The First London Synagogue of the Re-Settlement

<plain_text><page sequence="1"></page><page sequence="2">THE JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. The First London Synagogue of the Resettlement. (Established 1657. Enlarged 1674.) By WILFRED S. SAMUEL (with plans by M. N. CASTELLO, A.R.I.B.A.). It is generally known, although not always remembered, that, prior to the building of the grand old cathedral Synagogue of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews in Bevis Marks, there existed in London an earlier Synagogue belonging to the same congregation. It stands out in the minds of most people because of the reference to it in Pepys' Diary, and one does not require to have delved very deeply into Anglo-Jewish matters to realise that the religious service which Samuel Pepys witnessed on October 14, 1663 (and described somewhat unsympatheti cally),1 could not have been held in the Bevis Marks Synagogue, which was not opened for public worship until 1701. Mr. Lucien Wolf, that eminent authority on the Jewish Resettlement Period, has devoted some very delightful pages to unravelling the early congregational history of London's Spanish Jews ; his pioneer essays, " The Jewry of the Restoration " and " Crypto Jews under the Commonwealth "? written twenty and thirty years ago respectively and published in the early Transactions of this Society2?contain a certain amount of information about the early Synagogue ; but sufficient materials were not then available to enable the exact date of its foundation to be established or to admit of its precise location being stated. Mr. Wolf proves that there was a Synagogue in Creechurch Lane in 1660. He 1 Diary of Samuel Pepys, Oct. 14, 1663. Wheatley's edition, vol. iii. p. 303. 2 Transactions of Jewish Historical Society, vol. i. and ii. VOL. X. B</page><page sequence="3">2 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. presents it to his readers as a secret Synagogue, and hints that it had been there for twenty or more years previously. An earlier authority, the late Mr. James Picciotto, in his Sketches of Anglo-Jewish History, published in 1875, gives 1662 as the earliest authentic date of a Jewish Synagogue in London, and he states that the building was situated in King Street, Aldgate.3 Another early authority is Dr. Gaster, who deals with the matter in his bicentenary book on the Bevis Marks Synagogue. He is, of course, only an 44 early authority " in the sense that Mr. Lucien Wolf's final conclusions were published subsequently. Dr. Gaster gives 1664 as the commencing date of the first Synagogue of the Spanish congregation, but beyond saying that it was 44 in a small house " he ventures no suggestion as to where it was situated. He does not allow that a Synagogue was in existence in Creechurch Lane until the year 1674, when 44 they obtained the lease of the house near Dukes Place in Creechurch Lane for 25 years expiring in the year 1700." 4 Mr. H. S. Q. Henriques, in Jews and the English Law (1908), declares for 1663 as the opening year of the first London Synagogue, and for Dukes Place as its location. He is clearly disinclined to admit into the realm of proven facts Mr. Wolf's Creechurch Lane Synagogue of 1660 ; of this he grudgingly writes : 44 There is moreover some, though it must be admitted, weak evidence that a Synagogue was established at this time. It was, of course, a secret and in no sense a public building." This writer's further theory is that a Synagogue in Dukes Place was in 1674 replaced by one in Creechurch Lane.5 Finally, Mr. Hyamson, whose History of the Jews in England was also published in 1908, closes the discussion and summarises the conclusions of the previous historians. He introduces us about the year 1655 to a secret Synagogue in Creechurch Lane, and adds that 44 nothing is now known ... of the history " of this place. Further on he adds : 44 A new and larger building was in? augurated in 1676. The exact site of this edifice cannot be stated, but 3 J. Picciotto, op. cit., p. 30. 4 M. Gaster, History of the Ancient Synagogue of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews, p. 7. (London, 1901.) 6 H. S. Q. Henriques, The Jews and the English Law, pp. 112-123, 146-152, 307-308. (London, 1908.) An earlier work by the same author also has these statements (v. The Return of the Jews to England. [London, 1905.])</page><page sequence="4">Plate 2 The London Jews' Petition to Oliver Cromwell (Asking leave to buy a burial ground and craving further protection for the Jewish oratories in London, with a note in the Protector's handwriting dated 24th March, 1656) [From the Public Record Office] . [See pp. 3, 21, 2 3-4&gt;wtf 26] To face p. 3</page><page sequence="5">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 3 it either took the place of the previous Synagogue in Creechurch Lane or was erected in the same neighbourhood in Heneage Lane." 6 It will be seen from the foregoing extracts that considerable obscurity still surrounds the subject of this paper. I myself hope to establish to the satisfaction of my readers that a Jewish place of worship was opened in Creechurch Lane during the first weeks of 1657, that its establishment synchronised with the opening of the Jewish burial-ground in Mile End, that these proceedings?albeit discreetly conducted?were authorised and publici juris, that they were in fact the outcome of the Petition to Oliver Cromwell of March 1656, con? sideration of which had been stayed until the summer of that year. It will now be interesting to glance at the sources of Mr. Lucien Wolf's findings. In the first place he locates the early Synagogue as being in Creechurch Lane on the sure evidence of two lists of the London Jewry apparently drawn up in 1660 by informers, and now preserved as British Museum Add. MS. No. 29868, fol. 15/16.7 The references are : (a) In the first list under the heading " Creechurch Lane," the entry " Sin Moses the Prest wer the Sinagoge is " ; and (b) In the second list " Sin Moses Atees, Creechurch Laine, a Jewish Ribay." Eor a view of the Synagogue?or rather, for a description of its interior?Mr. Wolf then employs, as did Picciotto before him, the re? markable letter written to a country parson on April 22, 1662, by one John Greenhalgh and last printed in 1827 in H. Ellis's second series of Original Letters. This discloses the seating arrangements, the number of officiants, wardens and worshippers, the presence of ladies and children, and a number of other vivid and arresting details.8 Now there are in the Bevis Marks archives to-day three deeds5 which treat of an early Synagogue of the Resettlement, and it seems 6 A. M. Hyamson, A History of the Jews in England, pp. 174-6, 212-3, 217, 220, 226-7. (London, 1908.) 7 L. Wolf, " The Jewry of the Restoration," pp. 6-7, 10-12, in Transactions of Jewish Historical Society, vol. v. 8 Sir Henry Ellis, Original Letters Illustrative of English History (2nd Series), vol. iv. pp. 1-21. For reprint see Appendix I., pp. 49-57. 9 See Appendix II., p. 58.</page><page sequence="6">4 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. to me that they are the only documents there which provide us with any sort of a view?albeit an imperfect and incomplete one?of the Meeting House in Creechurch Lane. The earliest is not mentioned by Dr. Gaster, and is only barely referred to by Mr. Wolf and by Mr. Henriques.10 It is an agreement of May 18, 1674, between two carpenters and three representatives of " the said Congregacon of the Jewish Synogogue for the Inlarging and altering of their Sinagogue and of another Messuage or Tenement thereunto adjoynding late in the occupa6on of William Core Bricklayer situate and being in Creechurch Lane . . The two remaining deeds are both leases and they are referred to at length in Dr. Gaster's history.11 The earlier of the two bears the date July 30, 1702 (which is subsequent to the opening of the Bevis Marks Synagogue), and is a twenty-one years' lease obtained by the leaders of the community in respect of " Adl that brick messuage or tenement situate or standing in the Parish of St. Katherine Cree in or near to a certain lane there called or known by the name of Creechurch Lane now and for many years past in the possession or occupation of the Jewish Congregation and by them used for their Sinagogue And all that other messuage or tenement built with brick situate standing and being in the Parish of St. Katherine Cree aforesaid and next adjoyning to the said Sinagogue and heretofore in the tenure or occupation of Jacob Abendana deceased and now in the tenure or occupation of Joseph Abendanon." It also specifies a " yearly rent of fourty pounds during the said term of one and twenty years " and provides that the Jews " at their own or some of their own proper costs or charges shall and will within the space of 12 months now next ensuing alter and convert the said messuage or tenement which is now used as a Sinagogue as also the other 10 These two writers both quote a reference to the 1674 agreement in Wm. Godwin's History of the Commonwealth, vol. iv. pp. 250-1. (London, 1828.) They seemingly did not consult the original deed, the text of which is here printed for the first time. (Appendix II. a, pp. 59?64.) 11 M. Gaster, op. cit., pp. 120-1.</page><page sequence="7">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 5 messuage or tenement aforesaid and make or convert them into two or more good and substantial dwelling houses." In short, whereas under the first deed of 1674 the larger building had seemingly become converted outwardly from a merchant's house to a place of public worship, the second deed of twenty-eight years later was to restore it to its former state. The last of the trio of Bevis Marks deeds is a lease (for seven to twelve years) dated July 20,1703, granted by the Synagogue authorities to one of their members, Jacob Mendez. He becomes the tenant of the two reconverted dwelling-houses, having now a counting-house, parlour, and kitchen on the ground floor and some eight other rooms on the first and second floors with a loft above them.12 Now the first of the two leases preserved at Bevis Marks contains an important clue to the history of our early Synagogue, but although this clue was disclosed in Dr. Gaster's book as far back as 1901,1 do not think that it has ever been followed up by any investigator of Anglo Jewish history. I refer to the fact that the grantors of the twenty-one years' lease of 1702 are the two Churchwardens of St. Katherine Creechurch and a group of six parishioners. The fact that the landlords of the Creechurch Lane Synagogue were the elders of the local church is highly significant when one reflects that the Church of England has since the days of Henry VIII. been a jealous guardian of her property. Church holdings are not lightly relinquished, nor are they likely to be left unrecorded. It is clear, moreover, from this lease that the Creechurch Lane property is the object of an ecclesiastical trust created some time previously. The six parishioners who sign the lease are picturesquely described in the deed as " cittizens of London Surviving trustees of the said Parish for touching and concerning the Messuages or Tenements with the appurtenances hereinafter mentioned." As an outcome of the train of thought which I have just described, I determined some short time ago to search for possible references to our early Jewish community through the muniments of St. Katherine Cree. I found that these were peculiarly accessible, since that church's 12 See Appendix II. b, pp. 65-6.</page><page sequence="8">6 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. archives had in 1903 been deposited in the Guildhall Library.13 My search among these documents, moreover, was richly rewarded, and they have not on]y provided me with a mine of fresh information, but they have led me on to an independent quarter where further cor? roborative data have been secured. As this material is voluminous, I propose to furnish first of all a rapid survey of my investigations. I will then relate the full story of the ancient Synagogue as it appears to me to be disclosed in the docu? ments. A complete dossier of the leases and other authorities on which I rely is printed as an Appendix to this paper, and I believe that it will substantiate any point raised in the story which might otherwise appear not to have been properly established. I will begin the review of my investigations by announcing that the most important of the "finds" in the Guildhall are, firstly, a book (MS. 1198) containing the Churchwardens' Accounts for the period 1650 to 1691,14 and, secondly, the original title-deeds of the Whitbeys' house, which was, in fact, the Synagogue. These latter comprise a series of twenty conveyances,15 leases and mortgages extending from 1622 to 1759 and kept in a parcel which the Librarians have numbered 121316 The Churchwardens' Account Book contains a large number of entries relating to the Jews, and it mentions by name several of those whom?thanks to the efforts of Mr. Lucien Wolf'?we now look upon as the founders of our community here. There are also many entries relating to the receipt from the Jews of the rent for their Synagogue. It can be deduced from these that the Synagogue in respect of which ?40 per annum (subsequently increased to ?60 per annum) was being received as rent was, in fact, one of the houses? and subsequently both the houses?formerly owned by a certain family named Whitbey. To pass from the Accounts to the title-deeds in Parcel 1213, these relate to two brick messuages in Creechurch Lane originally owned by one William Whitbey, his son James Whitbey, and his grandson, also a William Whitbey, and from them acquired by 13 The archives of St. Katherine Creechurch are numbered from 1189 to 1214 inclusive in the main volume of the Guildhall Library's MSS. Catalogue. 14 See Appendix V. a, pp. 73-85. 15 The parcel contains in all 31 deeds, of which 4 relate to the Bentham case (described hereafter), whilst 7 refer to parish matters. 16 See Appendix V. 6, p. 86.</page><page sequence="9">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 7 the parish under the will of a benefactor. One conveyance, moreover (MS. 1213/5),17 contains two references to a short lease granted prior to this by the Whitbeys to " Antonyo ffernando Carawayall of London Merchant", whom Mr. Wolf has rightly declared to be " the first English Jew " 18 and the founder of the Jewish community of the Resettlement. More than half the deeds in Parcel 1213 are concerned with the appointment of the trustees in whom the Creechurch Lane property was at different times vested on behalf of the parish. Among these deeds are to be met the names of those six parishioners who in 1702 signed as " surviving trustees " that early Synagogue lease which now reposes in the strong-room of the Bevis Marks Synagogue ; two warrants of appointment dated September 20, 1672, refer inter alia to these six signatories, whilst two other deeds, both dated April 13, 1709, chronicle the surrender of the trust by four surviving trustees and the appointment of their successors. The following diagram may make this link more clear : Appointment of Trustees: (2 deeds dated 20th Sept., 1672, now in Guildhall Library) I MS. 1213 7 X X X X MS. 1213 10 X X Trustees of certain Parish Property under a Lease dated 30th July, 1702, and now preserved at the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in Bevis Marks, E.G. Thomas GARDINER, Apothecary John LING ARD, Plumber Humphrey COCK, Pewterer Thomas EAST, Merchant Tailor Robert WOOLEY, Cloathe Worker Philip BREWSTER, Haberdasher Surrender by Sur? viving Trustees (2 deeds dated 13th April, 1709, now in Guildhall Library) MS. 1213 9 X X MS. 1213 I 13 X X 17 See Appendix V. c. 3, pp. 95-101. 18 The name is more correctly spelt Antonio Ferdinando (or Fernandez) Carvajal; see Lucien Wolf, "The First English Jew," in Transactions of Jewish Historical Society, vol. ii. pp. 14-46.</page><page sequence="10">8 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. From the leases in Parcel 1213 the exact location is also to be ascertained of the Whitbeys' house (or houses) which afterwards became a Synagogue. That property is described in terms that vary but slightly in all these different deeds, and I will quote a typical description of it (the spelling and writing of which are almost modern) fco be found in MS. 1213/12 of August 25, 1738 : " All those two brick messuages and tenements situate and being in the said Parish of St. Katherine Creechurch alis Christchurch in or near to a certain lane there called the Church Lane one of them being in the several occupations of James Whitby and Solomon Mendez and the other of them being a corner house opposite the great gate leading into a certain place called Dukes Place was formerly in the tenure or occupation of Hills Whitting ham and since in the occupation of James Whitby or his assigns and late in the tenure or occupation of Aaron [not filled in further] and now in the tenure or occupation of [left blank] his under tenants or assigns." The Great Gate leading into Dukes Place was until its demolition in 1816 one of the most prominent landmarks in the Ward of Aldgate. Built by Augustinian Friars in 1280, it originally had formed the entrance of a Priory and then of a ducal palace.19 For the last century or more of its existence it was destined to mark the way into the central citadel of the London Ghetto. The site of the Great Gate is still shown (in the type reserved for " Antiquities ") 20 on the modern large-scale Ordnance Survey Maps of London, and there is thus no 19 W. R. Lethaby, " The Priory of the Holy Trinity," p. 50, in Home Counties Magazine, vol. ii. (London, 1900.) The Crace Collection (Brit. Mus.) has the three following prints of "The Great Gate " : " Gateway of the Priory of the Holy Trinity " (Schnebbelie del.) London. Published January 1, 1825, by Robt. Wilkinson, 125 Fenchurch Street. " Sacred Architecture." " The South Entrance of Dukes Place." Drawn (in August 1790) and etched by J. T. Smith. Published September 15, 1814, by J. T. Smith, No. 18, Gt. May's Buildings, St. Martin's Lane. " The South Gates," being now the principal remains of Dukes Place. Pub? lished January 1, 1793, by N. Smith, No. 18 Gt. May's Buildings, St. Martin's Lane. (See Pennant's London). Plate 3 is a reproduction of the 1825 print. 20 Land Registry Series, edition of 1896. (London.) Sheet vii. 66. Scale, 88 feet to 1 inch. Ordnance Survey. (See PLATE 4 (i.))</page><page sequence="11">Plate 3 " The Great Gate leading into Duke's Place " (A print of 1825 showing its demolition in 1816, after having stood since 1280) [See pp. 8 and 17] [To face p. 8</page><page sequence="12">Plate 4 (ii) To face p. 9]</page><page sequence="13">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 9 possibility of error in picking out the site of the corner-house that formerly stood " opposite against the Great Gate." At this stage of my investigations I was struck by the great similarity between the measurements of the building-site bought by William Whitbey in 1622 (according to the earliest of the Guildhall deeds 1213/1 and 2) and the measurements of No. 5 Creechurch Lane, the modern building which to-day occupies the interesting site at the corner of that road and of Bury Street. I was able roughly to measure up the ground plan of that building from the large scale " Land Registry Series " Map published by Government in 1896. (PLATE 4 (i.)) To my amazement I discovered that the four boundaries of the present-day property only vary by a few feet?and in the case of the western boundary, as it afterwards proved, only by a few inches?from the limits laid down in the lease of three centuries previously. When I put myself into touch with the present tenants of No. 5 Creechurch Lane, The Bristle and Produce Trading Co., Ltd., Mr. Golumb, their Director, and Mr. Seife, their Manager, gave me every assistance and provided me with a 1922 scale-drawing of the ground-floor (PLATE 5 (i)), which enabled me to pursue my calculations further. I also ventured to test another theory by enquiring whether the company's superior landlords were not an Ecclesiastical Foundation. Thereupon I was permitted to inspect the present-day lease of No. 5 Creechurch Lane, where I found to my great satisfaction that it had been granted on July 27, 1922, by the Trustees of the London Parochial Charities, a corporate body called into being by Act of Parliament in 1883 and having since 1891 offices in the Temple. Subsequently I communicated with Mr. Ernald Warre, the Clerk to these Trustees, and to his great kindness I owe a mass of supplementary information about our early Synagogue building, and I think I cannot do better than to insert in its entirety a letter which Mr. Warre was so good as to write me on September 25, 1922 : " I am able to inform you that these premises (No. 5 Creechurch Lane) are included with other properties transferred to the Trustees by the Parish of St. Katherine Cree by the operation of the City of London Parochial Charities Act, 1883, and the Scheme of the Charity Commissioners, approved by Her Majesty Queen Victoria in Council, 23rd February 1891. " This particular property is scheduled under Parish Estates, the original</page><page sequence="14">10 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. donors of the endowment being, Andrew Blackwell, Martin and William Bond, Magdalene Dennison, Sir John Gayer and Edward Rennick, whose gifts about the year 1657 were invested in the purchase of two brick messuages, then newly built on the site in question. The premises thus purchased were subsequently converted into a Parish Workhouse, and were continued to be so used presumably till about 1857, when a Building Agree? ment was granted to one David King. His lease expired at Midsummer 1922, and a further lease has been granted to the Bristle and Produce Trading Co., Ltd., whom you have already seen. " I may mention that in 1894 a corner piece of the house was sold for the widening of Creechurch Lane." From the Guildhall documents I had already learned that St. Katherine Creechurch owed its possession of the " Corner House Property" mainly to the legacy of one of its parishioners, Sir John Gayer, who died in 1649, and had specified in his will that his Charitable Bequests to the Parish were to be invested in a house, tenement or lands. A lease of August 21, 1758, numbered 25 in the Guildhall series, had also revealed the interesting fact that the larger house formerly " in the several occupations of James Whitbey and Solomon Mendez " ultimately came to be used as the Parish Workhouse. On a visit which I subsequently paid to Mr. Warre at the office of the City Parochial Foundation (Trustees of the London Parochial Charities) I gained the satisfactory information that,the history of St. Katherine Creechurch's early trusts had been recounted in several reports made at various times?but notably in 1830?by the Charity Commissioners ; in these, moreover, the Creechurch Lane messuages are specifically referred to.21 In a report of January 30, 1830, it is stated that these premises, acquired in July 1657, " were subsequently converted into a Parish Workhouse, for which purpose they are still used." This reference affords the strongest possible confirmation of my belief that the premises pulled down in 1857 were, in fact, the two original brick messuages erected by William Whitbey some time prior to 1630. 21 See Appendix IV., pp. 69-72 for extracts from Blue Book, No. 215, iv. Walter A. Wigram's Report to Charity Commissioners on Endowments in Parish of St. Katherine Cree. (London, 1902.) See also Blue Book, No. 333. Return by Charity Commissioners of the Endowed Charities (County of London). The City Parochial Foundation. (Statement vi. (24), pp. 82, 85, 202, 225, 232, 256, 272.) (London, 1904.)</page><page sequence="15">Plate 5(i). C//y 9 Faroe Atm/ foutnlmhi A Modern Ground Plan of No. 5 Creechurch Lane. (From the Lease of 27th July, 1922, granted by the Trustees of the London Parochial Charities, to the Bristle and Produce Trading Co., Ltd.) {See j&gt;. 9] Plate 5 (ii), it ? : ft 4.'.': ? six ? * ? . ? ? . ?... . . j \ ?' i ! /MtJ&amp;A. ***** OuMne of Site m 1074 and of new Building Erected t?. 1868. In 1884 Cracforcfc Zone wo* widened. Porfum ?ftoiof? Aim ?um surrendered to tfte C% Authorities and an addition woe made to (he Site of portion shown Aim Historical Sketch-Plan of the Synagogue Site. (Drawn by M. N. Castello, A.R.I.B.A., to show its variations in outline during the period 1674 to 1894.) [See j&gt;. 16]</page><page sequence="16">12 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. I was also permitted to take notes of the building lease granted on June 15, 1857, by the churchwardens of St. Katherine Creechurch to Mr. David King, the builder, in which it is recited that " it shall thereupon be lawful for the said David King to take down the said two messuages now standing on . . . all that piece or parcel of ground in Creechurch Lane . . . being the site of the two messuages and premises now known as Numbers 2 and 3 in Creechurch Lane aforesaid formerly used as the Workhouse of the said Parish." 22 Annexed to this building lease of 1857 is a ground-plan of the site (PLATE 6), and this is perhaps the most important find of all, as it furnishes us with the ground-plan of our Synagogue, and has enabled me to attempt (with an expert collaborator) a reconstruction on paper of that building by utilising material which has all along been available at Bevis Marks. I refer to the contract already cited of May 1674, made with two carpenters, which, however, has hitherto been evidently of little use to investigators, owing to the absence of any framework I am now able to announce that with the indispensable assistance of Mr. Manuel N. Castello. A.R.I.B.A., architect to the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation, this rather baffling carpenters' agreement has been converted into a perfectly intelligible document. From it and from an intensified study of Greenhalgh's notable letter, has been gained a very fair idea of what the Synagogue looked like both before and after the big alterations of 1674. It is also possible to frame a likely hypothesis as to the nature of a building-extension which, as will be seen, took place when the Jews first moved into Mr. Whitbey's dwelling-house. The archives of St. Katherine Creechurch also contain a vast collection of memoranda and other documents relating to the lawsuit Plummer versus Bentham for trespass and ancient lights which the parish had to bring in 1755-1757 against Jeremiah Bentham, sen., father of the famous jurist. Bentham, who was a City lawyer, and a chicaneur of the first order,23 owned most of the property adjoining the workhouse, and he seems to have set out deliberately to cause 22 See Appendix III., pp. 67-8. 23 Diet, of Nat. Biog.f vol. iv. pp. 268-280, article on " Jeremiah Bentham " the younger.</page><page sequence="17">! i N -i 1) 1 s i k i W3 I CD ? o g ?0 bO O ? 3 ? O ^3 o 8 S ?j .2 8</page><page sequence="18">14 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. discomfort to the paupers (by cutting off light and air and turning back watercourses) with a view to acquiring the parish property for himself at a low figure. After protracted litigation Lord Mansfield found for the parish on July 17, 1757, and Bentham had ultimately to pay ?200, to pull down an offending wall, and to transfer to the parish some 60 feet of land which forms to this day the backyard of No. 5 Creechurch Lane.24 The Brief delivered to the parish's counsel at-law contains the two following interesting passages : 25 " The Messuage now the Parish Workhouse and also the sd Jennings House were many years ago used by the Portuguese Jews for their Synagogue who ab1 the year 1700 removed from thence to their present Synagogue in Bevis Marks then newly erected?Whereupon the same were then again made into two Dwelling houses; &amp; that which is now the Workhouse was long inhabited by one Mr. Martin a Jew &amp; by various other people after him; till growing very ruinous the Parish resolved to repair the same &amp; fit it for a workhouse for their poor, who till then had been forced to hire a house for that purpose." " Some of the very old Jews (whom we hope to procure) well remember there were no buildings at all against the South or Backfronts of the Parish houses when used as their Synagogue &amp; that these sheds or warehouses were built about the year 1700 on part of the sd void space of Ground by which they entirely stopped up a lower Window in the House of the sd Jennings then part of the Synagogue at the East End of the sd Back Wall . . . but as the Jews were soon to quit the Synagogue (&amp; the Window was not of much use) they did not care to trouble themselves with any prosecution; which had they continued in the Synagogue they had certainly done. ..." A number of eighteenth-century Jews were, in fact, cited as witnesses. These included Abraham Martin of Wormwood Street (and of Wands worth), who stated in his affidavit that he was born in the old house in 1719 and lived there until 1733,26 and Mrs. Rose 24 The documents relating to this transaction are numbered 22, 23, 24 and 28 in MS. Parcel 1213 (Guildhall Library). 25 Lengthy extracts from this Brief will be found in Appendix V. /, pp. 121-4. 26 In point of fact a Vestry Minute of November 26, 1731, shows that " ye House late in the Occupation of Jacob Martin deed " was leased to one Nicholas Lawes on or about that date. See Appendices V. d, p. 117, and VII. c, Affidavit No. 258, pp. 145-6.</page><page sequence="19">Plate 7 The Elevation of the South Front of the Workhouse be? longing to the Pariah of St. Catherine Cree and the Section of Bentham's Ware? houses adjoining. A Slied or Lean-to. Those parts coloured yellow are Mr. Bentham's Ware? houses ; the white part is the back Front of the Parish Houses in which the windows in dispute are placed, as there particularly de? scribed. Geo. Dance vi'*:-.: ??? The Southern Facade of the Creechurch Lane Workhouse, 1757 (As drawn by the City Surveyor for certain " Ancient Lights" proceedings?being the ? unaltered main portion of the 17th-century Synagogue Building) [See pp.15,12Zandl25] [To face p. 15</page><page sequence="20">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 15 Solomon, who worked there as the Martins! servant from 1726 onwards.27 Another important witness was Mr. George Dance, the City Surveyor, who had been called in by the parish authorities and had drawn for them a plan of'the property (mentioned in a letter of June 6, 1755) 28 and an elevation (referred to in his affidavit of December 1, 1757).29 I have been fortunate in tracing the last-named drawing ; it has been preserved in the office of the present City Surveyor, Mr. Sidney Perks, who has kindly obtained sanction for the accompanying reproduction to be made. (PLATE 7.) I have also taken copies at the Public Record Office of the principal documents in the Bentham case, and, in addition to providing a good deal of useful information as to the internal arrangements of the house, they make it quite clear that the " backfront" of the workhouse as depicted by Mr. Dance was the actual unaltered southern facade of the Synagogue. The Bentham Papers have thus proved a valuable help, although their date is exactly one century later than the foundation of the Synagogue.30 I have also extracted many minor facts?historical and architec? tural?from the Workhouse Committee's Minute Books (MS. No. 1204, vols. i. to iv.)31, as, for instance, that the Synagogue building was occupied by the parish's paupers from September 1725 until June 1838, when it was vacated and let out on lease to private persons for twenty-one years. This brings its history down to the middle of the nineteenth century and links up with the record of its demolition (by David King in 1857) which has been obtained from an altogether different source. Creechurch Lane had to be widened in 1893-1894, and as a result the outline of the Corner House site underwent some modifications. A piece of the land was compulsorily acquired by the Commissioners of Sewers, but by way of compensation a small plot to the south-west 27 In affixing " her Mark " to the affidavit, Mrs. Solomon avoids making a cross, but uses two Hebrew letters of doubtful purport. See Appendix V. i, p. 126. 28 See Appendix V. h. 2, p. 125. 29 See Appendix VII. c, Affidavit No. 208, p. 145. 30 See Appendices V. g, h and i, pp. 121-6, and VII. a, 6, and c, pp. 129 146. 31 See Appendix V. e, pp. 117-21.</page><page sequence="21">16 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. was added to the site. Particulars of these happenings were obtained by me at the respective offices of the City Engineer at the Guildhall and of the London Parochial Trust (where the two conveyances are to be seen).32 They also figure in a " Table showing Exchange of Real Estate " in one of the Charity Commissioners' Blue Books which I have already mentioned.33 Mr. Castello has graphically shown the history of our site in a sketch-plan which is annexed to this paper. (PLATE 5 (ii.)) Having given a rough account of my investigations, I now propose to say something about the topography of the district under review and about the early history of this particular site, as a preliminary to a more intimate discussion of the Synagogue building and the circum? stances of its occupation by the Jews. Creechurch Lane stands on historic ground.34 In the triangle bounded by this thoroughfare, by Duke Street, and by Leadenhall Street, stood once the mighty Priory of the Holy Trinity (or Christchurch, whence Creechurch). Pounded in 1108 by Henry I.'s Queen, it subsisted until the reign of Henry VIII., when it was the first of the ecclesiastical establishments to be dis? solved (in 1531) for the very sufficient reason that it was the richest of them all. Subsequently the great Priory was partly pulled down and converted into a mansion for the then Lord Chancellor, whose daughter married Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk. Later His Grace resided there with much magnificence until his execution in 1572 for endeavouring to place Mary, Queen of Scots, on Queen Elizabeth's throne, and it was, of course, Thomas Howard's ownership of this corner of the City which led to its being known for three centuries after as Dukes Place. 32 See Appendix III. e and /, p. 68. 33 Blue Book, No. 333. Return ... of the Endowed Charities (County of London). The City Parochial Foundation, p. 256. (London, 1904.) 34 In addition to the work cited in note 19, p. 8, the following have been consulted : John Strype's edition of Stow's Survey, Book II. pp. 54 and 62-5. (London, 1720.) David Hughson (pseud. Edw. Pugh), A History and Description of London, vol. i. p. 60 ; vol. ii. pp. 174-5,362-3. (London, 1806-9.) Anonymous, A New Voice of London, or an ample account ofthat City. (London, 1708.) H. A. Harben, A Dictionary of London, pp. 206, 237, 320 and 418. (London, 1918.) R. Kemp, Some Notes on the Ward of Aldgate. (London, 1904.) P. Norman, " The Church of St. Katherine Cree " in Trans. St. PauVs Ecclesiological Society, vol. v. June, 1903. P. Norman, " Notes ... on the Priory of Christchurch, Aldgate," from the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries, March 17, 1898.</page><page sequence="22">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 17 I have already referred to the southern gate and chief entrance to the Priory of Holy Trinity, which came to be known in Protestant times as Thrums Gate, Kings Gate, or Mopp Gate. Ralph Agas's plan of London, which was produced about 1560 or 1570, gives a picturesque view of the area, and enables one to take in the prospect of Creechurch Lane and of Heneage Lane as they appeared over three and a half centuries ago.35 The Gate House which constituted the main gate leading into Creechurch Priory is plainly discernible. Some twenty years later a certain J. Symans drew two elaborate plans of the Priory precincts, one showing the street level and the other the first floor level.36 Unlike the cartographers of his day, Symans did not attempt to show the buildings pictorially, but drew them much as they are drawn by present-day map-makers. Symans's plan, which is preserved at Hatfield in the library of the Marquess of Salisbury, shows " the way owte of Allgat streat in to Creechurch monostary," which in later times was called Creechurch Lane, and at the north end of this road he has drawn the " gate Entring in to the monostary," the small arch under the Gate House for pedestrians and the larger arch for wheeled traffic being plainly indicated. It is clear from this interesting map that the site facing the Priory gate at the corner of Creechurch Lane and the modern Bury Street was then already occupied (viz., in 1590) by a building having two storeys or more and tenanted by the " Wydow Plat." Lease 1213/1 in the Guildhall series (dated April 18, 1622) gives us the subsequent history of this building,37 for it recites that the " said messuage or tenement was sometime parcell of the inheritance of the Right Honourable Esq. Thomas Howard Knight &amp;c, &amp;c, commonlie called Thomas Lord Howard grandsonne to the highe and mightie prince Thomas late Duke of Norffoke deceased." This personage, it may be noted, was the famous Elizabethan Admiral, first Baron Howard de Waiden and Earl of Suffolk.38 In 1592 he had 35 Plan of London {circa 1560-1570), by Ralph Agas. Published by Emery Walker, F.S.A., for the London Topographical Society. (London, 1905.) 36 Symans' plans illustrate Professor Lethaby's article cited in note 19, p. 8. 37 See Appendix V. c. 1, p. 92. 38 Diet, of Nat. Biog. Article on " Lord Thomas Howard," vol. xxviii. pp. 71-3. VOL. X. C</page><page sequence="23">18 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. sold the Priory precincts (or as much of them as he had inherited), including the ducal mansion, to the City of London. (St. Katherine Creechurch had not come to him and had been left by his great-grand father, Lord Chancellor Audley, to Magdalene College, Cambridge.) The house opposite the gate at the corner of Creechurch Lane, which he probably never occupied, was disposed of by him subject to certain royalties to one Arthur Norton, a musician, and subsequently it was inhabited by Lewis Vander Capella, whom I assume (without having verified it) to have been a member of the Dutch Protestant community in Austin Friars. From the Dutchman the house passed to William Thomson, haberdasher, and he it was who in April 1622 disposed of it by deed to " William Whitbey, Citizen and Clothworker and Mary his wife." 39 The impression I have gained from a close study of the two pertinent documents (1213/1 of the 18th and 1213/lb of the 20th April 1622) is that they constitute what to-day is termed a building lease; in other words, Admiral Howard's house was being " sold for pulling down." Unlike any of the subsequent deeds?and either William and Mary Whitbey or else their son James and their grandson William are mentioned in every document of the Guildhall series? there is no description of buildings in this 1622 lease, although the measurements of the site are accurately defined and its precise location is established. It is clear, too, that this early lease treats of a single building only, probably a stone one.40 Shortly after acquiring the Corner House in Creechurch Lane, William Whitbey, the cloth-worker, appears to have demolished it and to have erected in its stead?to quote from a Guildhall mortgage 1213/3 of March 23, 1648?-"those two greate bricke messuages or tenements lately new built." The principal house he occupied himself until the date of his death (unascertainable, but some time prior to 1640), when he was succeeded there by his son James Whitbey. The second or corner house (called in the Bevis Marks lease of July 20, 39 See Appendix V. c. 1, p. 92. 40 This is borne out by the endorsement on the conveyance of September 20, 1672 (Guildhall document No. 1213/8) " of two messuages in Creechurch Lane " which reads " the reciting deed inrolled in the hustings of London the [blank] day of April, 1622, when it was in one house." There is a similar reference in a much later deed, No. 1213/27.</page><page sequence="24">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 19 1703, " a lesser house adjoyneing eastwards ") was tenanted until 1648 or 1649 by the firm of Hill and Whittingham, and was then taken over by James Whitbey, probably for the use of his son William Whitbey, junior. The main residence of the Whitbey family was surrounded on two sides by a balcony. It was substantially built and fairly lofty, and it stood three storeys high. It occupied an " island site," and had ample yard space on the southern side, where there was open ground occupied partly by gardens and by big trees 41 extending as far as the backs of the houses in Leadenhall Street. No doubt the three genera? tions of the Whitbey family found excellent facilities in this pair of houses for exercising their hereditary trade as cloth-workers. James Whitbey, however, seems to have got into financial difficulties, as in 1648 we find him borrowing ?200 for six months from James Fletcher, the haberdasher, on the security of the two buildings. Four years later he repays Fletcher by borrowing ?300 on mortgage from Widow Aspley. It is on record, too, that he was then also owing ?191 to a very prominent citizen and parishioner of Creechurch, Captain Abraham Stanyan, a plaisterer (whom we should to-day describe as a builder and architect), a comrade with whom he had served in the Artillery Com? pany,42 and a man whose nephew and namesake was later to attain eminence in the public life of this country.43 Soon Stanyan was to obtain control of the Whitbeys' two mansions, and on April 20, 1653? being doubtless in need of his ?191?we find him mortgaging the houses to four of his leading fellow-parishioners. The consideration that passed was an amount of ?500, of which Widow Aspley received ?309 and Stanyan ?191. This sum was not repaid, and it is to be inferred that from the summer of 1655 onwards the interest was allowed to fall into arrears.44 Nevertheless, in December 1656 we find Abraham Stanyan?suddenly possessed of the substantial sum of ?550?coming forward to redeem the property. I have more than a suspicion where 41 Trees, etc., are mentioned in counsel's brief in " Plummer v. Bentham." See Appendix V. g, p. 123. 42 G. A. Raikes, Ancient Vellum Book of the Honourable Artillery Company, pp. 54 and 59. (London, 1890.) Whitbey was "admitted into the Artillerie Garden " in April 1638, and " Stanion " joined in March 1640. 43 Diet. Nat. Biog. Article on " Abraham Stanyan," vol. liv. pp. 87-8. 44 Vestry Minute of December 4, 1656 (reprinted in Appendix V. d, pp. 109 110).</page><page sequence="25">20 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. that money came from, because on December 19, 1656?which was the day following,?James Whitbey and he granted a twenty-one years' lease " of th' one of the messuages," not the corner-house but the larger one, to " Antonyo ffernando Carawayall of London Merchant." 45 On the next day?viz., December 20, 1656,?James Whitbey, the cloth worker, Ellen his wife, and William Whitbey, also a cloth-worker, described as " heir apparant of the said James," did at the request of Abraham Stanyan transfer the family interest in the property to a barber-chirurgeon named Boone and a citizen and draper called Richard Mills.46 These two individuals were not parishioners of St. Katherine Creechurch, nor do they play any further part in these dealings. I cannot help thinking that they were acting as " cover " for Carvajal, who had probably financed Stanyan's purchase. Carvajal and his brethren doubtless assumed that as Jews they were unable to hold property in England, and preferred to figure as leaseholders rather than as freeholders. Subsequently the Whitbeys appeared before the Lord Mayor and acknowledged the deed, which was enrolled in the Hustings of Pleas of Land, from which roll, I may add, I was able to obtain a fairer copy of the deed than would have been possible had I been obliged to depend on the somewhat battered counterpart that has been handed down in St. Katherine Creechurch's archives.47 The Churchwardens' Accounts for the years 1650 to 1656 contain many references to Carvajal. As Mr. Wolf has shown, he occupied a large house in Leadenhall Street at the foot of Creechurch Lane,48 and it is now clear from the " receiptes of tithes " that he was one of the largest ratepayers in the parish, for the comparatively large tithe payment of ?1 is entered up each year against " Mr. ffardinando," or " Antonio Ferdinando." It is perhaps well to recall at this stage that 45 The Vestry Minute last referred to indicates that Whitbey and Stanyan were already at that date negotiating with Carvajal, since it fixes a basis for the redemption of the mortgage of April 1653 " upon ye request of Mr. James Whitbey." 