By Chris PIGOTT.
cgpigott@yahoo.com.au
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CAPTAIN JAMES VICKERS OF DUBLIN.
James VICKERS, who resided in Dublin from about 1676 until his death in 1705 (with an absence, perhaps, of several years in England during the supremacy in a great part of Ireland of the Jacobites in 1689-90), was, I believe, my ancestor.
And this James VICKERS was, at the same time, both my great-times-six AND my great-times-seven grandfather! This curiosity came about by virtue of a marriage in Dublin in June 1824 between once-removed cousins, my great-great-grand-parents John PIGOTT and Elizabeth MAGUIRE (their mothers were both born Mary VICKERS, and they were aunt and niece respectively, and whereby John PIGOTT married the daughter of his first cousin).
So, it would appear, I double-dip into the VICKERS gene pool.
James's details appear later in this article. See [D] below.
William Jackson PIGOTT (1842-1921), of Dundrum, County Down, was a keen family historian (he was a first cousin of my great-grandfather Rev Henry Robert PIGOTT), and in a cover note to the DIXON Papers [MS 8522, Genealogical Office, Kildare Street, Dublin], dated May 1911, W.J.P. had this to say about our VICKERS ancestry:
"I was under the impression that our VICKERS were a different clan from the VICARS of Levally, Queen's County, but I now believe they are all of the same descent - i.e. from Don Vicaro, the Spanish Cavalier who came over with Queen Catherine of Aragon, as nearly all the branches bore a cross on their shields."
Despite attempts by some family historians (including W.J.P.) to connect him to the descent of this Spaniard Don VICARO, our James probably instead came from a long line of English stock.
The DIXON Papers appear to be an important source for Dublin VICKERS family baptisms and burials (especially those of the Church of Ireland parish of St Andrew's in Dublin), probably abstracted by family historians before the 1922 fires in The Four Courts building destroyed the original registers. The "manuscript" - a collection of loose leaf typed pages, stored in a box - does not appear to have been digitalized as yet. Unfortunately, when I last visited Dublin in 2010, the Genealogical Office was closed to public access.
In 1970, the Honourable Guy STRUTT, reporting on the extensive research that had been conducted by Sir Arthur VICARS (born 1862), Ulster King of Arms, into his own VICARS family origins [Irish Ancestor, Number 2, 1970, at pages 90-102], noted that:
"... outside Leix and Carlow, two families of the name are found in Ireland, one in County Wicklow, the other Merchants in Dublin. Both these nearly always spelt the name VICKERS; they appear to be unrelated to one another, or to the family of the present article, and descended from seventeenth century settlers."
STRUTT also made mention of:
"James VICKERS of Paris, France, married Margaret, and had a son Laurence baptized there 9 August 1703. He may be identical with James VICKERS, a merchant factor in Dublin, mentioned in a Chancery Bill, CLAPHAM v. VICKERS, 19 May 1683."
Whilst I believe these two were not one and the same person, the second does put his hand up to be "our" James.
STRUTT further noted that the name VICKERS appears in several parts of England at Tudor times and earlier, including London; that it was most common in County Cumberland, especially at Eskdale; and concluded that the Irish family "... probably emigrated from this region, but a brief search has shown no precise origin."
But, of the supposed Spanish descent, he observed that:
"... Sir Arthur attempted to check this very implausible story in Spain, without result."
But before we head for Dublin, we might canvas some possible (perhaps even likely) origins for James VICKERS in England, beginning not in Eskdale (where I also can find no direct links), but in the City of London, and about the 1530's, during the reign of Henry VIII (and when Catherine of Aragon's Spanish retinue may indeed have included one Don Vicaro, who is said to have had a son named Henry, who in turn is said to have had a son named William).
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WILLIAM VICKERS, GIRDLER, OF NEWGATE, LONDON.
Mr VICKERS (could he have been Henry? - probably unlikely, as that name does not appear in this family); he was married with issue:
1. William VICKERS. See next below.
2. Edward VICKERS; he was married with issue:
a. Jane VICKERS; she was named in her uncle William's will, 1586.
3. Ellen VICKERS; she was married to a Mr TURNER; she was named in her brother William's will, 1586.
William VICKERS, probably born in the 1530's, or earlier (and before the existence of parish registers, which were introduced after Henry VIII made himself head of the Church in England).
William was a Citizen and Girdler of London (although his name does not appear on the www.londonroll.org website, which does now include the Girdlers Company records); he was buried at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate Street, 4 April 1586; his will, dated 7 March Eliz xxviii, was proved P.C.C., 23 July 1586, requesting that he be buried near his three wives, naming his son John VICARES as his executor (and an afterthought bequest of £40), and with bequests to his younger children Rebecca, Ellen, Marryan, William, Samuel and Mary (all under age, with £20 each), to Jane VICKERS (a daughter of his brother Edward VICKERS), to Joan WILSON his daughter-in-law (or probably his step-daughter), and to his sister Ellen TURNER.
William VICKERS was married firstly, in or before 1559 (details of this first marriage have not yet been established, and probably will never be, as not all parish registers were copied out onto vellum as had been decreed early in Queen Elizabeth's reign); there was issue of it:
1. Frauncis VICARS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 4 October 1559; as VICKERS, he was buried there, 11 January 1575.
2. Anne VICARS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 7 April 1562; as VICKERS, she was buried there, 2 August 1564.
2. John VICKERS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 3 September 1564. See [A] below.
3. Emme VICKERS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 22 November 1566.
4. Elyzabeth VICKERS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 4 June 1568; buried there, 1 May 1571.
William was married secondly, at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 6 October 1573, to Joane WILSON, evidently a widow; she was buried at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 2 August 1754, having had earlier WILSON issue, but evidently without further issue by William VICKERS.
William was married thirdly, at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 27 May 1575, to Elizabeth [blank] (as recorded in the published Register transcript); she was probably buried at Christ Church, Newgate, 20 February 1584-85; by her he had further issue:
5. Rebecca VICKERS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 5 August 1575, father a Girdeler; she was named in her father's will, 1586, under age; named as Rebecca WALFORD, Widow, in her older half-brother John VICKERS' will, 1633.
6. Ellyn VICKERS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 14 October 1576.
7. William VICKERS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate,16 April 1581; named in his older half-brother John VICKERS' will, 1633; he was possibly the William VICKERS who was the factor in Russia for the Muscovy Company, 1635-36, when he was robbed of 818 rubles in Moscow; however, a William VICKERS, Girdler of London, made his will in December 1636, of the parish of St Michael Queenhithe, London, naming his wife Rebecca and his son William (sole executor) [P.C.C. Probates].
8. Danyell VICKERS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 2 December 1582.
And this James VICKERS was, at the same time, both my great-times-six AND my great-times-seven grandfather! This curiosity came about by virtue of a marriage in Dublin in June 1824 between once-removed cousins, my great-great-grand-parents John PIGOTT and Elizabeth MAGUIRE (their mothers were both born Mary VICKERS, and they were aunt and niece respectively, and whereby John PIGOTT married the daughter of his first cousin).
So, it would appear, I double-dip into the VICKERS gene pool.
James's details appear later in this article. See [D] below.
William Jackson PIGOTT (1842-1921), of Dundrum, County Down, was a keen family historian (he was a first cousin of my great-grandfather Rev Henry Robert PIGOTT), and in a cover note to the DIXON Papers [MS 8522, Genealogical Office, Kildare Street, Dublin], dated May 1911, W.J.P. had this to say about our VICKERS ancestry:
"I was under the impression that our VICKERS were a different clan from the VICARS of Levally, Queen's County, but I now believe they are all of the same descent - i.e. from Don Vicaro, the Spanish Cavalier who came over with Queen Catherine of Aragon, as nearly all the branches bore a cross on their shields."
Despite attempts by some family historians (including W.J.P.) to connect him to the descent of this Spaniard Don VICARO, our James probably instead came from a long line of English stock.
The DIXON Papers appear to be an important source for Dublin VICKERS family baptisms and burials (especially those of the Church of Ireland parish of St Andrew's in Dublin), probably abstracted by family historians before the 1922 fires in The Four Courts building destroyed the original registers. The "manuscript" - a collection of loose leaf typed pages, stored in a box - does not appear to have been digitalized as yet. Unfortunately, when I last visited Dublin in 2010, the Genealogical Office was closed to public access.
In 1970, the Honourable Guy STRUTT, reporting on the extensive research that had been conducted by Sir Arthur VICARS (born 1862), Ulster King of Arms, into his own VICARS family origins [Irish Ancestor, Number 2, 1970, at pages 90-102], noted that:
"... outside Leix and Carlow, two families of the name are found in Ireland, one in County Wicklow, the other Merchants in Dublin. Both these nearly always spelt the name VICKERS; they appear to be unrelated to one another, or to the family of the present article, and descended from seventeenth century settlers."
STRUTT also made mention of:
"James VICKERS of Paris, France, married Margaret, and had a son Laurence baptized there 9 August 1703. He may be identical with James VICKERS, a merchant factor in Dublin, mentioned in a Chancery Bill, CLAPHAM v. VICKERS, 19 May 1683."
Whilst I believe these two were not one and the same person, the second does put his hand up to be "our" James.
STRUTT further noted that the name VICKERS appears in several parts of England at Tudor times and earlier, including London; that it was most common in County Cumberland, especially at Eskdale; and concluded that the Irish family "... probably emigrated from this region, but a brief search has shown no precise origin."
But, of the supposed Spanish descent, he observed that:
"... Sir Arthur attempted to check this very implausible story in Spain, without result."
But before we head for Dublin, we might canvas some possible (perhaps even likely) origins for James VICKERS in England, beginning not in Eskdale (where I also can find no direct links), but in the City of London, and about the 1530's, during the reign of Henry VIII (and when Catherine of Aragon's Spanish retinue may indeed have included one Don Vicaro, who is said to have had a son named Henry, who in turn is said to have had a son named William).
