1777 William Bowyer1, Esq. 1778 Mrs. Beata Wilkins 2. 1778 John Nichols 3, Esq. and satisfied with a very moderate competence, he retired from the bustle of trade, in the prime of life; and, for more than 40 years, prolonged a life devoted to acts of kindness and philanthropy. Possessing a strong mind, improved by habits of early industry, and gifted by Nature with a fine manly form, improved by polished manners, his conversation was always pleasing; his friendship was very generally courted; and his advice was frequently requested in cases of difficulty, and always given freely and judiciously. He died Oct. 30, 1809, in his 83d year, at his house in Addington-place, Camberwell. He had been twice married; and the second wife survived him; but he left no child. At the time of his death he was Father of the Company of Stationers, of which he had been Master in 1786; and to whom in 1777 he had given a large silver coffee-urn, with a set of tea-spoons, &c.; and, by his last will, left a Reversionary Legacy of 2500l. Three per cent. Consols to the Company; the interest of which (751.) to be thus applied: 501. in annuities of 50s. each to ten poor freemen, and ten widows; 201. for a dinner for the Court of Assistants, who are to attend divine service, on the 29th of July, at St. Martin's church; 20s. to the Clerk of the Company; 30s. to the Rector, for a Sermon; 20s, to the Curate, for reading Prayers; 5s. each to the Clerk, Organist, and Sexton; and 5s. each to the Beadle, Porter, and Housekeeper of the Company. 'Mr. Bowyer gave to the Company 180l. a year for specific charitable purposes; and 250l. to the Court of Assistants, for their trouble in selecting the Annuitants. He gave also a small silver cup. See his Will at large, p. 270. "Item, I give the Interest and produce of all the money arising for my Forty Pounds share in the Stock in the Stationers Company, which is computed at Three Hundred and Twenty Pounds, to the Master, Wardens, and Court of Assistants of the said Company for the time being, and their successors for ever, in trust that the Interest thereof be by them distributed annually amongst Six poor men and Six poor Widows, not Pensioners to the said Company; which Principal Money I desire may be by them placed at Interest, and such Interest is to be by them paid in the month of December, before Christmas every year, at the time when the Company pay their Pensioners, and equally divided between the said poor Men and poor Widows, as they the said Master, Wardens, and Court of Assistants, shall in their discretion think proper. This Sum was laid out in the purchase of 3581. 11s. 4d. Five per Cent. Navy Annuities, and from the yearly dividends twelve persons receive yearly 30s, each."- See before, p. 584. 3 Mr. Nichols, in 1778, gave the portrait of Robert Nelson, esq. and of the elder Bowyer, with a bust of the younger Bowyer; to which, in 1798, he added those of Abp. Chichley, Sir Richard Steele, and Matthew Prior; with the quarto copper-plate (finely engraved by the Father of the present Mr. Basire), that an im pression 1779 John Boydell', Esq. Alderman. 1784 William Strahan, Esq. 1786 Thomas Wright 3, Esq. Alderman. 1795 Mr. Richard Johnson 4. pression of it may be constantly given to each Annuitant under Mr. Bowyer's will.-Mr. Nichols was Master of theCompany in 1804. Of this worthy Alderman, and the elegant pictures which he presented to the Company, see before, pp. 411. 581, 582. * Of this very eminent Printer, and generous Benefactor, see also before, p 390.-He gave 1000l. to purchase annuities for ten poor printers, four pounds to each, of whom five to be Freemen of London, the other five to be Natives of Scotland. 