Report of the demolition by the Ordnance Office of the smith's house at the Mint

Author: Thomas Fowle

Source: MINT 19/3/415, National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK

Additional Information
- Notes on the Electronic Edition
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- Revision History
  - 1 January 2001
    - Catalogue information compiled by Rob Iliffe, Peter Spargo & John Young
  - 29 September 2011
    - Catalogue exported to teiHeader by Michael Hawkins
  - 20 March 2017
    - Transcribed by Will Scott
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[Diplomatic Text] [Catalogue Entry]

<415r>

To the worshipfull the warden, the Master

and worker and Comptrollers of his Majestys

within the Tower of London.

May it please your Worshipps

Vpon the Putting down (I believe by some order or Command from the office of Ordnance) the house (which m^r Edward Silvester deceased the Kings Smith lived in and used, and since tried by M^r John and M^r Tho: Silvester) between Monyers hall and m^r Halls house I (haveing been have almost 27 years) make Gold to lay before your Worshipps That.

Vpon first coming hither, One Hodgkins a very old man (who furnished the long Parliament or Oliver with Ammunition to carry on the warr by sea in those dayues) was Smith to the Mint for Course and ordinary worke and noe other, to my knowledge.

After I had been here some time how long I cannot tell exactly This Hodgkins being Aged, past his Labours and willing to be at Ease upon some Consideration or other what particularly I doe not remember it being soe long since, made over the same to the said Edward Silvester, In the doing whereof James Hoare Esq^r Comptroller of the said Mint since deceased the said Hodgkins Edward Silvester before named and my selfe and noe other to the best of my Remembrance were present, In the transacting whereof the said Hodgkins and M^r Silvester earnestly capitulateing about the business and speaking of the house aforesaid with the place and office, the Comptroller Interposed, No sayes Hee m^r Hodgkins, though, you have a Right to your Place as Smith to the office of ordnance; you <415v> have noe Right to the house by vertue of your Office or that you are in it by any such vertue, For the house is the Mints and the Right of the house in the Mint and belongs properly and absolutely to the Mint, And if you think M^r Hodgkins to dispose of it upon that account and you Meaning M^r Silvester to have it upon such an Account, Hee shall not dispose of the house, Nor you shall not have it or words which Imported as much.

Vpon which M^r Hodgkins declined any Right to the house by vertue of his office or place aforesaid, and m^r Silvester that he came in upon any such account, and then and at that time which was upon a Saturday the Comptroller gave way that m^r Hodgkins should dispose of his office or place of Smith to m^r Silvester and that hee should have it, And not long after the said M^r Silvester came into the Place or office of Smith to the office of Ordnance and {he} excised it by himselfe or Instruments and those under him to the time of his Death, And the aforenamed m^r John and left M^r Thomas Silvester in the Possession and enjoyment thereof at the putting down of the same.

You very humble

^[1]

and

Most Obedient servant

Tho Fowle

^[1] Aprill 27 1699.