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WILLIAM VICKERS, GIRDLER, OF NEWGATE, LONDON.
Mr VICKERS (could he have been Henry? - probably unlikely, as that name does not appear in this family); he was married with issue:
1. William VICKERS. See next below.
2. Edward VICKERS; he was married with issue:
a. Jane VICKERS; she was named in her uncle William's will, 1586.
3. Ellen VICKERS; she was married to a Mr TURNER; she was named in her brother William's will, 1586.
William VICKERS, probably born in the 1530's, or earlier (and before the existence of parish registers, which were introduced after Henry VIII made himself head of the Church in England).
William was a Citizen and Girdler of London (although his name does not appear on the www.londonroll.org website, which does now include the Girdlers Company records); he was buried at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate Street, 4 April 1586; his will, dated 7 March Eliz xxviii, was proved P.C.C., 23 July 1586, requesting that he be buried near his three wives, naming his son John VICARES as his executor (and an afterthought bequest of £40), and with bequests to his younger children Rebecca, Ellen, Marryan, William, Samuel and Mary (all under age, with £20 each), to Jane VICKERS (a daughter of his brother Edward VICKERS), to Joan WILSON his daughter-in-law (or probably his step-daughter), and to his sister Ellen TURNER.
William VICKERS was married firstly, in or before 1559 (details of this first marriage have not yet been established, and probably will never be, as not all parish registers were copied out onto vellum as had been decreed early in Queen Elizabeth's reign); there was issue of it:
1. Frauncis VICARS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 4 October 1559; as VICKERS, he was buried there, 11 January 1575.
2. Anne VICARS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 7 April 1562; as VICKERS, she was buried there, 2 August 1564.
2. John VICKERS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 3 September 1564. See [A] below.
3. Emme VICKERS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 22 November 1566.
4. Elyzabeth VICKERS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 4 June 1568; buried there, 1 May 1571.
William was married secondly, at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 6 October 1573, to Joane WILSON, evidently a widow; she was buried at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 2 August 1754, having had earlier WILSON issue, but evidently without further issue by William VICKERS.
William was married thirdly, at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 27 May 1575, to Elizabeth [blank] (as recorded in the published Register transcript); she was probably buried at Christ Church, Newgate, 20 February 1584-85; by her he had further issue:
5. Rebecca VICKERS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 5 August 1575, father a Girdeler; she was named in her father's will, 1586, under age; named as Rebecca WALFORD, Widow, in her older half-brother John VICKERS' will, 1633.
6. Ellyn VICKERS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 14 October 1576.
7. William VICKERS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate,16 April 1581; named in his older half-brother John VICKERS' will, 1633; he was possibly the William VICKERS who was the factor in Russia for the Muscovy Company, 1635-36, when he was robbed of 818 rubles in Moscow; however, a William VICKERS, Girdler of London, made his will in December 1636, of the parish of St Michael Queenhithe, London, naming his wife Rebecca and his son William (sole executor) [P.C.C. Probates].
8. Danyell VICKERS, baptized at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 2 December 1582.
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REV JOHN VICKERS.
[A] John VICKERS was born in London in 1564 (see above); BOYD's Index [London Families] did query whether he was the John baptised at Christ Church (Greyfriars), Newgate, 3 September 1564, son of William VICKERS, Citizen and Girdler of London (I now do believe that he was).
John was aged 17 when he was admitted as a Plebeian to Broadgates Hall, Oxford University, 24 November 1581, but neither his birthplace nor his father's name were recorded in the admission register [Alumni Oxonienses]; he was awarded his B.A., 20 February 1583-84, and his M.A., 5 July 1587; he was named in his father's will, 1586; he was the Rector of St Augustine's-at-the-gate, near St Paul's, London, from late 1600 [Alumni Oxonienses], and his very neat hand-writing adorned the parish register from very early 1601; he was still the Rector of St Augustine's, Watling Street, London, in 1621, when he baptized his grandson John VICKERS (see below); the last baptism in his hand-writing in the St Augustine's register was dated 17 March 1632-33, and within a fortnight, he was superseded by the new Rector, Ephraim UDALL, by 31 March 1633.
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The mediaeval church of St Augustine's parish stood just east of St Paul's Cathedral churchyard, on the north-eastern corner of Watling Street and The Old Exchange. First recorded in the 12th century, it was destroyed in the Great Fire in 1666; rebuilt by Sir Christopher WREN, it was destroyed by enemy bombing during World War 2.
[The parish of St Augustine's is numbered 36. The site of the church would appear to be immediately to the left of the figure 36. Image courtesy of the Genuki web-site.]
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John VICKERS died in 1633, and was recorded as having been buried at St Augustine's on 19 September, as "... parson of St Augustine's," and evidently inside the church at the upper end of the chancel (according to the will of his son James - see below). His entry in the Burial Register, made by Ephraim UDALL, Rector, appeared between that for Charles OSBORNE (buried on 10 September) and Henry ADAMS (brought from Clerkenwell and buried on 9 December). Given the conflict with his will, codicil and probate dates (see next), it appears likely that UDALL made an error in the register, and that VICKERS was probably instead buried on 19 November.
The will of "John VICKERS of London, Clerke, Parson of the parish of St Augustine neare St Paul's gate," was dated 8 November 1633, with a codicil dated Monday 11 November, and was proved P.C.C., 23 November 1633 [TNA PROB 11/164/650] - this precise sequence of dates suggests that the St Augustine's Burial Register entry was in error.
In the will, John named his close relations - his son James VICKERS, his two married daughters Eleanor DAVIS and Damaris TICKNOR (and mentioned un-named grandchildren), his brother William VICKERS (he may have been the factor in Russia for the Muscovy Company who was robbed of 818 rubles in Moscow in 1635-36), his (? two) sisters Rebecca WALFORD, Widow, and Marie WALFORD, and his cousin John GREENE of Bilton, Warwickshire (and his daughter Marie GREENE).
The will of "John VICKERS of London, Clerke, Parson of the parish of St Augustine neare St Paul's gate," was dated 8 November 1633, with a codicil dated Monday 11 November, and was proved P.C.C., 23 November 1633 [TNA PROB 11/164/650] - this precise sequence of dates suggests that the St Augustine's Burial Register entry was in error.
In the will, John named his close relations - his son James VICKERS, his two married daughters Eleanor DAVIS and Damaris TICKNOR (and mentioned un-named grandchildren), his brother William VICKERS (he may have been the factor in Russia for the Muscovy Company who was robbed of 818 rubles in Moscow in 1635-36), his (? two) sisters Rebecca WALFORD, Widow, and Marie WALFORD, and his cousin John GREENE of Bilton, Warwickshire (and his daughter Marie GREENE).
John VICKERS, a Clerk, was licensed on 2 February 1589-90 to be married to Agnes FESSE [Alumni Oxonienses], the ceremony taking place at St Botolph's, Aldgate, London, on 10 February 1589-90 [Parish Register entry], her surname being rendered as FESSEY; this may not have been his first marriage.
John and Agnes had issue, perhaps with older children born before 1600:
1. James VICKERS; named in his father's will, 1633. See [B] below.
? Possible other issue born 1591-99 (although none appear to have survived).
2. Ellenore VICKERS, baptised at St Augustine's, 3 February 1604; she was named in her father's will, 1633, as the wife of Marke DAVIS, with £250 over and above what she already had at her marriage.
3. Damaris VICKERS, baptised at St Augustine's, 11 May 1606; she was named in her father's will, 1633, as the wife of Thomas TICKNOR, with £250 over and above what she already had at her marriage; she was married at St Thomas the Apostle, London, by license of the Bishop of London, dated 25 February 1624-25, to Thomas TICKNOR, Grocer.
4. Lucye VICKERS, baptised at St Augustine's, 30 August 1607; buried 7 September 1607; infant.
The dates are almost too tight, but the Rev John VICKERS did have a son James, and he appears to have been born about the time of the 1590 marriage, or perhaps shortly before and perhaps therefore by an earlier marriage.
The evidence which I find compelling is the mention by James in his 1657 will that his (un-named) father had been buried at St Augustine's before him (along with three of James's children), and John's 1633 burial appears to be the only other VICKERS burial there which falls within the relevant time frame, and all of this is effectively confirmed by Rev John's will anyway.
The evidence which I find compelling is the mention by James in his 1657 will that his (un-named) father had been buried at St Augustine's before him (along with three of James's children), and John's 1633 burial appears to be the only other VICKERS burial there which falls within the relevant time frame, and all of this is effectively confirmed by Rev John's will anyway.
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JAMES VICKERS OF FULHAM, COUNTY MIDDLESEX.
[B] James VICKERS (alias VICARS or VICCARS) was born between October 1588 and October 1589 [according to the age he recorded in his own will]; a Merchant Taylor in London; he spent some time in his younger days with the Muscovy Company of English Merchant Adventurers in Russia, probably under the watchful eye of his uncle William VICKERS (who was in Moscow in 1635-36, as factor for the said Muscovy Company); James was residing in the parish of St Augustine's, Watling Street, London, in 1620 [marriage registration]; he removed to the parish of St Lawrence Jewry, London, sometime after 1624 and prior to 1631 [from children's baptismal details]; on 29 April 1629, one HOPKINS "... and James VICKERS, Muscovia Merchant," sought permission to ship "... a hundred broadcloths dressed and dyed" for Muscovia (known to us as Moscow), which permission was granted subject to "... all the Customs and Duties formerly accustomed to be paid" [Acts of the Privy Council, July 1628 - April 1629, page 417]; probably the defendant in a Bill brought before the Court of Chancery, 1629, by Luke NIGHTINGALE, on the subject of money, in Berkshire [TNA - C 8/61/53 - Bill and Answer]; James VICKERS, Merchant Taylor of London, was named in a Final Concord and Counterpart concerning a number of members of the HARTE family, dated 1636, with a Bond to him from Sir Henry HARTE for the payment of £51 [TNA Index - Norfolk Record Office, WLS/VIII/3/408x5]; James took up residence in a tenement known as Goodriche's alias Symond's, in Bear Street, Fulham, in 1640, previously the residence of Dr Richard HART [see "Fulham, Old and New," by Charles James FÈRET, Volume II, London, 1900, page 89]; of Fulham, County Middlesex, Citizen and Merchant Taylor, 29 August 1645, when he apprenticed his son Edward to Symon MIDLETON, Master, Goldsmith's Company [www.londonroll.org]; James was an Alderman of the City of London, sworn 5 June 1649, for the Castle Baynard Ward, having been nominated by Aldermen ANDREWES (the Lord Mayor), Sir J. WOLLASTON and Robert SMITH.