46 Boone is mentioned again in the Churchwardens' Account Book under the payments for 1678. (Appendix V. a, p. 82.) Richard Mills was an Alderman and a Treasurer of St. Bartholomew's Hospital. (A. B. Beaven, The Aldermen of the City of London, 1908.) 47 Guildhall Archives. Hustings Deeds. Deed No. 332. Memb. 37, 16. (See Appendix V. c. 2, pp. 93-5.) 48 Trans. Jewish Hist. Soc, vol. i. p. 55.</page><page sequence="26">Plate 8 JUtd * The Parish Account Book's entry regarding " the workmen . . . that were Imployed in building the Jewes Synagogue" (being the earliest reference?about February or March 1657? to a Synagogue of the Resettlement) [See pp. 21-22 and 75] [To face p. 21</page><page sequence="27">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 21 on March 24, 1656, a petition had been presented to the Lord Protector signed by Menasseh ben Israel, Carvajal, deBrito, and four other leading Jews praying for leave to hold services and to purchase a burial-ground. (PLATE 2.) For reasons connected with the Robles proceedings,49 the petition was not acceded to until the summer of that year.50 It would appear that Carvajal's first care was to secure a place of worship, as he signed the lease of the Whitbeys' house on December 19, 1656, whilst it was not until February of the following year that he and Simon de Caceres executed the lease of the cemetery in Mile End.51 In the meantime that great Rabbi, Menasseh, had evidently quarrelled with the London Jewish community, for it was at the end of the year 1656 that he petitioned Oliver Cromwell for financial assistance and received ?25.52 John Greenhalgh's description of his visit to the Synagogue in 1662 shows?as one would expect?that it was then being conducted with great discretion, and most of the modern commentators have expressed their conviction that from its inception it must have been a secret conventicle whose members came together stealthily and in evasion of the law. I have had a photograph taken of a highly significant entry in the churchwardens' list of payments for the year 1656 (Old Style). This proves beyond any possibility of error that the parish authorities were fully aware?even before the consecration took place ?of the new use to which it was proposed to put Mr. Whitbey's mansion. The entry reads : " paid for warning the workmen before the Court of Aldermen that were Imployed in building the Jewes Synagogue ? 3 (PLATE 8.) 49 A full account of the Robles case, with copies of all documents, is to be found in " Crypto Jews under the Commonwealth," by Lucien Wolf {Transactions of the Jewish Historical Society, vol. i. pp. 60-86). 50 L. Wolf, Menasseh Ben Israel's Mission, Intro., pp. lxii,lxvi, lxvii. There is now every reason for crediting the manuscript biographical notice of John Sadler ?although only written in 1738?which declares : " By his Interest it was, That the Jews obtained the Privilege, to build for themselves a Synagogue in London." (Birch MSS. 4223, fol. 166a, lines 31-33, Brit. Mus.) From 1650 to 1660 Sadler was Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, and in that capacity was the superior landlord of the Church of St. Katherine Cree ; but the other roles which he filled at that period are of course better known. 51 I. Davis, " The Resettlement of the Jews by Oliver Cromwell," in Jewish Chronicle, November 26 and December 3, 1880 ; Abstract of Lease. 52 Eighth Report of Rist. MSS. Comm., Part I. App. p. 94&amp;. (This reference is furnished on p. 112 of Mr. Henriques' book, already cited.)</page><page sequence="28">22 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. I can date the entry February or March 1657,53 and it is, of course, of very great interest as being the earliest authentic reference?six years before Greenhalgh and at least three years earlier than the un? dated informers' list?to a Jewish Synagogue in London. With it vanishes the fascinating theory that the Creechurch Lane Bethel was a secret Synagogue where, to quote Mr. Lucien Wolf, " probably the Maranos had worshipped long before the mission of Menasseh ben Israel." 54 With it vanishes, too, the opposing theory that it was not until the coming of Charles II. that a recognised Jewish congregation could establish itself in the metropolis. I may say at once that no proceedings of which there is any record ever took place before the Court of Aldermen. This I have ascertained by the most exhaustive searches, and I am satisfied that the incident?? whatever it may have been?which arose early in 1657 out of the build? ing of the Synagogue was something very trivial.55 In any case the bare entry shows that not only the parish authorities but the Guildhall authorities, too, and a group of workmen as well, all knew that a Jewish Synagogue was in the making. 53 See Appendix V. a, p. 75, notes b and c. 64 Transactions of the Jewish Historical Society, vol. v. p. 10. 55 It is, for example, possible to sustain the hypothesis that the builders were reprimanded at the instance of the City surveyors either for temporarily obstruct? ing the public way, or else because of a deliberate encroachment. The Repertories of the Court of Aldermen for 1657 show that " the Master Artificers and other Officers of this citie " were at that time very active with regard to " many incroachments . . . upon the common passage of the streets &amp; lanes ... &amp; divers kinds of juttyes made from and out of the houses over the said common passage . . . that course may be thereupon taken for reformation " (Rep. 65, fol. 42 and 178). Similarly the records for this period of the Lord Mayor's Court are full of prosecutions against City tradesmen for obstructing the street with their trade-implements or their wares. It is interesting to compare the 1656 entry in the St. Katherine Creechurch Account Book with one of twenty years later which reads: " 20th Nover 1676. Spent at the warning Mr. Richardsons en? croachments = 02 06." The sums laid out on either occasion were probably not ?as the simple-minded reader might assume?statutory fees, but the money (3s. and 2s. 6d.) is far more likely to have been expended on the drinks consumed while the matters were being discussed. The Account Book contains hundreds of references to money laid out " at the Crowne " or "at the Mitre " (sometimes " with the parson ") in connection with the settlement of parish affairs. The entry " spent upon receiving the Jewes rent at the Crowne " occurs more than once.</page><page sequence="29">THE JTRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 23 Simultaneously with the construction of the Synagogue the Jews' Burial Ground at Mile End was acquired and brought into use. (See frontispiece.) A short digression into the history of this cemetery seems allowable at this stage because of its very close bearing on the question of the commencing date of an organised Jewish community in London. The supporters of the theory that there was no such organisation under the Commonwealth have explained away?to their own satisfaction? the Creechurch Lane Synagogue, but it has been less easy to get rid of the awkward fact (attested by the Burial Register at Bevis Marks) that there were four Jewish burials in this Jewish cemetery between the years 1657 and 1660. Nevertheless Mr. Henriques, the leading exponent of this view, has courageously attempted to dispose of the leasing by two outstanding Jews in February 1657 of the Mile End Burial Ground. Five whole pages are devoted to this matter in his important legal work (published in 1908), Jews and the English Law, and reference is made to " the fact that a few Jews were buried in a garden at Mile End without any publicity and probably without any previous consecration of the ground " ; it is also categorically stated that " these interments must have been conducted with great privacy, and, if they were accompanied by any religious ceremony, with the strictest secrecy." 56 These contentions are strongly rebutted by the evidence of the Churchwardens' Account Book, which records certain burials of Jews during the same period (1657 to 1660) and adds some interesting details.57 The first to pass away was Domingo Vaez de Brito, the prominent Levantine trader 58 and one of the principal London Maranos, a man who only nine months previously had signed Menasseh ben Israel's petition to Oliver Cromwell in his Jewish name of Abraham Israel de Brito. Unfortunately, the wish expressed by de Brito and by his fellow-petitioners?that of being buried among their brothers in faith?could not be gratified in his case, for under the heading " Receipts for Buryalls 1656" we read the 56 H. S. Q. Henriques, op. cit., pp. 109-114. 57 See Appendix V. a, pp. 75-6. 58 Cal. State Papers. Domestic Series, 1655-6, p. 359, contains a complaint about his operations sent by the Levant Company to the British Consul at Smyrna, and shows how he was able to profit by his Dutch and Italian (Leghorn) connections.</page><page sequence="30">24 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. melancholy entry, " 22 December Demingo Vast Degretto at Hackney 3/6d." 59 On August 4, 1657, Judith de Brito died; she must have been the wife of the last-mentioned Jew and the occupant of the first grave in the newly opened Jewish cemetery.60 One month later (on September 9, 1657) Sarah Athias, who must have been the wife of Rabbi Moses, was laid to rest, and that she reposed in the Jews' Cemetery is proved by the entry in its own Burial Register : " Sarah Athias 12 Tisri, 5418." Two years passed, and then the great Antonio Ferdinando Carvajal was gathered to his people. The Churchwardens' Accounts give the date as October 28, 1659, and the words I have just used are justified 59 I have not encountered in St. Katherine Greechurch's archives any other reference to a burial at Hackney, the normal place of burial being either the interior of St. Katherine's or else the large adjoining churchyard. If there is ground for believing that bodies were at that time occasionally buried in private gardens, then this interment at Hackney may well have been of that class. There is no reference to de Brito?or for that matter to any recognisable Jews?in the Hackney Parish Registers, which fortunately are all still available for the seven? teenth century. Nor is Hackney?then a sparsely populated village surrounded by marshes?at all likely to have been the residence of any Jewish merchants in Cromwell's day, despite the attraction that it held for their successors a century later. (See MS. 480, Guildhall Library. Registers of St. John, Hackney?there was then no other church in Hackney.) There is, however, evidence of the existence in Hackney of a Judaical sect of Puritan fanatics. A news-sheet of June 2, 1655, describes one of their services (" some Jews were seen to meet in Hackney-?it being their Sabbath Day at their devotions ... in the corner of a garden . . ."), and it seems to me by no means improbable that these sympathetic Judaisers provided a place of interment for the body of Domingo de Brito. (For further details of this Hackney sect, see Trans. Jewish Hist. Soc., vol. iv. p. 197, and more particularly Prof. S. R. Gardiner's History of the Commonwealth and Protectorate, vol. iii. p. 216, note 2.) 60 It will now be seen that the earliest dated entry in the Bevis Marks Burial Register (" Is. Brito 4 Elul 5417 "), which has been so often quoted, must refer to Mrs. de Brito and not to her husband. The explanation seems to be that as this Register was first started in 1725, all the earlier entries were simply copied off the stones in so far as these were still legible. Judith de Brito was doubtless described in her epitaph as the wife of Abraham Israel de Brito, and all that was rescued of the inscription were the letters isbrito and the date. Until now it has always been believed that the great Domingo himself filled the first grave in the cemetery, and the apparent discrepancy between de Brito's Jewish signature on the petition and the name recorded in the burial register so intrigued Mr. Lucien Wolf that many years ago (September 16, 1889) he devoted the greater part of a special article in the Jewish Chronicle to an endeavour to account for it.</page><page sequence="31">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 25 literally by the corresponding entry in the Jews' Burial Register: " Abm. fernandes Carvajal 26 heshvan 5420." 61 There is a further and a rather surprising piece of information to be obtained from the Churchwardens' record of these burials. In three out of the four instances it is on record that the bell of St. Katherine Creechurch was tolled to mark the laying to rest of these early London Jews. For Mrs. de Brito " the knell of ye ffourorth bell" was sounded. For Mrs. Sarah Athias is recorded " the knell of the 3rd bell 1/-." Finally, there appears under " Recipes for Burialls 1659 " 4'Antonio Fherdinando the knell of the Great Bell?5-0." I must confess to a feeling of amazement when I unearthed these facts, and I think my Jewish readers will share my surprise and gratification at the kindly and tolerant attitude of the Church towards the newly formed Jewish congregation. Moreover, on the occasion of the first Jewish burial, that of Mrs. de Brito, the Church had lent the Jews their pall. The full entry reads: " 4th Aug. Judith Debretto the knell of ye ffourorth bell and the cloth 2/4." 62 Rabbi Athias apparently dis? approved of this practice, and the pall was not hired for the burial of his wife or of Carvajal. I feel that the curious new evidence as to the first Jewish funerals thoroughly establishes that, from the birth of their congregation, 61 He was about to undergo an operation when, on October 21, 1659, he executed his last will and testament; it contains the phrase " I doe committ my bodie to be decentlie buried . . . according to the discretion of my most deare and loving Wife " {Trans. Jewish Hist. Soc, vol. i. Appendix, p. 87). That he underwent and succumbed under the operation is shown by an entry in Richard Smyth's Obituaries (British Museum MS. No. 886, Sloane Collection), which has escaped previous biographers : " 1659, Nov. 1. Ferd. Car by John, ye Portugall Jew cutt of ye stone, died about this time." The British Museum MS. is not Smyth's original, but an early eighteenth-century copy ; no doubt Smyth's entry was Carbyjall, or some similar variant of that name. Carvajal must have enjoyed excellent relations with the local church. In the year of his death he was the principal subscriber?the sum given was 15&lt;s.?to a fund headed " Received from the Inhabitants upon accomp. (and for paymt.) of Ministers." As Mr. Wolf has recorded, he bequeathed ?10 to the poor of St. Katherine Creechurch. I am sorry to say that I cannot find that his executors ever paid this bequest. In the list of payments for 1660 there appears, moreover, in the Churchwardens' Account Book this significant entry: " paid to a proctor for search for Mr. Ferdinando his will =0 = 4=4." 62 The pall had been newly acquired a year previously and figures in the 1656 list of payments (p. 74).</page><page sequence="32">26 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. the Jews of Cromwell's time received a very fair measure of public recognition. I do not see how it is possible to " explain away " this view of their status?unless by resorting, say, to the argument that these Jews were being buried as Christians, and this in all the circum? stances would surely be a " reductio ad summum absurdum." After all, there is confirmation in Greenhalgh's letter 63 of the fact that " in Oliver's time " the Jews practised very little concealment, and that only " since the King's coming in, they are very close, nor do admit any to see them but very privately." The Eobles prosecution, which during the spring of 1656 had threatened the existence of every Sephardi Jew in London, was happily quashed on May 16, 1656. On June 24 following, the historic Petition of Menasseh ben Israel (PLATE 2) came up for consideration before the Protector's Council, as appears from an endorsement on the document.64 In his Menasseh Ben Israel's Mission Mr. Lucien Wolf argues convincingly that Cromwell undertook to announce to the Jews by word of mouth the measure of their recognition as a separate religious community. As the outcome of this interview, the rights which Menasseh had revendicated at Whitehall for the Jews of the World were, in fact, conceded to Carvajal and the other resident Jews in London?and doubtless restricted to Jews of this special Sephardi type.65 In short, the claim was recognised of a " vested interest " to continue to live in the metropolis, to add to its numbers by immigra? tion, to own a cemetery, to hold not alone private " Minyanim " but also a public Synagogue, and even?no small concession this?to appear as brokers on the Eoyal Exchange. As Mr. Lucien Wolf says, " to Menasseh ben Israel ... it was a compromise of a purely selfish nature. We may be certain that he did not hide his grief or his in? dignation." 66 I am able to shed some new light on one important phase of the Resettlement, because I have discovered in the British Museum evidence of the arrival of Jews in London during 1656 and 63 No stress is laid on the corroborative evidence of Thomas Violet, goldsmith and pamphleteer, as it is so frequently unreliable. 64 The endorsement does not show on the reproduction of the petition which accompanies this thesis, but. the full wording is given in Wolf's Menasseh Ben Israel1 s Mission, p. lxxxvi. 85 L. Wolf, op. cit., p. lxvii. 66 Idem., p. Ixviii. It is significant that Moses Athias was brought over to London in August 1656 (or thereabouts), and that he came from the Hamburg congregation, and not from Amsterdam; see p. 57, footnote (o).</page><page sequence="33">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 27 1657. They were all Sephardi Jews, business connections (and perhaps family connections) of Carvajal, de Brito, and do Porto, and I am satisfied that the English Aliens' Officers granted them admission well understanding that they were all Jews, and that two of them at any rate were not chance travellers but had 14 come over with intent to live in London." This fresh information is derived from registers compiled during the Protectorate of persons who had visited London and reported themselves to the Council. These registers constitute, in fact, a portion of the records kept by Cromwell's contre-espionage de? partment. The country was at that time divided into military districts under various major-generals, and as they aimed at keeping track of every suspect?whether Malignant, Spaniard, Royalist, or Leveller? they closely observed most foreigners as well as very many natives.67 The only register containing references to Jews is one covering the period February 13, 1656, to August 10, 1657 ; it bears the title, " Appearances of Persons coming from Foraigne Parts," and is catalogued as Brit. Mus. Add. MSS. 34015. My excerpts from this register will be found among the Appendices to this paper, and I venture to assert that they will repay close study.68 To my mind, the most interesting of the Jewish arrivals were Stephen Rodrigues and Anthony Balderede, who arrived in London on December 1, 1656, having travelled together from Bayonne via Calais and Dover. They gave " Mr. ffardinand portugall m'chant in Leadenhall Street" as their London reference, and cited as their overseas correspondents "Mr. Anthony de Porte" of Bordeaux and his brother. Now Antonio (Abraham) do Porto became, after the Restoration, one of the leaders of the Creechurch Lane congregation,69 but while still resident in France he had been in the habit of coming over to London on business visits. Thus he was here in the spring of 1656, when all London Jews became imperilled by the Robles prosecution. The Iberian Jews who had settled in Bordeaux lived outwardly as Christians right through the seventeenth century, so that when the Commissioners for the 67 Catalogue of Additions to the Manuscripts in the British Museum in the Years 1888-1893, pp. 162-3. (London, 1894.) See also S. R. Gardiner, History of the Commonwealth, pp. 179-180. (London, 1901.) 68 See Appendix VI., pp. 127 and 128. 69 M. Gaster, op. cit., pp. 13, 50, 51, 52, and various references in the Bevis Marks Archives. See also Appendix II. a, pp. 59-64.</page><page sequence="34">28 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. Admiralty and Navy decided to summon do Porto to testify against Robles (whom he had known ten years previously in the Canaries) they knew him only?according to some jotted notes which have survived?as " D. Anto. de Porto a nrall Spaniard and a Roman Catholiq yt I beleive will depose ye Truth." He was then lodging " at Mr. Clarks in Lime Street," close to the Carvajal mansion, and the evidence that he gave was, of course, favourable to Robles. It is significant that after Antonio do Porto had shared with the London Jews all the excitement and anxiety of the Robles case he should evidently have returned to his Bordeaux home, so satisfied with its triumphant denouement and with the altered status of the Jews in England as to induce two of his business associates at Bayonne to emigrate to this country. So much at least is fairly deducible from the three separate references to do Porto in the register, when con? sidered in conjunction with the part played by him in the Robles proceedings. It will be observed that Stephen Rodrigues and Anthony Balderede 70 were admitted to residence here on December 3, 1656, which was just sixteen days before Carvajal signed the lease of the Creechurch Lane Synagogue. Before I resume my story I should like to be allowed to say that whilst my investigations have enabled me to amplify, and in some instances to correct, the accounts of these matters given to the world by Mr. Lucien Wolf, yet I yield to no one in my respect for his work, and in my belief in the soundness of the historical foundation on which he has builded. I referred before to Mr. Wolf's pioneer essays of twenty and thirty years ago ; to my mind, these are masterpieces. I first read them as a schoolboy. I have since read them many times, and they still retain all their glamour for me, and although my adult mind now relishes the subtle reasoning and the great skill with which the available facts have been pieced together, yet Mr. Lucien Wolf's charming gifts of exposition have lost none of their attraction. More 70 " Sin Steauen Rodregoes near Algat" figures in one of the 1660 In? formers' Lists (Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 29868, fol. 16). The name Balderede is evidently a variant of Valverde, a patronymic which is to be found occasionally in the London Sephardi archives, but more frequently among the records of the British West Indian Jews. In the oldest London burial register there is recorded the death, in 5484 (1724), of one " Semuel Balborda " (Carrera 17), and doubtless he, too, was, despite the variation in spelling, a member of this same family.</page><page sequence="35">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 29 over, the fresh material which I have been so fortunate as to discover has provided me time and again with a vindication of Mr. Wolf's theories. He it was who in his presidential address to this Society in 1894 on " The First English Jew " 71 conjectured that Antonio Carvajal was the " principal agent of the Jews," and that it " was directly due to his personal initiative " that " Jewish Divine Service was regularly held in London." In an earlier paper (" Crypto Jews under the Commonwealth ") 72 in 1893 he had suggested that London's earliest Synagogue probably also served as the residence of Carvajal's kinsman, Moses Athias, who was, in fact, its first Rabbi. Finally, when dealing in his Menasseh Ben Israel's Mission 73 with the latter half of 1656, his keen historian's flair led him to make the following deduction: " The right to acquire a cemetery was certainly granted. The restriction with regard to worshipping in private houses was also probably revised and the maintenance of a synagogue, subject to the other conditions, sanctioned." These theories all accord with the newly discovered facts. I now revert to the examination of the Churchwardens' Account Book. This will be found to contain a full list of tithe-payers for the period 1650 to 1661.74 From 1650 to 1656 Mr. James Whitbey figures as a tithe payer, and the leases have already established exactly which house was occupied by him. From 1657 to 1661 Whitbey's name disappears from the section of the list of tithe-payments which it ordinarily occupies, and the name of " Mr. Moyses Atteas " replaces it. The Rabbi became responsible for the tithe-payment as from March 25, 1657, and no doubt he was actually living in the house on or about that date. His wealthy and influential kinsman, Carvajal, it will be remembered, had taken a lease of the building on December 19, 1656. In the summer of 1657 the freehold of the two brick messuages in Creechurch Lane as well as the remainder of a ninety-nine years' lease were acquired by the parish, and the conveyance of the latter was 71 Trans, of Jewish Hist. Soc., vol. ii. p. 20. 72 Ibid. vol. i. p. 55. 73 L. Wolf, Menasseh Ben IsraeVs Mission, Intro, pp. lxvi and lxvii. 74 Subsequently these particulars were transferred to a separate volume, which is not now available?at any rate, in the Guildhall Library.</page><page sequence="36">30 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. signed on July 28, 1657 (MS. 1213/5), and is in existence to-day.75 From this and the other documents it seems reasonable to conclude that the parish authorities, knowing that the Jews had installed a Synagogue in Mr. Whitbey's former mansion, decided to purchase the property out of church funds, and thus become the Jews' superior landlords. Mills and Boone, the nominal owners, would seem to have conveyed their interest?the freehold?in a deed of the same date which has not been preserved. The vendors who figure in the sale of the lease are again Abraham Stanyan, the plaisterer, together with James Whitbey and his son William, and the purchase-consideration is ?840, of which Stanyan receives ?650 and the Whitbeys ?190. The parish of St. Katherine Creechurch as purchaser is represented by eleven citizens, the first trustees appointed to hold the property. By the other conveyance of even date?not now available?a second group of eleven citizens and trustees, whose names have been preserved in a later deed (No. 1213/7 of September 20, 1672) appear to have derived their title from Mills and Boone.76 A proportion of the purchase-money was provided by a loan from Alderman Bond. The parish was not granted " vacant possession " of the larger messuage, and the twenty one years' lease which Carvajal had secured seven months earlier is expressly " reserved." In point of fact the Churchwardens' Account Book shows later that the Jews must have surrendered this lease in 1663, when they already began to pay rent to the parish, and from that year until 1691, when the Account Book was closed, there is an almost unbroken series of entries " one yeares rent of the Sinagogue." As has been mentioned, the will of Sir John Gayer was the motive which had led the parish to buy this property, and that knight's bequest of ?200 was utilised for the purchase, together with sundry accumulated legacies from earlier benefactors. Sir John Gayer had been a famous Lord Mayor of London and a prominent member of the East India Company. The interest from his bequest was to be distributed annually in charity, and was also to pay for a Gift Sermon to be preached on every 16th October in memory of his providential deliverance from the paws of a lion when cast away on the coast of 75 See Appendix V. c. 3, pp. 95-101. 76 Cf. references to Mills and Boone in Deed of Release No. 1213/12 of August 25, 1738. (Appendix V. c. 5, p. 108.)</page><page sequence="37">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 31 Africa (" so as to inculcate reliance upon Providence in the worst extremes of human wretchedness ").77 The incident, of course, is well known ; the Lion Sermon is preached to this day at St. Katherine Creechurch, and annually evokes a number of sprightly paragraphs in the evening papers. It is interesting as well as curious to reflect that for over half a century the funds of the Gayer trust were directly provided by the Spanish and Portuguese Jews of London through the annual rent which they paid for their Synagogue. Further information about the Gayer Bequest is given in the Charity Commission's Report of 1830,78 and it is clear from this and the Churchwardens' Account Book that, as further legacies became avail? able, they were invested in the Creechurch Lane houses, and the loans on the property were gradually extinguished. These proceedings are also noted in the Vestry Minute Book (MS. 1196), and a comparison of all three sources of information has enabled me to disentangle a somewhat complicated series of transactions.79 Apart from the evidence of the conveyance of July 28, 1657, the purchase of Whitbey's houses by the parish is amply attested by the entries in the Churchwardens' Accounts for that year, and there are payments to Mr, Broome?presumably the parish's man of law?" for his judgment and advice ... for the purchase of the two houses of Mr. James Whitby," and further " for perusing the deeds when sealed by Mr. James Whitby his wife and sonne." Some curious new facts emerge from a close examination of the lists of tithe-payments which, as I have already mentioned, form part of the Churchwardens' Accounts for the period 1650 to 1661. I have compiled a comparative table of certain extracts from these tithe-lists, and this shows clearly how " Mr. Moyses Atteas " took the place in the tithe-payers' list that had formerly been filled by Mr. James Whitbey. I ought to explain that, whilst these lists of tithe-payers were certainly never intended as a directory of the parish, they do, in fact, to a limited extent, serve that purpose. The collector seems to have made his rounds year after year in the same order. The list of householders was each year copied from that of the previous year, and the names 77 David Hughson, op. cit., p. 177. 78 See note 21, p. 10. 79 See Appendices IV., V. a, and V. d, pp. 69, 73, and 109.</page><page sequence="38">32 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. of new arrivals, instead of being added on at the end of each list, were inserted between the names of their actual neighbours. This table brings to light another of the problems that must have confronted the founders of our community. Allowing that Mr. Whitbey's larger house which they had taken and turned into a Synagogue was adequate for that purpose, how could they hold services without scandalising the occupant of the adjoining corner-house, which virtually formed an integral part of their building ? One's mind is carried back to a similar problem that arose in that even earlier Synagogue 80 of Plantagenet London, from which our Norman forbears were ultimately expelled in favour of a neighbouring Sackcloth Friary whose abbot had complained that the " Ululatio " (the howling) was intolerable.81 As will be seen, however, the table of tithe-payments proves that Rabbi Athias was provided from the very start with a sympathetic Jewish neighbour. In 1650 William Whitbey, jun., is found to be living in the small corner-house; he vacates the house in favour of one John Davies and goes to reside in a different part of the parish, as the tithe-lists (for 1654,1655, and 1656) attest. In 1653 a Mr. Turner has the house for a year, and then for three years it is in the occupation of Mr. Cole, a merchant, whose name crops up again in the parish records during the year of the Great Fire, 1666, when he had to be assisted with 2s. from the Poor Fund, " being undone by losses." Mr. Cole's tenancy of the corner-house terminates in 1656, and a " Mr. Demingo Debretto " then fills his place. This can be none other than Domingo Vaez de Brito, that leading London Jew. As has been seen, however, de Brito was not destined to reside for long in the house adjoining Rabbi Athias's new Synagogue, for he died shortly before Christmas, 1656. The inclusion of his name under the year 1657 in the list of tithe-payers probably indicates that his wife took his place as tenant of the corner house, although she, too, passed away before a twelvemonth had 80 The site is at the corner of Old Jewry and Lothbury and is to-day filled by the National Debt Office. On Sheet VII. 65 of the 1916 Ordnance Survey it is described as " Site of Jews' Synagogue, afterwards a Friary." 81 This incident is related on p. 27 of The London Jewry, 1290, by Dr. Joseph Jacobs (Publication No. 1, Anglo-Jewish Historical Exhibition, London, 1888), but the original authority is not cited, nor have I succeeded in tracing it.</page><page sequence="39">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 33 a&gt; o ?Q i?I ft q ^ CO pq o o CO s hQ q ^ co a Ha pq &gt; o 3 a a q o co &lt; q o ?*? i-H &lt; EH o 1 o o pq ? q *-i CO Q 8 PQ pq ? a S q e8 W) id i G o a ?5 &gt; Q m CO '3 ? S q 1* I 5 fl o 10 &amp;? O 8 s a?. eg VH ?-3 is" o O CO pq o ^ co a &amp; a VOL. X. pq ?&gt; e t-t co n 9 oco o o pq D</page><page sequence="40">34 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. elapsed. During 1658 and 1659 a Mr. Da Costa appears as responsible tenant of the corner-house, and there can be little doubt that he, too, was a Jew : he may have been the " Mr. Decostus Dukes-place " of the 1677 Directory of London Merchants.82 From 1660 onwards the house stands in the name?variously spelt?of Mr. Oliveira. The tithe-list comes to an abrupt end in 1661, but fortunately a different section of the Churchwardens' Accounts contains many entries (both of receipts and payments) regarding this gentleman, and they extend from 1660 until 1667. From these it can be deduced that he took on September Quarter Day, 1661, a lease of the small house that stood next to the Synagogue. He paid a premium of ?20 (" Mr. Oliveiro for the fyne of his lease ?20 ") and a rent (which possibly included a tithe-payment) varying from ?20 to ?22 per annum. For five years (1661 to 1665 inclusive) the land? lords bore several regular items of expenditure in connection with the house. They supplied a scavenger at 4s. per annum. They did occasional repairs (" paid the Joyner for worke done " and " paid to a Carpenter for worke done "), and once they provided a charwoman. The most interesting annual outlay is the payment made by the church? wardens to the parish beadle, Mr. Turlington, for procuring watchmen to guard the house. Insurance against fire and burglary was, of course, unknown until after 1666, and these repeated references to " the watch for Oliveiro's house " 83 remind one of the great robbery at the Synagogue in 1689 (mentioned in Dr. Gaster's book),84 when most of the ritual paraphernalia was looted. An even more puzzling expense which the parish incurred on behalf of their tenant, Mr. Oliveira, was the payment from 1661 until 1664 of 2s. per annum to Mr. How, the parish clerk, seemingly for clerical aid. It is by no means clear to me why Mr. How should have been paid the modest sum of 2s.?it could only have been a part-time wage even at the value of money then current?" for a whole yeares Clerks wages for Oliveros House," but I hope one day to elucidate the matter. 82 The London Directory of 1677, reprint published by Chatto &amp; Windus, London, 1878. 83 In one case there is a pleasing variant of these words, viz. " paid the yellow coates for Oliveroe's House." See also footnote (h), p. 80. 84 M. Gaster, op. cit.9 p. 51.</page><page sequence="41">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 35 I am inclined to think that the small corner-house was being used partly as a school, and I am encouraged to believe this by its proximity to the Synagogue and by the knowledge that the Amsterdam family of the D'Oliveyras contained at least two famous Jewish teachers.85 Moreover, in 1662 Greenhalgh had commented on the " boys . . . who had each his Service Book in hand, in Hebrew without points, and were as ready and nimble in it ... as the men. . . . All was done in the right true Hebrew tongue . . . which, to this end, they do industriously teach all their children from their infancy, having their schoolmistress on purpose." 86 Oliveira may perhaps have conducted a privately owned school like that belonging to Ruby Eidanque some thirty years later, and which?according to Dr. Gast er 87?was only unofficially attached to the Synagogue. It is note? worthy that in the British Museum register already described (which records the " Appearances of Persons coming from Foraigne Parts ") there are two references dated December 3, 1656, to " a writeing Schoolmasters house in Cree Church Lane neare the Dukes Place." 88 Such a location points at once to Mr. Oliveira's " corner house," which of all houses in Creechurch Lane was in closest proximity to Dukes Place. In the seventeenth century Creechurch Lane was barely forty-five yards long, so that " neare Dukes Place " would probably only have been used to indicate either the " corner house " or the building immediately opposite it.89 Now this writing-master's house " at ye hand and penn " was the hostel at which two Bayonne Jews were received when they came to London to settle here permanently on December 1, 1656. If the assumption holds good that it was indeed the " corner house," then their host must have been Domingo Vaez de Brito, for he was its tenant at that date. Nor would this have been his first appearance in that capacity, since on August 8, 1656, he had provided a lodging at his former home in Great St. Helens for 85 See Jewish Encyclopaedia, article on " Solomon de Oliveyra " and autho? rities cited at end thereof, vol. ix. pp. 394-5. 86 See Appendix I., pp. .52 and 53. 87 M. Gaster, op. cit., p. 39. 88 See Appendix VI., p. 128. 89 Conversely, the lodging house of Thomas Lingar, the plumber, which was actually at the southern end of Creechurch Lane and faced the church, is never? theless described in the same register as being in Leadenhall Street.</page><page sequence="42">36 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. another Sephardi Jew arriving from Holland. On the day following de Brito's funeral (which occurred on December 22, 1656), a fourth traveller reached London, this time from Bordeaux, and it is worth noting that he secured a lodging at a fresh place?apparently at Thomas Lingar's, where he again put up on June 10, 1657, and where four years later there were still half a dozen Jewish lodgers.90 Of course, it is by no means easy to visualise Domingo Vaez de Brito, a Levantine trader of some note, or even his widow, as schoolkeepers and as custodians of a congregational hostel, nor is the evidence that they filled these roles at all complete, although it certainly does tend curiously in that direction. To revert again to Mr. Oliveira, he certainly had some con? nection with the Creechurch Lane Synagogue, because in 1667, after he had vacated his house, there is an entry in the Churchwardens' Accounts: " Received of Mr. Policarpa Olivero for one yeares Rent due and ended at Lady day 1668 ?40," 91 There can be no reasonable doubt but that this represented the rent of the Synagogue for the year, and that Mr. Oliveira was the representative of the Jews who had paid the money. After being vacated by Oliveira the corner-house was occupied by the parson of St. Katherine's from 1666 until his death in 1672, when it was leased from the parish by William Core the bricklayer, who two years later surrendered it to the Jews as a means of extending their Synagogue. I have spent some time in discussing Mr. Oliveira's and his two Jewish predecessors' tenancy of the corner-house in order to draw attention to the strong likelihood that, although not then used as a Synagogue and forming no part of Carvajal's lease, it nevertheless was far from being the ordinary residence of a private individual. It 90 Lingar's name and address figure in both the 1660 " informers' lists " reproduced in Transactions J.H.S., vol. v. pp. 6-7. 91 There is a similar entry for 1662 : " Received of Mr. Moses Attias for one yeares rent due and ended at Ladyday 1663 ?40." For the following year, and for all subsequent years, the corresponding annual entry is worded, "Received as one yeares rent of the Sinagogue." (See pp. 77 and 78.)</page><page sequence="43">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 37 seems more than likely that it housed a Jewish communal institution of one kind or another, and if this can be established it will become increasingly difficult to uphold the hypothesis that London's Spanish Jews had not formed themselves into a properly organised community until the third or fourth year of the restoration of Charles II. The first ten years in the history of the Creechurch Lane Synagogue (1657 to 1667) were eventful ones, as the recorded history of that period shows. In October 1657 there fell to be celebrated the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles, and there seems no longer any particular reason to refuse all credence to Greenhalgh's statement 92 (made on the authority of a friend, who repeated it to him in 1662) that " one year in Oliver's time they did build booths on the other side of Thames, and kept the Feast of Tabernacles in them, as some told me who saw them." If this is to be accepted literally, the incident must have occurred during 1657, as this was the last year of the Protector's reign sub? sequent to the opening of the Synagogue during which the Jews could have &lt;celebrated their feast of booths. Oliver Cromwell died on September 3, 1658. In September 1657 Menasseh ben Israel returned to Holland, bearing with him the body of his son, Samuel,93 who had died in London about the same time as Mrs. Sarah Athias. It is very evident that he must have been on the worst of terms with the London Spanish Jews. I should have liked to be able to think that he, the great Menasseh, had worshipped in the Creechurch Lane House of Prayer which had been opened for fully half a year before he quitted these shores. In all the circumstances, however, I am afraid that it is a matter of doubt whether he was ever associated with the Synagogue. The familiar date of February 4, 1658, calls now for some passing reference, since it has been claimed as the formal date of the Resettle? ment of the Jews in England, on the strength of a passage in the " Parliamentary Diary . . . from 1656 to 1659," ascribed to Thos. Burton, M.P., and first published under the editorship of J. T. Rutt 92 See Appendix I., p. 56. 93 L. Wolf, Menasseh Ben Israel's Mission, p. lxxxvii.</page><page sequence="44">38 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. in 1828.94 In point of fact, February 4, 1658, was simply the date on which Cromwell dissolved his Parliament, and there is no ground at all for affixing this date to the oft-quoted passage which states that " the Jews, those able intelligencers ... he (Cromwell) now conciliated by a seasonable benefaction to their principal agent resident in England." Nor is this familiar passage in the words of the seven? teenth-century diarist ; they are his nineteenth-century editor's words, and thus have no especial historical significance.95 It does not seem at all unlikely, however, that Cromwell, when he had rid himself of his restive Commons, publicly reaffirmed to Carvajal the verbal concessions which he had conveyed to the Jews during the summer of 1656, and no doubt there is some authority for Mr. Putt's statement.96 So far I have not succeeded in tracing it, but I still hope that some day I may happen upon a clue?perhaps in the news sheets of the period, upon which the editor of Burton's Diary so largely relied for his commentary. In the same paragraph (p. 471) Putt details certain other conciliatory measures adopted by the Lord Pro? tector after his dissolution of Parliament : " he invited the Corporation to Whitehall "?this occurred on March 12, 1658,97?" thither, also, he convened his principal Military Officers"?this happened on February 6, 1658,98 so that the " conciliation of the Jews," if it is an historic fact, presumably did take place about this time.99 94 See Lucien Wolf in The Resettlement of the Jews in England (London, 1888), "The First English Jew" (Trans. J.H.S., vol. i. p. 18), and CromwelVs Jewish In? telligencers, p. 3 (London, 1904). See also this Society's Report for 1894 (Trans., vol. i. p. 161) as to the inauguration on February 4, 1894, of an Annual Com? memoration of " Resettlement Day." 95 Compare Burton's Diary (Rutt's edition, London, 1828), vol. ii. p. 471, with the original MS. in the British Museum, Add. MSS. 15859-64. The pro? ceedings of Thursday, February 4, 1657/8 are in Add. MS. 15861, fol. 102-105. 