3 This gentleman was for 50 years in partnership with Mr. Gill, as a wholesale Stationer, in Abchurch-lane (see p. 605); and survived his partner only a fortnight. He died suddenly, after taking a walk in his grounds, at Dulwich, Surrey, and without any previous complaint. He was attacked with an epileptic fit, and expired before any medical assistance could be procured. Alderman Gill was stated to have amassed the sum of 300,000l.; and the fortune of Alderman Wright was supposed to have been equal, if not to a greater amount. They commenced business together, as Stationers, on London-bridge, retained the most respectable characters, and were remarkable for great application and frugality. Mr. Wright was several years one of the Common Council for Candlewick Ward, where he was elected Alderman in 1777. He was Sheriff in 1779; and Lord Mayor in 1785. In 1786, he presented to the Company a large silver tea-urn. He died April 7, 1798; and in his Will, dated Nov. 24, 1794, says, "I give to the Master and Keepers or Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery or Art of a Stationer of the City of London, Two Thousand Pounds, Four per Cent. Bank Annuities, upon trust, to pay, apply, and distribute the Dividends and yearly Produce thereof upon the first Day of January in each year, or as soon after as conveniently may be, in manner following; that is to say, "The Sum of Fifty Pounds Eight Shillings, part of such Dividends, unto and amongst Twenty-four poor Freemen of the said Company, not receiving any other Pension from the Company, in equal shares and proportions at Two Pounds Two Shillings cach." To the Clerk of the said Company for the time being, the Sum of Three Pounds Three Shillings, other part of such Dividends, for his trouble upon this occasion. And the sum of Twenty-six Pounds Nine Shillings, residue of such Dividends, in and towards the providing and defraying the expence of a Dinner for the Master, Wardens, and Assistants of the said Company upon the day of such Distribution. [The said Sum of 2000l. was, soon after the death of Mr. Alderman Wright (which happened on the 9th day of April 1798), transferred by his Executors, to, and now stands in the Name of, the Corporation; the Yearly Dividends being 801. Son of Mr. Richard Johnson, who has been mentioned in p. 441, as an Editor of the Baronetage, and who was a very useful 1797 James Dodsley', Esq. 1798 William Gill, Esq. Alderman. useful Corrector of the Press, and occasional Editor for the Booksellers. The son was for some years principal clerk to Thomas Curtis, esq. (a worthy Member of the present Court of Assistants); in which station he had saved a considerable sum of money. He became a Liveryman in 1785; died in January 1795; and was buried, with his father, in Hendon church-yard. In his last Will, dated Jan. 3, 1795, he says: "I give and bequeath all the Remainder of Property whatever to the Worshipful Company of Stationers, upon the following conditions: That they will allow my sister Mary Johnson, Fifty Pounds per annum, to be paid half-yearly to her only; and Ten Pounds per annum, to my uncle Lockington Johnson, or to his wife Elizabeth Johnson, during their natural lives. So that after the deaths of my sister Mary Johnson, my uncle Lockington Johnson, or his wife Elizabeth Johnson, all my whole Property to be divided Half-yearly, viz. the Interest as the Dividends shall become due (after deducting one guinea for an annual sermon at Hendon, and three guineas for a dinner for the Master and Wardens, when they hear the sermon and visit his grave) among "Five very poor widows who have seen better days, above the age of sixty, whose Husbands were Liverymen, and in a good way of business; were either Stationers, Printers, Booksellers, or Binders:" the choice of these objects to be left to the Master, Wardens, and Court of Assistants of the Company of Stationers. N. B. To avoid any Dispute, in case my Uncle and Aunt outlives my Sister, the Fifty not to go to them, but to be divided amongst the Five Widows. [Besides the Sum of 1000l. Four per Cent. Bank Annuities, found in the Testator's name, the Executors, with his other property, purchased 800l. like Annuities; the whole of which has been transferred to, and stands in the name of the Corporation, with a balance in cash of 421. 10s. 10d. paid over by the Executors to the Master and Wardens. Since which the Sum of 50l. like Annuities has from a surplus of cash been purchased, and stands in the name of the Corporation.