James VICKERS was buried at St Augustine's, Watling Street, London, 6 November 1657; he made his will, dated 8 October 1657, then aged 68, naming his wife Mary and son-in-law Nicholas THURMAN as joint executors, made bequests to sons Edward (then in Lisbon) and William (then under age, apprenticed in Cheapside), and his daughters THERMAN and Anne (wife of "... that wicked and ungodly John HACKETT of London, Dyer"), and then proceeded to rail against his profligate eldest son John VICKERS, who had been sent down from Cambridge University, and had then been set up by his father in business in Russia in about 1638-39, where he had spent the money and married against his father's wishes, to one Margerie OSBORNE, the daughter of a factor there, and by whom he had several sons, before bringing them all back to England in about 1642-43, and had then been set up again with a house in Fulham (see the will transcript below); James requested to be buried in the upper end of the chancel in the church of St Austin's (sic), Watling Street, London, "... near the bodies of my father and three children" [Fulham, Old and New, by C. J. FÈRET, Op. Cit.].
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James's will is, in my view, quite extra-ordinary, and warrants my republishing here the full FÈRET transcription, given the wealth of genealogical detail it contains, some of which (the vital events in Russia, for example) are unlikely to be verifiable now from any other source:
"I, James VICKERS, late Alderman of London, now living in Fulham in the county of Middlesex, being 68 years, this 8th of October 1657. To Mary my wife £3,000 and my house and furniture for life. Remainder to my sons Edward and William VICKERS. To my son Edward, now in Lisbon, £700 besides £700 which he has already. To my younger son William, now apprentice in Cheapside with Master BIDAUGHT and Master BERKNITTE (sic), £1,800 to be paid to him at his coming out of his tyme, provided that he hath the report of his Masters as a good Husband and noe waster. But if it shall happen that he shall prove prodigall and a spendthrift, then I order him but £1,300. To my daughter THERMAN besides what she has already for her wedding portion, £800.
"Whereas I did some eight years past bestow my daughter Ann unto a wicked and ungodly wretch John HACKETT of London, Dyer, son and heir of Richard HACKETT of Dytton in county Surrey, Esq, in marriage, giving her for a portion £1,500 in ready money and £200 laid out for cloaths and other expenses, upon agreement and covenants that the said Richard HACKETT should settle upon his son John HACKET and upon my daughter Ann HACKETT and their heirs, £300 per annum and £150 per annum jointure, which was perfected, the money paid, and the marriage solemnized. Now, so it hap'ned that after he had three boys living by her, and he, through his Lewd Courses became ingaged for divers great summes for her father and his father for him, and had wasted all, and came to me and complained he was worth nothing (which I admired at); and suddenly after, his father and he wickedly joynes and cut offe the entailment of £300 a year settled on my grandchildren and paid the debts with it soe far as it would goe, and afterwards sent my daughter and her four children home to me with a Bed scarce to lye on, and his father denying to allow more than 2 pence maintenance, whoe had gone beyond them for their whole estate. And for his sonne my daughter's husband, he is gone away from her for Ireland, and there, for aught I know, means to reside. Now for my poor daughter whoe hath nothing to help her except my Bountie towards her may starve, she and hers I do order and bequeath that my loving wife will continue her with her.
"Whereas it pleased God to give me my eldest son John VICKERS, whom I bredd att Cambridge Bac. in Arts, whoe himself very prodigally stubborne and profuse soe high that the University could not endure it; and coming home to me, upon his submission which he promised should be faithful and fervent, I bound him apprentice unto me in trade a Merchant into Rushia, which was my former life. And upon his faithful promise I sent him over sea with a stock to the value of between £2,000 and £3,000, hoping he would have proved a great match; but it so happened, being not long settled in Russia, with my estate to the value of £1,300, he, contrary to his protestations and duty to God and his father, entered into a marriage without my privitie unto a factor's daughter there, one Margery OSBORNE, though I earnestly writt and sent unto him to the contrary, yet he disobediently went on, married and begot boyes; and afterward with weeping teares came over to England with his wife and children (the third tyme) and submitted himself unto me, whoe had spent me there in Russia the summe of fifteen hundred pounds at least, in the space of 3 or 4 yeres; since his coming over, being reconciled with him upon his great protestations, I tooke a house and warehouse for him, with a stock of one thousand pounds to trade in Russia, where he had been bredd, which he quickly through his great ill husbandry and laziness wasted all, and fell to worse courses, being disobedient to me, and not seeing my face in three yeres space, but shifting and gitting into his hands what he could of mine, it being my owne estate, which I hear he challenges as his owne, and hath compounded for a quantitie the partys that it was none of mine, and soe hath taken less than half the debt discharging the parties and hath sent me in word that he will doe with a debt of £5,000 which is owing to me of a nobleman; being formerly taken in name as my eldest sonne, and God forgive me for his great disobedience. Now this I sett down largely in my will to let the world take notice that upon my reputation, and in the presence of God, I speak it. That since he came down from the University of Cambridge he hath laid out of my purse one time or another above £4,000 besides what he intend to have out of my £5.000 debt, which shall not trouble me, in regard he is my sonne, hopeing he will prove better after my decease. Soe now to my will, what I give him, viz, first, I require of him a general release from the beginning of the world to 1 October 1656, and if he refuse I give him £100, and soe farewell, praying God to give him better grace; but if he doe consent, then I give hin 2 leases of certain lodgings in Bridewell Lane..." [FÈRET ended this part of his transcript with "etc."]
"My wife sole executrix, and my son-in-law Nicholas THURMAN shall be my executor. I give unto the writer of this my last will and testament, John GEE, parish clerk, of Fulham, 40 shillings. My corps to be buried at St Austins (sic) Watling Street, London, at the upper end of the chancel, near the bodies of my father and three children. I order and will that Master Matthew FOWLER, now preacher of Hammersmith, doe preach my funeral sermon, and doe bury my body after a Christian-like and decent burial, and give Christianly Exhortation to the Auditorie."
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James VICARS, then of the parish St Augustine's, London, Merchant Taylor, was married at St Martin-in-the-Fields, by License of the Bishop of London dated 19 September 1620, to Mary TIRRELL, of the parish of St Dunstan's in the West, London, Spinster; she was probably baptised at St Dunstan's in the West, 28 March 1602, a daughter of Edward TYRRELL of London, Baker, who was deceased before 1620, by his wife Katherine SMYTHIE.
Mary survived James, and continued to dwell in the family residence in Church Row, Fulham; she died in mid-late August or early September 1673; the will of Mary VICKERS, Widow, of Fulham, dated 6 April 1671, codicil dated 13 August 1673, was proved P.C.C., 6 September 1673, naming her late husband James VICKERS, daughters Ann HACKETT and Elizabeth THURMAN, sister Margaret STRANGE, cousin Katherine WILSON, sons John, Edward and William, daughters-in-law Margery, Abigail and Letitia, and her nineteen grandchildren.
Mary survived James, and continued to dwell in the family residence in Church Row, Fulham; she died in mid-late August or early September 1673; the will of Mary VICKERS, Widow, of Fulham, dated 6 April 1671, codicil dated 13 August 1673, was proved P.C.C., 6 September 1673, naming her late husband James VICKERS, daughters Ann HACKETT and Elizabeth THURMAN, sister Margaret STRANGE, cousin Katherine WILSON, sons John, Edward and William, daughters-in-law Margery, Abigail and Letitia, and her nineteen grandchildren.
James and Mary had issue:
1. John VICKERS, baptized at St Augustine's, Watling Street, London, 5 or 10 July 1621 (mother Marye), by John VICKERS, Rector. See [C] below.
2. James VICKERS, baptized at St Augustine's, Watling Street, 8 January 1622 (mother Marye), by John VICKERS, Rector; buried there 12 September 1633 (the third of three such child burials mentioned in his father's will), by Ephraim UDALL, Rector, as "... the son of James VICKERS and Marye his wife."
3. Annah VICKERS, baptized at St Augustine's, 30 January 1624-25 (mother Marie), by John VICKERS, Rector; she died at St Lawrence Jewry, and was buried at St Augustine's, 20 February 1630-31, by John VICKERS, Rector (the first of three such child burials mentioned in her father's will).
4. Edward VICKERS; probably admitted to the Merchant Taylor's School, London, 11 September 1642; of Fulham, 29 August 1645, when he was apprenticed for 8 years to Symon MIDLETON, Master, Goldmsith's Company; Edward was named in his father's will, 1657, then residing in Lisbon; one of the twenty four assistants who governed the Muscovy Company of Merchant Adventurers, 1672; he was named in his mother's will, 1671; of Colchester, County Essex, 1684, Merchant, when he surrendered his late father's property in Fulham to Walter THOMAS, Clerk; his will, proved P.C.C., 22 August 1688; he was married to Abigail (-?-); she was named in her mother-in-law's will, 1671; she evidently died before Edward; they had issue:
a. Rebecca VICKERS; named in her grandmother's will, 1671; named in her father's will, 1688.
b. Abigail VICKERS; ditto 1671 and 1688.
c. Elizabeth VICKERS; ditto 1671 and 1688.