96 In The Jews and the English Law Mr. H. S. Q. Henriques devotes three whole pages (pp. 97-99) to questioning the reliability of Burton's Diary as an authority, but the point escapes him that the picturesque phrase about the " seasonable benefaction " is not from a seventeenth-century quill, but from a steel pen of the nineteenth century. 97 See C. H. Firth, Last Years of the Protectorate, vol. ii. p. 50. 98 Idem, vol. ii. p. 44. 99 The contributor of the article on " Oliver Cromwell" to the Jewish En? cyclopaedia (vol. iv. p. 368) has added to the general confusion of Anglo-Jewish historians by coining a date to him more convenient, viz., February 4, 1657 !</page><page sequence="45">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 39 In 1660 Charles Stuart returned to England, and the Church? wardens' Account Book bears witness to the money expended by the loyal parish of St. Katherine Creechurch on the public rejoicings in connection with the King's proclamation, his landing, and his " comeing through the Citty." This was doubtless the year when the Jews began to " lie low," for it was the year when informers were about, drawing up lists of the London Jewry,100 and when the Corporation of the City of London was protesting officially to its new Monarch against the freedom to trade which the Jews enjoyed.101 The year 1660 saw, evidently, an altered policy in the conduct of Jewish congregational affairs, that alteration which led Mr. Green halgh to write 102 the words that I have quoted once already : " since the King's coming in, they are very close, nor do admit any to see them but very privately." On October 14, 1663, Samuel Pepys, the diarist, was after luncheon taken with his wife by their great friend, Dan Rawlinson, to see the Synagogue, and his impressions of the place are so well known that I need not quote them.103 Rawlinson, in addition to dealing in various commodities (which at a later date included tea), also kept the Mitre Tavern on the north side of Eenchurch Street,104 and was thus a close neighbour of the Synagogue. His firm still exists, but it has been known since 1777 as Davison, Newman and Co., and to-day their grocers' and teamen's business?without doubt the oldest one in the world?trades from No. 14 Creechurch Lane, exactly opposite No. 5, the site of our ancient Synagogue.105 It was at this period (1663) in the history of the Synagogue that the Finta (levy) was fixed and the Ascamoth (laws) compiled. Mr. Wolf has discovered by inspecting the accounts of the leading Jews in the ledgers of Child's Bank that heavy sums were contributed to the 100 TranSm of Jewish Hist. Soc., vol. v. p. 8. 101 Guildhall Archives, Bern. vol. ix. no. 44, fols. 1-8 (reprinted in Trans. J.H.S., vol. iv. p. 186). 102 H. Ellis, op. cit., p. 20. (See also Appendix I., p. 56.) 103 Diary of Samuel Pepys, Oct. 14, 1663 (Wheatley's edition), vol. iii. p. 303. 104 H. B. Wheatley, Pepysiana, p. 190. (London, 1899.) 105 A. Ashton, " An historic firm," in The West India Committee Circular of November 4, 1913. (London.)</page><page sequence="46">40 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. Synagogue from mid-June to mid-August 1663.106 It has been thought that this money was to be applied for enlarging the Synagogue or moving to a fresh emplacement, but the archives of St. Katherine Greechurch would seem to contradict this view, as they reflect no alteration in the Jews' arrangements. The balance-sheet of the Synagogue is in existence from the year 1664 onwards, and in the first year's account the rent of the building is shown as ?44 6s. 2d.107 As the Churchwardens of St. Katherine's only received ?40, the difference must represent an amount paid in taxes. On April 19, 1664, the learned Jacob Sasportas, of Amsterdam, who in 1655 had accompanied Menasseh ben Israel to London, agreed to return here as the congregation's Haham (Chief Rabbi). He made an undignified exit from this country barely a year later on the out? break of the Great Plague,108 the dreadful pest that carried off Moses Athias, the congregation's original Rabbi,109 as well as several members of his flock, nor could he apparently be prevailed upon to come back. On the whole, however, the Jews seem not to have fared as badly during the Plague as some other communities,110 and it is to be supposed that their hygienic rules of living had stood them in good stead. When in 1666 the Great Fire of London broke out the parishioners of St. Katherine Creechurch escaped almost unscathed, and although the population of London turned angrily on all the Frenchmen, Spaniards, Papists and other folk in their midst who were or seemed to be of alien faith or race, no member of the Jewish congregation appears to have been accused of incendiarism or otherwise molested.111 106 L. Wolf," The Jewry of the Restoration " (Trans. Jewish Hist. Soc., vol. v. p. 23). One of these accounts is that of Mr. Polycarp Oliveira, but to my acute disappointment I have failed to secure access to the ancient ledger for purposes of further research. 107 M. Gaster, op. cit., p. 16. 108 Ibid., p. 32. 109 Trans. Jewish Hist. Soc., vol. viii. p. 99. 110 Oldest burial register at the Be vis Marks Synagogue. (There are six identifiable plague-entries, but the western end of Carrera II. contains approxi? mately fifteen unmarked graves, which are believed to contain plague-victims.) 111 W. G. Bell, The Great Fire of London. (London, 1920.) See especially the index heading, " Foreigners, attacks upon " (p. 376), as well as chap. xi. pp. 196 209 and the list of authorities cited at the foot of these pages.</page><page sequence="47">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 41 I think this is a new point which distinctly goes to prove how thoroughly familiar the Jewish colony had by this time become to the ordinary Londoner, and by inference that this could not have been a congregation which had only just emerged into the public view. These Sephardi Jews are the very people whose names one would expect to find among the many suspects whose deeds of alleged arson were investigated by the House of Commons. Very few of these Jews were English-born ; many were of Spanish, Portuguese or Italian origin ; the rest came from Holland, a country with which England was then at war ; and, finally, some of them had been known in London only ten years previously as practising Papists. In spite of all this, however, no suspicion seems to have fallen on them, although the demented London populace went to absurd lengths while the Fire raged in looking for scapegoats.112 Negative evidence is not generally very convincing, but I have devoted a good deal of research to this particular point, and it does seem to me that something can be learnt from the barrenness of the yield. For the year 1667 the payments by the Churchwardens of St. Katherine Creechurch include a sum of 2s. 6d. in the following matter: " Item paid for nursing of ye Child that was left at the Sinagogue Dore and for things when it was sick 2-6." During the succeeding years many similar incidents are recorded. The front doors of the Synagogue and of some of its members' houses in Bury Street (" Mr. Rodrogus his dore," " Mr. Doportos dore," and " Mr. Mirandos dore," all in the same thoroughfare) seem to have been regarded as likely spots for depositing foundlings. The children were invariably christened with names reminiscent of these incidents, and I have had occasion to decipher many comical entries with regard to the infant welfare of little Jane Jewry, Master Jew Bury, Abraham Ben-Heber, Benjamin Sinogo, and other unfortunate parish waifs. At this stage I should like to draw attention to Thomas Jefferys' " New and Exact Plan of the City of London . . . and the Additional New Buildings, Churches, &amp;c." (PLATE 9). It was indeed not published until 112 See A True and Faithfull Account of the several Informations exhibited to the Honourable Committee appointed by the Parliament (London, 1667), and other contemporary pamphlets cited in W. G. Bell's work (pp. 364-9).</page><page sequence="48">42 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 1735, but the map of the eastern portion of Aldgate Ward must cer? tainly have been compiled over sixty years previously, since the Bevis Marks Synagogue?commenced in 1698?is still shown as Plough Yard, whilst the site of the Great Synagogue in Dukes Place?built over in 1722?also appears as a garden. In his gazetteer of places of interest Jefferys includes the " Jews Synagouge," and on his map he illustrates the Creechurch Lane House of Prayer very prominently indeed. It will be noticed that the corner-house east of the Synagogue is not shown as part of the property. Bowles and Carver's " New and Exact Plan "?probably published about three years later?reproduces these interesting features of Jefferys' map. Both maps, I may remark incidentally, are very rare.113 As I have already stated, the Churchwardens' Accounts for 1672 show that in September of that year Mr. William Core acquired a lease of Oliveira's former house. He, too, paid a ?20 premium (" Rec'd of Mr. Core for the ffine of his lease "), and the conscientious church? wardens duly spent 2s. id. at the Crown Tavern " with Core about getting his money." In May 1674, at the request of the vestry, he agreed to surrender 113 Already in 1690 the " Jews Sinnagog " had figured in prominent lettering in a map of " London Westminster and Southwark by Robert Morden . . . and by Phil. Lea," but the site indicated is some forty feet further west than the " corner house opposite against the Great Gate leading into Dukes Place." As a result the Synagogue appears to front on the eastern side of an unnamed road running parallel with Creechurch Lane, which can be identified with Axe Alley, called to-day Sussex Place. The Synagogue is shown (as such) with equal pro? minence in many later maps ; inter alia in those by Thos. Bowles (1731), Sutton Nicholls (1731 and 1739), and John Bowles (1736 and 1742). In all these the slightly erroneous location is persisted in ; sometimes a rather more northerly site is indicated, so that the building seems to be at the corner of Axe Alley and Grey? hound Alley. (The last-named lane can best be described as a westerly pro? longation of the modern Mitre Street, connecting it with St. Mary Axe.) I am confident that the small divergences in these maps are due to cartographical errors and that there can be no suggestion of a second synagogue having stood within a few feet of the original one. Incidentally, I happened to notice when examining the original drawing of John Overton's 1676 map of London?it is in the Crace Collection at the British Museum?that the whole of this Synagogue area had been erased and re-drawn ; it seemed as if the artist had originally shown the Jews' meeting-house, and then had changed his mind about it. The Bevis Marks Synagogue is illustrated on Bowen and Foster's map of 1738, and the earlier synagogue is omitted.</page><page sequence="49">iTofacep. 42</page><page sequence="50">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 43 his lease for ?30 on being told that" the Parish hath an opportunity to lett his (Core's) house and the Synagogue house together to the Jews." 114 Already in 1673 the parish had been 44 treating with the Jews about the Synagogue," and so on August 6, 1674, there occurred 44 the sealing of the Jews Lease," which was a lease for twenty-three years.115 The Churchwardens' Account Book contains over a dozen entries relating to the transaction?chiefly from April to July 1674?and they are self-explanatory. It is amusing to note that the cost to the parish of the 44 refreshers " totalled well over ?1 10s. 'Aprill 26th 1674. Aprill 30 May 1 May 4th May 4th Spent in treating "with Mr. Core = .01. = Spent in treating with Mr. Core . Spent in Cores business Spent in treating with the Jews . Spent wth Major Wilhams Mr. Pope and Mr, Clarke116 about the Jews businesse . Spent with the Jews and Core . Spent wth Mr. Lewes and Mr. Ashby about the Jews business .... Paid to Mr. Core .... Paid Mr. Selseby and Mr. Booth for veiwing the Sinagogue..... Spent in meeting about the Jews Lease. Spent at the sealing the Jews Lease Spent in receiving rent of the Jews Spent in receiving the Jews rent. Received a yeares rent of the Sinagogue Due at Ladyday 1675 55. Received for a fine for the Lease of the Sinagogue . .100. May 11th June 10th June 26th June 29th July 1st 6th Aug. .01. .01. .06. .02. .01. .05. .05. .04. 06 06 07 00 00 = .01. = 18. = = 06 = = .08 = .01 = 00. 114 Vestry Minute of May 3, 1674. See Appendix V. d, p. 114. 115 Vestry Minute of February 2,1697/8 (Appendix V. d, p. 115) shows that the lease expired at Midsummer 1698. A fresh lease for seven years was thereupon granted, the Jews having the option to end their tenancy at six months' notice after the first year of the term had elapsed. Only four years later the Jews were " summoned ... to Quitt the Synagogue or to take a New Lease thereof " (Vestry minute of December 10, 1701. See p. 115). A fresh lease was arranged to run for twenty-one years, from Midsummer 1702 (Vestry Minute of January 21, 1701/2?see p. 116), and this is one of the deeds preserved to-day by the Bevis Marks Congregation. 116 Williams was a prominent Churchman. Wm. Pope and Thos. Clarke were the two carpenters who carried out the extension of the Synagogue, and whose</page><page sequence="51">44 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. I do not propose to devote much time to discussing the appear? ance of the building and the nature of the structural alterations that were carried out first in 1657 and then in 1674, as this is partly covered by Greenhalgh's long letter and by the other documents, but Mr. Castello's plans (PLATE 10) and our annotations to the 44 Carpenters' Agreement " show in detail what we believe to have taken place.117 In 1657 the yard of the larger (or western) house must have been built over118 to provide a staircase, landing, and the women's long room described by Greenhalgh. This would have added some 259 square feet of floor area to the existing first floor?all partitions of which were doubtless removed?so that the total floor-area of the original Synagogue " up one pair of stayres " would have been 756 square feet. Mr. Castello finds that there was seating-accommodation for about eighty-five men and twenty-five women, and this agrees approximately enough with Greenhalgh's statement : " When I was in the Synagogue I counted about or above a hundred right Jews . . . they were all gentlemen (merchants)." Greenhalgh also writes that 44 I saw some of their wives," but he evidently had no opportunity of counting the ladies.119 The 1674 alterations were on a larger scale: the two houses were combined, and on the ground-floor the yard of the small corner-house was built over. On the first floor all partitions were removed, so that the Synagogue's main floor measured some 1104 square feet?an increase of about 350 square feet. A large portion of the second floor was completely cut away, and two ladies' galleries, measuring contract with the Jews has been preserved at Be vis Marks. Pope was a livery? man and lived in the Minories ; he seems to have been in a fair way of business, since no fewer than nine apprentices were bound to him between 1655 and 1671. Clarke's business was first in Leadenhall Street and then in Gravel Lane, and he seems to have established himself many years later than Pope. (B. Marsh, Records of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters, vol. i. Apprentices Entry Book*, Oxford, 1913.) 117 See Appendices I. and II. a, pp. 49 and 59. 118 In the Bentham case (see Appendix V. g, p. 124), exactly one century later, it was pointed out in the Brief of Counsel for the Parish that the south wall of the larger house was not of that stout construction usually expected in outer walls, " so that it was astonishing that the same had not fallen down." It had evi? dently been raised on a garden-wall. 119 See Appendix L, pp. 56 and 52.</page><page sequence="52">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 45 40 feet in length and having double rows of seats, were provided on the north and south sides. There was also a gallery on the western side ; this was not enclosed as were the women's galleries, but was provided " wth rails and bannisters leaneing heighth and not with pannells," and it is highly probable that it was used by male wor? shippers, as there was a staircase behind leading straight down into the Synagogue.120 The interior of the building was panelled throughout, the galleries were supported by Doric columns and arches, and the ceil? ing under the gallery coved. The columns were carried up above the galleries, and there were arches from one capital to the other support? ing the main ceiling of the Synagogue, which was also coved. The main entrance to the Synagogue must have been quite impressive :121 there were double doors " Hansome and Workmanlike," with fanlights above them and posts outside them and a pair of benches in the street. The passage was " between six and seaven foote wide," and over the doorway was a penthouse having a pediment 4 * ornamentall and workmanlike "?-all in the best traditions of seventeenth-century architecture. On the south end of the passage there was a broad, easy-going staircase which led up to the body of the Synagogue on the first floor. The ladies' northern gallery had a separate entrance from the street, the front door of the corner-house having been appropriated for the purpose.122 Unfortunately there was no Greenhalghto describe to us minutely the seating-arrangements in the enlarged Synagogue,123 but Mr. Castello, basing himself on the available floor-space and taking 120 I am indebted to Mr. Cecil Roth for the information that the synagogue at Carpentras, which he visited in 1921, has a similar arrangement. That building dates from 1741. 121 " hegt 0f the seven (synagogues in Venice) is not near so fine as that in London." This enthusiastic tribute was inserted in a 1699 English version of F. M. Misson's " Nouveau Voyage dTtalie " (" A New Voyage to Italy . . . Done out of French." Vol. i. p. 238). I have derived this information from Dr. Israel Abrahams. 122 See M. Gaster, op. cit., p. 7, for independent confirmation of this. 123 It was visited in 1686 by Henry Newcome, M.A., but in his autobiography his only comment is, " We went to the Jews Synagogue. I could not have believed it, but I saw it, such a strange worship, so modish and foppish ; and the people not much serious in it as it is." (I owe this reference to Mr. Henriques' book, op. cit., p. 146 n.)</page><page sequence="53">46 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. into consideration the customary arrangements,124 assesses the ac? commodation as follows : Men on the main floor . . . .150. ,, in the western gallery . . . .22. Women in the northern gallery . . .42. ,, in the southern gallery . . . 42. This gives a total of 172 men and 84 women. The estimated cost of the 1674 extension-scheme was ?222?-a big sum in those days?but in addition Dr. Gaster's history records 125 a number of payments to Jewish workmen?all of whom were German Jews?for work done to the Ark and for helping in the construction of the new reading-desk. It will be appropriate at this stage to draw attention to " the most accurate Survey of the City of London made by John Ogilby &amp; Wm. Morgan " in 1677.126 As will be seen, this excellent map gives a first-rate plan of the Synagogue property, although it does not describe it as such. One highly interesting feature is that the yard of the small corner-house is plainly shown ; it will be remembered that under the " Carpenters' Agreement " of 1674 this open space was to be built over as part of the scheme of Synagogue enlargement. (See PLATE 4 ii.) The Churchwardens' Account Book contains many further entries affecting the Jews during the accounting period 1675 to 1690, but127 124 The important Sephardi Synagogue of Amsterdam was also being built during 1674. 125 M. Gaster, op. ext., p. 52. 126 A . . . map of the City of London, iehnographically describing all the streets . . . churches, halls and houses actually surveyed and delineated by John Ogilby 1677. Reprinted London, 1895. Edited by Charles Welch, F.S.A., for the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society. 127 The " old style " of date is dropped from 1684 onwards. The Church? wardens' Account Book (MS. 1216) closes in 1691, but the Vestry Minute Book (MS. 1196) is continued until 1718. (Incidentally it contains many matters of Anglo-Jewish interest that are outside the scope of this paper.) The succeeding Churchwardens' Account Books are to-day missing, but the following reference to items for the period 1693 to 1706 has been found in an article on St. Katherine Creechurch in James P. Malcolm's Londinium Ttedivivum (1803), p. 313 : " 1693. The parish rented certain houses to the Jews for a synagogue. I have not been able to ascertain with certainty which were the precise buildings, but the rent was 60? per annum. In the year 1704 the rent was but 40?. The taxes had been 11? 10s. per year. " 1706. From an entry at this period we are led to suppose the Jews had removed; for it is written, ' Recivd a years rent for the houses that were the old synagogue 40?.'"</page><page sequence="54"></page><page sequence="55">?r * I I I ? * d/?^wyijrTN/ '7-? PLA] (Reco</page><page sequence="56">PLANS SHOWING THE SYNAGOGUE PROPERTY IN 1630, IN 1657 AND IN 1674 (Reconstructed from evidence found in various documents and drawn by Manuel N. Castello, A.R.I.B.A.)</page><page sequence="57">1 u ^ I " ''Jill 1674 I.B.A.)</page><page sequence="58">[See pp. 44-46] [To face p. 46</page><page sequence="59">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 47 I will only instance three. From 1681 to 1682 an old acquaintance figures as a recipient of the Parish's Bounty. It is Aaron Gabbay, who had been shown under " Ducks Place " on the informers' list of London Jewry drawn up in 1660.128 Now he has become " Gaybay the Converted Jew," and the Creechurch Lane Sedaca (Charity Fund) is closed to him; and so St. Katherine's Vestry passes several resolutions and some twenty shillings are doled out to him in seven instalments. In 1686 the pious congregants of St. Katherine Creechurch arranged with Bernard Schmidt, the famous organ-builder who had worked for Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral,129 to erect a new instrument in their gallery at a cost of ?250. " Father Smith's " organ is in use to this day in the church, and I was gratified to find that nine Jewish parishioners?most of them prominent in the Synagogue? had given generous subscriptions to the original Organ Fund. This is the list : " Received of Mr. Alphonso Rodriguze of Mr. Simon Rodriguze . of Mr. Anthony Gomaseras of Mr. Isaac Valentia of Mr. James Gonsalis of Mr. Joseph Francia of Mr. Antonio Rodriguze of Mr. Joseph Heniricus . of Mr. Anthony Robello . 02. 03. 0 02. 10. 0 02. 03. 0 001. 00. 0 001. 00. 0 001. 00. 0 001. 00. 0 001. 00. 0 000. 05. 0" ?12 1 0 The closing subscription rather suggests that Mr. Anthony Robles ?for the name occurs in its correct spelling in the 1688 accounts?? was in his old age less affluent than his brother Jews. In 1656 he had been the hero of the important Robles Case tried by the Commissioners for the Admiralty and Navy ; at that time he was certainly a merchant in a very large way of business, as appeared from the evidence of his factor and principal witness John (otherwise Samuel) Baptista Dunington.130 Strange to relate, this personage also figures in the 128 Brit. Mus. Add. MS. 29868, fol. 16, reproduced in Trans. Jewish Hist. Soc, vol. v., facing p. 7. 129 Diet, of Nat. Biography, article on " Bernard Smith, formerly Schmidt," vol. liii. pp. 18-20. 130 Trans. Jewish Hist. Soc, vol. i. Appendix 11., pp. 77-86.</page><page sequence="60">48 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. Church war dens' Account Book, for he, too, was driven to seek the charity of the parish : in 1689, in 1690, and 1691 three payments of 2s., 3s., and Is. are entered out as having been " given Samuell Baptista," " paid and gave to Samuell Baptista," and " paid and given to John Baptista." I am afraid that the parish authorities requited somewhat un? graciously the Jews' liberality in the matter of the Organ Fund, for from 1686 onwards they adopted the iniquitous practice of electing them as Churchwardens and Overseers and then fining them for their inability to serve. Mr. Lucien Wolf has discovered one instance of this sort in 1704 (at St. James', Dukes Place),131 but St. Katherine's records furnish fifteen such cases between 1686 and 1689, and inci? dentally add to our knowledge of the personal history of the leading London Jews concerned.132 I have now related most of what I have to tell about the genesis of the ancient Synagogue which was the cradle of the fully grown Jewish community that to-day inhabits these islands. This free and tolerant country was among the very first to offer to our harassed kinsmen a safe retreat from the fires of the Inquisition and the tortures of the Question Chamber, and present-day Jews?particularly those who study their history-books?-are unlikely to forget this. During the time I have spent in rescuing our first Anglo-Jewish congregation from the limbo of things forgotten, the ancient building and its founders have grown very real to me, and my only regret is that I lack the art to conjure up a worthy picture of those good gentlemen themselves and of their strivings?and so I have not attempted it. 131 L. Wolf, " Jewish Emancipation in the City," in Jewish Chronicle of September 28, 1894. 132 It is, of course, conceivable that the Jews themselves sought an oppor? tunity of sharing the civic burdens of their Christian neighbours by " fining for " these offices, and that these payments were as much a freewill offering as their contributions to the church's organ fund. Their nerves had been severely shaken only a few months previously, when thirty-seven of their number were arrested under an old statute ("as they were following their occasions on the Royal Exchange ") for non-attendance at church. Joseph Henriques was one of the three Synagogue Elders who thereupon petitioned King James II. for the staying of the proceedings. These were duly quashed (by Order in Council) on November 13, 1685, and Mr. Henriques may have wished to show his gratitude soon afterwards by helping St. Katherine's Organ Fund and by " fining for " the posts of overseer of the poor and of upper and lower churchwarden. See H. S. Q. Henriques, op. cit., pp. 153-154.</page><page sequence="61">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. i INDEX TO APPENDICES. page I. J. Greenhalgh's Letter of 22nd April, 1682, describing his Visit to the Synagogue ...... 49 II. Schedule of Documents in the Archives of the Bevis Marks Synagogue ....... 58 H.a. u The Carpenters Agreement," 18th May, 1674 . . 59 II. b. Endorsement on lease of 20th July, 1703 ... 65 III. Schedule of Documents at the Office of the London Parochial Trustees . . . . . . .67 IV. Extracts from Charity Commissioners' Reports . . 69 V. From Documents in the Archives of St. Katiierine Cree church (deposited in the guildhall library) . . 73 V. a. Extracts from the Churchwardens' Account Book, 1650-1691 . 73 V. b. Schedule of Conveyances ..... 86 V. c. 1. Extracts from Conveyance of 18th April, 1622 . . 92 V. c. 2. Deed of Sale of 20th December, 1656 ... 93 V. c. 3. Release to Trustees, 28th July, 1657 . . .95 V. c. 4. Release to Trustees, 13th April, 1709 . . . 101 V. c. 5. Extract from Release to Trustees, 25th August, 1738 108 V. d. Extracts from the Vestry Minute Book for the period 1639-1718 . 109 V. e. Extracts from the Workhouse Committee's Minute Books, 1745-1838 . 117 [To face p. 48</page><page sequence="62">? THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. INDEX TO APPENDICES. page V. /. Extract from a Tradesman's Account for Repairs to the Workhouse in 1745 . 121 V. g. Extracts from a draft of a brief for Counsel in the Bentham proceedings, Spring 1755-Summer 1757 121 V.h.l. Lists of intended Jewish witnesses for the Bentham proceedings . . . . . . .124 V. h. 2. Letter to the City Surveyor, 6th June, 1755 . . 125 V. i. Affidavit of Mrs. Nathan Solomon, a domestic servant, 27th June, 1755 (Bentham proceedings) . . 126 VI. From the British Museum. Extracts from a Crom wellian Register of Arrivals in London from Overseas, February 1656-AuGust 1657 . 127 VII. From the Public Record Office. Some of the Pleadings in the Bentham Proceedings. 128 VII. a. Chancery Information filed on 10th June, 1755 . 129 VII. b. List of Chancery Affidavits, Michaelmas Term, 1757 139 VII. c. 1. Extract from J. Bentham's Affidavit, 15th November, 1757 . 141 VII. c. 2. Affidavit of R. Martin, Workhouse Master, 28th November, 1757 . 141 VII. c. 3. Extracts from Affidavit of R. Jennings and others residing in the Creechurch Lane " corner-house " 142 VII. c. 4. Extract from J. Hawkins' Affidavit . . .143 VII. c. 5. Abstract of D. Highmore's Affidavit, 4th August, 1757 . 143 VII. c. 6. Affidavit of the City Surveyor, George Dance, and others, 1st December, 1757 .... 143 VII. c. 7. Abraham Martin's Affidavit, 7th December, 1757 . 145 VIII. Text of Label dated July, 1837, inside a Chest in the Church of St. Katherine Cree ..... 146</page><page sequence="63">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX I. 49 APPENDICES. I. From " Original Letters illustrative of English History," edited by Sir Henry Ellis. Second Series, Volume 4, Letter CCCIX, pp. 3 to 21. (London, 1827.) Mr. Jo. Greenhalgh to his friend, Mr. Thomas Crompton. A Visit to the Jewish Synagogue established in London.(a) Mr. Crompton,?When any thing ever occurred in my reading any where concerning the manner of the Jews divine worship (though since the Destruction of their City and Temple) I have always thought it worth the seeing of a Christian; at least for once where it could be obtained. And amidst other fashions of Religions which my curiosity hath prompted me with a desire to see in this City, having been at the meetings and worship of Papists, of Anabaptists, of Quakers, of Fifth Monarchie men, and I con? sidered and concluded with myself, that there must in reason need be some number of Jews in this City, though only merchants, and that consequently they must have some place of meeting together for their divine worship. Whereupon, as occasion offered me to converse with any that were likely to inform me, I inquired hereof, but could not of a long time hear or learn whether or where any such thing was. But lately having a desire to spend (a) The " original " of this letter of 1662 is a copy made about half a century later by Dr. White Kennett (1660-1728), a historian of note who, after being vicar of St. Botolph, Aldgate (circa 1701), was raised to the See of Peterborough. Dr. Kennett also copied another letter from Greenhalgh to the Rev. Mr. Crompton, containing the description of a visit to Dunkirk in May 1662, and this was duly printed by Kennett in his detailed history of the Restoration, which leaves off at December 1662. ("Register and Chronicle, Ecclesiastical and Civil: containing Matters of Fact delivered in the words of the most Authentick Books, Papers and Records; digested in exact order of time. With papers, notes and references towards discovering the true History of England from the Restauration of King Charles II." by White Kennett, D.D., vol. i. p. 715, London, 1728.) The Dunkirk letter is of the 20th June, 1662, and is signed in full " John Greenhalgh." It contains a reference to " an old scholar of mine," which suggests that the writer had at one time been a schoolmaster; it makes it clear that Greenhalgh was, at the time of writing, a man of means. This letter is numbered 43 in vol. liv. of Bishop Kennett's Collection, Lansdowne MSS. (Brit. Mus.) 988, fol. 199 to 206. The letter about the Synagogue is No. 35 in the same volume, fol. 175 to 180. VOL. X. E</page><page sequence="64">50 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX I (cOflt.). some of my time here in learning the Hebrew tongue, and inquiring of some one that professed to teach it, I lighted upon a learned Jew with a mighty bush beard, a great Rabbi as I found him afterward to be, with whom after once or twice being together, I fell into conference and acquaintance ; for he could speak Latin, and some little broken English, having as he told me been two years in London. He said he was an Hebrew of the Hebrews of the Tribe of Levi, and his name (I had liked to have said his Christian name) Samuel Levi. He told me his own mother is yet living, and dwelleth at this present in the City of Jerusalem, from whence he had received ten several Letters within these two years. For it is a custom amongst them, that those who are of able estate, though born and have lived in other countries, yet when they grow old they transport themselves thither to end their days, and lay their bones there in the Holy place as he called it. He said he was brought up, and was a student eleven years, in the Jews College in Cracovia the chief City of Poland, where the Jews have an University, and that he had newly written over the Five Books of Moses with his own hand in Hebrew, without points, in rolls of parchment, for the use of a Synagogue : and that himself had formerly been Priest to a Synagogue of his own nation in Poland.(b) A very modest man, and once with much ado I got him to accept of an invita? tion to take part of a dinner with me : at which time he told me that he had special relation as Scribe and Rabbi to a private Synagogue of his nation in London, and that if I had a desire to see their manner of worship, though they did scarce admit of any, their Synagogue being strictly kept with three doors one beyond another, yet he would give me such a ticket, as, upon sight thereof, their porter would let me in upon their next Sabbath Day in the morning being Saturday. I made show as though I were indifferent, but inwardly hugged the good hap. When Saturday came, I rose very early, the place being far from my lodging; and in a private corner of the City, with much ado, following my directions, I found it at the point of nine o'clock, and was let come in at the first door, but there being no Englishman but myself, and my Rabbi not (b) I identify Samuel Levi with " Sin Leuey," who in the 1st Informers List of the 1660 London Jewry is shewn as lodging " at Mr. Linger a plumer " in Cree church Lane (Trans. Jew. Hist. Soc., vol. v. p. 6). This seems to have been a recognised home for unattached Jews who were recent arrivals (cf. Appendix VI., p. 128). Samuel Levi had evidently been serving the Creechurch Lane Syna? gogue as " Sopher " or Scribe, but it would appear that subsequently circumstances compelled him to assume a humbler post. The Burial Register of the oldest London Sephardi cemetery contains a 1701 entry (" 6ta Carera Semuel Levy Samas 12 Adar 5461"), which shews that, despite his superior qualifications, he became the Beadle of the Congregation. According to Mr. Lucien Wolf (Jewish Chronicle, July 31 and August 7, 1903) he was a younger brother of Benjamin Levy, the Secretary of the Congregation.</page><page sequence="65">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX I (coflt.). 51 being there then (for they were but just beginning service) I was at first a little abashed to venture alone amongst all them Jews ; but my innate curiosity to see things strange spurring me on, made me confident even to impudence. I rubbed my forehead, opened the inmost door, and taking oft* my hat (as instructed) I went in and sate me down amongst them ; but Lord (Thoma frater) what a strange, uncouth, foreign, and to me barbarous sight was there, I could have wished Thoma that you had then sate next me, for I saw no living soul, but all covered, hooded, guized, veiled Jews, and my own plain bare self amongst them. The sight would have frightened a novice, and made him to have run out again. Every man had a large white vest, covering, or veil cast over the high crown of his hat, which from thence hung down on all sides, covering the whole hat, the shoulders, arms, sides, and back to the girdle place, nothing to be seen but a little of the face ; this, my Rabbi told me, was their ancient garb, used in divine worship in their Synagogues in Jerusalem and in all the Holy Land before the destruction of their City : and though to me at first, it made altogether a strange and barbarous show, yet me thought it had in its kind, I know not how, a face and aspect of venerable antiquity. Their veils were all pure white, made of taffeta or silk, though some few were of a stuff coarser than silk ; the veil at each of its four corners had a broad badge ; some had red badges, some green, some blue, some wrought with gold or silver, which my Rabbi told me were to distinguish the tribes of which each was common. I was a curious and critical spectator of all things there, and when I came to my Chamber in the afternoon I wrote down the particulars in my notebook, while fresh in memory. Their Synagogue is like a Chapel, high built; for after the first door they go up stairs into it, and the floor is boarded; the seats are not as ours, but two long running seats on either side, as in a school: at the west end of it there is a seat as high as a pulpit, but made deskwise, wherein the two members of the Synagogue did sit veiled, as were all both priest and people. The chief Ruler was a very rich merchant, a big, black, fierce, and stern man to whom I perceive they stand in as reverential an awe as boys to a master ; for when any left singing upon their books and talked, or that some were out of tune, he did call aloud with a barbarous thundering voice, and knocked upon the high desk with his fist, that all sounded again(c). Straight before them, at some distance but on a seat much lower, sate the Priest. Two yards before him, on midst of the floor, stood that whereon the Service and Law were read, being like to an high short table, with steps to it on one side as (c) This impressive " Parnas Presidente " was probably David Abarbanel (alias Manuel Martinez Dormido), a brother-in-law of Menasseh ben Israel, who had been living in London openly as a Jew since September 1654 (Trans. Jew. Hist. Soc., vol. iii. pp. 88-93). He signed a petition of 1664 to Charles II. as senior representative of the London Jews (M. Gaster, op. cit.9 pp. 3-5).</page><page sequence="66">52 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX I (cont.). an altar, covered with a green carpet, and upon that another shorter one of blue silk ; two brass candlesticks standing at either end of it; before that on the floor were three low seats whereon some boys sat, their sons, richly veiled, as gentle comely youths as one should see ; who had each his Service Book in hand, in Hebrew without points, and were as ready and nimble in it, and all their postures as the men. There was brought in a pretty Boy at four years old, a child of some chief Jew, in rich coats, with black feathers in his hat, the priest himself arose and put a veil over the child's hat of pure white silk, fastening it under the hat band that he should not shake it off, and set him upon a seat among the boys ; but he soon leaped off, and ran with his veil dangling up and down ; once he came and looked at me, wondering perhaps that I had no veil; at length he got the inner door open and went to his mother; for they do not suffer the Women to come into the same room or into the sight of the men : but on the one side of the Synagogue there is a low, long and narrow latticed window, through which the women sitting in the next room, do hear ; as the boy opened it, I saw some of their wives in their rich silks bedaubed with broad gold lace, with muffs in one hand and books in the other, (d) At the east end of the Synagogue standeth a closet like a very high cupboard, which they call the Ark, covered below with one large hanging of blue silk ; its upper half covered with several drawing curtains of blue silk ; in it are the Books of the Law kept. Before it, upon the floor, stand two mighty brass candlesticks, with lighted tapers in them ; from the roof, above the hangings, two great lamps of christal glass, holding each about a pottle filled up to the brim with purest oil, set within a case of four little brass pillars guilded. In the wall at either end of the Synagogue are very many draw boxes, with rings at them like those in a Grocer's Shop ; and in it (as I came sooner in the morning than many or most of them) I saw that each Jew at his first entrance into the place did first bow down towards the Ark wherein the Law was kept, but with his hat on, which they never do put off in this place ; but a stranger must; for after a good while two English? men were brought in, at which I was glad, being alone before, and they were bareheaded until they were set down amongst them, which then put on their hats. The one I knew to be a citizen and shopkeeper, (e) At last I saw my Rabbi come in. Each Jew after he had bowed went straight to his box, took a little key out of his pocket, unlocked it, took out his veil and books, then threw his veil over his hat and fitted it on all sides, and so went to his place, and fell a tuning it upon his Hebrew Service Book as hard and loud (d) Greenhalgh appears to have occupied a second row seat immediately to the right of the entrance doorway. (See PLATE 10.) (e) This description would fit Bellamy, the Seething-Lane-wine cooper, who had belonged to Carvajal's following, and is known to have been a proselyte to Judaism. (Trans. Jew. Hist. Soc., vol. v. pp. 6 and 9.)</page><page sequence="67">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX I (cont.). 53 as he could ; for all is sung with a mighty noise from first to last, both of priest and people ; saying some prayers ; and all was done in the right true Hebrew tongue, as my Rabbi affirmed to me afterwards ; which, to this end, they do industriously teach all their children from their infancy, having their schoolmistress on purpose, especially their Service books, which they have at their fingers' end. There was none but had a book open in his hand, about the bigness of our hand Bibles. I looked upon several of their books as they sate by me and before me, yea I could plainly see both fines and letters in the Priest's book wherein he read, I sate so nigh him (/), and all were the true Hebrew letters, but in all the books without any points. The Priest's son, a comely youth standing at the Table or Altar alone(gr), sung all the former part of the service which was a full hour long, all the rest singing with him, with a great and barbarous noise ; this consisted mostly of the Psalms of David, with some prayers intermixed, which they sung standing up looking East, and with a lower noise and in tune not unlike to that when the reading Psalms are sung in our quires; but their reading Psalms they sung much like as we do sing ballads ; and I observed that when mention was made of the Edomites, Philistines, or any enemies of David, or Israel's, they stamped strongly with their feet, that all the Synagogue sounded again. There were two or three composed Hymns, which they, all standing up and looking toward Jerusalem, sang very melodiously. After this former part of the Service finished, the Priest's son officiating hitherto, which was about an hour, there was deep silence for a pretty while ; then the Priest arose and some of the chief Jews with him, and they went with a grave, slow pace, up the Synagogue, to fetch the Law of Moses, and when they came to the Ark wherein it was kept, the priest drew the curtain, and opening the double door of it(?), the Law appeared, then the whole assembly stood up and bowed down just toward it, and the priest and those chief ones with him, stood sing? ing a song to it a little while. The Law was written in two great rolls of very broad parchment (as my Rabbi told me afterwards, and he told me the mean? ing of each thing that I desired, to which you must impute all that I here interpret). The roll contained the Book of Genesis and was much lesser ; the other being three times as big, contained the other four Books of Moses. This roll was as thick as a pretty round pillar. Either roll had two fine staves of black wood, one fastened to either end of it, whereon it was rolled up, the staves meeting in the middle ; and the roll was swaddled about with a fine blue scarf, and over it was put a covering or case of blue silk fringed (/) I deduce that, on being joined by Samuel Levi, Greenhalgh moved to a front row seat immediately to the left of the entrance doorway. (See PLATE 10.) (g) The minister was, of course, Moses Israel Athias, but nothing is known of any son of his. (h) This differs from what is usual in Sephardi Synagogues, where the curtain of the Ark hangs inside the doors of the Ark.