houses in Moggs Court in Bridges Street (f.104).

23 April 1725. Report by Hawksmoor and John Pritchard on site for burial ground near Bridges Street (f.105).

[-]. Queries concerning the rights of the rectors of new churches and of ancient parishes from which they were created (f.106r-v).

7 May 1725. Abstract of deeds concerning ground behind Russell Court chapel (f.108).

11 February 1726. Report by John Pritchard on a house in Charles Street, Covent Garden, suitable for a minister (f.109).

1726. An Act for making Provision for the Rector of St. Mary Le Strand in the County of Middlesex, and for other purposes therein mentioned (ff.110-116v).

[-]. The Case of Samuel Prat, D.D. Minister of the Parish of St. Mary Le Strand, and of all the Parishioners and Inhabitants of the said Parish; in Relation to a Church there newly erected (ff.118-19).

[-]. Petition by the Revd. Samuel Prat that his position as pastor be safeguarded (f.120r-v).

[-]. Extracts by the Revd. Samuel Prat from Acts of Parliament (f.122r-v).

[3 November 1732]. Petition by Maximilian Stephens for compensation for damage due to the commission's drainage schemes (f.124).

ST. MARY STRATFORD BOW

Inventory of papers (f.126).

c. 1711. List of householders in the hamlets of Bow and Old Ford (f.127).

[16 October 1711]. Representation by the minister and chapel wardens of Bow and Old Ford, Stepney, stating that there is a good chapel with churchyard; the chapel holds 700 and is fit to be made parochial; it needs paving and a vestry; the minister's maintenance is £11; the tithes belong to Stepney and amount to about £50 a year. A house in the possession of the widow of [Thomas] White, the last minister, is suitable for a minister's house. The lord of the manor of Bow is Mr. [Windsor] Sandys, a mercer in Ludgate Street (f.128r-v).

[1716]. Proposals by Jonathan Sandford to sell house for the minister (f.130).

12 June 1716. Letter from Abraham Kemp concerning completion of the sale of a site for a minister's house (f.132). See MS.1586, f.1.

[1716]. Petition by the same for payment for the sale of land for a minister's house (f.134).

11 July 1717. Report by Hawksmoor and James on the enlargement and repair of Bow chapel to be made parochial, and recommending [George] Osmond to do leading at Wapping (f.142).

8 April 1718. Letter from John Robinson, Bishop of London, to [Vigerus] Edwards, consenting to the appointment of church officers at Bow (f.144).

[1718]. Petition by inhabitants of Stratford Bow and Old Ford for the appointment of churchwardens (7 signatures) (f.146).

c. 1718. List of inhabitants of Stratford Bow and Old Ford fit to serve as parish officers (f.147).

[25 October 1723]. Petition by the rector, churchwardens, vestry, and inhabitants of Stratford Bow, stating that the chapel was made parochial on 26 March 1720, and requesting proper maintenance for the minister in the Bill now preparing (31 signatures) (ff.148-9).

[1724]. Proposals by Thomas Phillips for carpenter's work on minister's house (f.135r-v).

[1724]. Proposals by Samuel Worrall for carpenter's work on the same (f.137r-v).

[1724]. Proposals by John Ford for bricklayer's work on the same (f.139).

[1724]. Proposals by Thomas Lucas for bricklayer's work on the same (f.140).

25 November 1724. Letter from Benjamin Prichard to John Prichard, from Stepney, stating that the Easter dues for Stratford Bow and Old Ford in 1723 were £17:3:9, and the average vicarial tithes 40 shillings (f.151).

11 March 1726. Petition by the churchwardens and inhabitants for the addition to the sum raised of £45 for maintenance of the minister (11 signatures) (f.152).

[23 June 1727]. Petition by the rector, churchwardens, and members of the select vestry for a survey of the church, which was built over 400 years ago. The outside is decayed, the floor rotten, and the pews decayed because of frequent burials. The church and vestry are too small; the churchyard is almost full; the poor increase (13 signatures) (f.153r-v).

29 January 1728. Estimate of the cost of enlarging, repairing, and beautifying the church (f.155).

20 February 1728. Representation by the rector, churchwardens, and members of the select vestry, stating that they have agreed to raise £100 to make good any excess of the sum of £500 to be advanced by the commission for repairing the church (8 signatures) (f.156).

c. 1728. Petition by the rector, churchwardens, and inhabitants, for the completion of repairs to the church, the sum of £600 having been spent (10 signatures) (ff.158v-159).

[26 September 1729]. Petition by the rector, churchwardens, members of the select vestry, and inhabitants, describing the sums raised for maintenance of the minister and seeking further provision (38 signatures) (f.160).

[12 December 1729]. Petition by the rector, churchwardens, members of the select vestry, and other inhabitants, for assistance to obtain an Act of Parliament for the maintenance of the minister (35 signatures) (ff.161-2).