5. Anne VICKERS, baptized at St Augustine, Watling Street, 30 January 1624 (mother Marie); she was named in his mother's will, 1671; she was married about 1648, to John HACKETT, of London, Dyer, the son an heir of Richard HACKETT of Dytton, County Surrey, Esq; they had issue:
a. Richard HACKETT; named in his grandmother's will, 1671.
b. James HACKETT; ditto.
c. John HACKETT; ditto.
d. Edward HACKETT; ditto.
e. Thomas HACKETT; ditto.
f. William HACKETT; ditto.
g. Benjamin HACKETT; ditto.
6. Marie VICKERS, baptized at St Lawrence Old Jewry, 1 April 1630, as VIKARS; she died at St Lawrence Jewry, and was buried at St Augustine's, 17 January 1631-32, by John VICKERS, Rector (the second of three such child burials mentioned in her father's will).
7. Elizabeth VICKERS; she was named in his mother's will, 1671; she was married before 1657 to Nicholas THURMAN; he was named as an executor of his father-in-law's will, 1657; they had issue:
a. Mary THURMAN, born in London, 10 June 1659, and baptized at St Mary Woolnoth, London, 21 June; she was named in her grandmother's will, 1671.
b. Elizabeth THURMAN; she was named in her grandmother's will, 1671.
8. William VICKERS, baptized at St Lawrence Old Jewry, 20 March 1635-36, as VICKARS; he was apprenticed in 1651, "... son of James VICARS of Fulham, Esq," for 8 years from last midsummer, to Peter BERKENHEAD, Master, Mercer's Company [www.londonroll.org]; he was named in his father's will, 1657, then under age; he was named in his mother's will, 1671; he was married to Letitia (-?-); she was mentioned in her mother-in-law's will, 1671; they had issue:
a. James VICKERS; named in his grandmother's will, 1671.
b. Elizabeth VICKERS; ditto.
c. Mary VICKERS; ditto.
d. Peter VICKERS; ditto.
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An older James VICCARS was married at St Botolph's, Aldgate, London, 23 February 1607(-08?), to Mary BARBOUR; they probably had issue:
1. John VICCARS, baptized at St Augustine's, Watling Street, London, 23 October 1608.
2. Edward VICCARS, baptized at St Augustine's, 10 September 1609.
3. John VICCARS, baptized at St Augustine's, 23 December 1610.
4. Mary VICCARS, baptized at St Augustine's, 17 November 1611.
5. Ellenore VICCARS, baptized at St Augustine's, 15 November 1612
6. James VICCARS, baptized at St Augustine's, 5 June 1614; buried 9 December 1615.
Given that the Rector of St Augustine's was John VICKERS (see above), it is evident that he had a full comprehension of the very consistent spellings he used in his register, indicating that, despite some common given names, the VICKERS and the VICCARS families were probably unrelated.
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THE SON, JOHN VICKERS OF FULHAM.
[C] John VICKERS, born in London in 1621; said to have been educated at Mercer's School (but his name does not appear in their Student Register); he was admitted as a Pensioner, Christ's College, Cambridge, 24 June 1638, aged 17, but was evidently sent down for his "... prodigal, stubborn and profuse" behavior; his father set him up in business in Russia, probably under the auspices of the Muscovy Company of Merchant Adventurers, where, not yet of age, and against his father's wishes, he was married and had several children, before returning to England, about 1643; he was after of Fulham, County Middlesex, and resided at his father's former house, Goodriche's, in Church Row [FÈRET, Op. Cit., page 138]; he was bequeathed, on condition, two leases of certain houses in Bridewell Lane, Fulham, in his father's will, 1657; of London, Merchant, 12 February 1659, when he was complainant in a court action, for himself and his three children (John, James and Mary VICCARS) versus Nicholas THURMAN and Mary VICCARS, concerning legacies payable from personal estate of James VICCARS, late Alderman of London, deceased [TNA - Ref C 78/702 number 15]; he was named in his mother's will, 1671.
John VICKERS died in 1672, according to an item concerning his son, then on service in Bengal with the Honourable East India Company [Notes and Queries, 27 January 1917, page 81], but no details have yet been uncovered.
John VICKERS died in 1672, according to an item concerning his son, then on service in Bengal with the Honourable East India Company [Notes and Queries, 27 January 1917, page 81], but no details have yet been uncovered.
John was married in Russia, about 1639, evidently under the age 21 and without his father's blessing, to Margerie OSBORNE (the daughter of an English factor there, probably John OSBORNE, a servant of the Muscovy Company - see below); Margerie survived her husband, but her death details have likewise not yet been uncovered.
John and Margerie had issue:
1. John VICKERS, born about 1641, and evidently in Russia; appointed Writer in the service of the Honourable East India Company, 18 October 1667, at a salary of £5 per annum for five years; he sailed to India as Factor (at a salary of £20 per annum) on the ship Blackamore (Captain PRICE) in January 1668, arriving at Madras, 8 September 1668, together with Richard EDWARDS [see his Correspondence, published in Notes and Queries, 12th Series, Volume III, on and after 6 January 1917] and John SMITH; on arrival at Fort St George, he was ordered to proceed to Bengal, where he was employed at Balasor; in 1672 he was sent to Dacca to collect evidence against John SMITH, Chief of that factory, who was then under suspicion of cheating the Company; VICKERS officiated there for a few months as Second, then, for want of his health, he obtained permission to return to England; he died on the homeward voyage; by his will, made on board ship and dated 19 April 1673, he bequeathed his property to his mother Margerie, his brother James (or Jacob), and his sister Mary; administration was granted to Jacob VICKERS on 19 September 1673 [Notes and Queries, 27 January 1917, page 81]; his will, proved P.C.C. 19 September 1673, with bequests of £200 to "... my mother Margerie VICKERS," £300 to "... my brother James VICKERS," with minor bequests to named friends, and the residue to "... my sister Mary VICKERS."
2. James (or Jacob) VICKERS, born about 1643, and probably in Russia; he was aged 13 in 1657, when he and his grandmother "... were admitted to the house in Church Row" in Fulham, which had been his late grandfather's residence [FÈRET, Op. Cit, page 138]; he was named in his brother John's ship-board will, 1672, and was granted administration of it in 1673; in 1674, he disposed of his father's two leases in Fulham; also in 1674, ".. of London, Merchant," when he "... surrendered his messuage in Fulham to John HALL, citizen of London" [FÈRET, Ibidem] - perhaps the one part of his two leases.
James VICKERS (not assuredly, but quite possibly this James) was married at Holy Trinity, Knightsbridge, London, 1 September 1674, to Mary SWAN; they probably had issue:
a. Mary VICKERS, baptised at St Margaret's, Westminster, 7 April 1675.
James does not appear to have left any further trace in London.
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This is possibly the (Captain) James VICKERS who went to Dublin about 1676 (and, of particular interest, with an elder Irish-born daughter named Margaret alias Margery). See [D] next below.
3. Mary VICKERS; she was named in her grandmother's will, 1671; she was also named in her brother John's will, 1673, with the residue of his estate.
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JOHN OSBORNE, A MERCHANT ADVENTURER.
John OSBORNE; an Englisman who was an East Indies Adventurer, and "... an important tobacco merchant..." who supplied the Honorable East Indies Company "... with 'some excellent good cordage' in 1624, and was settled in Russia by 1627, at the latest, when his wife Katherine and their daughter secured passes to join him there" [Maria Salomon ARIEL, "English Trade and Adventure to Russia in the Early Modern Era; The Muscovy Company, 1603-1649," page 77]; he had several factors in Russia, including Thomas MORE, and he "... also employed his son John OSBORNE and his nephew Thomas OSBORNE" [ARIEL, Op. Cit., page 77]; OSBORNE was "... also active in the Mediterranean re-export branch of the Russia Trade, taking over a lucrative caviar farm from a Dutch partnership in 1637, for a five year term" [ARIEL, page 78]; James KOTILAINE and Marshall POE [Editors of "Modernising Muscovy; Reform and Social Change in Seventeenth Century Russia] noted that "... in 1630, the Dutch took over the farm from the English, but in 1637, it was back in English hands for a term of five years. This time, the monopoly, which gave the English exclusive right to sell caviar within Russia and to other foreigners at Arkangel'sk as well as Pska and Novgarod, went to Henry GARAWAY and some others of the Muscovy Company, represented in Russia by their factor John OSBORNE, who dominated English merchant activities in Russia in the 1630's and 40's"; as a caviar farmer, he "... acted in the name of Henry GARAWAY and some others of the Muscovy Company" and "... plied a substantial caviar trade in the first half of the 1630's through their monopoly control of the commodity, trading some 540,000 lbs annually" [ARIEL, page 78]; OSBORNE "... contracted to deal even larger quantities a few years later, when he took the farm for a second term in 1649. According to this agreement with the Russian Treasury, he committed to trading in some 811,000 lbs of caviar between 1649-54. GARAWAY had died earlier, so OSBORNE and his son John associated with 'others' in this second enterprise, this time men connected with the BLADWELL-RUSSELL-FOYER group - in Russia, William VICKERS and Thomas HEBDON (guarantor), and in London, John DICKENS and Job THROCKMORTON" [ARIEL, page 78].
John OSBORNE was married to Katherine (-?-); they had issue:
1. John OSBORNE Junior; worked for his father in Russia.
2. Margerie OSBORNE; she joined her father in Russia in 1627, probably aged about 8 or 9 years; she was married in about 1740, to John VICKERS (see above).