</page><page sequence="68">54 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX I (cOflt). at the bottom ; and in the top of the over roll was stuck like a fine tree of silver, hung full of silver bells, which my Rabbi told me they called the Bells of Aaron, and in the top of the other roll was stuck a rod, having artificial flowers upon it, in remembrance of Aaron's Rod that budded(i). The priest took forth the two rolls of the Ark and delivered them to two of those with him, who taking the bottom of the staves in their hand, carried them straight upon high, rearing them to their shoulder (j); so they came back in a solemn procession, bringing the Law with singing (those only sang who brought it) melodiously one of the Songs of Sion. "The Law shall forth out of Sion come," &amp;c. And as the Law thus passed along by them the people bowed towards it, and such as could reach took up the fringe of its costly covering in their hands and kissed it. When they had brought it to the altar, four or five were busied in uncovering and unswaddling the roll. The priest's son took in his hand the Silver Bells of Aaron and the budded Rod, and came and sate down next of all to me, thrusting his side so close to mine that part of his veil lay upon mine arm, he holding the Bells and Rod all the while close by my nose : then the priest opened and spread the Law about a yard wide, and lifted it up a full yard above his head, turning himself, and showing it East, West, North and South. The Jews meanwhile bowing down towards it with great reverence. The parchment of it was full yard broad, the ground (i) Although it may appear at first reading that two Scrolls of the Law are here being described, I consider that Greenhalgh is writing about a single Sepher. Its two rollers he apparently regards as four staves, i.e. he regards the projecting handle of a roller as one stave and the projecting upper end of the same roller as a second stave, and he explains that they meet in the middle. The binder ('' a fine blue scarf ") and the mantle (" a covering or case of blue silk ") are both referred to in the singular, whilst he usually employs " it " as a pronoun for " the two rolls of the Law." The crowns or Rimmonim were evidently of odd patterns, and not twin ornaments as is usual. The " over roll," or the " thick " roll, which was of course the right-hand roller, had on its upper end the ornament which Greenhalgh describes as " the bells of Aaron " ; the other " roll," which " was much lesser," received a similar ornament, which he calls a " budded rod." If the Service was being held during December, then the left-hand portion of the Sepher would have contained the Book of Genesis, as stated by Greenhalgh. As will appear, however, his visit to the Creechurch Lane Synagogue probably occurred in March, at which time of year the left-hand portion of the Sepher would have contained Genesis and Exodus, and the right-hand portion not" the other four Books of Moses," but only three. No breastplate is mentioned by Greenhalgh in his description of the appurtenances of the Sepher; and its omission accords with occasional Sephardi practice. (j) As would be done to-day, the officiant handed the Sepher to two gentlemen, the bearer (" que portara") and the escort (" que acompanara "); ''together they brought it to the reading desk," but presumably only one carried it. At all events Greenhalgh uses " hand " and " shoulder " in the singular.</page><page sequence="69">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX I (cont.). 55 yellow, the letters pure black and all without points. I sate within two yards of the Altar. Then the priest laid the Law upon the altar and took in his hand a small silver cane or quill, with the sharp end thereof pointing at the lines of the Law as he read, for the greater reverence ; it was half a yard long. Then there arose one out of the assembly and came unto the priest, making low reverence : when the priest asked aloud whether he desired to hear the Law read, who saying " yes "the priest bade him pray then, and he looked upon his Hebrew Service Book which he had in his hand, and read over a short prayer very fast; then the priest read a few lines of the Law with a loud voice in a thundering barbarous tone, as fast as his tongue could run, for a form only; then asked the man whether he had heard the Law, who saying " yes " he bad him give thanks then, and he read a short prayer out of his book as before : so, bowing himself to the Law and the Priest, he went to his place, and another came, and did in like manner until five or six had thus heard the Law read to them ; which they count a special piece of honour to them. After that, five or six were busied in wrapping up, swaddling and veiling the two rolls of the Law again, whereon they put their Bells and budded Rod again, and carried back with solemn procession as before, and the priest placed it in the Ark ; and they stood singing to it awhile. Afterwards the priest alone, at the Altar, read very many short prayers, to which they all standing up said " Amen " using this same word. Then a comely youth standing in the midst of the Synagogue, and looking towards the Law, sung alone a long Anthem, and after this there was long Supplication, which was the most solemn part of all their service; which they all spake together standing (for they never kneel), with their faces East, often bowing down altogether ; it being partly a complaint of the long desola? tion of their City and Temple, partly a prayer for the coming of Messiah and their Restoration (thank my Rabbi for the interpretation). ' Sion is become a ploughed field, and Jerusalem made an heap of stones, thy servants think upon her stones and it grieveth them to see her in the dust; our ancient and our beautiful House, where our fathers served thee, lieth waste ; then gather us o Lord from amongst the Heathen ; remember Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ; remember thy promises made unto our fathers, in our time, in our time, O Lord,' &amp;c. I confess that looking earnestly upon them in this, and thoughts coming into my mind of the Wonders which God wrought for their fathers in Egypt, and who heard the Voice of God speak to them out of the midst of the fire on Sinai, and seed of Abraham the friend of God, I was strangely, uncouthly, unaccustomedly moved, and deeply affected; tears stood in my eyes the while, to see those banished Sons of Israel standing in their ancient garb (veiled) but in a strange land, solemnly and carefully looking East toward their own Country, confessing their sins and the sins of their forefathers, humbling themselves and bowing down together (as often they did in their</page><page sequence="70">56 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX I (cont.). Supplication) before the God of their Fathers, who doubtless will hear them or their posterity better than they desire, will open their eyes and let them see that the true Messiah came long since, even he whom their fathers pierced, and they shall mourn over him and be brought unto him, and to their own land. After this, for a conclusion of all, the Priest read certain select promises of their restoration, at which they showed great rejoicing, by strutting up, so that some of their veils flew about like morris dancers, only they wanted bells. This forenoon service continued about three hours, from nine to twelve, which being ended, they all put off their veils, and each man wrapping his veil up, went and put it and his Hebrew Service Book into his box, and locking it departed. My Rabbi invited me afterwards to come and see the feast of Purim (k), which they kept he said for the deliverance from Haman's Conspiracy, mentioned in the Book of Esther; in which they use great knocking and stamping when Haman is named. Also he desired me to come and see them at the Passover, which they did ten days before our Easter, and he had got me to the door of the place(Z), but I felt such a reluctancy in me, as that having in part satisfied my Curiosity by seeing their manner of Service once, my heart would in no wise give me to go again amongst those Unbelievers, in that place where my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in whom is all my hope and trust for ever, was not owned. So I came away back again without seeing it; though afterwards I understood that several had been there to see them eat it, who brought away some of their unleavened bread with them, and showed to some who told me, one year in Oliver's time, they did build booths on the other side of Thames, and kept the Feast of Tabernacles in them, as some told me who saw them; but since the King's coming in, they are very close, nor do admit any to see them but very privately. When I was in the Synagogue I counted about or above a hundred right Jews, one proselite amongst them, they were all gentlemen (merchants) I saw not one mechanic person of them ; most of them rich in apparel, divers with jewels glittering [for they are the richest jewellers of any(m)] they are all generally black so as they may be distinguished from Spaniards or native Greeks, for the Jews hair hath a deeper tincture of a more perfect raven (k) Greenhalgh's visit evidently occurred during March, 1662, and shortly before the Feast of Purim. In that year the Sabbath before Purim fell on the 12th March. (I) This Passover service was presumably held at Lingar's lodging house (at the corner of Creechurch Lane and Leadenhall Street), which, as suggested in footnote (b), served in a sense as a Jewish hostel. (m) Samuel Da Veiga and Isaac Alvarez (Israel) Nunez, two prominent members of the Creechurch Lane Synagogue, were London jewellers of the first importance (Trans. Jew. Hist. Soc., vol. v. pp. 7-19 and 23, and The Environs of London, by the Rev. D. Lysons, vol. ii. pt. 2, p. 715. London, 1796-1800).</page><page sequence="71">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX I (cont.). 57 black, they have a quick piercing eye, and look as if of strong intellectuals ; several of them are comely, gallant, proper gentlemen. I knew many of them when I saw them daily upon the Exchange(n) and the Priest there too, who also is a merchant(o). It were tedious to relate the several disputes I had with my Rabbi at our being together, and his strange rabbinical and indeed irrational reasonings against Christ. In a word the curse is upon them to the uttermost; and they have a grosser veil over the eye of the soul, than that which covers their heads ; they are so firmly possessed with an invincible prejudice against the Cross of Christ, and so doat upon their imaginary Messiah to come a temporal King that shall conquer all the princes of the earth, and make their nation Lords of all the World, that an argument from the strongest, clearest and most convincing reasons that can be brought for Christ, is but an arrow shot against a wall of brass. Bene vale mi Thom? et ora tu pro Judseis, et pro miserrimo peccatore omnium Christianorum. Hie tuus olim fraterrimus et in perpetuum frater ubicunque terrarum, Jo. Greenhalgh. London, April 22d, 1662. Quod ad Judazos. Ccepit ab his, delata ad nos, referetur ad illos Nostra fides, et erunt sub Mundi fine fideles. For my worthy friend Mr. Thomas Crompton, Minister of Astley Chappel. These. (n) Greenhalgh's Dunkirk letter (see footnote (a), p. 49) contains the following confirmatory statement: " In the beginning of May I tooka resolution to look abroad beyond Sea. I had been for a month before almost dayly upon ye Exchange amongst the Merchants." (o) Moses Athias was cousin to Carvajal, and, as has been suggested, was doubtless employed in his business. For glimpses of Athias' commercial activities, see Trans. Jew. Hist. Soc, vol. i. pp. 55, 56 and 59, and vol. viii. p. 99, also a scurrilous anonymous pamphlet of 1660 entitled The Great Tfappaner of England. Prior to coming to London in August 1656 (or thereabouts) Athias had served the Portuguese Jews of Hamburg for four years as assistant synagogue-reader and as Hebrew-teacher in the " Talmud Torah " (religious school). These facts are recorded in the Minute Book of that congregation for the years 1652-1657 [on pp. 6 and 70], and they are quoted in Dr. M. Grunwald's Portugiesengr?ber auf deutscher Erde, pp. 97 and 120 (footnotes 11 and 1) [Hamburg, 1902]. Athias occupied the Hamburg post from the 10th of Elul 5412 until some date in Elul 5416, when his successor's appointment was recorded, as he himself was on the point of leaving for London.</page><page sequence="72">58 the first london synagogue. appendix ii. 11 1e IS ^ 53 or ?s-s . &gt; ms ^ O *e ? ? 8 lit 111 i^I I'I'i S-S S ^ ? Ill ? I? c3 CO ? ? ?+H ? PJ C? _^ ? 05 ^ ? 3 .S .3 c3 o h 3 bid q -s.s a, w M &lt;*i O ? r . o ?^ ?.S&lt; ? O 53 _, 3 -3 ? ? 1-0 ^ r? J? ? 2 P-h ^ T5 .a O 2 o "o 2 0 ? h M O nd ? ^ o o ^ ? H as ? q. h o3 &gt; n 13 ? 2 - s 0 ^ " h c3 ? 53 H-l ? r ho ? a ro ?1h a o3 eg ? ? f H ? T5 52 .3 16 ^ 0 a J8 ? ? ft a o o g ^ O c? h H O ? . n ? ^a o o Ph ?-3 2 s ? ? a eg a ? s ?8 ? ^ ? j ?3 ? ? ^ a "a ?-3 ^a o ?-3 ^3</page><page sequence="73">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX II. 05. 59 II. a. From Documents in the Archives of the Bevis Marks Synagogue. " The Carpenters Agreement." Endorsement. Articles of Agreement int. Mr. Wm. Pope &amp; Mr. Thos. Clarke &amp; Mr. Abraham do Porto Isaac Alvares &amp; Ant. Gomes serra 1674 B. No. 1 for Mr. Do Porto. Articles of Agreement Indented made concluded and agreed upon the eighteenth day of May Anno Dm' 1674: And in the Six and Twentieth yeare of the raign of our Soveraigne Lord Charles the Second by the grace of God King of England Scotland and ffrance and Ireland Defender of the ffaith &amp;c. Betweene Abraham do Porto Isaac Alvares and Antonio Gomes Serra on Tbehalf of the Congrega?ion of the Jewish Synagogue of the one part; and William Pope and Thomas Clark Cittizens and Carpenters of London of the other part; as followeth (that is to say). Imprimis The said William Pope and Thomas Clarke for and in consideracon of the sume of nifty and fhve pounds and Tenn Shillings of Lawfull money of England to them in hand paid at and before th' ensealing and delivery of theis prsts by the said Abraham do Porto Isaac Alvares and Antonio Gomes Serra the receipt whereof they doe by theis prsts acknowledge and in Consideracon of the further sume of One Hundred Sixty Six pounds and Tenn Shillings of like money agreed to be paid to them the said William Pope and Thomas Clarke by the said Abraham do Porto Isaac Alvares and Antonio Gomes Serra on the behalfe of the said Congregacon of the Jewish Synogogue for the Inlarging and altering of their Synagogue and of another Messuage or Tenement thereunto adjoynding late in the occupacon of William Core Bricklayer situate and being in Creechurch Lane in the parish of St. Katherine Creechurch in London in such manner and forme as hereafter in theis prsts is menconed and expressed have concluded and agreed and by theis prsts doe for themselves their executors administrators and assignes Covenant promise grant?article and agree to and with the said Abraham do Porto Isaac Alvares and Antonio Gomes Serra their executors administrators and assignes and every of them by theis prsts in manner and forme following (that is to say) that they the said William Pope and Thomas Clarke their exors adm8 or assignes Shall and will below stayres alter and Change the doreway of the said Sinogogue and place the second windowe where the now doore Standing And shall and will provide and make a doreway and place</page><page sequence="74">60 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX II. a (cont). and make a dore Case and doore where the Second Window now standeth Hansome and Workmanlike which said doore way shall be fJower foote and two inches wide within the Doore Posts and shall make Lights over the said Doore and shall and will make and sett op benches and posts without the said Doore and Shall and will take away the now ballcony belonging to the said Sinogogue and Messuage thereonto adjoynding the whole length but not the whole breadth but Shall and will alsoe saw of all the Madellones about h?lfe a foote from the wall and make a pent house with a Noseing Corinth and shall and will make a pediment ornamentall and workmanlike over the doore aforesaid and shall and will cover the said pedimt: with boards and will remove the Two particons more westward that there may be a passage between six and seaven foote wide and on the South end shall and will make one paire of stayres that shall be fower foote and fower inches wide going up into the Sinogogue the heigth of the Stepps whereof not to be above six Inches and an h?lfe and the breadth thereof Eleaven inches and not lesse and shall and will remove and pull down the Westend Chimney and place the same towards the North (a) to do as little damage as may be and shall and will bring up within the Sinagogue (b) the funille of the now Chimneys thereof Eastward and will warde after that the yarde pulled downe and placed there being but two intended to be built there(c) AND shall and will alsoe op one paire of stayres take away all the particons there and Shall and will there enlarge that floore Estward where the Chimney now stands and the now Staire Case and Shall and will Inlarge the Sinogogue more South? ward and where now the brickwall and the Staires are and alsoe South westward where the chimneys now stand and shall and will make way for a funell of a Chimney to be brought up Northwestward in the Corner soe that it may doe as little damage to the passage or gallery or sinogogue as may be with a Conveniency to Carry Smoake And Shall and will alsoe demolish and take downe the Chimneys at the North East Corner and Shall and will erect and build up the funnells there (the one belonging to the Lower roome and the other) more Eastward and Shall and will also take up all the boards of the said floore up one paire of Stayres and furre it Straite and lay it with good Deales and lay the Said Floore wth Straite Joynts and Shall and will (a) " The Westend " chimney is elsewhere referred to as being in the S.W., whilst " the North " is also described as the N.W. (b) The meaning becomes clear if " Eastward " is read immediately after " Sinagogue." (c) This somewhat obscure sentence has been paraphrased as follows : and will see to it that the yard is cleared of all temporary structures {i.e. " pulled down ") so that the new chimney stack may be placed there, " there being but two [funnels] intended to be built there "</page><page sequence="75">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX II. a {cont.). 61 board the walls of the said room quite rounde wth wainscott pannells which said wainscott shall be two yards highe out of which sd two yards of the wainscott benches shall be made on the foreside And shall and will also Cut the part of the third floore and leave soe much of it that there may remaine about tenn foote at the west and on the Northside five foote and an h?lfe little more or lesse and Shall and will take away the stairecase that now is and leave or make a gallery all the length of it within the wall about fforty and Eight foote and shall and will make a Stayre Case at the end of the said Gallery on the west Corner soe that they may ascend from the Intended Sinogogue to one intended gallery to be made on the west end with a passage there behinde to serve the Said gallery Northward and Southward the length of the building wth an addicon of tenn foote or thereabouts and the said staire case forh Land alsoe to and upon a Gallery that shall be made on the South side of the Sinogogue with an Enlargemt:(d) which shall containe in length forty and eight foote of assize little more or lesse and Shall and will new floore the said Galleryes and furre them up to a Straite and Shall and will inclose the said Gallery wth Deale made into pannells Standing height but the Tenn foote Gallery at the West end shall make wth rails and bannisters leaneing heighth and not with pannells and shall and will make seates or benches in the said galleryes of whole deale two rowes on each side where they may be had soe as that the pillers may stand to support the p'misses and chequer by the other pt.(e) and Shall and will erect and provide soe many pillers as shall be thought convenient by the said William Pope and Thomas Clarke in workmanlike manner to support the intended Galleryes and shall and will make the pillers of the Dorieke order for the first(/) and for one story above Staires and shall and will cove from those Capitalls from one Capitall to another of them onder the galleryes and from theme to the wall and from the aforesaid capitalls to a Corinth on the Nose or Front of the galleryes soe as that the Coveing may answere to both and shall and will make the Coveing of the Ceeling from the head of those Capitalls above the Galleryes and over the now windowes for that the Lamps and other Ornaments of the Said Sinogogue may be there Conveniently fixed and fastned AND Shall and will rabbit all the Door Cases and make five doores with wainscott stronge and workmanlike whereof the Outer doore shall be a paire of Doores And shall and will alsoe take away the stones in the now kitchin and yard and shall and will lay the said Kitchin and yard with good Oaken Joysts and yellow whole deales And that they the said William Pope and Thomas Clarke Shall and will at their like Costs and Charges demolish and pull down or Cause (d) The kitchen yard of the small corner house was being built over, and this, no doubt, explains the " enlargement " of its first floor. (e) The precise significance of these five words is not apparent. (/) I.e. the ground floor.</page><page sequence="76">62 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX II. a (cont.). to be demolished the Chimneys at the now East and West end of the said Sinogogue and Shall and will erect build and set up or Cause to be erected built or set up in Stead of the Chimneys that now are one Chimney at the Northwest Corner of the said Sinogogue and two chimneys at the Eastend under the Sinogogue below Stayres And shall and will demolish and pull downe or Cause to be demolished or pulled downe the Wall on the South Side of the Said Yard which is now about tenn foote long and shall bring up a wall there two bricks length in thicknes the foundacons of which said wall shall be three bricks length in thicknesse (g) rack back to two bricks length in thicknes And upon the First Story on that Wall shall make and Lay a Wall of a brick and an h?lfe thicke up two storyes higher then the aforesaid Wall and shall Finde and provide tyles and laths and nailes and Workmanshipp for the tyleing of the roofe wch: Shall be over the aforesaid Yard and Shall Fill up the now Wall under the Breast minor (h) from the first story to the second story on the East side of the now Stayre Case and Shall and will Cutt out more roome where the second window now standeth in the front for a Dore Case and make way to place the Second window where the now Doore Case Standeth and Shall and will make a way for the now balcony doorcase on the North Side of the Said Sinogogue for to place and set the said doore case on the East and for to goe into the East balcony where the window now standed (sic) and Shall and will make good the brickwork where the now balcony doore Case standeth soe that the window which standeth Eastward may be placed where the now balcony doorcase standeth And shall and will pay finde and provide for all the Chimneys such materialls for the foote paces and harths as now theare laid wth: and Shall and will make the way on the South Side below stayres lesse than now it is and cutt away and demolish the wall where the stayres are intended to be built and Shall and will make one Oven below Stayres and Convey the Smoake out of the said Oven into the Chimney there as shall be thought fitt and that they the said Will. Pope and Thomas Clarke shall and will at their own Costs and Charges Cleare and Cause to be Carryed away all such rubbish dirt and soyle as shall be made (upon the said p'misses) by reason of the worke aforesaid AND further that they the said William Pope and Thomas Clarke their exors. admrs. and assignes shall and will finde and provide all bricks timbers deale and nailes which shall be needfull to be spent and used in and about the altering and Inlargeing of the Said Sinogogue as aforesaid and shall and will satisfye content and pay all Carpenters bricklayers and Turners Laborers that shall be set on work in and about the alteracon building and worke aforesaid for their workemanshipp and labour in and about the same and (g) For clearness, insert " set " between " thicknesse " and " rack." (h) This reference to a bressemer is not very clear.</page><page sequence="77">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX II. a {cont.). 63 thereof and of all Accons Suites Costs Charges and demandes whatsoever Concerning the same shall freely acquite and discharge the said Abraham do Porto Isaac Alvares and Antonio Gomes Serra and every of them And that they the said William Pope and Thomas Clarke their exors. admrs. and assignes or some of them shall and will doe compleate and finish all and singular the alteracons work and buildings by theis psts. agreed betweene as aforesaid in all things according to the true intention and meaning of theis prsts. within the space of two months next after that the said Abraham do Porto Isaac Alvares and Antonio Gomes Serra or any of them shall deliiv. possession of the said Sinogogue and the house thereunto adjoyneing unto them the said William Pope and Thomas Clarke if they shall not be hindered by the plaisterer soe as possession shall not be deliided nor the said William Pope or Thomas Clarke to be required to work at the Sinogogue before or untill the Eighth day of June next ensueing the date hereof And that they the said William Pope and Thomas Clarke nor any their servants workmen laborers or assignes shall or will doe any of the worke aforesaid at the p'mises aforesaid upon any Saturday AND the said Abraham do Porto Isaac Alvares and Antonio Gomes Serra for themselves and any of them their and any of their exors. and admrs. joyntly and severally doth and do Co vent, promise grant article and agree to and with the said William Pope and Thomas Clarke their exors. admrs. and assignes by theis prsts. in manner and forme following (that is to say) that they the said Abraham do Porto Isaac Alvares and Antonio Gomes Serra in consideracon of the said William Pope and Thomas Clarke their enlargeing doeing performeing Compleateing and Finishing of the Sinogogue and worke aforesaid and all carpenters bricklayers and turners worke and Workmanshipp onely as aforesaid according to the true intent and meaning of theis prsts shall and will well and truly pay or Cause to be paid unto the said William Pope and Thomas Clarke their exors. admrs. or assignes the sume of one hundred sixty six pounds and tenn shillings in manner and forme following (that is to say) When and soe soone as the way shall be made for the Chimneys and the floore shall be boarded fnfty five pounds and tenn shillings thereof And when and soe soon as the particons shall be removed and all the stayres shall be made and set up ffifty five pounds and tenn shillings more thereof and soe soone as the coveing worke shall be done and all the Galleryes shall be set up and finished ffifty two pounds and tenn shillings more resid and in full payment of the said sume of One Hundred sixty six pounds and tenn shillings And shall and will permitt and suffer the said William Pope and Thomas Clarke their exors. admrs. and assignes to have use and dispose of all the old materialls that are in and about the said p'misses and to use such of the said old materialls in and about the said p'misses aforesaid as shall be good serviceable afad thereohf to take Carry away and dispose of to their own uses without the let of the said Abraham do Porto Isaac Alvares and Antonio Gomes Serra or any of them AND for</page><page sequence="78">64 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX II. a (cont). the performeance of all and singular the Co vents, grants articles and agreemts herein before conteyned on the parte of the said William Pope and Thomas Clarke to be performed the said William Pope and Thomas Clarke binde themselves and either of them and their and either of their heyres excrs. admrs. and assignes unto the said Abraham do Porto Isaac Alvares and Antonio Gomes Serra in the sume or penalty of ffower Hundred pounds of Lawfull money of England firmely by theis prsts ; AND for the perform? ance of all and singular the Covenants grants articles and agreemts herein before conteyned on the part of the said Abraham do Porto Isaac Alvares and Antonio Gomes Serra to be performed the said Abraham do Porto Isaac Alvares and Antonio Gomes Serra binde themselves and eny of them their and eny of their heyres exors. admrs. unto the said William Pope and Thomas Clarke in the like sume or penalty of ffower hundred pounds of like money firmely by theis prsts IN WITNES Whereof the partyes first above named to theis prst Articles of agreements Indented Interchangeably have set their hands and seales the dayes the day (sic) and yeares first above Written (Signed) (Signed) William Pope Thomas Clakke Second Endorsement on back of Agreement Memorand it is agreed before the sealing and delivery of these pnts and the said William Pope and Thomas Clarke for themselves their exor8 admrs and assignes do Covenant promise grant article and agree to and wth the said Abraham do Porto Isaac Alvares and Antonio Gomes Serra by theis prsts that the said William Pope and Thomas Clarke shall and will in the house late in the occupacon of William Core take down Three paire of stayres at the East end which are about two foote and one h?lfe going and shall and will build up three paire of staires more north east ward there the first paire for to Land into a gallery and a little roome the next paire alsoe for to land into a gallery and little roome which two pairs of staires shall be three foote goeing and one paire above the same scantling that they are now and shall and will make particons wth dore and dore Cases in them for to inclose the little roome from the Gallerys and staires And that if there be any alteracon of two paire of staires in the said House more southward wth dore and particons and for to make the old stuffe serve againe at Three pounde and shall and will alter the balcony dore and shall make a diagonall returne according to the Cantey Leaver wth some of the best old railes and Bannisters at thirty shillings more which shall be allowed out the Consideracon with in indentured if it shall not be done Witness our Hands the day and yeares wth in Written (Signed) William Pope ? Thomas Clarke</page><page sequence="79">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX II. b. 65 II. b. Feom Documents in the Archives of the Bevis Marks Synagogue. Endorsement on a lease of 2 Brich Messuages in Creechurch Lane dated 20th July, 1703, between Joseph do Castro and Others and Jacob Mendes, The Schedule menconed to be here endorsed, (vizt.) In the Cellar A Col-Hole enclosed, a little appartment for Beer &amp; a Dore going down into the Cellar. In the Kitchin A Dresser with three Drawers and Cupboards a Leaden Sinck &amp; Cupboard underneath it, the Leaden pipe with two Cocks that brings the water into the Cesterne, a Stone harth ffour shelves round the large Buttery, a Dresser and three Shelves in the little Buttery and a dore going out of the Kitchin into the Buttery and a Dore to the Kitchin and Shutters to the Kitchin Windows with ffastnings. In the parlour even with the Kitchin Shutters to the windows with ffastenings &amp; a Chimney piece &amp; a marble hearth, the room wainscotted, a door to the room &amp; also a Dore into the Compting House out of the parlour &amp; another Dore out of the Compting House into the passage or Entry. In the Room over the Kitchin Shutters to the Windows a fHrestone Harth, a marble ffoote pace a Chimney piece the room wainscotted and a dore to the room &amp; also a dore into the little roome. In the Room over the parlour Shutters to the Windows a ffire Stone hearth a marble foote pace a Chimney piece?the room wainscotted and a door to the roome &amp; also a dore to the Room over the Compting House &amp; ye same Room wainscotted. In the Room over the Kitchin up two pair of Stairs. The Room wainscotted, Shutters to the Windows, a Chimney peece Marbl. ffoote pace &amp; ffire stone Hearth and a dore to the roome &amp; also a dore into the little Room next it &amp; a Seate &amp; Leaden pipe jl goes down into the Vault. VOL. X. F</page><page sequence="80">66 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX II. b (cont.). In the Room over the parlour up two pair of Stairs. The Room Wainscotted Shutters to the Windows a Chimney peece ffirestone harth &amp; marble ffoote pace &amp; a dore into the little roome adjoyning &amp; a closet with a dore to it. In the Garretts. Shutters to all the windows &amp; dores to the Garretts, The Stair Case &amp; passages from top to bottom waynscotted rayle high with Banister &amp; a Lock &amp; Key to the Streetedore with two Iron bolts, a Stone-Stepp &amp; Iron Barrs to the Cellar Windows. (signed) Jacob Mendez. Sealed and delivered in the presence of us (the parchrn^ being first double Stamped) (signed) Ishaac Roiz Portello. (signed) Tho Dewbery.</page><page sequence="81">the first london synagogue. appendix iii. 67 d 0 CO K, d -S I's 11 1? i ???.2 ij o O &gt; 5 io &amp; . p o o is if ?i ? ^o5 1*5 w ,3 ? X rd B ?2 Q ,d ^ ?? -d d ? S-i ? s ^ ^3 S-I OQ CO Cd ^ ? 2 -d ? *fH ? O d ? ? 1- ? I d o c3 d ? ? s d ? .2 1-0 "5! ? .2 w f-4 ? ce .d W 3 ? d S a OD ? 02 _, d ??&lt;nO o "-1 -3 g is ^ CO j-h 05 d ~* t3 r c3 d n3 d c3 d bO d M =3 g d d</page><page sequence="82">68 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX III, (cont.). O O Ph O i-H o S Sie m V ce A ce ??S ^ t rS *S ? O O Oj S ? ? ?H ? ceH H Pn 02 00 rH rH Cd r*&gt; CD r-5 S * PP Si? ? ce ? r~H rH o o a HS C5 ? nd EPS ? ce ^ vo O 00 Ph O a Ph o ? o o o g 'S ce ? ? I a o ^ eLPh O cd cd rn ? ce cd 3? ?! "3 ? ^ ? i_3 rd ?jaM H H rS ce ^.a O ? 'S ^ .5 S3 PP 00 3 a a. ^3 73 ce ce a 02 ? CD ?5^ ce -d ? 2? ^ ? p? .2 o o ce ? s m ? I o -9 ? O ? ^ ^ .a Z rB 3 t co -g pq ? ? w ? .9 ce^o g ^ a ^jscS w&gt; cd b?^4* ? ?? _ ? .2 3 J'S o S CD .? Ph CD ^ ^ CJ ^ 02 ? ce o ? p rg ^ C r3 oa 73 3 b&amp; i Si I r?5 +3 co H</page><page sequence="83">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX IV. 69 IV. Extracts from Charity Commissioners' Reports. Extracts from the Charity Commissioners'" Report of an Inquiry into the Parish Charities of St. Katherine Cree held by Mr. Walter A. Wigram, Assistant Commissioner, on the 4th March 1902. (Blue Book 215, IV. Endowed Charities (County of London).) Page 1. I. The Inquiry in these Parishes was held on the 4th March 1902. II. The following is the report on the Charities of these Parishes, dated the 30th January 1830, of the Commissioners, appointed in pursuance of the Acts 58 Geo. III. c. 91, and 59 Geo. III. c. 81, as continued by the Acts 5 Geo. IV. c. 58, and 10 Geo. IV. c. 57, to inquire concerning Charities in England and Wales (vol. 23, pp. 194 and 226). This Report is hereinafter referred to as the Report of 1830. PARISH OF ST. CATHERINE CREE CHURCH. Page 3. Charities of Blackwell, Bond and Dennison. " Andrew Blackwell gave 30&lt;s. per annum to be distributed in bread to the poor yearly, on ' St. Andrew's day.' " (B.B.) This bequest is further noticed in a vestry minute, dated 5th December 1659, importing, that it was ordered at that vestry, that the surviving trustees who bought (or were named as purchasers) in trust for the parish, either the remainder of the lease for ninety-nine years, or the inheritance of certain messuages, with the appurtenances situate in Cree Church-lane, within the parish, should, for settling of several pious and charitable intentions, in pursuance of the last wills, of the several donors after named, forthwith grant to Abraham Stanyan and several others, parishioners and trustees on the behalf of the said parish, one yearly rent-charge of ?28. 3. 4d. to be for ever issuing out of all the said messuages or tenements, viz. ?10. in lieu of ?200. left by Sir John Gayer, knight, to be distributed on the 16th October in every year; 53/4d. in lieu of ?50. left by Edward Renwick, deceased, to be dis? tributed amongst six poor of the said parish, proportionally, on each Wednesday in Lent yearly ; SO/Od. in lieu of ?20. left by Andrew Blackwell, deceased, to be distributed in bread.to and amongst the poor, on St. Andrew's day in every year; 40/0d in lieu of ?40. viz. ?20. left by Martin Bond, deceased, and ?20. added by William Bond, esq. to be equally disposed of and paid to eight of the poor people of the said parish, who had been in? habitants of the said parish by the space of seven years together, upon St. Martin's-day, in winter, being the 11th November, in every year, and ?12. in lieu of part of the money, goods and chattels which were, by deed made by Magdalen Dennison deceased, given to the said William Bond and others, in trust, for the use of the poor and repairs of the church of the said parish,</page><page sequence="84">70 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX IV. (cont.). which ?12. was to be distributed by the churchwardens, and six or more of the ancient inhabitants of the said parish, where most need should appear on the twenty-fifth December and Good Friday, by even portions ; the first payment in respect of the said ?12. to be made on the twenty-fifth December next after the said William Bond, esq. should be reimbursed the money by him lent to the said parish, and added to the above-mentioned sums, in purchasing the said messuages, or tenements. It appears from the purchase deed, which is dated 28th July 1657, that the consideration money amounted to ?840. and that the premises con? sisted of two brick messuages, then lately new-built, situate in a lane called the Church-lane, in this parish, one of them being the corner house opposite the great gate leading into Duke's-place. The premises thus purchased were subsequently converted into a parish workhouse, for which purpose they are still used. The several annuities above-mentioned, with the exception of Sir John Gayer's andRennick's, have for many years ceased to be paid. This appears to have happened through inadvertence, and we are assured that the pay? ments shall in future be duly made. Sir John Gayer's Charity. Sir John Gayer, knight, by Will, dated 19th December 1648, desired that his executors, within five years after his decease, should lay out the sum of 200Z. for purchasing a house tenement or lands, the rents and profits whereof his will was, should be employed for ever for these several uses and purposes, that is to say, that the minister of the parish church of St. Catherine Cree church should upon the 16th day of October in the forenoon yearly, for ever, preach a sermon in the same church, and he to have for every such sermon 205. the clerk of the said parish to have for his attendance 25. and the sexton 12d. for tolling the bell, and the residue of the said rents and profits to be from time to time, on the said 16th day of October yearly, immediately after sermon, distributed to the poor inhabitants of that parish, being house? holders and of good name and fame, and to no other, by the minister, church? wardens and overseers of the poor of the said parish, or the major part of them, and they not to give above 5s. to any one person, nor less than 3s. to any other, which he desired might be really performed without partial affection to any, but as charity obligeth in such cases ; and whereas he had at that present a pew or seat in the church for himself, children and servants, and a vault in the same church, wherein his wife and children deceased were buried, in which none other yet had been interred, he expected still the continuance and sole benefit and use both of the said pew and seat and vault, so long as any of his alliance then or thereafter should be in that parish, and for the vault, his desire was, which he hoped would be performed, that the same should be reserved only for the burial of himself, family and alliance, which</page><page sequence="85">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX IV. (cont.). 71 should desire or appoint to be interred there, and for none others; and in case this his desire or request concerning the said vault should not be granted and performed, then he willed and appointed that the said house, tenement and land to be purchased as aforesaid, with the rents and profits thereof, should from thenceforth for ever remain to his executors and their heirs ; and the other uses above declared to cease and determine. Page 4. The appropriation of this legacy to the purchase of premises since converted into a workhouse was mentioned under the last article. The sum of ?10. is applied to the use of this charity out of the parish funds ; ?1. being paid to the minister for a sermon, which he duly preaches on the 16th October ; 3s. to the clerk and sexton ; and ?8. 17. 0. on the same day to poor persons, householders and others of the parish attending at the church, in sums not exceeding 5s. This distribution is made in the vestry, by the churchwardens, sometimes in the presence of the minister. RennicFs Charity. " Edward Rennick, gave by his Will, 50?. to be laid out in the purchase of four marks per annum at the least to be paid yearly to six poor house? keepers of this parish by several disbursements ; viz. the first on Ash Wednesday, and the last on Wednesday before Easter yearly, and the persons that are to have it, to be nominated and chosen at a vestry to be holden and called yearly on Shrove Sunday, after evening prayers, and to be such as have been housekeepers ten years in this parish." (B.B.) This legacy of ?50. has been already noticed, under the head of Black well's Charity, as being part of the money which was appropriated to the purchase of premises since converted into the parish workhouse. There is annually paid out of the churchwardens' account the sum of ?2. 14. 0. in respect of this charity, viz., 9s. to each of six poor housekeepers of the parish on Ash Wednesday. Page 9. (See p. 72.) Page 10. IV. The Inquiry was held at the Vestry Room of the Church of St. Katherine Cree, Leadenhall Street, E.C. Mr. Thomas Hare, an Inspector of Charities, reported on the Charities of the parishes of St. Katherine Cree and St. James, Duke Place, on the 26th November 1860. The Charities mentioned in the Report of 1830 were included in State? ment VI. (24), made and published under the City of London Parochial Charities Act, 1883, and sealed under an Order of the Charity Commissioners dated the 1st October 1887. (a) The Charities of Blackwell, Bond, Dennison, Gayer, Rennick, Lingham, Charnock and Jackson were in such Statement scheduled under the heading Parish Estates. (a) This is the Report in Blue Book, No. 333, as to which see footnote 21 on p. 10.</page><page sequence="86">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX IV. (cOflt o ft o o ? XI O O O o g a S O j Q-g -a jo uoi^nqu^sTQ; op O _ &lt;U O H ?^uamaoTreApy pire ptre spnapiAiQ ?3 paxtj ptre d ^"S Eh to sil J If 2 es? ? ?</page><page sequence="87">THE FIEST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. 73 V. From Documents in the Archives of St. Katherine Creechurch (deposited in the Guildhall Library). V. a. Extracts from the Churchwardens1 Account Booh of the Parish of St Katherine Creechurch, 1650-1691. MS. 1198, Vol. /., Guildhall Library. Receipts. Payments. Year 1650. for Tythes. Old of Mr. ffarnando . 01 00 00 Style. of Mr. Lambert . 00 01 06 of Mr. Whitby Junior 00 03 00 of Mr. Whitby Senior. 00 10 00 of Mr. Booker . . 00 03 00 1651. for Tythes. Old of Mr. ffardinando . -1 - - Style. Mr. ffranek . - - - Mr. lambert . 1 - John Davis . . - - Mr. Whitbey . . - - Mr. Dennison . 3 - Mr. Booker . 3 - 1652. for Tythes. Old Mr. ffardinando for one Style. year in arrears and ye yeere 1652 . 2 - - Mr. Franck Mr. Lambert John Davis James Whitby Mr. Dennison John Booker for Burialls. 7th March; for the buriall of Anthony Franck . . . 00 0 8 1653. for Tythes. Old Mr. Fardinando . 1 - Style.</page><page sequence="88">74 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. a (cOYlt.). Receipts. Year 1653. for Tythes. Old Widow Franck . Style. Mr. Lambert Mr. Turner James Whitbey John Booker 1654. for Tythes. Old Thomas Lingard Style. Mr. Whitby Antonio Fardinando . Widow Ffranck Mr. Lambert Mr. Cole . James Whitbey Mr. Digby * . John Booker for Burialls. Sara D in the Church . 1655. for Tythes. Old Thomas Linger . Style. Abraham Stanyan Antonio Ferdinando . Lambert . Cole Whitby . Digby Booker for Burialls. (a) 9th January, Symon Rodergos Ruivos a portingall, ye knell of the four bell and cloth 1656. for Tythes. Old Antonio Ferdinando . Style. Widow Ffranck Payments. 