London Merchants of 1677
Introduction
As early as 1650 a pamphlet by Henry
Robinson describes an "Office of Addresses" in Threadneedle Street.
This office, which seemed to cover real estate, employment, trade, shipping,
and even marriage brokerage, among other things, kept a register of all manner
of addresses and for a fee of sixpence (though free to the poor) answers to
all sorts of questions relating to business could be obtained.
The publication in 1677 of 'A collection of the names of the merchants living
in and around London' for Sam. Lee and Dan. Major was possibly the first printed
commercial directory of London.
Addresses
While it may seem as though many merchants could be found at their local tavern
that was not the case. The practice of street numbering did not commence in
London until the 1760s. Since Roman times merchants used signs to advertise
their business, such as a shoe for a cobbler, or a mortar and pestle for an
apothecary. This allowed even those not able to read to find business premises
readily. With multiple businesses in the same area dealing with the same product,
such as the goldsmiths of Lumbard (Lombard) Street, other unrelated symbols
were used. These symbols were usually painted on a sign-board and hung outside
the premises and resulted in addresses such as 'at the Sun' or 'at the Black
Lion'.
Spelling
The introduction to a reprint of the 1677 publication in 1878 suggested many
names were spelt phonetically. An example given was John Peatorson who was probably
the Scottish merchant John Patterson. Matth. & Abra. Heybert were possibly
Matthew and Abraham Hébert merchants and dyers of French origins. Even
the street names suffered with Hartichoak Lane instead of Artichoke Lane.
Occupations
The only occupations listed were the Blackwell Hall factors and goldsmiths.
In the 1600s manufactured woolen cloth was the principle trade commodity of
England and Blackwell Hall in London was the center for that trade. Initially
cloth manufacturers, clothiers, would bring the finished product to Blackwell
Hall to be displayed and sold to merchants and drapers. In the mid 1600s agents,
or Blackwell-hall Factors, were introduced to handle the trade, for a fee. By
the 1690s the Blackwell-hall Factors had virtually taken over the market so
that clothiers were excluded from selling their own goods, as was their ancient
right, causing a long running controversy. The Blackwell-hall Factors were still
very active in the mid 1700s.
The goldsmiths listed are those that 'kept running cashes'. Goldsmiths were
the early bankers before the revolution of 1688 and joints stock banking and
safe facilities in paper currency started a new era in finance.
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