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John OSBORNE; an Englisman who was an East Indies Adventurer, and "... an important tobacco merchant..." who supplied the Honorable East Indies Company "... with 'some excellent good cordage' in 1624, and was settled in Russia by 1627, at the latest, when his wife Katherine and their daughter secured passes to join him there" [Maria Salomon ARIEL, "English Trade and Adventure to Russia in the Early Modern Era; The Muscovy Company, 1603-1649," page 77]; he had several factors in Russia, including Thomas MORE, and he "... also employed his son John OSBORNE and his nephew Thomas OSBORNE" [ARIEL, Op. Cit., page 77]; OSBORNE was "... also active in the Mediterranean re-export branch of the Russia Trade, taking over a lucrative caviar farm from a Dutch partnership in 1637, for a five year term" [ARIEL, page 78]; James KOTILAINE and Marshall POE [Editors of "Modernising Muscovy; Reform and Social Change in Seventeenth Century Russia] noted that "... in 1630, the Dutch took over the farm from the English, but in 1637, it was back in English hands for a term of five years. This time, the monopoly, which gave the English exclusive right to sell caviar within Russia and to other foreigners at Arkangel'sk as well as Pska and Novgarod, went to Henry GARAWAY and some others of the Muscovy Company, represented in Russia by their factor John OSBORNE, who dominated English merchant activities in Russia in the 1630's and 40's"; as a caviar farmer, he "... acted in the name of Henry GARAWAY and some others of the Muscovy Company" and "... plied a substantial caviar trade in the first half of the 1630's through their monopoly control of the commodity, trading some 540,000 lbs annually" [ARIEL, page 78]; OSBORNE "... contracted to deal even larger quantities a few years later, when he took the farm for a second term in 1649. According to this agreement with the Russian Treasury, he committed to trading in some 811,000 lbs of caviar between 1649-54. GARAWAY had died earlier, so OSBORNE and his son John associated with 'others' in this second enterprise, this time men connected with the BLADWELL-RUSSELL-FOYER group - in Russia, William VICKERS and Thomas HEBDON (guarantor), and in London, John DICKENS and Job THROCKMORTON" [ARIEL, page 78].
John OSBORNE was married to Katherine (-?-); they had issue:
1. John OSBORNE Junior; worked for his father in Russia.
2. Margerie OSBORNE; she joined her father in Russia in 1627, probably aged about 8 or 9 years; she was married in about 1740, to John VICKERS (see above).
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Any connection between the foregoing James VICKERS and the following Captain James VICKERS is entirely speculative. The dates fit; the names fit; but neither of these coincidences constitute conclusive evidence.
I do not yet claim this connection to be proven; I will not until some conclusive evidence is found.
But, in the likelihood that none will be found, and after the fashion of Irish best-fit speculation, I do happen to think that the connection is more than just a mere possibility.
In plod-speak, the VICKERS of Fulham do remain "... persons of interest."___________________________________________________________________________
"CAPTAIN" JAMES VICKERS OF DUBLIN.
[D] James VICKERS of Dublin; he was born about the 1640's, probably in England, or perhaps instead in Russia (see above).
He was in Dublin, probably from as early as 1676; he was probably the "... James VICKERS, a merchant factor in Dublin, mentioned in a Chancery Bill, CLAPHAM v. VICKERS, 19 May 1683" [Hon Guy STRUTT, Irish Ancestor, Number 2, 1970, at pages 90-102] - THRIFT abstracted this as "... Sir Christopher CHAPHAM v. James VICCARS, Bill 19 May 1683, Demurrer 30 May 1683."
He is mentioned in the DIXON Papers [MS 8522, Genealogical Office, Kildare Street, Dublin] as:
"James VICKERS, son of ____ , of Dublin, Merchant; buried St Andrew's as 'Captain' 8 May 1705; first Adm'on 16 May 1705, second Adm'on 23 January 1710; marr Mary _____."
James was also recorded in the DIXON Papers as having had issue eighteen children, nine of whom were recorded as being baptised at St Andrew's parish church, Dublin, between May 1677 and December 1695, and five of whom were buried there between August 1679 and December 1695. See further below.
He was in Dublin, probably from as early as 1676; he was probably the "... James VICKERS, a merchant factor in Dublin, mentioned in a Chancery Bill, CLAPHAM v. VICKERS, 19 May 1683" [Hon Guy STRUTT, Irish Ancestor, Number 2, 1970, at pages 90-102] - THRIFT abstracted this as "... Sir Christopher CHAPHAM v. James VICCARS, Bill 19 May 1683, Demurrer 30 May 1683."
He is mentioned in the DIXON Papers [MS 8522, Genealogical Office, Kildare Street, Dublin] as:
"James VICKERS, son of ____ , of Dublin, Merchant; buried St Andrew's as 'Captain' 8 May 1705; first Adm'on 16 May 1705, second Adm'on 23 January 1710; marr Mary _____."
James was also recorded in the DIXON Papers as having had issue eighteen children, nine of whom were recorded as being baptised at St Andrew's parish church, Dublin, between May 1677 and December 1695, and five of whom were buried there between August 1679 and December 1695. See further below.
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There can be no doubt that he was the James VICKERS who was engaged to manage the packet boats employed between England and Ireland for delivery of the Royal Mails, under a contract signed in 1689 by the Postmaster General, for maintaining three vessels, at £450 per annum salary (see details further below).
These were tricky times, as the Irish Parliament was then of Jacobite persuasion, until after the Battle of the Boyne (1690) saw the deposed King James going into his final exile into France; although his supporters would continued to harass English maritime interests, and in the Irish Sea.
A brief chronology of events might prove informative as to the factors then in play:
November 1688 - The Protestant Prince William of Orange, by invitation, landed in England.
18 December 1688 - The Catholic King James II fled to France.
12 March 1689 - James landed in Kinsale, County Cork, with an Army gathered in France.
7 May 1689 - Opening of the only session of the Jacobite Parliament in Dublin; they declared their independence from English jurisdiction, a number of Protestant landholders who had taken up arms against King James were attainted of treason, and a large proportion of the Cromwellian land confiscations were annulled.
12 April 1689 - Major John WILDMAN was appointed Postmaster General in England.
11 June 1689 - A Williamite Fleet arrived at the besieged city of Derry, and raised the siege on 28 July.
20 July 1689 - End of the only session of the Jacobite Parliament in Dublin.
29 September 1689 - James VICKERS was contracted by Major John WILDMAN, Postmaster-General, to carry the mails to those parts of Ireland under Williamite control.
26 November 1689 - John SHALES, Commissary-General of Provisions, was ordered by the Parliament in London to be arrested; he was succeeded by William ROBINSON
11 February 1690 - James VICKERS was first named as a Deputy Commissary of Provisions in Chester, under Commissary-General ROBINSON (see below).
1 July 1690 - The Battle of the Boyne, a major defeat of the Jacobite army; James returned into exile in France for the last time.
July 1690 - Dublin was "reduced to obedience" to their Majesties (William III and Mary II).
5 May 1691 - James VICKERS, Deputy Commissary for the Army, named as being in Whitehall.
12 July 1691 - Battle of Aughrim, the penultimate defeat of the remaining Jacobite forces.
October 1691 - The Williamite campaigns in Ireland were concluded.
End of 1691 - John WILDMAN was dismissed as Postmaster-General; he was succeeded by Sir Robert COTTON, Knt, and Thomas FRANKLAND, Esq.
James may also have been the James VICKERS, mentioned as one of two Deputy Commissaries in Chester (along with Francis CUFFE, as the two Deputies to William ROBINSON, the Commissary General of the Provisions at Chester), between February 1690 and May 1691, in connection with the purchase and sending of supplies to the Williamite Army in Ireland.
From the Calendar of Treasury Papers:
"18 February 1689-90.
"William JEPHSON to the Excise Commissioners, to write by this night's post to the Officers of Excise and Hearth-money at Chester and the adjacent places, to pay forthwith £1,000 to William ROBINSON, the Commissary-General of the Provisions at Chester, or in his absence to Francis CUFFE or James VICKERS, his deputies there; and to draw bills on Mr HARBORD for their re-imbursement."
Ditto, Volume VIII, April 1690, page 113:
"Order of the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland, for forwarding the annexed extract of a letter from Mr CUFF, deputy to the Commissary General of Provisions, for their Lordships' direction. Dated 25 April 1690.
"The said extract, in which he hoped Mr HARBORD would comply with the bill of £250 without much more delay. If there were not a supply in hand at Chester, or in Mr MOOR's hands in London, it would be impossible to carry on their Majesties' service, &c.
"Also a letter from Mr Richard COLINGE to Will. JEPHSON, Esq, stating that the Lords of the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland thought it absolutely necessary that Mr CUFF and Mr VICKERS should be forthwith supplied with £500. Dated 26 April 1690."
And at page 117, in May 1690:
"Letter of William BLATHWAYT to Mr JEPHSON, stating that he had just received a letter from the Deputy Commissaries at Chester, of which he enclosed an extract relating to the re-packing of beef at Liverpool, &c, for the Army in Ireland; further, that the King had seen the enclosed letter from Mons. ROSENHEIM, Commissary General of the Danish forces, and had ordered it to be laid before him at the Treasury. Dated 21 May 1690.
"The extract above named; but the letter mentioned is not now with it.
"Minuted - 'Enquire what summe is requisite for CUFF and VICKERS [Deputy Commissaries]. Mr BLATHWAYTE says about £1,000'."
And in February 1691:
"February 16. William JEPHSON to the Auditor of Receipts to issue to Mr [Charles] FOX. The Committee for the Affairs of Ireland have desired the Treasury Lords to imprest £1,000 to Mr HENLEY and £1,000 to Mr VICKERS to buy oats to be sent to Ireland. You are to write to said HENLEY and VICKERS to draw bills on you for said sums, whither my Lords will take care shall be immediately answered."
And in Volume 9, in March 1691 [Out Letters, General, XIII, page 11]:
"March 10. William JEPHSON to Charles FOX endorsing an order [missing] from the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland about impresting money to Mr VICKERS and Mr HENLEY for buying cheese for the Army there. You are to write by this night's post to VICKARS and HENLY that they proceed in furnishing the quantities of cheese at the rates mentioned in said order, and to draw bills on you for the whole or any part thereof."
And in April 1691 [Disposition Book IX, page 104]:
"April 11. William JEPHSON to [Charles] FOX. The Committee for the Affairs of Ireland desire to imprest £350 to Mr VICKERS at Chester for buying oats and oat-sacks for Ireland. Please write to Mr VICKERS to draw bills on you for that sum. The Treasury Lords will [put you on funds to] enable you to comply with the said bills."