3 - 3 - -56 1 - - 1 6 5 - 3 - 3 - 12 - -56 - 12 - 1 - - 2 - 10 - 3 - -36 Paid Mr Wm Howe for 3 10 0 yards and a quarter of Black Cloth for a - - - hearse cloth . .256 (a) The first two names of Symon Rodriguez Ruivos are also borne by a Jew who figures in these accounts for the years 1686 and 1687. The Jewish Encyclo? paedia (vol. x.) has articles on several members of a Spanish Jewish family called Rodriguez-Rivera.</page><page sequence="89">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. a (cont.). 75 Receipts. Year 1656. forTythes. Old . Style. Mr. Lambert Mr. Cole . Mr. Whitbey Mr. Digby Mr. Booker for Burialls. 22 December Demingo Vast Degretto at Hackney Payments. (b) Paid Mrs. Clough relict and Executrix 3 - of Mr. Wm. Clough 3 - by order of Vestry 2 6 the ballance of his - - accompt as Church 3 - warden . . 6 10 6 Paid for warning the workmen before the Court of Aldermen that were imployed in build? ing the Jewes Syna? gogue . . - 3 - (c) Paid for one whole years rent due (to ye Mr. and ffellowes of 3 6 Magdalen Collidge in Cambridge) for ye Rectory ye 25th March 1657 the sume of . 25 - - 1657. forTythes. Old Antonio Ferdinando Style. Widow Franck . Mr. Lambert . - 4 Mr. Demingo Debretto Mr. Moyses Atteas . 10 Mr. Digby . - - Mr. Booker . - 3 for Buryalls. 4th August Judith De? bretto the knell of ye ffourorth bell and the cloth . . 2 4 20th August Mr. James Whitby the ground in ye vault and the cloth . . .110 9th September. Sarah Atteas the knell of the 3rd Bell . - 1 - Paid Mr. Broome for viewing the writings and his judgment and advice therein for the purchase of the two houses of Mr. James Whitby . . . ?1 -0 -0 Paid him for prsing the deeds when sealed by Mr. James Whitby his wife and sonne . ?1 -0 -0 Paid the scrivener for his paines therein . -10-0 (6) The meeting of the Vestry, at which the payment to Mrs. Clough was voted, took place on the 28th January, 1656/7. (See PLATE 8.) (c) This entry virtually dates itself. The rent was usually paid by the end of March, but sometimes settlement was made during the first days of April.</page><page sequence="90">76 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. a (cont.). Receipts. Payments. Year 1657. Other Receipts. Old Receipts from particu Style. lar men Captaine Stanyon for interest money due from Mr. Whitby the sum of ?29 - - The Particulars of Tythes now rec'd which were formerly denyed vizt: of Captayne Stanyan . - 12 - 1658. for Tythes. Old . Style. Mr.AntonioFerdinando 1 - - Widow Ffranck Isac Lambert Mr. Decosta Mr. Moyses Atteas Mr. Digby Mr. John Booker Mr. Molloyres . for Bury alls. 10th January. Ellen Whitby in the vault 2 - 5 10 1659. for Tythes. Old . Style. Widdow Whitby Antonio Ferdinando . 1 - Isaac Lambert Mr. Decosta . - - - Moyses Atteas . - 10 - Mr. Mallory . - - - John Booker . - 3 - Recipes for burialls. 28th October: Antonio Fherdinando the knell of the Great Bell . . .-50 Received from the Inhabitants upon accomp. (and for paymt) of ministers Antonio Ferdinando . 15 0</page><page sequence="91">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. a (cont.). 77 Receipts. Year 1660. forTythes. Old . Style. Mrs. Ferdinando Mr. Lambert Mr. Olivaro Mr. Moyses Atteas Mr. Mallory Mr. Booker Receipts from Particulars. Mr. Olivero * for the fyne of his lease 1 - - - 2 - - 3 - - 10 - - 6 - - 3 - 20 - Payments. Paid to a proctor for search for Mr. Ferdi? nando his will . .044 Paid and given to the Ringers (vizt) when the King was voted Heyre apparent . . .-46 when the King was proclaimed . - 5 - when the King landed - 2 6 at the King's comeing through the Citty: . - 5 - 1661. forTythes. Old Mr. Solomon Style. Mrs. ffardinando Mr. Lambert Mr. Olivaro Mr. Moses Atteas Mr. Mallory Mr. Booker Mr. Core . Receipts for the yeare 1661. Mr. Olivero for half a years rent 3 - 4 - - 4 - 11 Paid the collector for the poore for h?lfe a yeare for Mr. Olavero his house . . - 6 Paid the Scavenger for the said house . - 4 (d) Paid Mr. Turlington for a watch for the said house . . - 10 (d) Paid Mr. How for Clarkes wages for the said house . - 2 Paid the collector for h?lfe a yeare for Mr. Olivero his house . - 6 1662. Receipts concerning the Old Church. Imprimis. Style. Received, of Mr. Moses Attias for one years rent due and ended at Ladyday 1663 . Received of Mr. Oliviero for one years rent due and ended at Ladyday 1663 . Paid Mr. Turlington for a yeares watch for Olivaros House . . 10 Paid Clarke the joyner for amending Olivaro's ?40 0 0 cellar ... 4 Paid the Scavenger for Oliveros house for one year ending at Christ? mas last ... 4 ?22 - - Paid William How his wages for Oliveroes house . . - 2 (d) Tarlington and Wm. How were respectively Parish Beadle and Parish Clerk.</page><page sequence="92">78 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. a (cOYlt.). Year 1662. Old Style. Receipts. 1663. Old Style. 1664. Old Style. Receipts concerning the Church. May 20th. Item Received of Mr. Oliveiro for 1 yeares rent due and ended at Lady day 1664 Item Received as 1 yeares rent of the sinagogue due at Ladyday 1664 Item, received of Mr. Olivero for one yeares rent due and ended at Ladyday 1665 Item received for one yeares rent of the Sinagogue due and ended at Ladyday 1665 . 1665. Old Style. Item Received for one yeares Rent due at Ladyday 1666 for Olivaroes House Item Received for one yeares Rent of the Synagogue due at Ladyday 1666 20 10 0 40 Payments. Paid the yellow coates (e) for Oliveroe's House for Two Quarters Oct. 16tb Given Sir John Gayers guift in the presence of the Ancients . . . ?10 Item, paid Mr. Howe for a whole yeares Clerks wages for Oliveros House - Item, paid Mr. Turling? ton for a yeares Watch for Oliveroes House . Item, paid the Scavenger for a yeare for Oliveros House 20 40 ? 2 - ? 10 - 4 - 2 6 2 - 4 - 10 - June 24th. Paid the Watchman for Oli vero's house ) Item paid the Clerks wages for Oliveros house for one yeare Paid the Scavenger for one yeare for Oliveros house Item paid for one yeares Watch for Olivero's house June 28th. Item paid to Mr. Tyrlington for the watch for Olivero's 020 00 00 howse . . . 00 02 06 Item paid to a Carpen? ter for worke done in Olivero's howse . 1 ? 040 00 00 Item paid Mr. Tyrlington for the watch for Olivero's house . 7 - Item paid to Gooddy Gosse for Cleaning Olivero's House . 2 4 (f) Item paid Mr. Cliffe for Interest of ?450 . 20 - - (e) Presumably a nickname for the watchmen. (/) According to a Vestry Minute (dated April 23, 1663) Alderman Humphrey Cliffe had virtually taken over from one John Locky a ?450 mortgage on the two Creechurch Lane houses (see Appendix V. d. p. 113).</page><page sequence="93">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. a (cont.). 79 Receipts. Year 1665. Old Style. 1666. (g) Item received for one Old yeare and a Quarter Style. Rent of the Sina gogue due and ended at Ladyday 1667 . 50 - 1667. Item Received of Mr. Old Policarpa Olivero for Style. one yeares Rent due and ended at Lady day 1668 . . 40 - 1668. Item. Rec'd Rent of the Old Synagogue for the Style. whole yeare . . 40 - 1669. Item. Reed, the Rent of Old the Sinagogue for the Style. whole yeare . . 40 - 1670. Item Received for one Old yeares Rent and Style. Tythes due for the Sinagogue at Lady day 1671 . . 40 10 1671. Item rec'd for a yeares Old Rent for the Sina Style. gogue . . . 40 00 1672. Received for a yeares Old Rent of the Sina Style. gogue . . . 40 - Rec'd of Mr. Core for the ffine of his lease 20 - Payments. Item paid the Joyner for worke done in Olivero's howse ... 18 Item given to one Mr. Cole a merchant being undone by losses . - 2 - (/) Item paid to Esq. Cliff e 6 m? Interest of ?400 principall due the 25th of December 1667 . ?12 - - - (/) February 21st. Item paid Esqe Cliffe in part of his 400? prin? cipall money . . 50 ? - Item paid for nursing of ye Child that was left at the Sinagogue Dore and for things when it was sick . 2 6 (/) Item paid Mr. Cliffe . 65 - - (/) Ffeb 15 Item paid to Alderman Cliffe . 100 00 00 0 00 (/) Aug. 26 Paid to Alderman Cliffe in full of his Mortgage . . 150 02 = Jan. 3rd Spent upon - receiving the Jewes rent at the Crowne . - 01 06 (/) See footnote, p. 78. (g) According to a Vestry Minute of September 1666, " the house that Mr. Oliviero lately dwelt in " was then taken over by Mr. Henry Jerrard, the minister, at a nominal rent of ?12 per annum.</page><page sequence="94">80 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. a (cOYlt.). Receipts. Payments. Year 1672. (h) Rec'd of Mr. Core Spent about placing of Old for half a yeares a woman in Sugar loafe Style. Rent due at Lady- Alley in ye Hospitall day 1673 . . 08 - - and wth Core about getting his money . 02 04 1673. Received a yeares Rent Old of the Sinagogue Style. due at Ladyday 1674 Received of Mr. Core for half a yeares rent due at Micha's 1673 Spent in receiving the Jews rent 6d. given 40 ? - to a family that was distracted 2/6d. . 00 03 00 Spent in paying the Col 08 00 00 ledge rent and in re? ceiving the Jews rent. 00 01 00 Spent in treating with the Jews about the Synagogue . . 00 01 00 Spent in receiving Wm. Core's rent . . 00 01 06 Allowed the Jews for Taxes this yeare . 02 05 00 1674. Received a yeares rent Old of the Sinagogue Due Style. at Ladyday 1675 . Received for a fine for the Lease of the Sinagogue May 4*h. Spent in treat? ing with the Jews . = 06 07 May 4 th. Spent wth Major Williams Mr. Pope and Mr. Clarke about the Jews business 02 00 May 11th. Spent w^ the Jews and Core . = 01 00 June 10th. Spent wth Mr. Lewes and Mr. Ashby about the Jews business = 01 = June 26th paid to Mr. Core . . . 18 = = June 29th paid Mr. Seise by and Mr. Booth for veiwing the Sinagogue = 05 = Aprill26thl674. Spent in treating with Mr. Core = 01 = 55 00 = Aprill 30th. Spent in treating with Mr. Core = 01 06 May 1st. Spent in Core's 100 = == business . . . = 01 06 (h) According to the Vestry Minute Book, Mr. Core secured occupation of the house at Michaelmas (on a 21 years' lease) following on the death of the parson. He paid only ?16 per annum in rent, but the parish incurred no outgoings what? soever in connection with his tenancy. It would thus seem that Oliveira paid from ?4 to ?6 annually in extra rent, in return for services rendered and expendi? ture incurred by the parish on his behalf.</page><page sequence="95">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. a (cOflt.). 81 Receipts. Payments. Year 1674. July 1st Spent in meet Old ing about the Jews Style. Lease . . . = 05 06 6th Aug. Spent at the sealing the Jews Lease = 04 = Spent in receiving rent of the Jews . = = 08 Spent in receiving the Jews rent . = 01 = 1675. Received a yeares rent Sundry payments to Old of the Sinagogue due Dutch Barnes for look Style, at Ladyday 1676 . 060 00 00 ing after a Parish Child (' Jane Jewry " a found? ling (d. 25th Nov. 1675) (i) April 1676. Allowed for Trophies to the Sinagogue . . 000 06 06 1676. Received a yeares rent Old of the Synagogue due Style. at Ladyday 1677 . 60 20th Nover Spent at the warning Mr. Richard 00 = sons encroachments . = 02 06 Jan. 20th. Spent in re? ceiving the Jewes rent = = 10 1677. Received a yeares rent 21st May. Given Goodey Old for the Sinagogue Whitbey for releife Style. due at Ladyday 1678 060 00 00 being sicke . . 00 02 00 12th July, paid arreares charged on the Sina? gogue . . . 00 06 00 October 20th 1677. paid arrears for the Sina? gogue . . . 00 06 00 1678. Rec'd a yeares rent for (j) 15th May 1678. paid Old the Sinagogue due at Barnes for a weekes Style. Ladyday 1679 . 060 00 00 nurseing of a Male Child taken up at Mr. Rodroguz his Dore in Bury Streete . . 00 02 06 (i) " Trophy money, a duty paid formerly ... by housekeepers towards providing . . . drums, colors . . . for the Militia." (Webster's Dictionary.) (j) " Gomez Rodrigues Berry Street," is given in the London Directory of 1677. This Jew's name, however, in the community was Abraham Israel de Sequeira (see Jewish Quarterly Review for January 1889, p. 89). The " Male Child " referred to was christened Jew Bury, grew up to boyhood, and was subsequently apprenticed at the cost of the parish. VOL. X. G</page><page sequence="96">82 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. a (cont.). Receipts. Payments. Year 1678. {k) Spent with Mr. Boone Old upon his certifying that Style. Win. Gurney had not a scalded head . . 00 01 00 Allowed the Sinagogue for Taxes for the whole Yeare . . 1 13 08 1679, Rec'd a yeares rent 19th August. Paid for a Old for the Synagogue Warrant for Jacob Sal Style, due at Lady day 1080 060 00 00 vadore . . . 00 01 00 March 6th. Allowed Taxes for the Sina? gogue . . . 01 09 04 1680. Rec'd a yeares rent for Old the Sinagogue due at Style. Lady [sic] last . . 60 = (Z) July 4th. Spent at the Sessions about Carerer's business . 2 6 Dec. 11th paid to Nurse Barnes for nurseing of Abraham Ben=heber found at ye Synagogue dore . . . 00 08 06 10th April. Allowed the whole yeares Taxes for the Synagogue . . 01 07 10 1681 Rec'd a yeares rent of Old the Sinagogue end Style, ing at Ladyday 1682 060 00 00 Allowed Trophyes money for the Synagogue Mr. Lingard Collect1* 05 4 8th August Gave Gabay the converted Jew . 00 02 06 14th Oct. Gave Gabay the converted Jew . 2 6 18th Nov. Gave Gabay the Converted Jew . 00 01 = 5th Jan. paid and laid out about a woman wth Child by a Jew to cleare the parish . 00 04 2 28th Feb. paid Gabay the converted Jew . - - - (k) Presumably Henry Boone, the surgeon barber, who was a party to the con? veyance of December 20, 1656 (Guildhall MS. 1213/2). (See pp. 93-5.) (I) A certain Marano Don Joseph Carrera, his Dutch wife and three or four children, were in London in June 1678, and are mentioned in an Inquisi? tion Document (a letter) from Teneriffe (Trans. J. Hist. Soc, vol. vii. pp. 97 to 112).</page><page sequence="97">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. a (cont.). 83 Receipts. Year 1682. Rec'd a yeares rent for Old the Sinagogue . 060 00 00 Style. 1683. Rec'd a yeares rent for Old the Synagogue . 060 00 00 Style. 1685. New Style. 1686. An Accompt of the New moneys given Received Style. and Paid for the Erect? ing An Organ and building a Gallary in the Parish Church of St. Katherine Cree church. Sume totall of ye Re? ceipts is ?335.11.3. (n) Received of Mr. Alphonso Rodriguze 02 03 0 Payments. 10th August, given Aron the Jew . . . 00 02 06 8th Dec. given Aran the Jew p order of Vestrie 00 05 00 Aprill 9 given Aron Gabay p order . . 00 05 00 (m) July 4th. Paid for a warrt for Mr. Casters 000 01 00 July 17. Paid Tropheys for the Synagogue . 000 05 04 Paid Mr. Bernard Smith for making the organ as per contract . . 250 00 0 Paid for building the gallary . . . 061 00 0 Rec'd 2 quarters rent for the Sinagogue . 030 00 00 Recd for the Sina? gogue . . .015 00 00 Recd of the Sinagogue a Quarters Rent . 015 00 00 April pd Trophy money for the Sinagogue as p. rect. . . 000 11 10 pd for a Coffin and Shroud for a ffemale child taken up at Mr Deportos Dore in Bury Streete . . 000 04 06 pd for a Coffin and Shroud for Willm, a Male Child taken up at Mr. Rodrigues Dore . . .000 04 06 pd Trophies of the Sinagogue . . 000 05 04 (m) Refers possibly to Simon de Caceres or a member of his family. (n) Omitting the three Rodriguez, the remaining subscribers can be readily identified from the Bevis Marks Records as Jacob Gomes Serra, Ishac Semah de Valentia, Jahacob or Jacques Gonsales, Joseph Frances, and Joseph Israel Henriquez. Their signatures are reproduced on pp. 12-13 of Dr. M. G aster's History of the Ancient Synagogue. From sundry wills (and other sources) it is known that Symon Rodriguez, otherwise Simon Henriquez, was a son of the Gomez Rodriguez mentioned in footnote [j), p. 81. Alphonso Rodriguez was another of his sons, and was known among the Jews as Isaac de Sequeira. Antonio Rodriguez was of a different stock, for this was the secular name borne by Aaron Levi Rezio.</page><page sequence="98">84 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. a (COM.). Receipts. Payments. Year 1686. Received New of Mr. Simon Style. Rodriguze 02 10 0 of Mr. Anthony Gomaseras 02 03 0 of Mr. Isaac Valentia 001 00 0 of Mr. James Gonsalis 001 00 0 of Mr. Joseph Francia 001 00 0 of Mr. Antonio Rodriguze 001 00 0 of Mr. Joseph Heniricus 001 00 0 of Mr. Anthonv Robello 000 05 0 ?12 1 0 Rec'd for a Yeares rent for the Jewes Sina gogue . . .060 00 00 Recd of Mr. Isaac Telles's ffine for Overseer . . 006 00 00 Recd of Mr. Symon Rodriguze for the like . . .006 00 00 1687. Rec'd a Yeares Rent paid and allowed for New for the Jewes Sina- Taxes to the Sinagogue 000 05 4 Style. gogue . . .060 00 CO Rec'd of Mr. Isaac Gonsales his ffine for Overseer for the Poor 006 00 00 Rec'd of Mr. Anthony Gomaseras for the like . . .006 00 00 (o) Rec'd of Mr. Moses Baru for the like . 006 00 00 Rec'd of Mr. Isaac Valentia for the like 006 00 00 (o) This is the " Moses Berrew Dukes Place " of the 1677 London Directory and the " Sin Baroa Chrechurch Lane " in the 1660 Informers List (Trans. J. Hist. Soc, vol. v. pp. 6-7). He played a prominent part in the history of the con? gregation, where he was known as M. B. Louzada (M. Gaster, op. cit., pp. 3, 4, 5, 11, 13, 17, 29 and 37). He became a sworn broker ("Moses Barrow") in 1679 (A. M. Hyamson, op. cit., p. 260). He was also known as Anthony Louzada.</page><page sequence="99">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. a (cOflt.). 85 Receipts. Payments. Year 1687. Rec'd of Mr. Isaac New Tales de Costa the Style. ffine for Church? warden . . 010 00 00 Rec'd of Mr. Simon Rodriguze for the like . . . 010 00 00 1688. Rec'd a yeares rent of Paid and allowed a New the Jewes Sinagogue Trophy Tax for the Style. due at Lady Day last=60 = Sinagogue . 8 8 Rec'd of Mr. Anthony Gomesera his ffine for Upper and under Churchwarden . 10 = Rec'd of Mr. Anthony Robles his ffine for overseer for the Poore . . . 006 = = Rec'd of Mr. Isaac Valentia his ffine for over and under Churchwarden . 010 = = 1689. Rec'd a yeares rent for given Samuell Baptista . = 2 = New the Sinagogue . 60 = = Style. Recd of Mr. Joseph Henricus Alphonso Rodriguez Samuell Staneire and Peter Spikes fines for Over? seers . . . 24 = = 1690. Rec'd for the Jewes New Synagoge for the Style. whole yeare . (p) Rec'd of Mr. Henricus and Mr. [left blank] their fine as Church? wardens Paid and gave to Samuel Baptista . . . 00 03 = 60 00 00 Paid and allowed Taxes for the Synagoge as p rect . . . 08 05 08 1691. Rec'd for h?lfe a yeares Paid and given to John New Rent for the Jewes Baptista . . . 000 01 00 Style. Sinagogue . . 030 00 00 Paid the King's Tax for Rec'd a Quartrs Rent the Sinagogue as p for the Jewes Sino- rec* . . .002 05 00 gogue Due at Chris- Gave to one Sarah Dun mas . . . 015 00 00 ing being poore . 000 01 00 Paid and allowed for Taxes for the Sina? gogue as p. rec* . 002 15 00 (p) The missing name is that of Alphonso Rodriguez (Vestry Minute Book).</page><page sequence="100">86 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. 6. V. b. From Documents in the Archives of St. Katherine Creechurch (deposited in the Guildhall Library). SCHEDULE OF DEEDS in the Guildhall Library (in parcel catalogued as MS. 1213) relating to two Brick Messuages (a) in Creechurch Lane, Aldgate, originally owned by the WHIT BEY family (1622) and subsequently acquired (1657) as a Charity Trust by the Parish of St. Katherine Cree and by them permitted to be used as a Synagogue (1657 to 1700), a Merchant's House (1703 to 1745), a Workhouse (1745 to 1838) and a Dwelling House (1838 until its demolition in 1857). The texts of the five Deeds marked with a numbered asterisk (*3) (or extracts therefrom) are given in the next Appendix (V.c 1 to 5, pp. 92-108). UNDER PRIVATE OWNERSHIP (1622-1657). Reference. MS. 1213/1*1 kSeep.92.)\ MS. 1213/1&amp; formerly numbered] 1213/14 MS. 1213/3 MS.. 1213/4 Date. 18 th April 1622 20th April 1622 23rd March 1648 18th Oct. 1652 Nature of Deed. | Deed of Sale (&amp;) &amp; To have and to hold " for ever." Declaration of Sale by Deed " " (of Poll Messuage in Creechurch Lane). (enrolled in the Hustings of Pleas of Land). Wm. Thompson Haberdasher (&amp; Joan his wife) to Wm. Whitbey Cloth worker (&amp; Mary his wife). Mortgage. 99 years from j James Whitby date unless Clothworker to ?207 is paid on | James Fletcher 25th Sept. 1648.1 Haberdasher. Transfer of Mortgage and further Charge. "to have and to hold for a certain term of four score and fifteen years .. . which com? menced from the 18th day of October which was in the yeare of Our Lord 1652 un? less ?309 is paid on the 20th April next ensuing." (Recited in MS. 1213/19.) James Fletcher, James &amp; Wm. Whitby to Rose Aspley Widow. (a) At the outset a single house. (6) The measurements of the property (recited in the Deed of Sale) prove that it comprised the site of the two Brick Messuages mentioned in the later deeds.</page><page sequence="101">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. b (C0Ut.). UNDER PRIVATE OWNERSHIP?Continued. 87 Reference. Date. Recited in MS. 1213/13 Do. / 20th Jan. 1652/3 Do. 20th April 1653 18th Dec. 1656 Recited | in MS. 1213/5 (of 28th I July, 1657) MS. 1213/2* (See pp. 93-5.) 19th Dec. 1656 20th Dec. 1656 Nature of Deed. Sale of equity of redemption. Transfer of Mortgage and further charge. Surrender and Reconveyance by Mortgagee. Short lease to a tenant of " th' one of the (not the small Corner House, but the adja? cent western one). Deed of Sale. Term. For the unex pired part of the aforemen? tioned 95 years unless ?515 be paid on the 21st October 1654. ' for the remain? der of the sd term of ninety five years." 21 years. ' bargain and sale... to have and to hold ... forever ..." enrolled subse? quently (28th July, 1657) in the Hustings of Pleas of Land. Parties. James Whitby &amp; Wm. Whitby (of the 1st Part) and Ab? raham Stanyan (of the 2nd Part) and Rose Aspley (of the 3rd Part). James Whitby &amp; Wm. Whitby, Rose Aspley &amp; Abraham Stanyan to (c) Wm. Bond Richd Ling ham &amp; Robt. Peterson. Wm Bond Richd Lingham Dyer, and Robt Peterson, to Abraham Stan? yan. James Whitby &amp; Abraham Stanyan to An? tonio ffernando Carawayall, Merchant. James Whitbee &amp; Ellen his wife, Wm. Whitbee their heir apparent to Abraham Stanyan, Plais terer, Richd Mills, Draper, &amp; Henry Boone, Barber Surgeon, (d) (c) It would seem from Vestry Minute of 9th December 1656 (MS. 1196) that they were acting for the parish; this does not appear from the references in the Leases. (d) An eighteenth-century endorsement on the deed describes Mills and Boone as " Trustees "; this is probably erroneous, since they are not so described in any of the leases or conveyances.</page><page sequence="102">88 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. b (cont.). PARISH PROPERTY (1657 to 1759?and thereafter down to modern times). Reference. Date. Nature of Deed. MS. 1213/5* (See pp. 95-101.) Not in exist? ence but recited in 1213/12 &amp; in 1213/7 &amp; 7a. MS. 1213/6 MS. 1213/7? MS. 1213/7 MS. 1213/8 28th July 1657 28th July 1657 23rd Dec. 1662 /19th Sept. 1672 I 20th Sept. 1672 20th Sept. 1672 Release of the property?by the grantors under the previous deeds ? to certain par ishioners " for the re? sidue ... of the said terme of ffower score and ffifteene Deed of Sale. Mortgage. Lease (1 year) \ Release to Trustees. Do. Counterpart of 1213/7. Term. For the residue of 95 years. The 21 years lease (Stanyan to Carawayall) is " expressly foreprized and reserved." According to 1213/12 &amp; 1213/7 gran? tees were " to hold ... in trust for the said parish for ever." For the unex pired part of a certain term of 95 years (un? less ?477 is paid on the 2nd July, 1663). 1 year at a peppercorn / rent. James &amp; Win. Whitbey &amp; Abraham Stanyan to John Oldfield, Wm. Bond, Hum phrey OlifEe (Dyer) John Cheese (Fletcher) and seven other Parishioners &amp; Trustees for the Parish.f James &amp; Wm. Whitby, Henry Boone&amp; RicLd Mills to John Stonehall the Elder (Turner) Thomas Ashby (Salter) &amp; 9 other parish? ioners &amp; trus? tees. % Wm Bond, Hum? phrey Cliffe, John Cheese &amp; 5 other Parish? ioners &amp; Sur? viving Trus? tees to John Lock, Mercer, f Thos. Ashby, sole survivor of 11 Trustees to Henrv Lewes, Robt Wooley (Clothworker). Thomas East (Merchant Taylor), Philip B rewster (Haberdasher), John Lingard (Plumb er)&amp; 16 other parish? ioners &amp; newly appointed Trustees.% f Trustees of the Term. X Trustees of the Freehold.</page><page sequence="103">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. b (cont.). 89 PARISH PROPERTY? Continued. Reference. MS. 1213/10 MS. 1213/11 Not in I existence but a re I construc | tion from Account Book(MS.| 1213, vol. 1?entries for the I yearl674) I and from Vestry Minute |Book(MS. 1196? IMinutes of, 3rd May, 1674). Not in I existence, but a re | construc? tion. I Referred to in Vestry Minute of 2nd Feb. 1697/8 (MS. 1196). Date. 20th Sept. 1 1672 20th Sept. 1672 6th Aug. 1674. Midsummer 1698 (on expiry of lease granted in 1674) Nature of Deed. Conveyance to new Trustees. Conveyance to new Trustees. Counterpart, of 1213/10. 1 Short lease to Tenants of the two houses. Short Lease to Tenants. Term. 95 years from 18th Oct. 1652. For a term of 23 years (Ves? try Minutes of 2ndFeb.l697/8) 7 years (after the 1st year, the Jews to have the premises on 6 months' notice) Parties. Humphrey Cliffe (Dyer) &amp; John Cheese (Flet? cher) to Robert Butler (Cord wainer) Hum? phrey Cock (Pewterer) Thomas Gar? diner (Apothe? cary) and 17 other fresh trustees.f The Church? wardens of St. Katherine 0 r e e c h u rch and the Sur? viving Trus? tees to The Overseers of the Synagogue (probably Abr. do Porto, Isaac Alvares ar Antonio Gomes | Serra). The Church? wardens of the Parish &amp; the Surviving Trustees to Mr. (? Antonio) Gomes Serra and other re? presentative Jews. t Trustees of the Term.</page><page sequence="104">90 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. b (cont.). PARISH PROPERTY?Continued. Reference. MS. 1213/9 MS. 1213/13**1 (See pp. 101-8.) MS. 1213/9 MS. 1213/21 MS. 1213/12 (See p. 108.) Date. 10th May 1687 13th April 1709 13th April . 1709 /24th Aug. 1738 &lt;25th Aug. 1738 Nature of Deed. Declaration of Trust. Release to new Trustees. Release to new Trustees. Lease and Release to V Trustees. / Term. 95 years. ' during and un? to the full term of fower score and nine? teen yeares." ' for ever." 1 year at a peppercorn ' for ever." Parties. By Robert But? ler, Humphrey Cock, Thomas Gardiner and 7 other parish? ioners " citi? zens of London and surviving trustees " . . .f Thomas Gardiner (Apothecary )&amp; Humphrey Cock (Pew terer) to Daniel Scott &amp; Samuel Row and 14 other parishioners &amp; trustees to-be. f John Lingard &amp; Thomas East to Wm Finch, Hanbury Wal thall, Edward Woodcock &amp; 14 other par? ishioners &amp; trustees. % Hanbury Wal thall &amp; Wm. Finch, Sur? viving Trus? tees to Wm. Dawson &amp; 18 other parish? ioners. % Do. Not signed by Finch, whose refusal to transfer the property led to a lawsuit. Ultimately his heirs assigned the houses to the Parish. t Trustees of the Term. X Trustees of the Freehold.</page><page sequence="105">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. b (cont.). 91 PARISH PROPERTY? Continued. Reference. Date. MS. 1213/25 /21st Aug. 1758 MS. 1213/26 I 22nd Aug. 1758 MS. 1213/27 22nd Aug. 1758 MS. 1213/22 19th July 1759 MS. 1213/28 l20th July 1759 Nature of Deed. Lease to Trustees Release to Trus Release (an identical doc? ument to No. 1213/26). Lease (for 1 year) of a small plot (6 ft. in breadth from North to South, 11 ft. &amp; 2 in. in length from East to West) adj oining N.W. end of workhouse ?and? Term. 1 year at a p e p p e r c orn rent. " to have and to hold for ever Intrust to &amp; for the sole use benefit &amp; be? hoof of the Parish." Do. v 1 year. " for ever.' Finch's 3 co? heirs at law (Robt. Glover, Frances Putti phat, Harrison Nicholl) to Groves Wheeler (Distiller) &amp; 17 other Citizens &amp; Trustees for the Parish.f Finch's 3 co? heirs at law (Robt. Glover, Frances Putti phat, Harrison Nicholl) to Groves Wheeler (Distiller) &amp; 17 other Citizens &amp; Trustees for the Parish.f Jeremiah Ben tham to Groves Wheeler &amp; 13 others (named in 1213/25) (e). Do. ! Trustees of the Freehold. (e) This conveyance was a part of the settlement of the Bentham proceedings. This precise plot forms to-day the backyard of No. 5 Creechurch Lane.</page><page sequence="106">92 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. C. 1. V. c. i. From Documents in the Archives of St. Katherine Creechurch (deposited in the Guildhall Library). Extracts from MS. 1213/1, (18th April, 1622.) [Endorsement.] " A conveyance from Win. Thompson Citizen and Haberdasher to Wm. Whitbey Citizen and Clothworker, and Mary his wife. A messuage in Cree Church Lane, 200?. Dat (sic) 18 April 1622. No. 2." " All that his messuage or tenement with the yards and appurtenances situate and beinge in the parishe of St. Katherine Christ church als Cree? church neare Aldgate in London in a lane there called the church lane, being the corner house opposite against the greate gate enteringe into a place now called or knowne by the name of Dukes Place, conteyneinge in breadth on the East parte thereof ffourteene foote of assize and seven inches or nere thereabouts and conteyneinge in length on the North parte thereof Three score and three foote of assize or nere thereabouts. And also conteyneinge in breadthe on the Weste parte thereof twentie fyve foote of assize and nyne inches or nere thereabouts, and extendinge in length on the South parte thereof from a Brickwall lately erected by one William Clarke into the furthest part of the Yarde or backside on the Weste parte thereof, con? teyneinge also fyftie two foote and a half of assize or nere thereabouts and now in the tenure or occupacion of one Lewis Vander Capella or of his assignee or assignee (sic). Which said messuage or tenement was sometime parcell of the inheritance of the Right Honourable Esq. Thomas Howard Knight &amp;c. &amp;c. commonlie called Thomas Lord Howard grand sonne to the highe and mightie prince Thomas late Duke of Norfolk deceased, and sonne and heire to the Right Honourable Margarett Duchesse of Norffoke daughter and heiresse of Thomas Audley &amp;c. &amp;c. knight late Lord Chauncelor of England likewise deceased " " and such Royalties as are paied to the Lord Thomas Howard in and by the conveyance whereby he sold the premises to one Arthur Norton citizen and Musicion."</page><page sequence="107">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. C. 2. 93 V. C. 2. Prom Documents in the Archives of St. Katherine Creechtjrch (deposited in the Guildhall Library). Text of MS. 1213/2. (20th December, 1656.) (Note.?This copy of Hustings Deed No. 332 (Memb. 37.16) in the Records, Guildhall, is identical with MS. 1213/2 of December 20, 1656, in the Guildhall Library.) From James Whitbee, clothworker, Ellen his wife, &amp; William son of the said James, also clothworker at the request of Abraham Stanyon, plasterer, to Henry Boone, barber surgeon, &amp; Richard Mills, draper, Descp. of Property. 2 Messuages in parish of St. Katherine Christ church alias Creechurch. Pleas of Land holden in the Hustings in Guildhall London on Munday next ?after the feast of St. Leodegare the Bishop &amp; Martir in the yeare of our Lord 1657. " This Indenture made the 20th of December in the yeare of our Lord God according to the accompt now used in England 1656 Between James Whitbee citizen &amp; Clothworker of London &amp; Ellen his wife &amp; Wm Whitbee Citizen also Clothworker of London sonne &amp; heire apparent of the said James of the one part And Abraham Stanyon Citizen &amp; Plaisterer of London Henry Boone citizen and Barbersurgeon of London &amp; Richard Mills Citizen &amp; Draper of London of the other part Witnesseth that for &amp; in consideration of the sume of ?650 of lawfull money of England to the said James Whitbee &amp; others by his Appointment well &amp; truely satisfied &amp; paid by the said Abraham Stanyon ?550 whereof is the same consideration money which is menconed in a certaine Indenture bearing even date herewith(a) made or menconed to be made by &amp; betweene Wm Bond of London Esqre Richard Lyngham citizen &amp; Dier of London Robert Peterson Citizen &amp; Baker of London &amp; the said James Whitbee &amp; Wm Whitbee of the one part And the -said Abraham Stanion of the other part of &amp; concerning the Messuages or Tenements with th' appurtenances hereinafter menconed And in consideration of 5 shillings to the said James Whitbee &amp; Wm Whitbee in hand paid by the said Henry Boone &amp; Richard Mills the receipt of which said severall sumes of money the said James &amp; Wm Whitbee doe hereby acknowledge &amp; confess of themselves to be therewith fully paid &amp; contented they the said James Whitbee &amp; Ellen his wife &amp; WTm Whitbee have graunted bargained sold released .&amp; confirmed And by theis presents doe &amp; each &amp; either of them doth (by &amp; (a) In point of fact it was dated the 18th, and not the 20th, December, 1656.</page><page sequence="108">94 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. C. 2 (cont.). at the request nominacon &amp; appointment of the said Abraham Stanyon) fully clearly &amp; absolutely grant bargaine sell release &amp; confirme unto the said Henry Boone, Richard Mills their heires &amp; Assignes All those two great bricke Messuages or Tenements lately new built scituate &amp; being in the parish of St. Katherine Christchurch als Creechurch neere Aldgate London in a lane there called the Church lane One of them being now or late in the occu? pation of the said James Whitbee &amp; the other of them being a Corner House opposite against the great gate leading into a place there comonly called Dukes place was late in the tenure or occupation of Hills Whittingham &amp; is now in the tenure or Occupation of the said James or his Assignes And alsoe all Shoppes Cellars Sollers Chambers Roomes Lights Yards Casements Profitts Comodities Emoluments Hereditaments &amp; appurtermces whatsoever to the said severall Messuages or Tenements or either of them belonging or in any wise appurtenning or with them or either of them used occupied or enjoyed or accepted reputed taken as parte parcell or member of them or either of them And alsoe all the estate right title interest claime &amp; demand whatsoever of them the said James Whitbee &amp; Ellen his wife &amp; Wm Whitbee &amp; every or any of them of in &amp; to the said severall Messuages or Tenements &amp; other the premisses or of in or to any part or percell thereof And the Revercon Revercons Remainder &amp; Remainders Rents Issues &amp; profitts of all &amp; singular the premisses &amp; of every part &amp; percell of the same together with all &amp; every the Deeds Evidences &amp; writeings concerning the premisses or any parte thereof which they the said James Whitbee &amp; Wm Whitbee or either of them now have or hath in his or their hands Custody or can comeby (sic) without suite in Law. To have and to hold the said severall Messuages or Tenements &amp; all &amp; singular other the premisses hereby granted or menconed ment or intended to be by theis presents bargained sold released or confirmed &amp; every parte percell thereof with the appurtences unto the said Henry Boone &amp; Richard Mills their heires &amp; Assignes To &amp; for th'only proper use &amp; behoof of the said Henry Boone &amp; Richard Mills their heires &amp; Assignes forever And the said James^Whitbee &amp; Wm Whitbee doe for themselves &amp; their heires Executors &amp; Adstratrs &amp; for every of them jointly &amp; severally covenant promise &amp; graunt to &amp; with the said Abraham Stanyon his heires Executors &amp; Assignes by theis presents in manner &amp; forme follow? ing (that is to say) that the said James Whitbee &amp; Ellen his wife Wm Whitbee &amp; the heires of the sd James &amp; Wm &amp; all &amp; every other person or persons &amp; his &amp; their heires haveing or claiming or to have or claime any lawfull estate right or title in or to the premisses or any part thereof in by from or under the said James Whitbee (other then &amp; except such person &amp; persons have or may claime by force of the Indenture above menconed) shall or will from time to time &amp; at all or any time or times dureing the space of 7 yeares next ensueing the date hereof At &amp; upon the reasonable request &amp; proper Costs &amp; Charges in the Law of him the sd Abraham Stanion his heires</page><page sequence="109">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDICES V. C. 2 AND V. C. 3. 95 Executors or Assignes make doe acknowledge &amp; execute or cause &amp; procure to be made done acknowledged executed All &amp; every such further Act &amp; Acts thing &amp; things assurances &amp; conveyances in the Law whatsoever for the further better &amp; more perfect assureing graunting &amp; confirming the said severall Messuages or Tenemts &amp; premisses with their appurces unto the said Henry Boone &amp; Richard Mills their heires &amp; Assignes To the use of them their heires &amp; Assignes for ever As by the said Abraham Stanion his heires Executors or Assignes or his or their Councell learned in the Law shall be reasonably devised or advised &amp; required And it is mutually covenanted concluded &amp; agreed by &amp; between the said parties to theis presents And the intent &amp; true meaning of the sd parties &amp; of theis presents is &amp; is thereby declared to bee That all nines Recoveries Conveyances &amp; assurances what? soever had made levied suffered or executed or to be had made levied suffered or executed of or concerning the premisses or any parte thereof shalbe &amp; enure &amp; shalbe construed &amp; taken to be &amp; to enure to &amp; for the only use &amp; behoofe of them the sd Henry Boone &amp; Richard Mills their heires &amp; Assignes for ever &amp; to or for noe other use intent or purpose whatsoever In witness whereof the said parties of theis presente Indentures interchangeably have set their hands &amp; Seales the day &amp; yeare first above written." " Acknowledged the 28th day of July in the yre of our Lord 1657 by the aforesd James Whitbee &amp; Ellen his wife &amp; Wm Whitbee before Sr Robert Tichbourne Kt. Mayor of the City of London &amp; Tempest Milner Aldman of the same City &amp; the said Ellen was alone &amp; privately examined by them according to the Custome &amp;c." V. c. 3 From Documents in the Archives of St. Katherine Creechurch (deposited in the Guildhall Library). Copy of MS. 1213/5. (28th July, 1657.) (Note.?This Deed is in a bad condition, being much torn and defaced. The lower portion (being entirely detached) was until recently catalogued as a separate document. The endorsement is evidently in a later hand. The correct figure for the consideration is ?650.) [Endorsement.] " 28th July 1657." Conveyance from Abra. Stanyon James Whitbey &amp; Wm' Whitbey to John Oldfield &amp; other Trustees 2 Messuages in Cree Church Lane for fourscore &amp; fifteen years.?Consideration 515 ?." "This Indenture made the Eight &amp; Twentieth day of July In the yeare of our Lord God (According to the Accompt now used in England) One Thousand Six hundred fifty and Seaven Between Abraham Stanyon Cittizen</page><page sequence="110">96 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. C. 3 (cont.). and Plaisterer of London, James Whitby Cittizen and Clothworker of London, and William Whitby Cittizen alsoe and Clothworker of London sonne and heire apparent of the said James of th'one part, And John Oldfeild and William Bond Esquires, Henry ffoster Merchant taylor, William Hollins Plaisterer, William Velley Mercer, Richard Lyngham Dyer, Humfrey Cliffe Dyer, John Cheese ffletcher, John Marriott Marchanttaylor, Thomas Parris haberdasher, Robert Peterson Baker Cittizens of London, Parishioners and Trustees of for and on the behalf of the parish of S** Katherine Cree Church als Christ Church neere Aldgate London of the other part Whereas the said James Whitby in and by One Indenture or deed Indented bearing Date the Three and Twentieth day of March In the yeare of our Lord God (According to the Accompt aforesaid) One Thousand Six hundred fforty and Eight, made betweene the said James Whitby of th'one part And James fHetcher Cittizen and haberdasher of London of the other part, ffor and in consideracon of the sume of Two hundred pounds therein menconed, did grant bargaine sell demise and to ffarme lett unto the said James ffletcher All those two Brick Messuages or Tenemts lately new built scituate &amp; being in the said parish of St. Katherine Christ Church als Cree Church in a Lane there called the Church Lane, One of them being in the occupacon of the said James Whitby and the other of them being a corner house opposite against the great gate leading into a place comonly called or knowne by the name of Dukes place was in the occupacon of Hills Whittingham And all Shopps Cellors, Sollars Chambers Roomes bur . . . casements, profhtts comodities and appurtences whatsoever to the said Messuages or Tenemts or either of them belonging or apperteyning or with them or either of them Used occupied, or enjoyed or accepted rep ... to bee as part parcell or member of them or either of them. And the Revercon &amp; Revereons remainder &amp; remainders Rents Issues and proffitts of all and singular the premisses, Together with the deeds &amp; writings . . . the same To have &amp; to hold the said Two Messuages or Tenements &amp; all &amp; singular other the premisses with the appurtences unto the said James ffletcher his executors Admistrators &amp; Assignes . . . Sealing and Delivery of the same recited Indenture of Lease for &amp; during unto the full end &amp; terme of ffourscore &amp; Nineteene year es, Att and under the yearely Rent of One peppercorne payed ... by May appeare In which recited Indenture is conteined one Provisoe or Condition in Effect as followeth that is to say ... if hee the said James Whitby . . . [defaced and torn] . . . executors Administrators . . . [an entire line has been lost here in the bend of the parchment] . . . James ffletcher his executors Admistrators or Assignes, Acc. ... in the dwelling house of Robert Yarway at . . . scituate and . . . cease determine &amp; ... of England, On the ffive &amp; Twentieth day of September then the following that the said recited Indenture And . . . ant . . . Messuages or Tenemts and all &amp; singular . . . recited Indenture grant Seaven pounds was not</page><page sequence="111">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. C. 3 (cont). 