-There is also a Sum of 50l. Five per Cent. Bank Annuities, in the name of the Testator's Father, which cannot be transferred until the event of the Testator's Sister either marrying or arriving at the age of Forty; but the Dividends of it are received by the Company.-The half yearly Dividend on the whole 19007. being 381. 5s.] Mr. Dodsley, by his will, gave 320l. to the Company. See memoirs of him in vol. VI. p. 437. • This gentleman (partner with Mr. Wright, as stated in p. 604) was several years one of the Common Council of the ward of Candlewick, and was elected Alderman of Walbrook in 1781. He served the office of Sheriff the same year, and that of Lord Mayor in 1788; and was elected Treasurer of Christ's Hospital in 1785. He died March 26, 1798; and by his will gave 30 shil lings a year, to be added to Cater's dinner. 1801 Thomas Cadell1, Esq. Alderman. **The Company pay 51. annually to the Churchwardens of St. Mary at Hill, under the name of Mrs. Revell's gift [widow of John Revell]; but her name does not occur among the Benefactors. CLERKS OF THE COMPANY. 1578 Richard Collins; died 1613. 3 1696 Benjamin Tooke 4, pro tempore. 1800 Henry Rivington, the present Clerk. TREASURERS. 1605 Nathaniel Butler; resigned 1606. • Mr. Alderman Cadell was Master of the Company in 1799. He gave the fine window which adorns the Hall. See before, p. 581.; and memoirs of him in vol. VI. p. 441. Mr. Dilly (who had been Master in 1802) gave 7001. Three per Cent. Annuities; the interest to be paid to two poor widows of Liverymen, 10 guineas to each. See vol. III. p. 190. See among the Benefactors, p. 600. See pp. 607. 626.—Mr. Tooke is also noticed in vol. I. pp. 107.115. 5 See among the Benefactors, p. 602. Mr. Partridge retired to Croydon, where he died March 3, 1809, at the advanced age of 90, having for several years befo re been totally blind. 7 Mr. Baldwin was many years Deputy Clerk of the Crown, and Registrar of the Amicable Society in Serjeant's Inn. He died universally respected, March 15, 1800, aged 73. Youngest son of John Rivington, esq. Master in 1775; of hom see p. 400. 1610 Edward Weaver; resigned 1635. 1686 Obadiah Blagrave, pro tempore. 1687 Benjamin Tooke; resigned 1702. 1766 George Hawkins; died 1780. 1780 John Wilkie 5; died 1785. 1785 Robert Horsfield; resigned 1797. • See p. 597. See among the Benefactors, p. 594. 3 Mr. Hett had been for many years a Bookseller in the Poultry, of considerable reputation amongst the Dissenters. He died in 1780; leaving two sons, one of whom, Mr. Richard Hett, a man of mild and amiable manners, was a Printer of considerable business in Wild-court, Lincoln's-inn-fields, in the office which had formerly belonged to Mr. John Watts. He died May 9, 1805, leaving an only daughter.-The other son, Mr. John Hett, was bred to the Law; and in 1775, became a Master in Chancery; which he resigned in 1792; and died soon after, paralytic, at Bath. His niece (the daughter of Richard) was married, Feb. 5, 1795, to John Mackintosh, esq. • Mr. Hawkins was many years a Bookseller in Fleet-street, near the Temple Gate. He died in 1780, at a very advanced age. s Mr. Wilkie was a Bookseller in St. Paul's Church-yard; and much respected for his pleasant and engaging manners. He died July 2, 1785; leaving two sons, now living, and very worthy Members of the Company.-The eldest, Mr. George Wilkie, has been already mentioned in p. 449. — Mr. Thomas Wilkie, the younger son, is settled in Salisbury, of which City he has had the honour of being Chief Magistrate. Mr. Horsfield died March 4, 1798, aged 75. — He had been for several years a Bookseller in Ludgate-street; where he succeeded to the extensive business of Messrs. Knapton. Mr. James Knapton, Master of the Company in 1727, and again in 1728, died Nov. 24, 1736. Mr. Paul Knapton married Feb. 14, 1741, Elizabeth Chilwell; and died June 12, 1755.- Mr. John Knapton, three times Master, 1742, 1743, and 1744, died in 1770. A younger son of Thomas Greenhill, esq. many years a wholesale Stationer in Gracechurch-street. He was Master of the Company in 1787; but, having retired from business, died at Watford, Herts, Jan. 16, 1798. No. |