And in May 1691, among the Letters of William BLATHWAYT, we find:
"May 5. L (copy) to James VICKERS, Whitehall (a Deputy Commissary for the Army) about the supply of oats and other provisions for the Army in Ireland."
An additional mention of James VICKERS, probably the same, in April 1689 [TNA - Cheshire Archives, Ref ZA/B/3/29v-31]:
"It was ordered that all Aldermen should meet the Mayor at Pentice at a time appointed by him, and that Mr James VICKERS and Mr William FERNIHAUGH should be sent for to give their reasons for refusing to pay toll on corn brought into the city."
It is not difficult to imagine their answer - in the service of the Crown, for provisioning the Army in Ireland, no less!
While the interests of the Deputy Commissary in Chester are entirely consistent with the activities of our James VICKERS, the mail Contractor (see below), both involving movement of goods across the Irish Sea between England and Ireland, that does not necessarily mean they are one and the same person. And James having packets in regular service between England and Ireland provided a perfect opportunity to deliver other goods along with the mails.
However, there does not appear to be any attempt by the Lords of the Treasury to recognise the possibility that the Mail Contractor and the Deputy Commissary may have been one and the same person.
But, it may be of some considerable interest to this part of our story to note that a James VICKERS did have two sons baptized at St Bridget's, Chester - Michael (23 October 1690) and Thomas (29 February 1691) - and these are the names of two of the sons of our James VICKERS of Dublin, both of whom were mentioned in his 1710 administration, and who are not mentioned in St Andrew's Dublin Registers (although there was an earlier Thomas with a baptism, but a burial shortly after).
JAMES VICKERS, THE MAIL CONTRACTOR.
Some detail of James VICKERS's original mail contract was later recorded in his petition to the Postmasters General on 5 July 1693 [Calendar of Treasury Papers, 1660-69, Volume 10, Part 1, at paged 271], as follows:
"Same to same [Treasury to Postmaster General] of the petition of James VICKERS, shewing that he contracted with Major WILDMAN [late Postmaster General] for £450 per an. to maintain three pacquet boats at his own cost and charges from 1689, Sept. 29, between England and that part of Ireland under their Majesties' obedience until Dublin should be reduced, and then £50 more per an. during his contract; that Dublin was reduced in July, 1690, and yet he has received only £450 per an.; that he did, by order of said WILDMAN, send a person to Portpatrick in Scotland to hire and set forth two extraordinary pacquet boats to pass from that place to Donaghadee in Ireland and back again with expresses, mails etc. which were maintained at his [petitioner's] charge for 11 months and cost him £47 7s. 5d.; therefore praying payment."
However, it appears he was already in their service by November 1688 - from later accounts [Calendar of Treasury Papers, 5 August 1697], we find a:
"Treasury warrant...
"... on which petition the said Postmasters General have reported stating as below the particulars of the said account as charged in the books of the Post Office for both the English and the Irish Postage...
"... item (7) is the sum due 1689 May 10 to Mr. VICARS a manager of the Irish packet boats, being half a year's salary paid, which petitioner usually paid...
"... Discharge... (7) £56 5s. 0d. for money [paid to] Mr. James VICCARS for half a year's salary for the Irish packet boats to 10 May 1689.
Francis AUNGIER was created Earl of Longford (1st creation) in 1677; on 28 January 1689, he wrote from Dublin to the Duke of ORMOND ["Letters of Lord Longford, and others, on Irish Affairs, 1689-1702," presented by Patrick MELVIN, and published on JStor]:
These were tricky times, as the Irish Parliament was then of Jacobite persuasion, until after the Battle of the Boyne (1690) saw the deposed King James going into his final exile into France; although his supporters would continued to harass English maritime interests, and in the Irish Sea.
A brief chronology of events might prove informative as to the factors then in play:
November 1688 - The Protestant Prince William of Orange, by invitation, landed in England.
18 December 1688 - The Catholic King James II fled to France.
12 March 1689 - James landed in Kinsale, County Cork, with an Army gathered in France.
7 May 1689 - Opening of the only session of the Jacobite Parliament in Dublin; they declared their independence from English jurisdiction, a number of Protestant landholders who had taken up arms against King James were attainted of treason, and a large proportion of the Cromwellian land confiscations were annulled.
12 April 1689 - Major John WILDMAN was appointed Postmaster General in England.
11 June 1689 - A Williamite Fleet arrived at the besieged city of Derry, and raised the siege on 28 July.
20 July 1689 - End of the only session of the Jacobite Parliament in Dublin.
29 September 1689 - James VICKERS was contracted by Major John WILDMAN, Postmaster-General, to carry the mails to those parts of Ireland under Williamite control.
26 November 1689 - John SHALES, Commissary-General of Provisions, was ordered by the Parliament in London to be arrested; he was succeeded by William ROBINSON
11 February 1690 - James VICKERS was first named as a Deputy Commissary of Provisions in Chester, under Commissary-General ROBINSON (see below).
1 July 1690 - The Battle of the Boyne, a major defeat of the Jacobite army; James returned into exile in France for the last time.
July 1690 - Dublin was "reduced to obedience" to their Majesties (William III and Mary II).
5 May 1691 - James VICKERS, Deputy Commissary for the Army, named as being in Whitehall.
12 July 1691 - Battle of Aughrim, the penultimate defeat of the remaining Jacobite forces.
October 1691 - The Williamite campaigns in Ireland were concluded.
End of 1691 - John WILDMAN was dismissed as Postmaster-General; he was succeeded by Sir Robert COTTON, Knt, and Thomas FRANKLAND, Esq.
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JAMES VICKERS IN CHESTER, DEPUTY COMMISSARY.James may also have been the James VICKERS, mentioned as one of two Deputy Commissaries in Chester (along with Francis CUFFE, as the two Deputies to William ROBINSON, the Commissary General of the Provisions at Chester), between February 1690 and May 1691, in connection with the purchase and sending of supplies to the Williamite Army in Ireland.
From the Calendar of Treasury Papers:
"18 February 1689-90.
"William JEPHSON to the Excise Commissioners, to write by this night's post to the Officers of Excise and Hearth-money at Chester and the adjacent places, to pay forthwith £1,000 to William ROBINSON, the Commissary-General of the Provisions at Chester, or in his absence to Francis CUFFE or James VICKERS, his deputies there; and to draw bills on Mr HARBORD for their re-imbursement."
Ditto, Volume VIII, April 1690, page 113:
"Order of the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland, for forwarding the annexed extract of a letter from Mr CUFF, deputy to the Commissary General of Provisions, for their Lordships' direction. Dated 25 April 1690.
"The said extract, in which he hoped Mr HARBORD would comply with the bill of £250 without much more delay. If there were not a supply in hand at Chester, or in Mr MOOR's hands in London, it would be impossible to carry on their Majesties' service, &c.
"Also a letter from Mr Richard COLINGE to Will. JEPHSON, Esq, stating that the Lords of the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland thought it absolutely necessary that Mr CUFF and Mr VICKERS should be forthwith supplied with £500. Dated 26 April 1690."
And at page 117, in May 1690:
"Letter of William BLATHWAYT to Mr JEPHSON, stating that he had just received a letter from the Deputy Commissaries at Chester, of which he enclosed an extract relating to the re-packing of beef at Liverpool, &c, for the Army in Ireland; further, that the King had seen the enclosed letter from Mons. ROSENHEIM, Commissary General of the Danish forces, and had ordered it to be laid before him at the Treasury. Dated 21 May 1690.
"The extract above named; but the letter mentioned is not now with it.
"Minuted - 'Enquire what summe is requisite for CUFF and VICKERS [Deputy Commissaries]. Mr BLATHWAYTE says about £1,000'."
And in February 1691:
"February 16. William JEPHSON to the Auditor of Receipts to issue to Mr [Charles] FOX. The Committee for the Affairs of Ireland have desired the Treasury Lords to imprest £1,000 to Mr HENLEY and £1,000 to Mr VICKERS to buy oats to be sent to Ireland. You are to write to said HENLEY and VICKERS to draw bills on you for said sums, whither my Lords will take care shall be immediately answered."
And in Volume 9, in March 1691 [Out Letters, General, XIII, page 11]:
"March 10. William JEPHSON to Charles FOX endorsing an order [missing] from the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland about impresting money to Mr VICKERS and Mr HENLEY for buying cheese for the Army there. You are to write by this night's post to VICKARS and HENLY that they proceed in furnishing the quantities of cheese at the rates mentioned in said order, and to draw bills on you for the whole or any part thereof."
And in April 1691 [Disposition Book IX, page 104]:
"April 11. William JEPHSON to [Charles] FOX. The Committee for the Affairs of Ireland desire to imprest £350 to Mr VICKERS at Chester for buying oats and oat-sacks for Ireland. Please write to Mr VICKERS to draw bills on you for that sum. The Treasury Lords will [put you on funds to] enable you to comply with the said bills."
And in May 1691, among the Letters of William BLATHWAYT, we find:
"May 5. L (copy) to James VICKERS, Whitehall (a Deputy Commissary for the Army) about the supply of oats and other provisions for the Army in Ireland."
An additional mention of James VICKERS, probably the same, in April 1689 [TNA - Cheshire Archives, Ref ZA/B/3/29v-31]:
"It was ordered that all Aldermen should meet the Mayor at Pentice at a time appointed by him, and that Mr James VICKERS and Mr William FERNIHAUGH should be sent for to give their reasons for refusing to pay toll on corn brought into the city."
It is not difficult to imagine their answer - in the service of the Crown, for provisioning the Army in Ireland, no less!
While the interests of the Deputy Commissary in Chester are entirely consistent with the activities of our James VICKERS, the mail Contractor (see below), both involving movement of goods across the Irish Sea between England and Ireland, that does not necessarily mean they are one and the same person. And James having packets in regular service between England and Ireland provided a perfect opportunity to deliver other goods along with the mails.