97 paid on the day &amp; att the place in &amp; by the said recited Provisoe or Con? dition limitted &amp; appointed for paying (or payment) . . . James Whitby &amp; William Whitby In &amp; . . Indenture . . . indented under their hands became forfeited to the said James ffletcher for the . . . then residue of the said terme. And whereas the said James ffletcher together with ...... wo, did for the Consideracon of Two hundred pounds to him the said James ffletcher . . . and Seales, bearing date the eighteenth day of October In the yeare of our Lord God (according to the Accompt aforesaid) One Thou? sand Six hundred . . . Rose Aspley All those two Messuages or Tenemts and other the premises herein and One hundred pounds to them the said James and William Whitby truly paid by Rose Aspley of London widdowe grant bargaine sell demise . . . sett . . . together with the Deeds &amp; Evidence concerning the same To have &amp; to hold the same before menconed to be demised unto the said J ames ffletcher as aforesaid, And the Revercon &amp; Revercons, Remainder &amp; Remainders, rents yssues and profitts of the same . . . ffifteene yeares from the . . . next ensueing. Yeilding there? fore yearely the Rent of One Pepper Corne And whereas the said Rose Aspley in &amp; by one other Indenture or Deed indented under her hand &amp; Seale bearing date the . . . nth day of October In the said yeare of our Lord God One Thousand Six hundred fhfty and Two (reciting the before menconed Indentures) did (amongst other things) Covenant declare &amp; agree, That if the said James Whitby and William Whitby or either of them, their or either of their heires executors or Assignes shall well &amp; truely pay or cause to bee paid unto the said Rose Aspley her executors, admirs or Assignes the full sume of Three hundred and Ninety . . . vent to . . . the . . . next ensue? ing, Att or in the dwelling house of Robert Yarway Scrivener scituate &amp; being in the Great Wood Street, London, That then and from thenceforth, and att all times afterwards . . . the said Rose Aspley her executors Adrhrs should &amp; would att the reasonable request and proper costs charged in the law of the said James Whitby his heires or Assignes recit and reconvey &amp; reassure, the said Messuages or Tenemts &amp; all &amp; singular the Premisses with the . . . unto the said James Whitby his heires or Assignes or such other person or persons as hee or they should direct &amp; appoint, And whereas the said J ames Whitby being insuch indebted to the said Abraham Stanyon in the full sume of . . . hundred ffowerscore &amp; Eleaven pounds, And the said Abraham Stanyon having alsoe undertaken the paym* &amp; satisfacon of the said three hundred and nine pounds unto the said Rose Aspley upon the day &amp; att the place of paym* therein aforesaid Together with the said William Whitby In &amp; by one Indenture Tripartite bearing date the Twentieth day of January In the said yeare of our Lord God One thousand Six hundred ffifty &amp; two made or menconed to bee made by &amp; betweene the said James Whitby &amp; William Whitby of the first part, the said Abraham Stanyon of the second part, &amp; the said Rose Aspley of the VOL. X. H</page><page sequence="112">98 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. C. 3 (cont.). third pt., did for &amp; in consideracon of the said debt &amp; for securing thereof,. &amp; . . . ith . . . aving . . . aring . . . Abraham Stanyon of &amp; from his sd Engagement &amp; undertaking aforesaid in the same Indenture expressed, Covenant, declare and agree That hee the said Abraham Stanyon his executors &amp; admirs should have the right, power &amp; benefitt ... of the said Mortgaged premisses, And that it should &amp; might bee lawfull to and for the said Rose Aspley her executors or Admrs at any time thereafter to grant, bargaine, sell, assigne &amp; Sett over the sd Abraham S. . . . his executors, admirs &amp; Assignes, or unto such other person or persons as hee or they should direct &amp; appoint his or their executors or Assignes, The said severall Messuages or Tenemts &amp; all &amp; singular other the premisses above menconed to bee . . . ed unto the said Rose Aspley as aforesaid, And the Revercon &amp; revercons remainder and remainders, Rents, yssues &amp; proffitts of all and singular the same premisses And all the . . . fte interest, terme of years claime or demand whatsoever . . . her . . . Rose Aspley . . . the said Premisses, Together with the deeds &amp; Evidence concerning the same, And whereas the sd Rose Aspley att the request &amp; by the direction of the said Abraham Stanyon, in pursuance of the said first menconed Indenture, in and by one Indenture bearing date the . . . tieth day of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord God One thousand Six hundred fhfty &amp; Three made or menconed to bee made by &amp; betweene the said James Whitby &amp; William Whitby Rose Aspley &amp; Abraham Stanyon of the . . . pt. And the said William Bond Richard Lyngham &amp; Robert Peterson . . . th'other pt. for &amp; in consideracon of the sume of Three hundred &amp; nine pounds of lawful! money of England to her the said Rose Aspley and One hundred and fower score &amp; Eleaven pounds of like money to him the said Abraham Stanyon in the hand pd by the said William Bond Richard Lyngham &amp; Robert Peterson as is therein menconed, did grant bargaine Sett assigne &amp; . . . unto the sd William Bond Richard Lyngham Robert Peterson . . . their executors &amp; Assignes the sd severall recited Indentures or Deeds Indented aforemenconed And the said severall Messuages or Tenemts &amp; premisses in or by . . . ther of them menconed . . . ed as aforesaid &amp; all &amp; singular other the said premisses, &amp; every part thereof with the appurtences Revercon &amp; revercons remainder &amp; remainders, rents, yssues &amp; proffitts of all &amp; singular . . . and alsoe all Deeds &amp; Evidence . . . ng &amp; concerning the same premisses &amp; every part thereof To have &amp; to hold the said severall Messuages or Tenemts &amp; all &amp; singular other the premisses with their appurtences . . . William Bond Richd Lyngham, &amp; Robert Peterson . . . rs Ad~IS . . . from th . . . er &amp; during all the rest &amp; residue, then to come of the said terme of ffower score &amp; ffifteene yeares, from thence next ensuing and full ... &amp; ended Subject nevertheless unto &amp; upon this condition ... if the sd James Whitby &amp; Wm Whitby or either of them their or either of their heires executors or Assignes should well &amp; truely pay or cause to bee paid unto the said Wm</page><page sequence="113">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. C. 3 (cont.). 99 Bond Richard Lyngham &amp; Robert . . . their executors admirs or Assignes at or in the dwelling house of Robert Yarway Scrivener, scituate as afore? said the sume of mve hundred &amp; fhfteene pounds of lawfull money of England On the One and twentieth day of . . . her . . . Indenture, That then &amp; from thenceforth &amp; att any time thereafter they the said William Bond Richard Lyngham &amp; Robert Peterson their execurs, admirs or Assignes should &amp; would att the request &amp; charge ... &amp; yeild up or otherwise regrant &amp; reconvey the said Indenture of Lease &amp; the said Messuages or Tenements and all &amp; singular other the said premisses &amp; all their Estate title &amp; interest therein by for &amp; in . . . Whitby &amp; Wm Whitby, their heires or assignes or to such other person or persons as hee or they should Nominate &amp; appoint, which sume of fhve hundred &amp; fhfteene pounds was not ... &amp; appointed, for paym* thereof And whereas the said William Bond Richard Lyngham &amp; Robert Peterson by Indenture bearing date the Eighteenth day of December . . . fhve hundred &amp; ffifty pounds paid as is therein menconed att the place &amp; by the appointment of the said James Whitby &amp; Wm Whitby have granted bargained sold assigned and sett over unto the said Abraham Stanyon . . . and severall Messuages or Tenemts &amp; premisses thereby granted or assigned, As alsoe all their Estate title &amp; interest of in &amp; to the same premisses To hold for the remainder of the said terme . . . ed Inden? tures (amongst divers Covenants clauses &amp; agreements therein conteyned) relacon being had thereto more fully may appeare. Now this Indenture witnesseth That ... to him the said Abraham Stanyon and One hundred Ninety pounds to the said James Whitby &amp; Wm Whitby in hand paid by the said John Oldfeild William Bond Henry ffoster, William Hollins William Velley Richard Lyngham Humphrey Cliffe John Cheese John Mariott, Thomas; Parris &amp; Robert Peterson att . . . the Sealing &amp; delivery of theis presents the severall receipts whereof the said Abraham Stanyon, James Whitby, and Wm Whitby doe hereby respecting . . . themselves to bee fully paid &amp; contented &amp; thereof &amp; therefrom doe thereby acquitt &amp; discharge the said John Oldfield Wm Bond Henry ffoster Wm Hollins Wm Velley Richard Lingham Humfrey Cliffe John Cheese John Mariott . . . Robert Peterson their executors admirs &amp; Assignes or every of them by theis presents . . . d every of them doth fully . . . ly &amp; absolutely grant bargaine sell assigns &amp; sett over unto the said John Oldfeild Wm Bond Henry ffoster William Hollins William Velley Richd Lingham Humfrey Cliffe John Cheese John Mariott Thomas Parris Rob* Peterson their executors Admirs &amp; Assignes the sd severall recited Indentures &amp; every of them &amp; the said severall &amp; respective Messuages . . . advantage &amp; demand whatsoever of the said Abraham Stanyon of in &amp; to the p ... or assigned or menconed to be granted or assigned &amp; every part thereof with the appurtences And alsoe all the Estate right title interest . . . And to hold the said severall Messuages or Tenemts . . . with all &amp; singular the appurtences part or parcell thereof</page><page sequence="114">100 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. C. 3 (cont.). And the Revercon &amp; revercons remainder &amp; remainders rents yssues &amp; proffits of all &amp; singular the premisses &amp; of every . . . [From here onward is the detached lower portion] . . . Abraham Stanyon . . . Except one Lease by Indenture beareing date ye Nineteenth day of De . . . (p)ast last before ye date of the . . . James Whitby and Abraham Stanyon unto Antonyo ffernando Carawayall of London Merchant of th'one of the said Messuages or Tenemts for a terme of One &amp; Twenty yeares tome ... on the ffeast day of the birth of our Lord God . . . where? upon the said . . . fforty pounds is reserved which rent shall become due &amp; payable unto the said John Oldfeild Wm Bond Henry ffoster Wm Hollins Wm Velley Richd Lingham Humfrey Cliffe, John Cheese John Mariott Tho. Parris &amp; Robert Peterson their Executors Admirs &amp; Assignes during the continuance of the same excepted Lease And the said James Whitby &amp; Wm Whitby doe for themselves joyntly &amp; severally &amp; for their . . . respective heires execurs admirs covenant promise to &amp; with the said John Oldfeild Wm Bond Henry ffoster Wm Hollins Wm Velley Richd Lingham Humfrey Cliffe John Cheese John Mariott Thomas Parris &amp; Robert Peterson &amp; each &amp; every of them . . . heir &amp; each &amp; every of their execurs admirs &amp; assignes . . . presents in manner &amp; forme following (that is to say) that they the said Abraham Stanyon James Whitby and Wm Whitby or some or one of them now have or hath in themselves or himselfe full power good right &amp; lawfull authority to grant bargaine sell assigne &amp; sett over the said severall Messuages or Tenemts &amp; all &amp; singular other the premisses with th'appurtences unto the said John Oldfeild, Wm Bond Henry ffoster Wm Hollins Wm Velley Richd Lingham Humfrey Cliffe John Cheese John Mariott Tho: Parris &amp; Robert Peterson their execurs admirs &amp; assignes in manner and forme aforesaid And that they the said John Oldfeild Wm Bond Henry ffoster Wm Hollins Wm Velley Richd Lingham Humfrey Cliffe John Cheese John Mariott Thomas Parris &amp; Robert Peterson their execurs admirs &amp; Assignes shall or may from henceforth for &amp; during all the rest &amp; residue yet to come &amp; unexpired of the said terme of ffowerscore &amp; fhfteene yeares peaceably &amp; quietly have . . . occupy possesse &amp; . . . the said severall Messuages &amp; Tenements &amp; all &amp; singular other the premisses with their appur? tences . . . have &amp; take the rents yssues &amp; proffitts of the same premisses according to the tenor and true meaning of theis presents without any lett .suite trouble mollestacon eviction ... of or by them the said Abraham Stanyon James Whitby &amp; Wm. Whitby or any of them or of or by any other person or persons clayming or to clayme or pretend any lawfull Estate right title or interest of in or to the said premisses or any part of them . . . from or under them or any of them free and cleere &amp; freely &amp; cleerely acquitted . . . rated and discharged of &amp; from all and all manner of former &amp; other bar gaines Sales trusts grants leases Mortgages Joyntures dowers right &amp; title of . . . statutes Re . . . Judgments Executions incomes rents Annuities</page><page sequence="115">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDICES V. C. 3 AND V. C. 4. 101 of &amp; from all other Estates titles troubles charges &amp; incumbrances whatsoever had, made, comitted or done or suffered or to bee had made comitted omitted done or suffered of or by them the said James Whitby &amp; Wm. Whitby or either of them or by William Whitby &amp; Mary Whitby late father &amp; mother of the said James Whitby or either of them or of or by any person or persons whatsoever clayming or to clayme to have any interest or title to the said premisses by them or either of them. The said Lease before menconed to bee made or granted by the said James Whitby &amp; Abraham Stanyon to the said Antonio ffernando Caravayall onely excepted &amp; foreprized And lastly that they the said James Whitby &amp; Wm. Whitby the sonne &amp; all persons claiming or to clayme by or under them or either of them or by from or under the said Wm. Whitby or Mary deceased or either of them (other than such person or persons as have or may clayme by the . . . said excepted Lease onely shall &amp; will att any time upon reasonable request in that behalfe to bee made by the said parishioners &amp; Trustees before named or any of them their executors or Assignes make doe execute &amp; suffer, or cause &amp; prot . . . to bee made done executed or suffered, All every or any such further &amp; other said full &amp; reasonable &amp; . . . s thing &amp; things Conveyance &amp; Assurance in the law whatsoever, for the further better &amp; more perfect assuring granting conveying &amp; connrmeing the said Messuages Tenemts. &amp; other the premisses hereby granted or menconed to bee assigned &amp; every part thereof with the appurtencs together with the Rent unto the said John Oldfeild Wm. Bond Henry ffoster Wm. Hollins, Wm. Velley, Richard Lyngham Humfrey Cliffe John Cheese John Mariott Thomas Parris &amp; Robert Peterson their executors &amp; Assignes intrusting aforesd. as by them or any of them, their or any of their Counsell learn'd in the law, shalbe reasonably devised or advised &amp; required ... by the said James Whitby &amp; Wm. Whitby or either of them, their heires &amp; Assignes or any person or persons who shalbe requested to . . . such further assurance bee nott putt unto any expences touching the same In witnesse the said parties . . . Indentures interchangeably have sett their hands &amp; Seales the day &amp; yeare first above written. [Signatures above Seales.] Abraham Stanyan. James Whitby. William Whitby. V. c. 4. From Documents in the Archives of St. Katherine Creechurch (deposited in the Guildhall Library). Copy of MS. 1213/13. (13th April, 1709.) (Note.?The defaced portions of this Deed have, wherever possible, been filled in from similar passages recited in other Deeds of the series.)</page><page sequence="116">102 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. C. 4 (cont.). [Endorsement.] " The Assignment from Mr. Thomas Gardiner and Mr. Humphry Cock to Mr. Daniel Scott and Mr. Robert Gill In Trust for the Parish of St. Katharine Creechurch London." " No. 14 " Creechurch Lane " Date 13? April 1709." " This Indenture made the thirteenth day of Aprill Anno Dm one thousand seven hundred and nine, And in the . . . th yeare of the Reigne of our Soveraign Lady Anne by the Grace of God Queen of Great Britain &amp;c. Betweene Thomas Gardiner Apothecary and Humphry Cock Pewterer and Citizens of London surviving Trustees for and on the behalf of the parish of S*. Katherine Creechurch aTs Christchurch near Aldgate London of the one part, And Daniel Scott, Robert Gill, Robert Walker, John Adams, John Slaney, Samuel Pindar, Thomas Lingard, Samuel Row, Thomas Pool, Jeremy Elgar, John Gregory, Samuel Rash, Henry Wall, Thomas Dewbery, Richard Lapley and Benjamin R endall Inhabitants and Trustees for and on behalf of the said parish of S*. Katherine Creechurch of the other part Whereas James Whitby Citizen and Clothworker of London in and by one Indenture bearing date the Twenty third day of March in the year of our Lord one Thousand six hundred forty eight, made betweene the said James Whitby of the one part And James ffletcher Citizen and Haberdasher of London of the other part, for and in consideration of the sume of two hundred pounds therein mentioned did Grant Bargaine, sell, demise and to ffarme Lett unto the said James ffletcher All those two Brick messuages or Tenements then lately new Built situate and being in the said parish of St. Katherine Christchurch a? Creechurch in a Lane there called the Church Lane, One of them being then in the occupacon of the same James Whitby, and the other of them being a Corner house opposite against the Great Gate leading into a place comonly called or knowne by the name of Dukes place was then in the occupacon of Hills Whittingham And all shops, Cellars, sollars, Chambers, Roomes, Yards, Lights Casements, proffitts Comodityes and Appurtences whatsoever to the said Messuages or Tenements or either of them belonging or Apperteining.or with them or either of them used occupyed or enjoyed reputed or taken to be a part parcell or member of them or either of them. And the Revercon and Revercons, remainder &amp; remainders, Rents, Issues &amp; proffitts of all &amp; singular the premisses together with the Deeds &amp; writeings concerning the same To have &amp; to hold the said two Messuages or Tenements &amp; all and singular other the premisses with the Appurtences unto the said James ffletcher his Executors Administrators &amp; Assignes from the sealing of the said recited Indenture of Lease for &amp; during and unto the full end and terme of fowerscore &amp; nineteene</page><page sequence="117">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. C. 4 (coflt.). 103 yeares At &amp; under the yearely Rent of One peppercorne payable as thereby may appeare In which said recited Indenture is conteyned One provisoe or Condition in effect as followeth (that is to say) That if he the sd. James Whitby his heires Execrs. Admirs. or assignes or any of them should well &amp; truely pay or cause to be paid unto the said James ffletcher his Executors Admrs. or Assignes, At or in the then dwelling house of Robert Yarway, Scrivener, situate &amp; being in Great Woodstreet in London the full sume of Two hundred and seven pounds of lawfull money of England on the Twenty fifth day of September then next following That then the said recited In? denture and the demise and Grant thereby made should cease determine and become entirely void and of none Effect, which said sume of Two hundred and seven pounds was not paid on the day, and at the place in and by the said recited Provisoe or condic?ri limitted &amp; appointed for payment thereof, whereby the said Messuages or Tenements and all and singular &amp; other the premisses by the said recited Indenture granted became forfeited to the said James ffletcher for the then residue of the said Terme And whereas the said James ffletcher together with the said James Whitby Wm. Whitby Citizen also and Clothworker of London son and heir Apparent of the said James in and by one Indenture or deed Indented under their handes and seales bearing date the eighteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty two did for the consideracon of two hundred pounds to him the said J ames ffletcher and one hundred pounds to them the said J ames &amp; William Whitby then paid by Rose Aspley of London Widow, Grant, Bargaine, sell, demise and to ffarme Lett unto the said Rose Aspley All those two Messuages or Tenements and other the premisses therein before menconed to be demised unto the said James ffletcher as aforesaid. And the Revercon and Revercons, Remainder &amp; Remainders, Rents, Issues and profitts of the same premisses, together with the deeds and Evidences concerning the same To have and to hold the same premisses unto the said Rose Aspley her Execrs., Admrs. &amp; Assignes from the Executing of the said last recited Indenture for and during the time and terme of ninety five years from thence next ensuing Yeilding therefore yearly the Rent of one pepper? corne And whereas the said Rose Aspley in and by one other Indenture or Deed Indented under her hand and seale bearing date the eighteenth day of October in the said year of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty two, reciting the before menconed Indenture did (Interalia) Covenant declare and agree, That if the said James Whitby and William Whitby or either of them their or either of their heires Execrs. or Assignes, should well and truly pay or &lt;5ause to be paid unto the said Rose Aspley her Execrs. Admrs. or Assignes the full sume of three hundred and nine pounds on the twentieth day of Aprill then next ensuing, At or in the dwelling house of Robert Yarway Scrivener situate and being in Great Woodstreet London, That then &amp; from thence forth &amp; at all times afterwards She the said Rose Aspley her Execrs. or</page><page sequence="118">104 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. C. 4 {cOYlt.). Admrs. should and would at the reasonable request &amp; proper costs and charges in the Law of the said James Whitby his heires or Assignes, Regrant Re convey and Reassure the said Messuages or Tenements and all and singular the Premisses with the Appurtences unto the said James Whitby his heires or Assignes or such other person or persons whom they should direct &amp; appoint And whereas the said James Whitby being justly Indebted unto Abraham Stanyan Citizen &amp; plaisterer of London in the full sume of one hundred fourscore &amp; Eleven pounds. And the said Abraham Stanyan having also undertaken the payment and satisfaction of the said three hundred and nine pounds unto the said Rose Aspley upon the day and at the place of payment thereof aforesaid together with the said William Whitby in and by one In? denture Tripartite bearing date the Twentieth day of January in the said yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fifty two, made or men? coned to be made by and between the said James Whitby and William Whitby of the first part, the said Abraham Stanyan of the second part, and the said Rose Aspley of the third part, did for and in consideration of the said debt, and for securing thereof, and for saving . . . loss of the said Abraham Stanyan of &amp; from the said engagement and undertaking aforesaid in the same Indenture expressed, covenant, declare &amp; agree that the said Abraham Stanyan his Execrs. and Admrs. should have the full power and benefitt of Redempcon of the said Mortgage &amp; premisses And that it should and might be lawfull to and for the said Rose Aspley her Execrs. or Admrs. at any time thereafter to grant bargaine sell Assigne &amp; sett over unto the said Abraham Stanyan his Execrs., Admrs. &amp; Assignes or unto such other person or persons as he or they should direct or appoint his or their Execrs. or Assignes the said severall Messuages or Tenements and all and singular other the premisses above menconed to be granted unto the said Rose Aspley aforesaid, And the Revercon and Revercons, Remainder and Remainders, Rents, Issues and profitts of all and singular the same premisses, And all the Estate right, title, Interest, terme of yeares, claime, and . . . whatsoever of her the said Rose Aspley in and to the aforesaid premisses, together with the deeds and Evidences concerning the same And whereas the said Rose Aspley at the request and by the direccon of the said Abraham Stanyan in pursuance of the said last menconed Indenture, in and by an Indenture bearing date the twentieth day of Aprill in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fifty three made or menconed to be made between the said James Whitby and William Whitby, Rose Aspley and Abraham Stanyan of the one part. And William Bond, Richard Lingham and Robert Peterson of the other part, for and in consideration of the sume of three hundred and nine pounds of lawfull money of England to the said Rose Aspley &amp; one hundred ninety one pounds of like money to him the said Abraham Stanyan in hand paid by the said William Bond, Richard Lingham and Robert Peterson as is therein menconed Did Grant bargaine sell, Assigne and sett over unto the said William</page><page sequence="119">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. C. 4 (cont.). 105* Bond, Richard Lingham &amp; Robert Peterson their Exec^. and Assignes the said severall recited Indentures or deeds Indented aforemenconed and the said severall Messuages or Tenements and premisses in or by them, any or either of them menconed to be granted and conveyed as aforesaid, And all and singular other the premisses and every part thereof with the Appurtences And the Revercon and Revercons Remainder and Remainders, Rents Issues and profitts of all and singular the premisses And Alsoe all deeds, Evidences and writings touching and concerning the same premisses or any part thereof To have and to hold the said severall Messuages &amp; Tenements, and all and singular other the premisses with their Appurtences unto the said William Bond, Richard Lingham &amp; Robert Peterson their Execrs. Admrs. and Assignes from thence forth for and during all the rest and residue then to come &amp; unexpired of the said Terme of fowerscore &amp; fifteen yeares from thence next ensuing, and fully to be compleat and ended subject nevertheless unto and upon this condicon and Agreement in Effect following (viz*.) That if the said James Whitby &amp; William Whitby or either of them, their or either of their heires Execrs. or Assignes should well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto the said William Bond, Richard Lingham and Robert Peterson their Execrs., Admrs. or Assignes at or in the then dwelling house of Robert Yarway Scrivener situate as aforesaid the sume of ffive hundred and fifteen pounds of lawfull money of England on the one &amp; twentieth day of October next ensuing the date of the said last menconed Indenture that then and from thenceforth and at any time thereafter they the said William Bond Richard Lingham and Robert Peterson their Execrs. Admrs. or Assignes should and would at the request and charges in the Law of the said James &amp; William Whitby 1 heir heires or Assignes Surrender and give up, or otherwise Regrant &amp; Reconvey the said Indenture of Lease and the said Messuages or Tenements, and all and singular other the premisses &amp; all their estate right tytle, and Interest therein by force of the same last menconed Indenture unto the said J ames Whitby &amp; William Whitby their heires or Assignes or to such other person or persons as they should Nominate and appoint, which sume of ffive hundred and fifteen pounds was not paid on the day and place in &amp; by the said last menconed Indenture agreed and appointed for payment And whereas the said William Bond, Richard Lingham and Robert Peterson by Indenture bearing date the eighteenth Day of December which was in the yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty six for the consideracon of ffive hundred and fifty pounds paid as therein menconed at the request and by the appointment of the said J ames Whitby &amp; William Whitby Did Grant, Bargaine, Sell, Assigne, and set over unto the said Abraham Stanyan, As well the said severall Recited Indentures and the severall Messuages or Tenements and premisses thereby granted or Assigned. As also all their Estate right tytle and In? terest of in &amp; to the same premisses To hold for the Remainder of the said Terme of ninety five yeares, As by the said severall recited Indentures amongst...</page><page sequence="120">106 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. C. 4 (cont.). divers Covenants Clauses and Agreements therein conteined, Relacon being thereunto had more fully &amp; at large may appear. And whereas in and by one Indenture bearing date the twenty eighth day of July which was in the yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty seven, and made or men? tioned to be made between the said Abraham Stanyan, James Whitby and William Whitby of the one part And John Oldfield and William Bond Esqrs. Henry ffoster Merchantaylor, William Hollins plaisterer William Velley Mercer, Richard Lingham Dyer Humphry Cliffe Dyer John Cheese ffletcher John Marriot Merchantaylor Thomas Parris haberdasher and Robert Peterson Baker then citizens of London Parishioners &amp; Trustees for and on the behalf of the said parish of St. Katherine Creechurch ats Christchurch of the other part. The said Abraham Stanyan (at the request and by the Appointment of the said James and William Whitby . . .) And alsoe the said James Whitby and William Whitby for and in consideracon of the sume of six hundred and fifty pounds to the said Abraham Stanyan, and of the sume of one hundred and ninety pounds to the said James Whitby and William Whitby paid as is therein menconed did Grant, Bargaine, sell, Assigne and set over unto the said John Oldfield, William Bond, Henry ffoster, William Hollins, William Velley, Richard Lingham, Humphry Cliffe John Cheese John Marriot, Thomas Parris and Robert Peterson their Execrs Admrs and Assignes The said severall recited Indentures and every of them, and the said severall and respective Messuages or Tenements and all and singular other the premisses by the said last recited indentures or any of them granted demised or Assigned or men? coned so to be, and every part thereof with the Appurtences, And also all the Estate right, tytle, Interest, claime, Rent, Terme benefitt advantage and demand whatsoever of the said Abraham Stanyan of in &amp; to the said premisses &amp; every or any part or parcell thereof. And the Revercon and revercons, Remainder and Remainders, Rents Issues and proffitts of all and singular the said premisses and of the appurtences thereof To hold for the Remainder of the said Terme forescore andfifteene yeares thenceforth and unexpired, As by the said last recited Indenture relacon being thereunto had more at large alsoe it doth and may appear, And whereas the said John Oldfield, William Bond, Henry ffoster, William Hollins, William Velley, Richard Lingham, John Marriott Thomas Parris and Robert Peterson after the making and executing of the said last recited Indenture of Assignment dyed, and the said Humphry Cliffe and John Cheese were now the only surviving Trustees for the said parish of St. Katherine Creechurch ats" Christchurch in the last recited Indenture of Assignment menconed And whereas in and by one other Indenture bearing date the twentieth day of September Anno dni one thousand six hundred seventy two the said Humphry Cliffe and John Cheese for the consideracon of the sume of five shillings did Bargaine, sell, Assigne and set over unto Robert Butler Cordwainer, William Stedman ffishmonger, John Thorpe Gent, John Inskipp Merchantaylor, Isaac Lambert Merchantaylor,</page><page sequence="121">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. C. 4 (cont.). 107 Richard Linton Girdler, John Game Sadler, Richard Turvile ffishmonger, Nathaniel Selsby Tylor and Bricklayer, John Phillipps Cooke, William Wickens Tallowchandler, John Aeld Cooke, Thomas Parker the younger haberdasher, Humphry Cock pewterer, Thomas Gardiner Apothecary, Richard Wooley Merchantaylor, Simon Masters Sadler, John Pawling haberdasher, and Champion Ashby Salter, then citizens of London and Trustees for and on behalf of the said parish of St. Katherine Creechurch als Christchurch near Aldgate their Execrs Admrs and Assignes, The said severall recited Indentures and any of them, and the said severall and respective Messuages or Tenements and all and singular other the premisses by the said several recited Indentures or any of them Granted demised or Assigned &amp; sett over any part thereof with the Appurtences And all the Estate, right, Tytle Interest of in and to the same And the Revercon and Revercons Remainder and Remainders thereof to hold to them their Execrs Admrs and Assignes for the Remainder of the aforemenconed Terme of ninety five yeares then to come and unexpired In trust and for the Use of the said parish of St. Katherine Creechurch als" Christchurch London And whereas all the said last menconed Trustees (Except the said Thomas Gardiner and Humphry Cock) are now deceased And the said Thomas Gardiner &amp; Humphry Cock the only surviving Trustees Now this Indenture witnesseth that the said Thomas Gardiner and Humphry Cock As well for and in consideracon of the sum of five shillings apiece of lawfull money of Great Britain to them Thomas Gardiner and Humphrey Cock in hand paid at &amp; before the sealing and delivery of these presents by the said Daniel Scott, Robert Gill, Robert Walker, John Adams, Samuel Pindar, John Slaney, Thomas Lingard, Samuel Row, Thomas Poole, Jeremy Elgar, John Gregory, Samuel Rash, Thomas Dewbery, Richard Lapley and Benjamin Rendall the receipt whereof the said Thomas Gardiner &amp; Humfrey Cock do hereby acknowledge, As in pursuance of an Order of the Vestry of the said parish of St Katherine Cree? church als* Christchurch made the twentieth day of the Month September in the yeare above written have and either of them hath Granted Bargained sold assigned &amp; set over and by these presents do and either of them doth fully clearly and absolutely Grant Bargaine sell assigne &amp; set over unto the said Daniel Scott Robert Gill Robert Walker John Adams Samuel Pindar John Slaney Thomas Lingard Samuel Row, Thomas Poole Jeremy Elgar John Gregory Samuel Rash Henry Wall Thomas Dewbery Richard Lapley &amp; Benjamin Rendall their Executors Admirs &amp; Assignes the said severall messuages or Tenements and all &amp; singular other the premisses by the said severall recited Indentures or any of them granted demised or Assigned or menconed so to be and any &amp; every part thereof with the appur? tences. And also the Revercon and Revercons Remainder &amp; Remainders, Rents, Issues and profitts of all and singular the premisses and of every part and parcell thereof To have and to hold the said severall recited Indentures</page><page sequence="122">108 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDICES V. C. 4 AND 5. and the said severall and respective messuages or Tenements &amp; premisses with all and singular their appurtences and every part and parcell thereof unto the said Daniel Scott, Robert Gill, Robert Walker, John Adams, Samuel Pindar, John Slaney, Thomas Lingard, Samuel Row, Thomas Poole, Jeremy Elgar, John Gregory, Samuel Rash, Henry Wall, Thomas Dewbery, Richard Lapley and Benjamin Rendall their Execrs., Admrs. and Assignes from hence? forth for and during all the residue and Remainder of the said Terme of ninety five yeares which is yet to come and unexpired Intrust and for the use of the said parish of St. Katherine Creechurch als Christchurch London And it was concluded consented unto and agreed upon by and between all the said partyes to these presents That when all the said partyes Grantees and Assignees in these presents shall be dead (Except two or three at the most) That then the Survivors shall at the costs and charges of the said parish order a good and sufficient Grant Assignment Conveyance of the said severall recited Indentures and of the said severall and respective Messuages or Tenements and premisses And of all their respective Estates Terme, Trust and Interest therein for and during the residue and Remainder of the said Terme of ninety five yeares which shall be then to come and unexpired to such other number of Parishioners of the said parish and their Execrs. and Admrs. and Assignes Intrust for the use of the said parish of St. Katherine Creechurch a? Christchurch. An Order of the Vestry of the said parish shall for that purpose be appointed, directed, requested and desired In Witnesse whereof the partyes first above named to these present Indentures Interchangeably have set their hands and seales, the day and yeare first above written. (signed) Thomas Gardiner. Humphry Cocke." V. c. 5 From Documents in the Archives of St. Katherine Creechurch (deposited in the Guildhall Library). Extract from MS. 1213/12 (25th August 1738). (Note.?The references to Mills and Boone indicate that there was a con? veyance supplemental and of even date to MS. 1213/5 (28th July 1657).) And whereas by indenture of lease and release bearing date respectively the 19th and the 20th days of December one thousand six hundred and nftysix made or mencioned to be made between James Whitbee and Ellen his wife and William Whitbee son and heir apparent of the s'd James Whitbee of the one part and Henry Boon and Richard Mills of the other part they the</page><page sequence="123">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDICES V. C. 5 AND V. d. 109 s'd James Whitbee Ellen his wife and William his son did for the consideracons therein mentioned Grant and Release unto the said Henry Boon and Richard Mills the Messuages or Tenements and premes aforesaid TO HOLD to them their Heirs and Assigns for ever AND WHEREAS by Indenture of Assign? ment dated the 28th day of July one thousand six hundred and fiftyseven made or menconed to be made between the aforesaid James Whitbee and William his son Abraham Stanyon Henry Boon and Richard Mills of the one part and John Lingham and Thomas East and other Inhabitants and parishioners of the said parish of St. Catherine Cree Church of the other part they the s'd James Whitbee, Abraham Stanyon, Henry Boon and Richard Mills for the consideracons therein menconed Did grant and release unto the said John Lingham citizen and plumber and Thomas East Citizen and Merchant Taylor of London and others the messuages or Tenements and premises aforesaid TO HOLD to them their Heirs and Assigns IN TRUST for the said parish for ever. v. d. From Documents in the Archives of St. Katherine Creechurch (deposited in the Guildhall Library). Extracts from the Vestry Minute Booh (for the period 1639 to 1718) St. Katherine Creechurch. MS. No. 1196, Guildhall Library. [Pp. 19-21.] Die Mercury 5th May, 1641. "Jacob Holditch Mr. Ffernandoes man." The above occurs among some 200 names of members of the congregation in the copy of a solemn affirmation of adherence to the Church of England. [P. 71a.] Thursday the ffourth of December 1656. "At a generali meeting then held in ye Vestry howse of the Pish of Katherin Creechurch London upon ye request of Mr. James Whitbey it was ordered, and agreed as followeth vizt. That the moneys wch the said Mr. Whitby is indebted unto ye said pish shalbe by him or his assignes forthwith paid unto ye ffeeffees in that behalfe To the intent the same moneys shalbe by the said feeffees dispoased upon ye accompt of and for ye use of the poore of the said Pish And that the said Mr. Whitbey shall pay but ffower pounds p cent pro Anno interest for ye same moneys from ye Borrowing thereof untill this pSent Day to bee reckoned</page><page sequence="124">110 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. d (cont.). and accompted And ye said ffeeffees are to accept of the same flower pounds p Cent and Discompt at ye said Rate what interest money the said Mr. Whitby has already paid Anything in the Mortgage or assurance made by the said Mr. Whitbey to ye said feefees for securing the repayment of ye said moneys to ye Contrary notwthstanding." [P. 72.] ... &amp; twentith ffebruary 1656. " A purchase for six howses lying partly in Distaffe Lane and partly in the old change being proposed to be made for the use of the said Parish It is agreed that Wm. Bond esqre. shall proceede in the same as to ye perfecting of the said purchase. Which is assented unto by" (11 signatures). [P. 74a.] Friday the Ylth July 1657. 44 At a meeting of the Committee . . . (First two paragraphs follow)" " That (by reason satisfaction cannot be had in Reference to ye title Six howses lying partly in Distaffe Lane and partly in ye Old change) the deeds and writings concerning Mr. Whitbeys two howses shalbe forthwith veiwed by Councell And this in case ye title thereof appeare to be good then further proceeding may be had therein." [P. 75.] July 1657. 'c And it is agreed that Wm. Bond esqre., Mr. Cliff e, Mr. Marriott, Mr. Velley, Mr. Lingham, Mr. Peterson, Mr. Stonehall, Mr. Thorp, Mr. Ashbey, Mr. Owre ; Mr. Revett or any two of them with ye churchwardens shall ask for ye purchase of Mr. James Whitbeys two howses for ye use of the parish Which howses are proposed to be upon Sale at ye rate or price of Eight hundred and fforty pounds." [P. 15a.] Friday the 24th . . . 1657. "At a meeting of ye Committee John Cliffe, . . . lliam Bond esqrer William Velley, John Cheese, Abraham Stanyan, Thomas Parris esqre, George Thorp, Henry Foster, William Hollins, James Atkinson, John Revett (a) and Thomas Ashbey being then and there present It was ordered and agreed as followeth vizt. [2nd para, omitted.] (a) John Revett was the citizen and brazier who purchased and hid during the Commonwealth the statue of Charles I. which has since stood near Charing Cross. (Diet, of Nat. Biog. Vol. XXXIII. p. 129.)</page><page sequence="125">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. d (cont.). Ill Item William Bond esqre was desired to Disburse what money should bee wanting to make up ye purchase of Mr. Whitbey's howses upon ye Accompt of ye Parish which the said William Bond assented unto. Item it was thereupon Ordered and Agreed that ye Churchwardens for ye time and from time to time being should Reimburse ye said William Bond by the Rents yssues and profitts of ye said howses." [P. 78.] . . . August 1657. " At a meeting of the Committee then held in the Vestry howse of the Parish of Katherin Cree Church, London, William Bond Esqre, Mr. Robert Peterson, Mr. Richard Lingham, Mr. John Cheese, Mr. John Stonehall. Mr. George Thorp, Mr. Henry ffoster, Mr. William Hollins, Mr. James Hinde, MX John Smith, Mr. Thomas Ashbey and Mr. John Brand, Being then and there present, It was Declared as followeth: [Two paras, omitted.] Item att the same time, th'accompt of William Bond Esqre, Mr. Richard Lingham, Mr. Robert Peterson and Mr. Abraham Stanyan under all their hands in reference to the money and Estate of Dr. Dennysons and the two houses purchased of Mr. James Whitbey, was tendered by the said William Bond Esqre to the Churchwardens, and Mr. Humfrey Cliffe, Mr. Thomas Parris, Mr. John Marriott, Mr. William Velley, Mr. George Thorp, Mr. Henry ffoster, Mr. John Smith, Mr. Richard Richardson, and Mr. Thomas Ashbey, or any flower of them were appointed to Audit the same Accompt." [P. 82.] Thursday the 5th December 1659. " At a Vestry then held in the Parish Church of St. Katherine Cree Church als Christchurch neere Aldgate London by us whose names are subscribed, Being of the most Auntient cheife and Substantial psons Inhabitants of the said pish It was Ordered, That the surviving Trustees who bought and purchased or were named as Purchasers in Trust for the said Pish either of the Remainder of a Lease for Ninety Nine yeares, or the inheritance of certaine Messuages or Tenemts with Th'appurtenances situat in Creechurch Lane in ye said parish of Cree Church Shall for setling of severall and Respective Pious and Charitable intentions, according to and in pursuance of the re? spective last Wills of the severall Donors and benefactors hereafter named forthwith grant unto Abraham Stanyon Plaisterer John Bird Goldsmith William Williams Merchanttaylor John Meadowes and Thomas Parker Haberdashers Nicholas Wylde Merchant John Brampston Clothworker Thomas Rolfe and John Peterson Apothecaries Matthew Mills Goldsmith Thomas fhsher Haberdasher and John Brand Grocer Cittizens of London</page><page sequence="126">112 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. d (cont.). and Parishioners for and on the behalfe of the said Pish ONE Annuity or yearly rent charge of Twenty Eight Pounds Three shillings and ffower pence of good and lawfull money of England. To bee for ever yssueing and goeing out of all and every th'aforesd Messuages or Tenements and prmises with thappurtenances, VIZ'T TENN Pounds of lawfull money of England in lieu of the Two Hundred pounds left by Sr. John Giare Kn*. late Lord Mayor of the Citty of London Deread (sic) to bee distributed on the Sixteenth day of October in every yeare, FFIFTY THREE Shillings and ffourpence of like money in lieu of the fhfty pounds left by Edward Rennick deceased to bee distributed to and amongst Six poore of the said parish proportionably on oath Wednesday in Lent yearely THIRTY shillings of like money in liew of Twenty pounds left by Andrew Blackwell deceased to be distributed in bread unto and amongst the Poore on St. Andrews day in every yeare, FFORTY shillings of like money in leiw of fforty pounds, vizt. Twenty pounds left by William Bond Esqre to be equally disposed of and paid to Eight of the Poore people of the said parish, who have been Inhabitants in the same parish by the space of Seaven yeares together, upon St. Martins Day in Winter, being the Eleaventh day of November every yeare The nominacion of which Eight Poore Inhabitants to bee made and approved by the said William Bond during his life AND Twelve pounds of like money in leiw of part of the money Goods and Chatteils which were by deed made by and from Magdalen Dennyson deceased, given and granted to the aforesaid William Bond and Richard Lyngham Abraham Stanyan and Robert Peterson Intrust for the use of the poore and Repaire of the Church of the said parish WHICH twelve pounds is to bee distributed by the Churchwardens and six or more of the Auntient Inhabitants of the said Parish where most need shall appeare Viz*. On the five and twentieth day of December and Good ffryday in every yeare by equall proportions, The first payment out of the .said moneys Goods and Chatteils of the within named Magdalen Dennyson to begin and bee made on the fhve and twentieth day of December next happning after the within named William Bond Esquire shall bee paid and reyinbursed the money by him lent to and for the said parish and added to the within menconed sumes in buying and purchasing the within Specifyed Messuages or Tenements with thappurtenances Situat in Cree Church Lane from James Whitby Deceased and others." 16 Signatures. [P. 95a.] Friday the Tntiih day of January 1662. " Ordered that for the present supply of the Occasions of this Parish for the repayre of the Church, Steeple, Bells and other the affaires of the said Parish, till moneys shall by way of Assessment or otherwise be raised, that</page><page sequence="127">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. d (cOUt.). 