[-]. Letter from the Revd. Henry Lambe to Thomas Rous, secretary, stating that he is too ill to attend a committee, and enclosing (f.164) an extract from a will bequeathing to Thomas White, minister, and his successors £20 a year for preaching four sermons (f.163).

24 August 1730. Petition by Thomas Fox for payment for painting the church, with an order for payment to be made (f.165).

[22 April 1743]. Case by Thomas Foxley, Rector of St. Mary Stratford Bow, claiming right to the rector's pew (ff.167-8).

ST. MARY WHITECHAPEL

Inventory of papers (f.169).

24 April 1712. Proposals by Edward Buckley to sell land in Buckley Street (f.170).

27 July 1712. Letter from Sir James Etheredge to Thomas Rous, from Harlesford, offering to treat for the sale of his interest in two houses [in Goulstone Square], the reversion of which is in his wife's son Mr. Goulston, who lives at Oatlands near Walton-upon-Thames (f.172).

[29 July 1713]. Proposals by T. Masters to sell land called the Physick Garden in or near Goodman Fields, on part of which a church is proposed to be built (f.174).

ST. MARY WOOLNOTH

[1716]. Petition by the minister, churchwardens, and parishioners that the church, which was burnt in 1666 and only repaired, should be demolished and rebuilt (58 signatures) (f.176).

30 April 1716. Proposals by John Ford and George Whitton, bricklayers, to demolish the church (f.177).

[16 May 1716]. Memorial by Henry Hester, Francis Withers, and John Townsend for an answer to their proposal for demolishing the church (f.178).

23 May 1716. Proposals by John Skeat, smith, for the demolition of the ironwork of the church and tower (f.180).

23 May 1716. Proposals by Richard Goodchild, bricklayer, to demolish brickwork and tiling (f.182).

23 May 1716. Proposals by George Osmond, plumber, for the demolition of lead work (f.184).

23 May 1716. Proposals by Thomas Dunn, mason, to demolish the walls, tower, and foundations of the church (f.186).

23 May 1716. Proposals by Henry Hester, Francis Withers, and John Townsend to demolish the same (f.188).

23 May 1716. Proposals by Thomas Denning, carpenter, for the removal of carpenter's materials (f.190).

23 May 1716. Proposals by William Seager, carpenter, for the removal of carpenter's and joiner's work (f.192).

[1716]. Proposals by John Gilham, joiner, for the removal of galleries, pews, altar-piece, and pulpit (f.194).

[1716]. Proposals by John Grove, carpenter, for removing carpenter's work (f.195).

30 May 1716. Petition by William Seager, carpenter, who has contracted with Richard Goodchild, bricklayer, to demolish the church, that the site be fenced (f.197).

[1716]. Account of tombs and monuments in the church (f.199).

[1716]. Petition by Samuel Angier, Rector of St. Mary, and Robert Pattenson, tenant of the parsonage house, that the house, which was built after the Great Fire and is in danger of falling down owing to the demolition of the steeple, be secured (f.201).

[1716]. Memorial by Thomas Bowes, esq., that a watercourse and lights be not injured by rebuilding the church as the site adjoins his property, part of which is leased to the crown as the General Post Office (f.203).

6 June 1716. Authority by the Serjeant and Yeoman of the Channel of the City of London to erect a hoarding in front of the church during demolition (f.204).

[18 July 1717]. Petition by Robert Burges for repairs to be done to his house which was damaged by the demolition of the church and digging foundations (f.206).

26 October 1717. Bill for glazing the parsonage house (f.207).

14 April 1718. Letter from Sir Charles Peers, from London, recommending John Robins, the city smith, to undertake ironwork in the church (f.208).

[1718]. Petition by John Robins, smith to the City of London, to be employed on the ironwork of the church and other churches, it having been customary since the Great Fire for the city smith to make the ironwork of public buildings (f.209).

[1718]. Letter of recommendation of John Robins, city smith (f.211).

5 March 1719. Report by Hawksmoor on dispute with Mr. Dodson concerning injury to his property in building the church (f.213).

[11 August 1720]. Petition by parishioners for the completion of the church (f.215).

[1721]. Petition by inhabitants of the united parishes of St. Mary Woolnoth and St. Mary Woolchurch, for the completion of the church (19 signatures) (f.217v).

[1721]. Petition by the churchwardens, vestry, and inhabitants of the same for the completion of the church (23 signatures) (ff.218-219v).

[13 March 1724]. Petition by Thomas Dunn, mason, for payment for removing scaffolding and placing new owing to the inconvenience of the site of the church (f.220).

[September 1727]. Representation by the Postmaster-General concerning the closing of a way from the Post Office, formerly Sir Robert Viner's house (f.222).

2 November 1727. Minute of a joint vestry of the united parishes of St. Mary Woolnoth and St. Mary Woolchurch, concerning a passage from the Post Office to the church (f.224).

[10 November 1727]. Minutes of acts of vestries in 1696, 1697, and 1708, concerning the site of the Post Office and a passage to the church (ff.226-7).

227 ff.