However, there does not appear to be any attempt by the Lords of the Treasury to recognise the possibility that the Mail Contractor and the Deputy Commissary may have been one and the same person.
But, it may be of some considerable interest to this part of our story to note that a James VICKERS did have two sons baptized at St Bridget's, Chester - Michael (23 October 1690) and Thomas (29 February 1691) - and these are the names of two of the sons of our James VICKERS of Dublin, both of whom were mentioned in his 1710 administration, and who are not mentioned in St Andrew's Dublin Registers (although there was an earlier Thomas with a baptism, but a burial shortly after).
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JAMES VICKERS, THE MAIL CONTRACTOR.
Some detail of James VICKERS's original mail contract was later recorded in his petition to the Postmasters General on 5 July 1693 [Calendar of Treasury Papers, 1660-69, Volume 10, Part 1, at paged 271], as follows:
"Same to same [Treasury to Postmaster General] of the petition of James VICKERS, shewing that he contracted with Major WILDMAN [late Postmaster General] for £450 per an. to maintain three pacquet boats at his own cost and charges from 1689, Sept. 29, between England and that part of Ireland under their Majesties' obedience until Dublin should be reduced, and then £50 more per an. during his contract; that Dublin was reduced in July, 1690, and yet he has received only £450 per an.; that he did, by order of said WILDMAN, send a person to Portpatrick in Scotland to hire and set forth two extraordinary pacquet boats to pass from that place to Donaghadee in Ireland and back again with expresses, mails etc. which were maintained at his [petitioner's] charge for 11 months and cost him £47 7s. 5d.; therefore praying payment."
However, it appears he was already in their service by November 1688 - from later accounts [Calendar of Treasury Papers, 5 August 1697], we find a:
"Treasury warrant...
"... on which petition the said Postmasters General have reported stating as below the particulars of the said account as charged in the books of the Post Office for both the English and the Irish Postage...
"... item (7) is the sum due 1689 May 10 to Mr. VICARS a manager of the Irish packet boats, being half a year's salary paid, which petitioner usually paid...
"... Discharge... (7) £56 5s. 0d. for money [paid to] Mr. James VICCARS for half a year's salary for the Irish packet boats to 10 May 1689.
Francis AUNGIER was created Earl of Longford (1st creation) in 1677; on 28 January 1689, he wrote from Dublin to the Duke of ORMOND ["Letters of Lord Longford, and others, on Irish Affairs, 1689-1702," presented by Patrick MELVIN, and published on JStor]:
"I must conclude with a small request to your Grace, viz., that your grace should procure an order to release the 'James,' yacht, which is now detained at Chester by the contrivance of Captain WRIGHT upon the score of general embargo. My Lady POWERCOURT went over thither in her, and at her return she was engaged to carry over several persons of quality, and indeed is the only vessel belonging to this place that can afford reasonable convenience for our transportation. And now that she is detained there, and little or no shipping left here, should matters grow to extremity here and the country grow too hot for us to abide here with safety, there is not any other of your Grace's servants (who have hitherto outrid all storms and common rules of self preservation will allow us to abide here) to escape out of danger when it is at hand. Therefore I hope for our sakes your Grace will in charity take some pains to get this vessel released that thereby we may have ready help in time of need, whereby your Grace will highly oblige several of your servants here...
"This vessel was built by Captain WRIGHT, who sold it to Mr James VICARS, who has the management of the Packet Boats, and is a very honest gentleman and a true friend to the Protestants."
An e-book, entitled "Holyhead Services, 1561-2011," but with no recorded authorship, made these observations about the origins of the Irish mail service, with a listing of James VICKERS' predecessors:
"In 1635, a regular weekly post was established between London and Dublin - a letter cost 6d - but the service was interrupted by the disorders of 1641. In that year, Nicholas Lord HOWTH made arrangements with some fishermen to carry essential mails across the Irish Sea. In 1644, the French traveler M. BOULLAYE-Le-GOUTE noted the newly built quay at Ringsend.
"By 1646, the Parliament's forces controlled both Dublin and Holyhead. Stephen RICH had already earned their gratitude by, among other things, taking the captured garrison of Conway Castle to sea in his ship and 'setting them swimming towards Ireland.' From 1 November 1646, he was to supply two ships, one based in Holyhead and one at Dublin. The subsidy was £11 per ship per month.
"However, in a few years, the contract passed to Thomas SWIFT, described as Governor of Holyhead, and a 'Commissioner [under the Act for the Propagation] of the Gospel' for Wales. St Cybi's Church in Holyhead had been closed for worship by the Parliamentarians. SWIFT had the tower raised by 17 feet for use as a look-out. Regular posts were re-established in 1653.
"At the Restoration of the Monarchy, the contract went to Captain John BARTLETT, but he was forced to charter ships from SWIFT, who continued to dominate the service. A subsidy of £400 per annum was now paid for three boats, and proportionately for a fourth...
"In 1670, a Major DEANE was providing three packets, one of which was wrecked in December with the loss of 122 lives. This and another wrecking led to the requisition of a "Holland" built boat. The most common route from Conway to Holyhead was along the strand to the Menai Straits opposite Beaumauris, and by ferry to that town. Holy Island, on which Holyhead stands, had been linked to Anglesey.
"In 1686, Lord CLARENDON, the viceroy, spent some days on this journey, mainly trying to get around the mountain at Penmaenmawr. The packet, incidentally, landed him at Dunleary.
"In 1689, James VICKERS agreed to provide three ships at £450 per annum..."
On 25 July 1692, one of VICKERS' boats, the Grace, Dogger, 70 tons, "... in Dublin Bay waiting until the tide would take him over the bar, was seized by a French Privateer, the captain of which stripped the Grace Dogger of her rigging, sails, spars and yards, and of all the furniture wherewith she had been provide for the due accommodation of passengers, leaving not so much as a spoon or a nail-hook to hang anything on, and finally ransomed her to the aforesaid VICKERS for fifty guineas" [The Life of Sir Rowland HILL, and History of the Penny Postage, by HILL and his nephew, Volume II, London, 1880, page 312].
"In 1635, a regular weekly post was established between London and Dublin - a letter cost 6d - but the service was interrupted by the disorders of 1641. In that year, Nicholas Lord HOWTH made arrangements with some fishermen to carry essential mails across the Irish Sea. In 1644, the French traveler M. BOULLAYE-Le-GOUTE noted the newly built quay at Ringsend.
"By 1646, the Parliament's forces controlled both Dublin and Holyhead. Stephen RICH had already earned their gratitude by, among other things, taking the captured garrison of Conway Castle to sea in his ship and 'setting them swimming towards Ireland.' From 1 November 1646, he was to supply two ships, one based in Holyhead and one at Dublin. The subsidy was £11 per ship per month.
"However, in a few years, the contract passed to Thomas SWIFT, described as Governor of Holyhead, and a 'Commissioner [under the Act for the Propagation] of the Gospel' for Wales. St Cybi's Church in Holyhead had been closed for worship by the Parliamentarians. SWIFT had the tower raised by 17 feet for use as a look-out. Regular posts were re-established in 1653.
"At the Restoration of the Monarchy, the contract went to Captain John BARTLETT, but he was forced to charter ships from SWIFT, who continued to dominate the service. A subsidy of £400 per annum was now paid for three boats, and proportionately for a fourth...
"In 1670, a Major DEANE was providing three packets, one of which was wrecked in December with the loss of 122 lives. This and another wrecking led to the requisition of a "Holland" built boat. The most common route from Conway to Holyhead was along the strand to the Menai Straits opposite Beaumauris, and by ferry to that town. Holy Island, on which Holyhead stands, had been linked to Anglesey.
"In 1686, Lord CLARENDON, the viceroy, spent some days on this journey, mainly trying to get around the mountain at Penmaenmawr. The packet, incidentally, landed him at Dunleary.
"In 1689, James VICKERS agreed to provide three ships at £450 per annum..."
On 25 July 1692, one of VICKERS' boats, the Grace, Dogger, 70 tons, "... in Dublin Bay waiting until the tide would take him over the bar, was seized by a French Privateer, the captain of which stripped the Grace Dogger of her rigging, sails, spars and yards, and of all the furniture wherewith she had been provide for the due accommodation of passengers, leaving not so much as a spoon or a nail-hook to hang anything on, and finally ransomed her to the aforesaid VICKERS for fifty guineas" [The Life of Sir Rowland HILL, and History of the Penny Postage, by HILL and his nephew, Volume II, London, 1880, page 312].
In his report for the Post Masters General, a Mr SCUDAMORE wrote of these trials and tribulations - "The packets in those times, when war raged for so many years, and when every sea was covered with French privateers, gave our Post Masters General very great and constant anxiety. Their orders to the captains of such vessels are urgent, that they shall run while they can, fight when they can no longer run, and throw the mails overboard when fighting will no longer avail..." [HILL, Ibidem].
J.C. HEMMEON, in his "The History of the British Post Office" [Harvard University, Cambridge, 1912, Chapter VII, at page 109 et seq.], noted that:
"In 1653, the Council of State gave orders for the revival of the old packet service between Milford and Waterford. At the same time, Chester was substituted for Portinllain (in Carnarvon) as the point of departure on the English side, and mails were carried weekly between the Milford and Chester packets..."
In the early days, the "bridle track" from Chester to Holyhead necessitated post riders using some beach strands at low tide - and they often had to wait indeterminate times for ferry operators to notice their calls - all of which had contributed to Chester being the preferred landing point for passengers to and from Ireland, despite the longer sea voyage involved.
By 1693, improvements along the track had improved sufficiently for it become useable by coach traffic, whereby it became the preferred departure point on the English side.
In that year, James VICKERS signed a new contract with the Postmasters General, as HEMMEON [Ibidem] further noted:
"The situation of Holyhead, however, was so much in its favour that in 1693, a contract was signed for the conveyance of mails between Holyhead and Dublin. Mr VICKERS, the contractor, agreed to maintain three packets for this purpose for £450 a year.