113 the sume of flower hundred and fifty pounds shalbe borrowed and taken up at Interest after the rate of Six pounds per Centum pound, of Mr. John Lockey for a Twelve moneths tyme, And that for the same Mr. John Lockey his security, the howses belonging to this Parish which were heretofore pur? chased of Mr. James Whitbey shalbe mortgaged to the said Mr. John Lockey by the surviving trustees who are interested in the lease for Ninety nine yeares thereof for and during all the residue yett to run of the said terme, And that there shalbe no more or further sume of money borrowed upon the said howses till the said sume of fower hundred and fifty pounds with the Interest thereof be paid to the said Mr. John Lockey." [P. 100a, para. 3.] Thursday the three and twentieth day of Apr ill 1663. " Ordered this day as followeth (vizt.) that Mr. Deputy ClifTe shall from henceforth receive the Rents of those howses which are mortgaged to Mr. Jn0. Lockey for security of the fower hundred and fifty pounds by him lent to this Parish, and that out of the same rents he shall satisfy Mr Lockey such Interest moneys as from tyme to tyme shalbe and growe due for the said ?450 and shall Accompt and pay ouer the residue of the said Rents to the Churchwardens of this parish for the tyme being." [P. 101.] " Whereas Mr. Alderman William Bond did heretofore lend this Parish the sume of two hundred pounds towards the Purchase of the howses in Chreechurch lane wch. money is still due and owing to him, And whereas Sr. John Gayer knight did by his Will give to the Poore of this Parish the sume of Two hundred pounds to be laid out in some apt purchase of lands or howses of Inheritance which money so given to the said Poore Sr. Robert Ab&amp;y Knight and Executor of the said Sr. Jno. Gayer did putt into the hands of the Company of Merchant Adventurers to the intent the same should there remaine at Interest, till a purchase according to the Intent and minde of the said Donor would be procured, It is now Ordered that the said Two hundred pounds so given to the Poore by the said Sr. Jn?. Gayer be forthwith demanded of the said Sr. Robert Abdy, and be gotten in, and paid to the said Mr. Alderman Bond in satisfaction of the said Two hundred pounds by him lent as aforesaid, And that Mr. Alderman Bond, Mr. deputie Cliffe, Major Stanyan, Mr. Blackwell, Mr. Peterson, Mr. Lingham and the two Churchwardens do attend the said Sr. Robert Abdy forthwith to show him the Deeds of the said Purchase, and the deed by which the said Purchased howses are Charged why (sic) a Valuable Annuity for ever to be paid to the use of the Poore of this Parish in Considera? tion of the said Sr. John Gayers guift." VOL. X. ?</page><page sequence="128">114 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. d (cont). [P. 147.] " Present The Churchwardens Mr. R. Butler Mr. Ashby Mr. Linton Mr. Thorpe Mr. Game Mr. Inskipp Mr. Silsby Mr. Lambert Mr. Lewis Mr. Wilkins [P. 193.] Sunday the Third day of May 1674. Mr. Core appearing and it being moved to him, that the Parish hath an opportunity to lett his house, and the Synagogue house together to the Jews, he was asked if he would be content to resigne his interest to the Parish and upon what termes, and being desired to propose his mind therein to the Vestrye, he freely left it to the Vestrye to allowe him what they should think fitt for it, And thereupon he withdrawing, the Vestrie debated it, and Ordered that he shall have Eighteene pounds in money and be acquited of the Twelve Pounds rent due from him to the Parish?Provided he do give them possession of his house at Midsomernext incase the (sic) do agree with the Jews, and being called in again, he was made acquainted wth the said Order and acquiesied therein. Thos Fisher Richd Weston Churchwardens Thos Ashby Isaac Lambert." Fryday the 28th day of January 1686. *6 Forasmuch as the Trustees of the Annuity of ?28-3-4 heretofore charged upon the Jewish Synagogue and, the dwelling house thereto adjoyning are all dead except Major Wm Wilhams and Mr Nicholas Wyld. Ordered that the same annuity be conveyed by the said Major Williams and Mr Wild to Robert Butler Richard Turvile Henry Lewes John Aeld Humphrey Cock Thomas Parker Peter Gray John Alder Thomas Gardiner Robert Buckland John Bland Nowell Bassano Thomas East William Crouch Edward Staverton Andrew Gull Paul Darly Robert Wooley John Pawling Joseph Cox Robert Taylor John Sherman George Alder Henry Hill Robert Pond John Lingard Christopher Raper Edward Hull ^Zachariah Hayward Nicholas Braccle and Richard Draper Upon the Trusts and to the uses intents and purposes in the former deed of Trust." IP. 217.] Wednesday the Uh of Aprill 1694. " Whereas this parish is indebted to Madam Newman in the sume of One hundred and fifty pounds lent upon the security of the sinagogue, who calling</page><page sequence="129">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. d (cont.). 115 her moneys in and Mr. Churchwarden Cornock offering to pay off the said debt in case he may have the same security transferred to him, which is accordingly ordered." [P. 219a.] Tuesday the 15th of May 1694. " Ordered that the Churchwardens Mr. Depty Gardiner Mr. Bland Mr. Gray Mr. Parker Mr. Stanier and Mr. Cornock or any three of them bee a Comittee to treate with Mr. Darby and his Landlord in order to enlarge the Jews Sinagogue. And they to report their transaction herein to the Vestry." (a) [P. 228a.] At a vestrey held the Second day of February 1697/8. " Mr. Gomes-serra appearing to treate on behalfe of the Jewes for a longer terme in the Synagogue in regard their Lease thereof expyres at Midsomer next. It was Ordered that a new Lease be granted them of the said Synagogue for 7 yeares or more to commence from the expiracon of the p Lease At the old rent of 60? and under the like Covenants as in the old Lease, onely with this Addicon That the Jewes be at liberty after the first yeare to have the premisses upon 6 months notice notwithstanding such Lease." [P. 242.] At a Vestry 13th of November 1701. " Ordered that the Churchwardns taking three of the Gentlemen of the Vestry &amp; a Workman or two with them do take a View of the Sinagogue and an Inventory of things fixed therein." [P. 242a.] Wednesday 10th December 1701 Alt a Vestry. " This Vestry was called in order to consult about letting and what to do with the Old Sinagogue. It is ordered that another Vestry be forthwith called And that the Jews concerned in the old Lease have notice thereof and be summoned to attend the Vestry And to Quitt the Synagogue or to take a New Lease thereof." (a) It is to be supposed that Mr. Darby's house was the building to the west of the Synagogue, which is shown in Ogilby's Map of 1667. (PLATE 4 ii.) This scheme for a further enlargement of the Creechurch Lane Synagogue did not materialize, and the erection of a new synagogue in Bevis Marks was taken in hand a few years later.</page><page sequence="130">116 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. d (cOflt.). [P. 242a.] Monday, 15th of lOber 1701 att a Vestry. " Att this Vestry Mr. Gomeseras, Mr. Symon Rodriguez, Mr Rowland Gideon and Mr. Moses ffrancia appeared in order to Treat about the Buisness of the Synagogue which they hold of the Parish. The matter being debated It is unanimously ordered and agreed that the above menconed Jews shall have a Lease of the said Synagogue granted them for 21 yeares from the expiracon of the Agreement in being with Liberty for them to renew for 10 yeares longer at 50? p. anno rent. The Jews making the same into two substantial houses and keeping and Leaving the same in repair And upon no other Termes And the above menconed Jews being called in were acquainted with the Resolucon of the Vestry who desired time till Thursday next to consider of it, which was given them." [P. 243.] Wednesday 21th January 1701 /2 Att a Vestry. " At this Vestry Mr. Gomesera Mr. Alphonso Rodriguez and Mr. Moses Francia appeared on Behalfe of themselves and the rest of the Jews to take a New Lease of the Synagogue Itt is agreed and Ordered that a new Lease shall be granted them for 21 Years from Midsomer next at 40? pound Rent To which time the old Rent of 60? p. Anno is to Continue." [P. 243.] Sunday 15th February 1701/2 att a Vestry. " Whereas the Churchwardens of the parish of St. Andrews Undershaft have drawn upp a petition to the parliament in the name of their own and of this and of some other parishes concerning the getting an Act to compell the Jews to provide for such of the Jews as shall be become Converts to the Christian Religion Which petition the said Churchwardens presented to this Vestry desiring the Churchwardens and Vestry of this parish to sign the same : It is ordered and agreed by this Vestry that Mr. Chesheir and Mr. Woodcock the Churchwardens and other the gentlemen of the Vestry do sign the sd petition, And that this parish do Joyne &amp; Assist in the Obtaining such act as aforesaid." (b) From the parcel marked " Parish v. Bentham " in the first box out of the series of five boxes catalogued as " Miscellaneous Papers relating to St. Katherine Creechurch : MS. No. 1214," Guildhall Library. [Note.?The following notes were apparently made about May 1758 ;. they have clearly been extracted from a Vestry Minute Book for the period 1730 to 1750 which is not now in existence.] (b) This Act of Parliament was duly passed. It had arisen from the refusal of J. M. de Brito to support his baptised daughter. (See H. S. Q. Henriques, cp. cit., pp. 168-9.)</page><page sequence="131">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDICES V. d AND V. e. 117 " At a Vestry held the 26th day of November 1731. Ordd that a Lease of ye House late in the Occupation of Jacob Martin deed to Nich8 Lawes for 14 years to commence at Michaelmas last at ?32 p. ann." " At a Vestry held on Wednesday the 1st of Febr. 1737. The House Cree Chh Lane being new built by Nich8 Laws Ordd that he have a Lease for 21 Years &amp; at ye expiration of the first 21 years Mr. Hobt Jennings to obtain a further term of 21 years." " At a Vestry ye 16th July 1745. Resolved that Mr. Stibbs &amp; Mr. Hudson forthwith repair the House Late Nich8 Lawes for a Workhouse the same to be compleated by Mich8 next according to ye Estimation." delivered for ?234." V. e. From Documents in the Archives of St. Katherine Creechurch (deposited in the Guildhall Library). Extracts from the Workhouse Committee's MinuU Books (MS. 1204, Guildhall Library, Vols. I. to IV.) of the Parish of St. Katherine Creechurch. 25 Sept. 1745. [Vol. I. No page numbers.] " Ordered that Mr. Baldree Plumber make a Leaden Cistern not to exceed 7 Hundredweight Marked St. Cath: Cree and to be fixed in the workhouse of this Parish at a guinea p. qwt." . . . (Same day.) " Resolved that the Poor remove to the new Workhouse by Sunday next being Michaelmas day." 27 April 1748. " Ordered blinds for the 2 Windows of the Hall." 8 Aug. 1759. " Ordered that the Back Wall of the Workhouse be repaired forthwith." 17 April 1765. " Iron bars to be affixed against the windows on the ground floor."</page><page sequence="132">118 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. e (cont.). 7 Jan. 1767. " Ordered that the Vestry Clerk do enquire whether a Jew can gain a Settlement in any Parish, &amp; whether the Jews Synagogues are by Law Compellable to maintain their own Poor." 7 May 1772. " Ordered that the Windows of the 2nd Story of the Workhouse be thoroughly repaired with Glazing and Ironwork." 29 July 1773. " Mr. Churchwarden Thorp acquainted the Committee that he has applied to Mr. Alderman Bull in relation to his Warehouse &amp; Stable adjoining to the Workhouse which would be very proper &amp; convenient to Employ the able Poor in some necessary Works, who at present are an useless burthen on the Parish?And that the Rent of such Warehouse &amp; Stable is ?25." . . . . " agreed that the same be taken upon Tryal for 1 year accordingly." 21 March 1776. Answer to 3rd Question asked by Mr. George White Clerk to the Committee of House of Commons :? " The House which is now &amp; for a considerable number of years past has been used by the Parish as their Workhouse is their Freehold?Was not built for a Workhouse but with other Premises was many years ago left by Will to the Parish?And if let for a private House would produce about ?25 per Ann." " The Workhouse will accommodate about 45 Poor." Ans. to 15th Ques.:? " Bounded on East by St. Botolph without Aldgate. ? South ? St. Catherine Coleman. ? S.W. ? Allhallows Staining. ? W. ? St. Andrew Undershaft. ? N.W. ? Allhallows London Wall. ? N. ? St. James Dukes Place." 12Iyov. 1781. " Ordered that the Room in the Workhouse called the Master's Room up one pair of Stairs even with the Committee Room be used as a Lodging room for such of the poor as the Churchwardens shall think proper to lodge therein." 15 Sept. 1783 " The Workhouse wanting repairs &amp; . . . particularly the Roof to be new ripped &amp; thoroughly repaired, And Mr. Search Carpenter) attending informed the Committee that the Gutters are so sunk &amp; the Tyling so bad</page><page sequence="133">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. 6 (cont.). 119 that the same must be relaid, not being able to bear a partial repair, &amp; imagines by the outward appearance that the Rafters &amp; Girders must be in a bad state, but this cannot ascertain until the Tyling be taken off?And that some of the Chimnies particularly the Committee room Chimney must be in part taken down . . . And that the Pavement of the Yard must be relaid? Computes that the repairs may amount to ?25 or thereabouts." 21 Oct. 1785. " The Churchwardens &amp; Committee having viewed the several rooms ... in the Workhouse, thought proper to allot for the sole &amp; particular use of the Master &amp; Mistress, the present Committee Room, &amp; the Bed Chamber behind it &amp; none other. And Ordered that the lower Room opposite the Kitchen be the Room for the Committee to meet in for the future, &amp; that the furniture of the present Committee Room be removed to the other. And the Committee are of opinion that the 2 Rooms on the right hand side up one pair of Stairs, be laid into one for the use &amp; accommodation of the Poor. . . . " Inventory:? " Master's Room up one pair of Stairs on the right hand " " Committee Room " " Mistress's Room " " Hall below." "Kitchen." . . . " 27 Beds." 7 Aug. 1788. " It was Ordered that the Room over the Kitchen in the Workhouse be fitted up for the Reception of the Men as a Bed Room." . . . [Vol. II. p. 22.] 3 Nov. 1796. " That the Workhouse Stair Case be repaired by Mr. Bridger where necessary." [P. 64.] 1 Aug. 1799. " Ordered that the Churchwardens do order such painting to the outside of the Workhouse as they think necessary." [P. 120.] 10 June 1802. " Ordered that the House adjoining the workhouse do remain the same until a Vestry be called."</page><page sequence="134">120 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. e (cont.). [P. 211.] 5 Nov. 1807. " Mr. Bridger having at the request of the Churchwardens examined the back front of the Workhouse reported that it wanted repair." ... [P. 346.] 2 Feb. 1815. " Mr. Bridger submitted to the Committee a plan of the Workhouse &amp; the next house, with an intended communication between them for the better accommodation of the Poor. The Comtee. having inspected the plan agreed to recommend it to a Vestry, &amp; desired the Churchwarden to acquaint the occupiers that they must quit at Lady Day." [P. 430 ] 16 Dec. 1817. " The Comtee. were of opinion that it shd be recommended . . . that a Gas Light should be placed in a situation the most convenient to light the Front of the Workhouse and the Approach to it." [Vol. III. p. 331.] 2 July 1829. " The Comtee. recommended the Churchwardens to send the Poor to Mr. Deacon's during the Repair of the Workhouse." [Vol. IV. pp. 298-299.] 21 March &amp; 4 April, 1838. " The Churchwarden informed the Meeting that they were called together to consider the best mode of disposing of the Workhouse, Furniture &amp; Utensils." . . . " It was then Resolved that the Furniture ... be sold by public Auction." " That the Workhouse be let by public tender on Lease for 21 years at least and that a board be affixed in some public place . . . requiring tenders to be sent to the Churchwardens on or before the 30th of April instant." [P. 305.] Abstract. 2\st June 1838. The Committee resolved that the House should be let to a responsible Tenant on Lease for 21 years at a Rent of ?45 p. annum the Lease to contain the necessary restrictive covenants agreeable to the former Resolutions of the Committee. Previously Mr. Lewis Levy of 17 Mitre St. Aldgate had offered " to give ?25 a year for part of the Workhouse for as many years as the Parish might approve and requiring a partition in the one pair and other alterations."</page><page sequence="135">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDICES V./ AND V. g. 121 V.f. From Documents in the Archives of St. Katherine Creechurch (deposited in the Guildhall Library). From the parcel marked " Old Law Papers " in the first box out of the series of five boxes catalogued as " Miscellaneous Papers relating to St. Katherine Creechurch : MS. No. 1214," Guildhall Library. Extract from Tradesman's Account re Repairs to Workhouse in 1745. Extray Bricklayers &amp; Plasterers Work to 4 Chimneys. 0 4 0 For repairing the Workhouse according to a plan, Ellevation and particulars ..... ?234 0 0 Extrey accationd by taken down and building a party wall?shore wedges &amp; baces . . . . 0 18 0 For shoreing one story to back front and making good Floor &amp; windows ...... v. g. From Documents in the Archives of St. Katherine Creechurch (deposited in the Guildhall Library). From the parcel marked " Parish v. Bentham " in the first box out of the series of five boxes catalogued as " Miscellaneous Papers relating to St. Katherine Creechurch : MS. No. 1214," Guildhall Library. Extracts from a draft of a Brief for Counsel drawn up by Mr. Dan Highmore of St. Mary Axe, Lawyer to the Parish. (Initiation of Proceedings, Spring 1755. Date of actual Trial, July 1757.) These two Houses join to each other and are a Charity Estate belonging to the Parish of Saint Catherine Cree Church otherwise Christ Church London and are situate in that parish and in the Ward of Aldgate and front North on a Lane called Cree Church Lane almost opposite to the gate leading into Dukes Place. The one of which houses is used by the Parish as a Workhouse for the Habitation and Employment of their poor and the other (which is a Corner House) is occupied by one Mr. Jennings a Callender; And the South or Backfronts (where all the Lights in Question are) were bounded by and did join close to certain Sheds or Wooden Buildings belonging to and within these four or five years purchased by the Def1 Bentham and by him lett as Warehouses. . . . See the Plan. In the roofs of such sheds or warehouses there were three sections or divisions which roofs were carried up Taper and the tops or points of two such Divisions were about 5' 8" and the other division of such roofs was carried about 10' 9" from the tops of the fronts of such sheds.</page><page sequence="136">122 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. g (cont.). The said workhouse has in the Backfront thereof eight Lights or Windows &amp; the Callinders House has one small Light in its said backfront which are the nine lights in question &amp; are placed in the following manner, vizt. Four of the Workhouse Lights (being Dormer Garrett Windows) looked quite over the Roofs of the Defts Sheds ; two of the said Windows in the Middle or Second Story of the Workhouse looked through or between the Divisions of Roofs of such sheds. But another window in the same Middle Story of the Workhouse &amp; a very large Window under it at the West End of the S. or backfront of the said Workhouse were a little beyond the West End of the Defts. sd Sheds or Warehouses, and looked over another little low Shed of the Defendants lately built (&amp; where formerly stood a Boghouse) with a Roof sloping upwds from the West End of the sd other Sheds so as not to darken such lower most Window?For against the lower part of such last Window the Inhabitants of the sd Workhouse had formerly nailed or permitted to be nailed up Boards thereon to prevent the Stench of the Bog house under it from being offensive. The eight windows in the Workhouse by the very stile of the frames of them prove themselves to be very old windows &amp; probably coeval with the Building of these houses themselves (which were not consumed in the Fire of London but were built before the year 1638 as appear from the Title Deeds thereof). The same being purchased by the Parish of St. Catherine Cree Church in the year 1656 with diverse moneys of the sd parish given for charity particularly with ?200 left by Sir Jno Gayer for the purchase of Lands. Ab* 16 years ago the House now in the Occupation of Jennings being very old &amp; ruinous, the same was lett on a repairing Lease to one Laws a Builder for the Term of 61(a) years at ?6 a year which is paid by his Repre? sentative to the Parish ; and only one of the Windows in Question (vide the plan) is in the South front of this house. The Messuage now the Parish Workhouse and also the sd Jennings House were many years ago used by the Portuguese Jews for their Synagogue who ab* the year 1700 removed from thence to their present Synagogue in Bevis Marks then newly erected?Whereupon the same were then again made into two Dwelling houses ; &amp; that which is now the Workhouse was long inhabited by one Mr. Martin a Jew &amp; by various other people after him ;. till growing very ruinous the Parish resolved to repair the same &amp; fit it for a workhouse for their poor, who till then had been forced to hire a house for that purpose. And accordingly by Order of Vestry in the Year [left Uank(b)] the same was so repaired and has ever since been and still is used as a Workhouse. The plan and elevation of the premises annexed (which vide) was taken (a) ? Should read "21 years." (b) According to the Vestry Minute cited in the concluding paragraphs of Appendix V, d (p. 117), this resolution was passed on July 16, 1745.</page><page sequence="137">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. g (cont.) 123 by Mr. Dance the City Surveyor while the sd Defts Sheds or Warehouses were standing and exactly describes not only alFthe Windows in Question; but also the form of the sides and roofs of the sd Defts Sheds or Warehouses as such Windows appear'd looking over and through the Sections of such Roofs respectively into the Yard or Area of the sd Def* before the fronts of such Warehouses from which spot thi? plan was taken. [See PLATE 7.] The Estate and premes of the Def* which these Windows in Question look'd over and into as afd is a Square : the South Entrance to which is from Leadenhall Street by a wide gateway under some house of the Def* fronting Leadenhall Street (which house after a dispute of this sort with Mrs. Mary Ryder he purchased of her ab* years ago) the Backparts whereof form the South side of such Square. On the West Side is a pile of Warehouses of Brick erected by the Def* about four years ago. The Gavel or North End of which Brick Warehouses comes within about [left blank] yards of the Westernmost End of the South Wall or Backfront of sd Workhouse. So that there was a Space between the Gavel End of such Warehouses &amp; the said Westernmost Windows of the Workhouse of [left blank] and at or about the spot where those last named Warehouses are stood the ancient Dwelling house which the Deft. pUued down to Erect these Warehouses. On the East side of the sd Square was a pile of Wooden Sheds or Ware? houses and on the North side of the sd Square were these very Sheds and Warehouses joining to the sd South Walls of the sd two Parish houses and also the sd little shed under the lowest window on the Westernmost part of the said Workhouse Wall built on part of the sd space?of about 10 or 12 feet as before described, and in the middle of this square was a large open Space or Area in which in the Memory of several of our witnesses grew one or more large old trees wherein there were Rook's Nests ; And all the ground?except where the said Dwelling house stood was most probably formerly a garden to such Dwelling House. Some of our Witnesses who were Apprentices to the sd Hunter remember that the sd Sheds or Warehouses had the appearance of fresh Buildings and some of the very old Jews (whom we hope to procure) well remember there were no buildings at all against the South or Backfronts of the Parish houses when used as their Synagogue &amp; that these sheds or warehouses were built about the year 1700 on part of the sd void space of Ground by which they entirely stopped up a lower Window in the House of the sd Jennings then part of the Synagogue at the East End of the sd Back Wall (which does not appear in the plan because it was not seen till the Defts Sheds were pulled down) but as the Jews were soon to quit the Synagogue (&amp; the Window was not of much use) they did not care to trouble themselves with any prosecution ; which had they continued in the Synagogue they had certainly done, &amp; being parish houses &amp; always lett, the parish might not afterwards concern them? selves about it.</page><page sequence="138">124 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDICES V. g AND V. h. 1. Under the heading " 2nd Objection." &amp; even these sheds only extended under three of the Easternmost Windows on the S. Front of the Workhouse &amp; under the window in Jennings house? but the two windows at the West End of the said South front of the Work? house looked over an area or void space of ground whereon only a Boghouse stood; Under the heading " 3rd Objection" Some of these are staircase windows therefore necessarily irregular &amp; of different sizes and as is before stated were Original Windows in the Bldg. But the fact is that although the North front of the Workhouse was ab* ten or eleven years ago rebuilt yet this South Front was only repair'd and no manner of alteration made in these windows and that on repairing the same the Workmen discovered that that part of this South Wall was only one Brick thick in some parts and a brick and a half above, so that it was astonishing that the same had not fallen down?which also shews (if it will make for us) that it was not party wall. (to prove that a Window in one of the Houses on pulling Mr. Abr. Martin 1 down Defts Buildings was discovered to have been stopped (up within the memory of man &amp; was stopped up on the inside with lathe and plaister and as this Witness believes by permission of his father who then was Tenant to the parish of the same. Mr Abr Martin ^ ^? Prove *kat Boards which appeared to be nailed r. r. ar m -j aga^ng^. ^e Underpart of the lowest Windows at the West End of the Workhouse Wall were done by and at the request of Mr. Martin's family who then dwelt therein for their own conveniency to keep out the Stench of the Boghouse which came through such window and was extremely offensive. V. h. From Documents in the Archives of St. Katherine Creechurch (deposited in the Guildhall Library). .From the parcel marked " Parish v. Bentham " in the first box out of the series of five boxes catalogued as " Miscellaneous Papers relating to St. Katherine Creechurch : MS. No. 1214." Guildhall Library. I. JFrom two Rough Memoranda, undated but probably 1757. The eight opening names have been extracted from a longer list. Abr. Martin. Abr. Fernandez. Isaac Robles. Moses Robles. Isaac Francia. Mr. Moses Machardo. Jacob Nunez. Mr. Ximenes.</page><page sequence="139">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDICES V. A 1 AND 2. 125 i ii . , , ~\ t f Abraham Martin, Wands worth, ag* ye You had best send a man to Mr. \ ~ . ? ,. n u ^T . J George (offer Martin a Coach) Martin for fear the penny post &lt; TT7 n ?, letter shd miscarr / Wormwood Street. e er s miscarry (Fernandes?Mr. Martin's acquaintance. Isaac Francia in Lambeth St. Goodman Fields {Isaac Robles at the first Bakers in Houndsditch. Moses Machardo?at Gar away s. Solomon Ximenes?Cokes Court Camo? mile Street. Names of Witnesses on Account of Benthams Warehouses. Backfront, 51 foot 7 inches Jacob Fernandes Nunes ^ David de Robles Moses Machardo I removed to ye at Garaways Coffee House f new Synagogue Moses Fernandes Nunes in 1700 Solo. Fernandes Nunes &gt; Jomes Sara St Mary Axe Abra : Martin &amp; Fernandes his acquaintance Wansworth Abra (erased) Isaac Francia 2. From another memorandum. Copy of a Letter to Mr. Dance, City Surveyor. 6 June, 1755 Sir, The Building of Mr. Bentham of which you took a plan for the P'sh of St. Catherine Cree Ch is now taken down. Mr. Highmore, Attorney having called several times on you for a roof draught of the same which is necessarily wanted that we may forthwith give proper Notice. Satisfaction shall be made you for your trouble. Yor speedy compliance will very much, oblige the Gentlemen of the Parish Yor Hble Ser1 R. B. Vestry Clerk</page><page sequence="140">126 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX V. i. V. /. From Documents in the Archives of St. Katherine Creechurch (deposited in the Guildhall Library). From the parcel marked " Parish v. Bentham " in the first box out of the series of five boxes catalogued as " Miscellaneous Papers relating to St. Katherine Creechurch : MS. No. 1214," Guildhall Library. Extract from a joint affidavit by two witnesses, one of whom is Rose Solomon, Wife of Nathan Solomon, of the Parish of Saint Catherine Christ Church otherwise Cree Church London. [Note.?This affidavit?albeit duly executed?was evidently not placed on the File. The " Mark " resembles Hebrew characters, but these are not decipherable.] And this Deponent Rose Solomon for herself saith that she has known and is perfectly acquainted with the sd Messuage or Tenement now used as a Workhouse for the sd Parish for 29 y. at least and that in the back or &gt;S. Fronts of the sd Workhouse there were when She this deponent first knew the same 8 lights or windows in the very same places that they now are and were when the sd defendant Bentham pulled down his said warehouses and shed about six weeks ago . . . and that the sd warehouses or wooden pile of Bldgs of the sd Def* Bentham was near or joined to the said South or Back walls of the sd Workhouse and was built with sloping roofs so that the two middle windows of the sd workhouse look'd between such roofs . . . that the two lowest windows at the Westernmost End of the said Brick Wall of the sd Workhouse were beyond the sd warehouses or Buildings and look'd into a Yard or Area under the same upon which Yard within these two or three years a Shed was built by the sd Mr. Bentham or his Tenants upon the same as heretofore. And this Deponent saith that she is the better able to depose as above because she went to live as a Servant about twentynine Years ago with one Mr. Martin who then dwelt in the said Messuage (now the Workhouse) where and with whom she continued to live for some time and therefore well remembers that all the said Eight Windows and the said Workhouse and Warehouses were twentynine years ago in the same places and form as are herein before described. [Mark]</page><page sequence="141">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX VI. 127 VI. From the British Museum. Extracts from a bound Register (Add. MS. No. 34015) covering the period 13th Feb. 1655/6 to 10th Aug. 1657 and bearing the title " 1655 Appear? ances of Persons coming from foraigne parts." [Note.?There are seven Registers altogether in this collection (Add. MSS. 34011 to 34017). No. 34011 covers Major-General Lambert's district ?York to Northumberland, etc. MS. 34012 deals with the Western counties, whilst MS. 34013 embraces Wales and the remaining English counties. MS. 34014 records all the arrivals in London from various parts of England, and MS. 34015, of which excerpts are given below, is confined to arrivals in London from overseas. MS. 34016 contains the names of suspects living in London, Westminster and Middlesex; but scarcely any of the names are foreign, nor are any identifiable as Jewish. Finally, MS. 34017 is an index to two books (Registers B. and C. of suspected persons in 1655) which are now wanting to the collection. A pencilled note pasted inside MS. 34015, and seemingly written by a British Museum Librarian, states inter alia : " With the Appearance Books a perfect espionage was placed on the move? ments of people." Hence, although Rodriguez and the other immigrants are not stated in MS. 34015 to have been Jews, a careful scrutiny of all seven Registers has left me convinced that the Port Officers could not con? ceivably have ignored this fact, having regard to the surrounding names and circumstances.] {P. 48. 1656.] 14th August. 18. Manuell Perera of London m'chant alien landed at Dover the 5th prnt out of the Pacquet boat from Dunkerq and come to Lon the 8th and lodgeth at the house of Mr. Domingo Vast de Brighto in the pish of great St. Hellen and saith that about 3 months since he went into Holland and fiianders about his M'chandizeing affaires and is now returned, and that his Brother in law ffrancisco de Medina is his correspondent at Amsterdam. [P. 83. 1656.] 3rd December. 30. Stephen Rodriguez of Bayon in ffranee M'chant borne in Portugall landed at Dover the 27th past out of the Pacquet boat from Callais and came</page><page sequence="142">128 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX VI. (cOflt.). to London the first prst, and lodgeth at ye hand and penn, a writeing School? masters house in Cree Church Lane, and saith that he is come over with intent to live in London, and that Paul &amp; Anthony de Porte two Brothers Portugalle inhabitants at Burdeaux are his correspondents there and here Mr. ffardinand?Portugall m'chant in Leadenhall Street. 30. Anthony Balderede of Bayon in ffranee, M'chant borne in Portugall landed at Dover the 27th past out of the Pacquet boat from Callais and came to London the first prst, and lodgeth at ye hand and penn, a writeing School? masters house in Creede Church Lane, neare the Dukes Place in the pish of Katherine Creechurch and that Paul &amp; Anthony de Porte two Brothers Portugalls inhabitants at Burdeaux are his correspondents there and here Mr. ffardinand Portugall M'chant in Leadenhall Street and that he is come over with intent to live in London. [P. 89. 1656.] 24:th of December. 32. ffardinando Albin of Bourdeaux M'chant landed the 20th prst and came to London the 23rd and lodgeth in Leadenhall street near the house of Mr. Antonio ffernendos Car-va-jail Portugall M'chant, who is his corre? spondent here and saith he is come over about his m'chandizeing affaires haveing imported severall comodities intendeth with the pceed to buy goods here and return to Bourdeaux where his wife is his correspondent. [P. 143. 1657.] 13th of June. ffardinando Alvyn a Portugall but of Burdeaux in ffranee M'chant Ant? de Porto a Portugall of Burdeaux in ffranee m'chant landed at Dover the 10th psent out of the Pacquet boat from Callice and came to London the 12th and lodge at ye house of Thomas Lingar Plummer in Leadenhall street in the pish of Katherine Cree Church and say they are come to buy goods and intend to remain here about 3 months and after to return to Burdeaux and that Paulo de Porto m'chant is their correspond* at Burdeaux, and here Anthony fferdinando m'chant in Leadenhall Street. VII. From The Public Record Office. Particulars of some of the Pleadings on File in the matter of Plummer v. Bentham and Attorney-General v. Bentham.</page><page sequence="143">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX VII. a. 129 VII. a. From The Public Record Office. From the pleadings in the Bentham proceedings. Document CP. 11, 2151/3 of the 10 June 1755. (Chancery Information filed at the suit of the Attony General.) " To the Rt. Hon. Philip Earl of Hardwick, Ld High Chancellor of Great Britain. " Informing sheweth unto your Lordship Wm Murray Esquire his Majesty's Attorney General by and at the Relation of Wm Parker Clerk Minister of the Parish of St Katherine Cree Church, London and William Plummer and John Salmon Church Wardens of the Parish aforesaid and Christopher Fullager John Hopley Wm Bright and Wm Towle Overseers of the poor of the said parish and of George Wardley Robert Martin Thomas Elliston and John Bray poor inhabitants of the parish aforesaid being House? keepers of good name also Fame that Sir John Gayer late of Knight [sic] in and by his last Will and Testament in writing bearing date on or about the 19th day of December in the year of our Lord 1648 did declare and will and desire that to be that his Executors within 5 years after his Decease should disburse and lay out the sum of ?200 for the buying and purchasing a House Tenement or Land the Rents and Profits whereof his Will was should be employed and disposed for ever to and for the several uses and purposes thereafter expressed that is to say that the Minister for the time being of the sd parish church of St. Katherine Cree Church should upon the 16th day of October in the Forenoon yearly for ever preach a sermon in the same church &amp; he to have for every such sermon 20 Shillings the Clerk of the said parish to have for his attendance 2 shillings &amp; the Sexton 12 pence for tolling the Bell &amp; that the residue of the said rents &amp; profits should be from time to time on the sd 16th day of Oct. yearly immediately after the Sermon distributed to the poor Inhabitants of that parish being Housekeepers of good name and Fame &amp; to no other by the Minister Church Wardens &amp; Overseers of the poor of the sd parish or the major part of them &amp; they not to give above 5 shillings to any one person nor less than 3 to any other which he desired might be really performed without partial Affection to any but as Charity obliged in such Cases And Reciting in his Will that he had at that time a pew or Seat in the Church for himself Children &amp; Servants &amp; Vault in the same Church wherein his Wife &amp; Children deceased were buried in which none other had then been interred he expected the Continuance &amp; sole Benefit &amp; Use both of the said pew or Seat &amp; Vault so long as any of his Alliance then or thereafter should be in that parish And for the Vault his desire was (which he hoped would be VOL. X. K</page><page sequence="144">130 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX VII. a (COM.). performed) that the same should be reserved only for the Burial of himself Family &amp; Alliance which should desire or appoint to be interred there &amp; for none others &amp; in Case that his Desire or Request concerning the said Vault should not be granted &amp; performed then he willed &amp; appointed that the said House Tenement &amp; Land to be purchased as aforesaid with the Rents &amp; profits thereof should from thenceforth for ever remain to his Executors &amp; their Heirs &amp; the other Uses above declared to cease end and determine As by the said Will or the probate thereof relation thereto being had will more fully appear And H.M.'s sd Attorney General at the Relation aforesaid further Sheweth that the said Pew and Vault have been ever since preserved for the sole Benefit &amp; Use of Alliance of the said Sir John Gayer according to the Directions of his said Will And H.M.'s said Attorney General at the Relation aforesaid further sheweth that in or before the Year of Our Lord 1657 the ?said sum of ?200 so bequeathed by the said Will of the said Sir John Gayer as aforesaid was paid into the hands of John Stonehall the elder, Turner, John Smith, Pewterer, George Thorpe, Cook, Richard Blackwell, Merchant Taylor, John Bloyse?Haberdasher, John Rivett?Skinner, Wm Bridges?Cordwainer, Thomas Ashby?Salter, Richard Richardson?Silk Thrower, James Atkinson ?Merchant Taylor, &amp; Matthew Owre?Grocer, Citizens of London &amp; parish? ioners &amp; Trustees of &amp; for &amp; on behalf of the said parish of St. Katherine Cree Church otherwise Christ Church &amp; the said Trustees having in their hands other Monies in Trust for the Benefit of the sd parish they the sd Trustees in pursuance of an order of Vestry made at a Vestry held in &amp; for the said Parish on the ? day of-in the said Year 1657 did contract &amp; agree with James Whitby Citizen &amp; Clothworker of London Wm Whitby Citizen also &amp; Cloth worker of London son &amp; heir of the sd James Whitby Abraham Stanyon Citizen &amp; plaisterer of London Henry Boone Citizen &amp; Barber Chirurgeon of London &amp; Richard Mills Citizen &amp; Draper of London for the absolute pur? chase of the Freehold &amp; Inheritance of the 2 Messuages or Tenements here? inafter mentioned &amp; thereupon by Indenture bearing date on or about the said 28th day of July in the sd Year of Our Lord 1657 &amp; made or mentioned to be made between the said James Whitby Wm Whitby Abraham Stanyon Henry Boone &amp; Richard Mills of the one part &amp; the said John Stonehall John Smith George Thorpe Richard Blackwell John Bloyse John Rivet Wm Bridges Thomas Ashby Richard Richardson James Atkinson &amp; Mathew Owre of the other part For &amp; in consideration of the sum of ?650 to the sd Abraham Stanyon &amp; of ?190 to the said James &amp; Wm Whitby in hand paid by the said John Stonehall John Smith George Thorpe Richard Blackwell John Bloyse John Rivett Wm Bridges Thomas Ashby Richard Richardson James Atkinson &amp; Mathew Owre for the full &amp; absolute purchase of the Messuages or Tenements thereinafter mentioned with their Appurtenances they the said James Whitby &amp; Wm Whitby &amp; also the said Henry Boon &amp; Richard Mills at the Request &amp; by the Nomination &amp; Appointment of the said</page><page sequence="145">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX VII. a (cont.). 131 Abraham Stanyon James Whitby &amp; Wm Whitby testified as therein is men? tioned Did &amp; each &amp; every of them Did fully clearly &amp; absolutely grant Bargain sell alien &amp; confirm unto the said John Stonehall John Smith George Thorpe Richard Blackwell John Bloyse John Rivet Wm Bridges Thomas Ashby Richard Richardson James Atkinson &amp; Mathew Owre their Heirs &amp; Assigns AU those 2 Brick Messuages or Tenements then lately new built situate &amp; being in the sd parish of St. Catharine Christ Church alias Cree Church near Aldgate London in a Lane called the Church Lane one of them being then late in the Occupation of the sd James Whitby &amp; the other of them being a Corner House opposite the great Gate leading into a place there commonly called Duke's place &amp; was then late in the Tenure or Occupation of Hills Whitting ham &amp; had been afterwards in the Occupation of the said James Whitby or his Assigns And also all shops Cellars Sollars Chambers Rooms Lights Yards Easments profits Commodities Emoluments Hereditaments &amp; Appurtenances whatsoever to the said several Messuages or Tenements or either of them belonging or in anywise appertaining or with them or either of them used occupied &amp; enjoyed or accepted reputed or taken as part parcel or member of them or either of them which premises were heretofore but one Messuage or Tenement &amp; were the inheritance of Wm Thompson Citizen &amp; Haberdasher of London who by Indentures of Bargain &amp; Sale bearing date the 18th day of April Anno Domini 1622 inrolled in the Hustings London conveyed the same premises to Wm Whitby &amp; Mary his wife (both deceased) &amp; their Heirs after whose Deceases the premises descended to the sd James Whitby the only Son &amp; Heir of the said Wm &amp; Mary Whitby And all the Estate Right Title Interest Claim &amp; Demand whatsoever of them the said James Whitby Wm Whitby Henry Boon &amp; Richard Mills &amp; every or any of them of in &amp; to the sd several Messuages or Tenements &amp; other the premises or of in or to any part or parcel thereof And the Reversion &amp; Reversions Remainder &amp; Remainders Rents Issues &amp; profits of all &amp; singular the premises &amp; of every part &amp; parcel thereof Together with all &amp; every Deeds Evidences &amp; Writings concerning the premises or any part thereof which they the sd James Whitby Wm Whitby Henry Boon &amp; Richard Mills or any of them had or could come by without Suit in Law To hold unto the sd John Stonehall John Smith George Thorpe Richard Blackwell John Bloyse John Rivett Wm Bridges Thos Ashby Richard Richardson James Atkinson &amp; Mathew Owre their Heirs &amp; Assigns for ever In Trust &amp; for the Use of the sd parish of St. Catharine Cree Church alias Christ Church London for ever As by the sd Indenture Relation being thereunto had will more fully appear And H.M.'s said Attorney General at the Relation aforesd further sheweth that the sd 2 Messuages or Tenements with their Appurtenances have by several Sets of Conveyances been con? veyed in Fee from Trustees to Trustees In Trust nevertheless for the Use of the sd parish of St. Catharine Cree Church otherwise Christ Church for ever And that by certain Indentures of Lease &amp; Release bearing date respectively</page><page sequence="146">132 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX VII. a (cont.). the 12th &amp; 13th days of April 1709 the sd 2 Messuages or Tenements with the Appurtenances became vested in John Mayhew?Haberdasher, Richard Draper?Girdler Sir Randall Knipe Joseph Tattem?Merchant Taylor, Richard Perry?Haberdasher, James Petit?Mercer, Edward Woodcock? Draper, Hanbury Walthall?Haberdasher, Wm Bridgeman?Salter, John Buckham?Girdler, Wm Watford?Grocer, John Walker?Dyer, Wm Finch? Leather Seller, Samuel Totten?Mercer, Henry Burton?Grocer, Benjamin Hall?Merchant Taylor, Richard Smith?Merchant Taylor &amp; Zephaniah Markett?Merchant Taylor Citizens of London parishioners &amp; Trustees for &amp; on Behalf of the parish aforesd &amp; their Heirs &amp; the same are now vested in the sd Wm Finch &amp; his Heirs who is the only surviving Trustee named in the sd last mentioned Indentures of Lease &amp; Release In Trust nevertheless for the Use of the sd parish And one of the sd Messuages is now in the Occupation of Robert Jennings Callendar &amp; the other of the sd Messuages is now used as a Workhouse for the sd parish And H.M.'s sd Attorney General at the Relation aforesaid further sheweth that the Yearly Sum of Ten pounds arising out of the Rents &amp; profits of the said 2 Messuages or Tenements have ever since the purchase thereof been constantly applied on the 16th day of Oct. Yearly in the manner directed by the sd Will of the sd Sir John Gayer Knight that is to say the Sum of 20 shillings part thereof to the Minister of the said parish of St Catharine Cree Church otherwise Christ Church for preaching a sermon in the same Church 2 shillings to the Clerk for his Attendance &amp; 12 pence to the Sexton for Tolling the Bell &amp; the Residue of the sd Sum of 10 pounds has been from time to time on the sd 16th day of Oct. Yearly immediately after Sermon distributed to the poor Inhabitants of the sd parish being House keepers &amp; of good name &amp; Fame by the Minister Church Wardens &amp; Overseers of the poor of the sd parish for the Time being or the Major part of them not giving less [sic] than five Shillings to any one person or less than three shillings to any other And the sd Relators hoped that the sd Wm Finch the surviving Trustee would have conveyed the sd 2 Messuages or Tenements &amp; premises with their Appurtenances to new Trustees to be appointed for that purpose &amp; their Heirs In Trust for the sd parish for ever &amp; that such new Trustees &amp; their Heirs should have held &amp; enjoyed the sd Messuages or Tenements &amp; premises with their &amp; each of their Appurtenances without any Obstruction or Hindrance whatsoever But now so it is May it please your Ldship that Jeremiah Bentham of the parish of St. Botolph without Aldgate London Gentleman combining &amp; confederating to &amp; with the said Wm Finch &amp; divers other persons to the sd Relators at present unknown whose names when discovered the sd Relators pray may be inserted in this Information with apt Words to Charge them as Defendants hereto He the sd Jeremiah being or pretending to be Owner or proprietor of certain Buildings or Warehouses the Back parts of which are near or adjoining to the Back or South Walls of the sd 2 Messuages or Tenemts so purchased for the Benefit of the sd Parish as</page><page sequence="147">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX VII. a (cOYlt.). 133 aforesaid &amp; intending to darken the sd 2 Messuages &amp; to deprive the sd Messuages of the Benefit of the Light &amp; Air &amp; thereby reduce the Value of the sd Trust Estate to the prejudice of the sd Charity He the sd Jeremiah Bentham hath employed Workmen to pull down the sd Warehouses &amp; a Shed thereto adjoining &amp; gives out &amp; declares that he hath determined to erect &amp; will erect some large Edifice or Building in the Room &amp; place of the sd Warehouses &amp; Shed which shall be of equal if not greater Heighth than the South Walls of the sd two Messuages by means whereof 9 ancient Windows on the South side of the sd 2 Messuages will be so much darkened as to be rendered of little or no use &amp; the sd 2 Houses being both of them Single Houses &amp; particularly the sd House now used as a Workhouse will by means thereof be so much deprived of the Benefit of the Air &amp; Light as the same will be unfit for Habitation &amp; as an Evidence to show that the sd Jeremiah Bentham doth intend to erect such Edifice or Buildings &amp; thereby deprive the sd 2 Messuages of the Benefit of Air &amp; Light aforesd H.M.'s sd Attorney General at the Relation aforesaid doth Charge that the sd Jeremiah Bentham hath made some Contract or Agreement in Writing with or hath given Orders or Directions to some Builder or Builders for the pulling down the sd Warehouses &amp; Shed &amp; for erecting such new Edifice or Buildings in the Room or place thereof as aforesaid by which Contract or Agreem* it is agreed between the sd J eremiah Bentham &amp; the sd Builder or Builders that the sd Warehouses &amp; Shed should be forthwith pulled down &amp; a new Edifice or Buildings be erected in the Room thereof of such Heighth &amp; Dimensions &amp; so near to the South Walls of the sd Messuages or Tenemts as to deprive them of the Benefit of Light &amp; Air as aforesd or the sd Jeremiah Bentham hath given such or the like Orders to the sd Builder or Builders &amp; so the same would appear if the sd Jeremiah Bentham would produce &amp; show the sd Contract or Agreem* or the sd Orders which he refuses to do. And H.M.'s sd Attorney General at the Relation aforesd further Charges that the sd Contract so made by the sd Jeremiah Bentham &amp; such Builder or Builders as aforesd or the Orders given by the sd Jeremiah Bentham to the sd Builder or Builders has or have so far been carried into Execution as that the sd Warehouses &amp; Shed are pulled down &amp; the Workmen are actually erecting or preparing to erect such new Buildings as aforesd. And H.M.'s sd Attorney General at the Relation aforesd doth Charge that the aforesd Relators or some of them have Caused Application to be made to the sd Jeremiah Bentham to know whether he intended to erect any other Edifice or Buildings in the Room of his sd Warehouses &amp; Shed when the same should be pulled down &amp; whether he intended thereby to darken all or any of the Windows made in the South Front or Wall of the sd 2 Messuages so purchased in Trust as aforesd &amp; thereupon the sd Jeremiah Bentham did again declare that he would cause the sd Warehouses &amp; Shed to be pulled down &amp; in the Room thereof to be erected &amp; Built an Edifice or Buildings of such Heighth &amp; Dimensions as to darken All the Windows</page><page sequence="148">134 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX VII. a (cOflt.). in the sd South Front or Walls of the sd 2 Messuages so purchased as aforesd &amp; insisted that he had a Right so to do for that the sd 9 Windows on the South side of the sd 2 Messuages or Tenemts or any of them are not antient Lights but were made very lately &amp; long subsequent to the Building of the sd Ware? houses &amp; Shed of the sd Jeremiah Bentham Whereas the Truth is &amp; so H.M.'s Attorney General at the Relation aforesd doth Charge that the said 9 Windows on the South Side of the sd 2 Messuages or Tenements are Antient Lights &amp; were made long before the Building of the sd Warehouses &amp; Shed of the sd Jeremiah Bentham &amp; as an Evidence to shew that the sd Ware? houses were built subsequent in point of time to the making of the sd 9 Windows H.M.'s sd Attorney General at the Relation aforesd doth charge that there were before the sd Warehouses were in part pulled down as aforesd 3 or more Sections or Divisions in the Roofs of the sd Warehouses which were carried up taper &amp; the Tops or points of 2 of those Divisions were not more than 5 Feet 8 Inches &amp; the other Division 10 ft. 9 Inches from the Tops of the Walls of the sd Warehouses so that the sd 2 Messuages so purchased for the Use of the sd parish as aforesd &amp; 3 Back Lights or Windows that looked through or between the Divisions of the sd Roofs &amp; all the upper &amp; Garret Windows in the South Front or Wall of the sd 2 Messuages so purchased for the Benefit of the sd parish as aforesd were above &amp; looked quite over the Roofs of the sd Warehouses of the sd Jeremiah Bentham But that another window in the middle or 2nd Story of the sd Workhouse &amp; a large Window directly under the same towards the West end of the South Wall thereof being a little beyond the West end of the sd Warehouse looked over the sd Shed which Shed about 2 years ago was built upon a Spot of Ground then a little Yard or Area that joined to the Back or South Front of the sd Workhouse belonging to the sd Parish &amp; was built only about 6 or 7 Feet high with a Roof sloping upwards from the sd West end of the sd last mentioned Warehouses &amp; passing under the lowest Window at the West End of the South Front of the sd Workhouse so as not to obstruct or darken the same or the sd other Windows directly over it And therefore there is as the sd Relators are advised good reason to believe that the said Warehouses were not built higher because they would if built higher obstruct the Light &amp; Air from coming to the upper &amp; Garret Windows of the South Front or Wall of the sd 2 Houses &amp; the Roofs of the sd Warehouses &amp; Shed were built on so to taper &amp; sloping as aforesd that they might not obstruct the Light coming to the sd lower or middle Windows of the South Wall of the sd 2 Houses &amp; the sd Wm Finch in whom &amp; the Freehold &amp; Inheritance of the sd 2 Mes? suages so purchased for the Benefit of the sd Parish now is (as the sd Relators are advised) refuses or declines to act in the Execution of the sd Trust or to convey the sd Trust Estate to new Trustees pretending that he cannot safely act in the sd Trust nor convey the sd Trust Estate to new Trustees without the Direction &amp; Indemnity of this Honourable Court &amp; the rather as he is</page><page sequence="149">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX VII. a (cOflt.). 135 now the only surviving Trustee named in the Deed of Trust of the 13th of April 1709 &amp; as it is by the sd Deed directed that new Trustees should be appointed when the number of Trustees should be reduced to 2 All which Actings &amp; pretences of the sd Confedrates greatly tend to the prejudice of the sd Charity In tender Consideration of &amp; for that the sd Relators are remidiless in the premises by the Rules of the Comon Law &amp; for that the sd Jeremiah Bentham cannot be restrained from erecting such Edifice &amp; Building in the Room &amp; place where the sd Warehouses &amp; Shed now pulled down formerly stood of such Heighth &amp; Dimensions as he has threatened &amp; contracted to do or ordered to be done as aforesd &amp; thereby depriving the said 2 Messuages so purchased in Trust as aforesd of the Benefit of Light &amp; Air nor can the sd William Finch be compelled to act in the Execution of the sd Trust or other? wise to assign his sd Trust to new Trustees nor can such new Trustees as the sd Relators are advised be now properly appointed without the Aid &amp; Assist? ance of this Hon. Court where matters relating to publick Charities are most properly cognizable. To the End therefore that the sd Jeremiah Bentham &amp; Wm Finch &amp; the rest of the Confederates when discovered may true perfect &amp; distinct Answer upon Oath make to all &amp; singular the premises as fully &amp; particularly as if the same were herein again repeated and they distinctly interrogated &amp; all they know believe &amp; have heard concerning the same And particularly that they may set forth &amp; discover in manner aforesd whether the sd Relator Wm Parker is not Minister of the sd Parish of St. Catharine Cree Church otherwise Christ Church London And whether the sd Relators Wm Plummer &amp; John Salmon are not Church Wardens of the Parish aforesd And whether the sd Relators Christopher Fullager John Hopley Wm Bright &amp; Wm Towle are not Overseers of the poor of the sd Parish &amp; whether the sd Relators George Wardley Robert Martin Tho8 Ellston &amp; John Bray are not poor Inhabitants of the Parish aforesd &amp; Housekeepers of good name &amp; Fame And that the sd Confedrates may set forth whether the sd Sir John Gayer did not make his last Will &amp; Testament in Writing of such date as aforesd &amp; thereby direct the Sum of ?200 to be laid out in buying or pur? chasing a house Tenement or Land the Rents &amp; Profits whereof were to be applied in such manner as aforesd or any other or what manner &amp; whether the sd pew &amp; Vault has not ever since been preserved for the Sole use &amp; Benefit of the Alliance of the sd Sir John Gayer And whether in or about the year of Our Lord 1657 or at some &amp; what other time &amp; when particularly the sd Sum of ?200 so bequeathed by the sd Will of the sd Sir John Gayer as aforesd was not paid into the hands of John Stonehall John Smith George Thorpe Richard Blackwell John Bloyse John Rivett Wm Bridges Tho8 Ashby Richard Richardson James Atkinson &amp; Mathew Owre or either &amp; which of them as Trustees for &amp; on Behalf of the sd parish And whether the sd Trustees did not in pursuance of such Order of Vestry as aforesd or some other &amp; what Order of Vestry Contract &amp; agree with the sd James Whitby Wm</page><page sequence="150">136 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX VII. a {cont.). Whitby Abraham Stanyon Henry Boone &amp; Richard Mills for the purchase of the Freehold &amp; Inheritance of the sd 2 Messuages or Tenemts herein before mentioned And whether the sd Indenture herein beforementioned to bear date the 28th day of July 1657 was not made &amp; duly executed by all or any &amp; which of the parties above named as parties thereto and whether the said Indenture was not of such purport or effect as above sett forth of such or the like purport or Effect And whether the sd 2 Messuages or Tenements with their Appurtenances have not by some &amp; what Conveyances been conveyed in Fee from Trustees to Trustees In Trust nevertheless for the Use of the sd Parish of St Catharine Cree Church otherwise Christ Church for ever And whether the said 2 Messuages or Tenements with the Appurtenances did not by Indentures of Lease &amp; Release bearing date respectively the 12th &amp; 13th days of April 1709 become vested in the sd John Mayhew Richard Draper Sir Randal Knipe Joseph Tattem Richard Perry James Pettit Edward Wood? cock Hanbury Walthall Wm Bridgeman John Buckham Wm Watford John Walker Wm Finch Samuel Totten Henry Barton Benjamin Hall Richard Smith &amp; Zephaniah Market Parishioners &amp; Trustees for &amp; on behalf of the Parish afores^ &amp; their Heirs and whether the same are not now vested in the sd Finch as the only surviving Trustee named in the sd last mentioned Indentures of Lease &amp; Release In Trust nevertheless for the Use of the sd Parish or why &amp; for what reason they are not so vested And whether the Yearly Sum of ?10 arising out of the Rents &amp; profits of the sd Messuages or Tenemts so purchased in Trust as aforesd have not ever since the purchase thereof been constantly applied in the manner directed by the sd Will of the sd Sir John Gayer And that the said Jeremiah Bentham may set forth whether he is not or lately was not the Owner or Proprietor of certain Buildings or Warehouses the Back parts of which are near &amp; how near or adjoining to the Back or South Walls of the sd 2 Messuages so purchased in Trust as aforesd. And whether he hath not employed some &amp; how many Workmen to pull down the sd Warehouses And whether he hath not given out &amp; declared &amp; when &amp; how often &amp; to whom &amp; in whose presence &amp; Hearing that he hath deter? mined to erect &amp; will erect some &amp; what large Edifice &amp; Buildings in the Room &amp; place of the sd Warehouses &amp; Shed or of some or one &amp; which of them or of some &amp; what part or parts thereof which shall be of equal if not greater Height than the South Walls of the sd 2 Messuages so purchased in Trust as aforesd or what will be the Heighth Scantlings &amp; Dimensions of the sd Edifice or Buildings so intended to be erected as aforesd. And whether when the sd intended Edifice or Buildings is or are finished &amp; compleated 9 or any other &amp; what number of Windows in the South Front or Walls of the sd 2 Messuages or Tenements so purchased in Trust as aforesd will not be so much darkened as to be rendred of little or no use or otherwise darkened or deprived of the Benefit of Light &amp; Air to any &amp; what degree And whether the sd 2 Messuages so purchased in Trust as aforesd &amp; particularly the sd</page><page sequence="151">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX VII. a (C0Ylt.). 137 Messuage now used as a Workhouse for the sd Parish as aforesd will not by such intended Edifice or Buildings when the same shall be finished &amp; com pleated be so much deprived of the Benefit of Air &amp; Light as that the same will be unfit for Habitation And whether the sd Jeremiah Bentham hath not made some &amp; what Contract with some &amp; what Workman or Workmen or given some &amp; what Orders to some &amp; what Workman or Workmen to pull down the said Warehouses &amp; Shed or some or one &amp; which of them or some &amp; what part or parts thereof &amp; in the Room thereof to Erect a new Edifice or Buildings of such Heighth &amp; Dimensions &amp; so near to the South Walls of the said Messuages or Tenements as to deprive them in some &amp; what measure of the Benefit of Light &amp; Air &amp; whether the same would not so appear if he would produce &amp; shew the sd Contract or Orders &amp; whether he does not refuse so to do &amp; why &amp; for what reason &amp; that he may set forth the Heighth scantlings &amp; Dimensions of the sd intended Edifice or Buildings as they are set forth in the sd Contract or Orders And whether the sd intended Edifice or Buildings will not be contiguous &amp; adjoining or near &amp; how near to the South Front or Wall of the sd 2 Messuages so purchased in Trust as aforesd And whether the sd Contract or Orders has not or have not in some &amp; what measure &amp; how far particularly been carried into Execution And whether the sd Relators or any and which of them have not &amp; when caused some &amp; what application to be made to the sd Jeremiah Bentham to know whether he intended to erect any other Edifice or Buildings in the Room of his sd Warehouses &amp; Shed or some or one &amp; which of them or some &amp; what part or parts thereof when the same should be pulled down &amp; whether he intended by such Edifice or Buildings so to be erected as aforesd to darken all or any &amp; which of the Windows made in the South Front or Walls of the sd 2 Messuages so purchased in Trust as aforesd. And whether the sd Jeremiah Bentham did not thereupon declare that he would cause the sd Warehouses &amp; Shed or some or one &amp; which of them or some &amp; what part or parts of them to be pulled down &amp; in the room thereof to be erected &amp; built an Edifice or Buildings of such Heighth &amp; Dimensions as to darken all or any of which of the Windows in the South front or Walls of the sd 2 Messuages so purchased in Trust as aforesd &amp; whether he did not insist that he had some &amp; what Right so to do And whether he doth not know or believe in his Conscience that the sd 9 Windows on the South side of the sd 2 Messuages or any &amp; which of them are antient Lights &amp; made sometime &amp; how long before the Building of the sd Warehouses or Shed of the sd Jeremiah Bentham And that the sd Jeremiah Bentham may set forth whether before the sd Warehouses were in part pulled down as aforesd there were not three or any other &amp; what number of Sections or Divisions in the Roofs of the sd Warehouses which were Carried up taper &amp; whether the Tops or points of 2 of those Divisions were not 5 ft. &amp; 8 Inches from the Tops of the Walls of the sd Warehouses or of any other &amp; what Dimensions &amp; whether the Top or point of the other</page><page sequence="152">138 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX VII. a (cont.). of those Divisions was not 10 ft. 9 inches from the Top of the Wall of the sd Warehouse And whether the sd 2 Messuages so purchased in Trust as aforesd had not 3 or any other &amp; what number of Back Lights or Windows that looked through or between the Divisions of the sd Roofs of the sd Ware? houses of the sd Jeremiah Bentham And whether all the upper and Garret Windows in the South Front or Wall of the sd two Messuages so purchased in Trust as aforesd for the Benefit of the sd Parish or any &amp; which of them were not above &amp; did not look quite over the Roofs of the sd Warehouses of the sd Jeremiah Bentham And whether the sd other 2 Windows in the South Wall of one of the sd Messuages now used for a Workhouse so pur? chased for the Benefit of the sd parish as aforesd are not a very little &amp; how much Space beyond the West end of the sd Warehouses &amp; whether they are not above &amp; do not look over the Roof of the sd Shed And whether the sd Jeremiah Bentham doth not in his Conscience believe that the Reason why the sd Warehouses were not built higher was because they would (If built higher) obstruct the Light from coming to the upper &amp; Garret Windows in the South ffront or Wall of the sd 2 Houses and that the reason why the Roofs of the sd Warehouses were built so taper was that they might not obstruct the Light coming to the sd 3 lower middle Windows in the South Wall of the sd Houses And that the reason why the sd Shed was built so low &amp; the roof thereof sloping in the manner aforesd was that it might not obstruct the Light coming to the lowest Window at the West end of the South Front of the sd Workhouse And that the sd Wm Finch may set forth whether he doth not refuse or decline to act in the Execution of the sd Trust or to convey the sd Trust Estate to new Trustees in Trust for the Benefit of the sd Parish &amp; why &amp; for what reason he so refuses or declines And that the sd Jeremiah Bentham may be restrained by the Injunction of this Honourable Court from erecting &amp; Building or causing or permitting to be erected &amp; built any Edifice or Building adjoining or so near to the South Front or Wall of the sd 2 Messuages so purchased as aforesd or in such manner as that the sd 9 Windows in the sd South Front or Wall or any of them may be in any manner darkened or deprived of the Benefit of Light &amp; Air &amp; that new Trustees may be appointed under the Directions of this Honourable Court for carrying into Execution the Trusts of the sd Charity And that the sd Wm Finch may be decreed to convey the sd 2 Messuages with the Appur? tenances so purchased in Trust as aforesd to such new Trustees so to be appointed as aforesd &amp; their Heirs Subject to the Trusts aforesd. And that such other Directions may be given for the Establishm* &amp; Preservation of the sd Charity as to yr Ldship shall seem meet May it please yr Ldship the premisses considered to grant unto H.M.'s sd Attorney General . . . H.M's most gracious Writ or Writs of Subpoena Issuing out of Seal of this Honour? able Court to be directed to the sd Jeremiah Bentham &amp; Wm Finch Commanding them at a certain day &amp; under a certain pain therein to be</page><page sequence="153">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDICES VII. a. AND VII. b. 139 limited personally to appear before yr Ldship in this High &amp; Hon. Court then &amp; there answer to make to all &amp; singular the premisses &amp; further to stand to &amp; abide such Order Direction &amp; Decree therein as to yr Ldship may seem meet. W. Murray R. Altham." [Note.?There are lengthy references (which have not been extracted) to further stages of this litigation in the following records : Dogget Book 6206. No. 520 (9 double rolls): " Remembrances of the Term of St. Michael in the 30th Year of the Reign of King Geo. II. in the Year of Our Lord 1756." Chancery Order Book A. 1757 f. 53. Michaelmas Term in 31st Geo. IT. 1757 (21st Dec). The archives of St. Katherine Creechurch contain also (inter alia) the following documents relating to the Bentham Case, which have not been traced at the Public Record Office: MS. 1213/23. Remembrance of the Term of St. Michael in 29th Geo. II. 1755. MS. 1213/24. Writ to the Mayor and Aldermen of London to appear to give evidence on the custom of the City as to ancient lights and water-courses. MS. 1214. Writ of Execution (King's Bench Division), 4th August 1757.] VII. b. From The Public Record Office. From the pleadings in the Bentham proceedings. List of Chancery Affidavits (Bundle 126, Michaelmas Term, 1757). In re " H.M.'s Attorney General (at relation of Wm Parker &amp; Wm Plummer) versus J. Bentham." [Note.?The depositions of which copies or extracts have been taken are marked with an asterisk (*) and printed in Appendices VII. c. 1 to 7. They afford useful information as to the internal planning of the Workhouse build? ings in 1757. Affidavit No. 208 by the City Surveyor, George Dance, can</page><page sequence="154">HO THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX VII. b (cont.). be readily followed if reference be had to his Elevation (Vol. I., No. 85. City Surveyor's Office), a reproduction of which accompanies this paper (PLATE 7).] (1st Deponents : Wm. Dermer of Silver St. London Carpenter &amp; Builder. Philip Stanley of Basing Lane, Bricklayer. Philip Parrott of Whitechappel, Carpenter. James Fisher of Rosemary Lane, Carpenter (Quaker). No. 3* &amp; 4. Jeremiah Bentham Deponent &amp; Def*. No. 203.* Deponents : Robert Martin, Master of the Workhouse. Elisabeth Cooke, Mistress of the Workhouse. John Nicholson one of the inmates of the Workhouse. No. 204. Deponent: Thos Thornley of St. Cath. Creechurch apothecary. No. 205.* Deponents : Rob* Jennings of St. Cath. Creechurch Callender. Richd Jennings his son James Whittaker. John Shepherd. No. 206.* Deponents : John Hawkins of St. Botolph's parish surveyor. John Holden of St. Bartholomews ? ? John Brown of Norton Folgate, Middsx. Bricklayer. Benjamin Blackden of Coleman St. Carpenter. No. 207.* Deponent: Daniel Highmore of St. Mary Axe, London, gent. Solicitor for the Plaintiffs. No. 208.* Deponents: Geo. Dance of London, Surveyor. Joseph Stibbs of par: of St. Cath. Creechurch, Builder. Edward Wix of par: of St. Peter's, Cornhill, Bricklayer. Samuel Sparks of par: of St. Botolphs, Aldgate, Carpenter. No. 257. Deponents : Thos. Danvers of par. of St. Andrew Undershaft, London, Warehouse Keeper. James Wheeler of Precinct of St. Cath: by the Tower, London, Carpenter. No. 258.* Deponent: Abraham Martin of par. of Allh allows, London Wall, Gent. No. 259. Deponent Samuel Sparkes.</page><page sequence="155">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDICES VII. C. 1 AND 2. 141 VII. c. i. From The Public Record Office. From the pleadings in the Bentham proceedings. Extract from Affidavit No. 3. Jeremiah Bentham's. 15 Nov. 1757. . . . 44 it would be very hard for depon* to be deprived of Building on his own freehold at any Distance whatever for no other reason than because of some Windows which had looked over his old Building and which gave Light to 2 or 3 little Rooms no bigger than Closets and which have no Chimnies in them and are in fact nothing more than slips taken out of single rooms which were lighted by Windows in the fore front and This Depon* also by his sd Brief Instructed his sd Council to Insist that with respect to the Window (Parcel of the sd 5 Windows) which was and is the only Window on the back of Jennings said House (all the other 4 Windows being on the back of the sd Workhouse) he this Depon* ought not to be consluded [sic] by the sd Verdict in respect of that window." . . . VII. C. 2. From The Public Record Office. From the pleadings in the Bentham proceedings. Affidavit No. 203. Robert Martin's. 28 Nov. 1757. " Robert Martin Master of the Workhouse of &amp; in the Parish of St. Catharine Cree Church London Elizabeth Cooke Widow Mistress of the sd Workhouse and John Nicholson one of the poor residing in the said Work? house upon their Oaths say that the 2 Windows at the West End of the South front of the sd Parish Workhouse which give the only Light to three Back rooms (videlicet a Wash-house on the first floor and 2 Bedchambers with fire places above) that they receive are by an Erection that the Defendant Bentham or his Workmen have within these 3 Weeks built against the same darkened and obscured; which Darkness is increased by the nearness to &amp; extraordinary height of the sd Defendants Erection against the same &amp; these Deponts say that before the Building of the Wall or Erection by the Defendant in June 1755 there was a large open Space before the sd 2 Windows &amp; a much stronger Light received through such Windows than there is at present &amp; that then there was no Occasion for nor did they use Candles to Wash by in the day time as they are obliged by the Darkness of the Wash house to do now which from such want of Sufficient Light is a great incon? venience to the House as well as an additional Expense to the Parish And the Deponents say that the Room next above the Washhouse is a Bedchamber of about 5 Yards in Length and near 2 in Breadth with a Chimney and Brass Stove Grate in the West end thereof and the same before the Erecting the sd Building was a very light chearfull Room in every part but by the De? fendant's last mentioned Building being built against the same so high &amp;</page><page sequence="156">142 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDICES VII. C. 2 AND 3. near, the sd Room is now rendered much more dark &amp; inconvenient than before &amp; particularly near the fire place the sd Room is now so much darker that a person can scarcely see to Work or do any kind of Business there And these Deponents further say that they do not know or have seen or heard that the Defendant or any of his Workmen have since the Trial at Law in this cause come or ask'd to come into the sd Workhouse in Order to Judge what distance would be proper to build so as not to darken the sd Windows or that the Defendant or his Workmen ever asked or consulted any of these Deponents or any one in the House before they began or during the building such Edifice whether they had left Light sufficient or not And these Deponts say that all the Back Windows in the sd Workhouse are darkened and all Air excluded more than they originally were by the Defendant's sd present Building but the Washhouse &amp; Back Chambers on the 1st floor are most darkened thereby as aforesd And these Deponts say that the Defendant Bentham has not pulled down or caused to be pulled down his Edifice which by the Order of this Honourable Court as the Defendants (a) have heard he was ordered to pull down ; a great part of the Wall of such Edifice being yet standing close to the South Wall of the sd Workhouse And say that within these very few days his Workmen have also built a new Erection quite close against the lower part of the said Washhouse Window and these Deponents say that the Eastermost Window of the sd Workhouse was stopp'd with paper to keep out the Cold where the Glass was broke &amp; that another being a Stair Case Window is not glazed but hath Iron Bars &amp; Shutters for the Greater Benefit of the Air But that they are the same as formerly and so far are they from being made so with an Intent to appear darker than they are on purpose to Prejudice the Defendant that Orders were given long since to repair them which had been done had it not been for fear of their being again broke by the Defendant's Workmen." Sworn at the Symonds Inn the ] Robt. Martin. 28th day of Nov. 1757 before me L Elizabeth Cooke. John Waple. J John Nicholson." VII. c. 3. From The Public Record Office. From the pleadings in the Bentham proceedings. Extracts from Affidavit No. 205. Robert Jennings and others, " Robert Jennings of Cree Church Lane, London, Callender. " Richard Jennings of the same place Callender his Son. " James Whittaker &amp; John Shepherd who reside or constantly work with the sd Robert Jennings at his House in Cree Church Lane aforesd severally (a) Deponents;</page><page sequence="157">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDICES VIT. C. 3-6. 143 make Oath &amp; say that before the Building the Erection . . . against the S. front of this Deponent Robert Jenning's House by . . . Bentham . . . the Upper part of Robt. Jenning's sd house received a very strong &amp; clear light from a Window in such S. front &amp; the Stair Case in the upper part of this Deponent Robt. Jenning's house was rendered very light &amp; commodious thereby . . . but about a month last past the sd Window is much obscured &amp; the sd Staircase rendered very dark . . . for want of sufficient light whereas such Window before received from the East, South &amp; from above a free &amp; uninterrupted Light thereby ... &amp; further say that the sd Defend* Bentham hath not pulled down the sd Edifice he was so directed to do by thesd Decree." VII. c. 4. From The Public Record Office. From the pleadings in the Bentham proceedings. Extract from Affidavit No. 206. John Hawkins &amp; others. " In consequence of the verdict obtained by the said Relators . . . upon a Trial before the Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Kings Bench at Guildhall London on the 15th July being the adjournment of the Sitting after last Trinity Term." VII. c. 5. From The Public Record Office. From the pleadings in the Bentham proceedings. Abstract of Affidavit No. 207. Daniel Highmore's. Mh August, 1757. The Parish Authorities petition the Lord Keeper to be given the benefit of the verdict granted by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Mansfield, on or after the 15th July, 1757, when they had been granted costs against J. Bentham and an order for him to demolish. The demolition was to be completed by the 26th October, 1757. VII. c. 6. From The Public Record Office. From the pleadings in the Bentham proceedings. Affidavit No. 208. George Dance's. 1 Dec. 1757. " George Dance of London Surveyor Joseph Stibbs of the Parish of St. Catherine Cree Church London Builder Edward Wix of the Parish of St. Peters Cornhill London Bricklayer and Samuel Sparkes of the Parish of St. Botolph Aldgate London Carpenter Severally make Oath and say that they have heard the Order made in this cause of the 4th of August read and say that great part of the Wall &amp; Edifice which as they apprehend by the sd Order the sd Defendant was ordered to pull down or cause to be</page><page sequence="158">144 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDIX VII. C. 6 (cont,). pulled down by the first Seal after Michaelmas then next is now standing. And these Deponents further say that by the Alterations made by the sd Defendant Bentham in the Edifice which he was to pull down by the sd Order &amp; now standing against the South Front of the House in the Occupation of Mr Jennings a Callendar the window in such South Front which formerly gave Light to a stair case is very much darkened and appears to these De? ponents to be thereby rendered of very little use which Window before the Def * Benthams Ancient Building near or contiguous thereto was pulled down did receive much more light than the said Window does or can receive now, Because the gutter of the sd Defend1 Bentham's present Erection is close to the lower part of the sd Window which gutter rests upon the Wall (part of the Erection the sd Def* Bentham was ordered to pull down as aforesd) &amp; being only about Ten Inches wide is all the space left between the lower part of the said Window &amp; the bottom of the Roof of the sd Defendant Bentham's present Building which Roof is carried to so great a Height above such Window &amp; with so inconsiderable a slope or Inclination outwards as admits but very little Light and very much obscures such Window as aforesd And these Deponents say that the said Defend* Bentham has not wholly pulled down his Edifice mentioned in the sd Order &amp; removed the same intirely back &amp; left a Space of Area from the Ground the whole length between his Building &amp; the sd Charity Estate, But has continued the greatest part of such Erection &amp; rested his Timbers on the Brick Wall thereof close against the sd Charity Estate &amp; has carried his said Building perpendicularly to a great Height &amp; cut his said Wall away only just from against the Two Easter most Windows of the Workhouse leaving a space of about 4 ft. wide at the Bottom of such Windows (which are on the Second Story) between the same &amp; the sd Building for something more than the Length of the sd 2 last mentioned Windows from East to West And which 2 last mend Windows in these Deponents Opinion are not now so light as before because the sd Windows had a full front Light &amp; View to the South into a very large Yard or Square of the sd Defendant's over his then Building &amp; between the Roofs thereof. And as to the 2 Westermost Windows in the South front of the sd Work? house, &amp; against which Windows there was before a large open Area, now a Space of about 6 ft wide only is left And the sd Defendant Bentham hath run up an Erection since the sd Order very high &amp; perpendicular against the sd two last named Windows So that such 2 Windows that gave the only light that 3 Rooms receive that is to say a Washhouse below being 15 ft &amp; 9 inches long &amp; 7 ft wide a Bedchamber up 1 pair of Stairs over the same of 15 ft &amp; 2 Inches in Length &amp; 7 ft &amp; 2 Inches in Breadth &amp; another Bedchamber over the same of 15 ft. &amp; 8 Inches in length &amp; 7 ft &amp; 8 Inches in width which 2 Bedchambers have each commodious fire places in them are Darkened thereby &amp; have not the Light or Air they had before And these Deponents say that by the present Erections of the sd Defendant Bentham</page><page sequence="159">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDICES VII. C. 6 AND 7. 145 the said several Windows belonging to the sd Charity are obscured &amp; particu? larly the sd Staircase in the sd Jenning's House &amp; the sd Washhouse &amp; Back chamber on the 1st floor in the Workhouse are rendered darker thereby? And that both the sd Houses belonging to the sd Charity should the sd Defents Buildings be permitted to remain in the state they now are would be diminished in their Value either to lett or sell thereby. And these Deponents further say that had they been in the same Scitu ation which the sd Defendant Bentham is by the sd Verdict &amp; Order in this Cause they should have thought themselves obliged by such Order to have entirely pulled down the sd Wall &amp; Erection against the South side of the sd Charity Estate within the time limited by the sd Order &amp; that they shou'd not have ventured to have built any other Erection against any of the sd Windows till a proper Distance or Mode of Building had been agreed on between the parties or if that could not have been effected on a proper Applica? tion That these Deponents should have Def err'd building at all till the Manner should have been settled under the Directions of this Hon. Court &amp; that had they been consulted as Workmen they should have so advised the Def* And these Deponents say that if any such Throughfares Lanes or Alleys there be in and about the City of London that admit no better or stronger Light in the fronts of the dwelling houses therein then the sd Washhouse &amp; Bedchamber on the 1st Floor &amp; the sd Jennings Stair Case now receive that the same must in the Deponents' Opinion be very mean houses &amp; of very low Rents?And this Deponent George Dance for himself saith that the Drawing both of part of the Defendant's original Building &amp; of the sd Charity Estate signed George Dance &amp; mark'd Letter (A) &amp; now exhibited herewith is a true &amp; exact Representation &amp; Description thereof. All four sworn at the publick \ Geo. Dance. " Abraham Martin of the Parish of Allhallows on the Wall London Gentleman maketh Oath That the Backroom on the ground floor now used as Washhouse in &amp; at the West End of the Workhouse within &amp; belonging to the Parish of St. Catherine Cree Church London was 29 years ago &amp; long after a Compting house belonging to this Deponent's father (who was a Merchant &amp; lived in the sd House) and received a strong clear Light through VOL. X. L Joseph Stibbs. Edwd Wix. Sam1 Sparkes.' VII. c. j. From the Public Record Office. From the pleadings in the Bentham proceedings. Affidavit No. 258. Abraham Martin's. 7 Dec. 1757.</page><page sequence="160">146 THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE. APPENDICES VII. c. 7 AND VIII. the only Window therein which look'd into a large Yard or Area then in the occupation of one Hunter a packer (and for these few years of the Def* Bentham) there being then no building on the sd Hunter's premisses to obstruct such Light so that in every part of such Room there was a good &amp; sufficient Light to write by in the day time without making use of Candles &amp; that the same was vastly lighter than the sd Room is at present which now appears to be very much blinded &amp; darkened by the Heighth &amp; nearness of the sd Defents present Erection against such Window. And this Deponent saith He is about 38 years old was born in the said house now used as a Ware? house &amp; lived there till about the year 1733 &amp; has frequently been there since And this Deponent further saith That the Chamber on the 1st Floor directly over the sd washhouse was when this Deponent lived there a very light cheerful room in every part thereof but now appears to be rendered dark and inconvenient by the Defendant's sd present Building against the same. Sworn at the publick office ] in Symond's Inn this 7th day I Abm. Martin." oc Dec. 1757 before me. VIII. From the Church or St. Katherine Cree. The following is the text of a label dated July 1837, and fixed inside the lid of an ancient chest which stands (October 1922) near the altar in the Church of St. Katherine Cree. The chest evidently contained the muniments of the Church prior to their removal in 1903 to the Guildhall, but it is now used for a different purpose. The " old Deeds of great importance relating to the Synagogue " can only refer to the title-deeds of the Whitbeys' dwelling house, which was afterwards used as the Parish Workhouse. " July 1837. Contents of Churchwardens' Chest: Paper Parcel of old Deeds of great importance relating to? Estate in Essex. Parish of St. Botolph, Aldgate. Dr. Povah. Synagogue. Boundaries of the Parish. Answers to Archdeacon Pott respecting the state of the Church?No. 3."</page><page sequence="161">THE FIRST LONDON SYNAGOGUE OF THE RESETTLEMENT. 147 AUTHORS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I am under a deep obligation (for assistance with which I could not have dispensed) to several gentlemen whose names do not figure in the body of my Paper. My distinguished relative, Dr. Lionel D. Barnett, acts as Chairman of the " Committee for Congregational Records " of the London Sephardi Congregation, and he has been at pains to help on my work in every conceivable way ; I am particularly obliged to him for correcting with the utmost care and skill two complete sets of proofs?a most burdensome task. Another colleague on the aforementioned Com? mittee to whom I am especially bounden for much preliminary encourage? ment and advice is Mr. Cyril M. Picciotto. I have to record my thanks also to the authorities of the Bevis Marks Synagogue for granting me access to 4he Archives, and to the scholarly Secretary of the Congregation, Mr. Paul Goodman, for his eager co-operation and for some very useful information. One of the lay heads of the Congregation, Dr. Judah D. Israel, rendered possible my classification of Conveyances in Appendix V.b. by the lucid explanations which he obligingly furnished to me of the ancient forms of English land-tenure. I received appreciable assistance, too, from another quarter, for, from the start of my investigations, the Custodians of the Guildhall Library and of the City Records proved themselves most helpful. In particular am I in the debt of Mr. J. Smith, an Assistant-Librarian and compiler of the "London" Card-Index, for many ingenious and valuable sug? gestions. Finally, I have to thank Mr. H.A. Ruddick, a prince among amateur photographers, not alone for the frontispiece to this volume but also for nearly all the other illustrations. w. s. s.</page></plain_text>