"He also undertook to provide two boats for the mail service between Portpatrick and Donaghdee. When the Scotch was separated from the English Post Office in 1695, three packet boats came under the control of Scotland."
In the early days, the "bridle track" from Chester to Holyhead necessitated post riders using some beach strands at low tide - and they often had to wait indeterminate times for ferry operators to notice their calls - all of which had contributed to Chester being the preferred landing point for passengers to and from Ireland, despite the longer sea voyage involved.
By 1693, improvements along the track had improved sufficiently for it become useable by coach traffic, whereby it became the preferred departure point on the English side.
In that year, James VICKERS signed a new contract with the Postmasters General, as HEMMEON [Ibidem] further noted:
"The situation of Holyhead, however, was so much in its favour that in 1693, a contract was signed for the conveyance of mails between Holyhead and Dublin. Mr VICKERS, the contractor, agreed to maintain three packets for this purpose for £450 a year.
"He also undertook to provide two boats for the mail service between Portpatrick and Donaghdee. When the Scotch was separated from the English Post Office in 1695, three packet boats came under the control of Scotland."
However, as these were the terms of the 1689 contract, HEMMEON may have misconstrued this later mention as being a "new" contract.
VICKERS 's petition to the Postmasters General of 5 July 1693, concerning his augmentation (see above), elicited the following response:
"Report of Sir Robert COTTON, Knt, and Thomas FRANKLAND, Esq, their Majesties' Postmasters, upon the petition of Mr James VICKERS, Manager of the packet-boats employed between England and Ireland, stating that Sir John WILDMAN, then Postmaster General, in 1689 contracted with Mr VICKERS to maintain three packet boats for those mails at £450 per ann. salary; but there was no mention of the augmentation of his salary when Dublin was reduced; a promise was however made that it should be increased £50 per ann.
"On the second part of the petition they were satisfied that the charges of the hire of two boats between Port Patrick in Scotland and Donnaghadie in Ireland amounted to £47 17s 5d. Sir John WILDMAN having been removed before Mr VICKERS could settle his accounts he had had no allowance, but it was reasonable he should be reimbursed. They left the matter of the £50 to their Lordships, but thought the petitioner could not maintain the boats for less than £500 a year. Dated 26 July 1693.
"Minuted - '18 Aug '93. A warr't to be prepared accordingly'."
VICKERS 's petition to the Postmasters General of 5 July 1693, concerning his augmentation (see above), elicited the following response:
"Report of Sir Robert COTTON, Knt, and Thomas FRANKLAND, Esq, their Majesties' Postmasters, upon the petition of Mr James VICKERS, Manager of the packet-boats employed between England and Ireland, stating that Sir John WILDMAN, then Postmaster General, in 1689 contracted with Mr VICKERS to maintain three packet boats for those mails at £450 per ann. salary; but there was no mention of the augmentation of his salary when Dublin was reduced; a promise was however made that it should be increased £50 per ann.
"On the second part of the petition they were satisfied that the charges of the hire of two boats between Port Patrick in Scotland and Donnaghadie in Ireland amounted to £47 17s 5d. Sir John WILDMAN having been removed before Mr VICKERS could settle his accounts he had had no allowance, but it was reasonable he should be reimbursed. They left the matter of the £50 to their Lordships, but thought the petitioner could not maintain the boats for less than £500 a year. Dated 26 July 1693.
"Minuted - '18 Aug '93. A warr't to be prepared accordingly'."
A more detailed account, dated 18 September 1693, was recorded in Treasury's Money Book XII, page 122:
"Treasury Warrant to the Postmasters General to pay James VICKERS the salary of £50 per ann. from the time that Dublin was reduced to their Majesties' obedience to Michaelmas last; and a further £47 7s 5d by him expended on two extraordinary boats which he hired to go between Portpatrick and Donaghadee. It appears that in 1689 Sir John WILDMAN, then Postmaster General, contracted with said VICKERS to keep and maintain at his own cost three pacquet boats to be employed for carrying their Majesties' mails between England and Ireland at £450 per ann. salary; but in the contract there is no mention made of any augmentation of salary when Dublin should be reduced, though by a certificate of said WILDMAN, it appears that he did promise an augmentation of 50 per ann. on such reduction, as soon as the Post Office there should be any ways capable of maintaining itself. And further, VICKERS had orders from the said WILDMAN for the said two extraordinary boats and did spend £47 7s 5d. The present Postmasters General thinking that he cannot maintain said three pacquet boats well under 500 per ann."
"Treasury Warrant to the Postmasters General to pay James VICKERS the salary of £50 per ann. from the time that Dublin was reduced to their Majesties' obedience to Michaelmas last; and a further £47 7s 5d by him expended on two extraordinary boats which he hired to go between Portpatrick and Donaghadee. It appears that in 1689 Sir John WILDMAN, then Postmaster General, contracted with said VICKERS to keep and maintain at his own cost three pacquet boats to be employed for carrying their Majesties' mails between England and Ireland at £450 per ann. salary; but in the contract there is no mention made of any augmentation of salary when Dublin should be reduced, though by a certificate of said WILDMAN, it appears that he did promise an augmentation of 50 per ann. on such reduction, as soon as the Post Office there should be any ways capable of maintaining itself. And further, VICKERS had orders from the said WILDMAN for the said two extraordinary boats and did spend £47 7s 5d. The present Postmasters General thinking that he cannot maintain said three pacquet boats well under 500 per ann."
In June 1696, James VICKERS wrote to the Navy Board, with his account of:
"... stores and furniture belonging to the Talbot pink (sic) wreck, sent by boats from Arklow and Killbridge to Wexford, and brought thence in the Mary, April 1695, to Dublin, and received by the Lords Justices" [TNA - ADM 106/496/47, enclosed in folio 46].
And on 26 July 1696, James wrote to the same, advising that:
"... he took custody at Dublin stores from the Talbot pink, wrecked on that coast, requests directions as to their disposal, and that he be reimbursed for salvage" [TNA, Kew - ADM 106/496/46].
A further communication by VICKERS to the Postmasters General, in August 1696, was mentioned the Calendar of Treasury Papers [Volume XXXIX], at page 534:
"A report of R. COTTON and Tho. FRANKLAND [Post Masters] General to the Lords of the Treasury, on the complaint of Mr James VICKERS, manager of the boats employed in carrying the mails between England and Ireland, who represented that he was a great sufferer by the yachts which were ordered to attend the King's Service between Dublin, Holyhead and Chester, which conveyed passengers who used to be carried in the packet boats, advising that if the petitioner had not some relief, he would expect an additional allowance. Dated 1 August 1696.
"Minuted - 'To desire L'ds of Ad'lty to give like injunction to all capt'ns of ye yachts as His Ma'ty gave Capt WRIGHT.'
"Accompanied by the petition; with copies of instructions issued to commanders of yachts in 1687 and 1688."
G.W. PLACE, M.A., in his "Parkgate and the Royal Yachts: Passenger Traffic between the North-west and Dublin in the Eighteenth Century" [an on-line publication, date not recorded, at page 73], made further mention of these Royal yachts:
"At this period the voyages were usually between Dublin and Parkgate, because in 1689, James VICKERS became contractor for the Post Office packets at Holyhead, and as we shall see, he insisted that Captain WRIGHT should not interfere with VICKERS' passenger traffic. The fact that WRIGHT therefore sailed to Parkgate, except when his orders or the weather required him to visit Holyhead, must have been a major factor in the development of Parkgate as a port for passengers...
"In 1696, James VICKERS of Holyhead complained once more that 'the yachts which are ordered to attend His Majesty's service between Dublin, Holyhead and Chester do convey passengers which were used to be carried by the pacquet boats, whereby he is a great sufferer.' The response of the Treasury Lords was to desire 'that like injunctions may be given to all the Captains of His Majesty's Yachts as hath been formerly given to Captain WRIGHT.'
"Yet it is difficult to see what VICKERS had to complain about, as in 1695, 'Soesdyke' (one of H.M.'s Yachts) visited Holyhead only once; and in 1696 she visited Holyhead three times and 'Beaumaris' (another) once up to September, the date of VICKERS' petition. Of course, VICKERS' contract to carry mail gave him no monopoly of passengers, and his touchiness merely reinforced the tendency of the yachts, and therefore of the quality traffic, to visit Parkgate."
"A report of R. COTTON and Tho. FRANKLAND [Post Masters] General to the Lords of the Treasury, on the complaint of Mr James VICKERS, manager of the boats employed in carrying the mails between England and Ireland, who represented that he was a great sufferer by the yachts which were ordered to attend the King's Service between Dublin, Holyhead and Chester, which conveyed passengers who used to be carried in the packet boats, advising that if the petitioner had not some relief, he would expect an additional allowance. Dated 1 August 1696.
"Minuted - 'To desire L'ds of Ad'lty to give like injunction to all capt'ns of ye yachts as His Ma'ty gave Capt WRIGHT.'
"Accompanied by the petition; with copies of instructions issued to commanders of yachts in 1687 and 1688."
G.W. PLACE, M.A., in his "Parkgate and the Royal Yachts: Passenger Traffic between the North-west and Dublin in the Eighteenth Century" [an on-line publication, date not recorded, at page 73], made further mention of these Royal yachts:
"At this period the voyages were usually between Dublin and Parkgate, because in 1689, James VICKERS became contractor for the Post Office packets at Holyhead, and as we shall see, he insisted that Captain WRIGHT should not interfere with VICKERS' passenger traffic. The fact that WRIGHT therefore sailed to Parkgate, except when his orders or the weather required him to visit Holyhead, must have been a major factor in the development of Parkgate as a port for passengers...
"In 1696, James VICKERS of Holyhead complained once more that 'the yachts which are ordered to attend His Majesty's service between Dublin, Holyhead and Chester do convey passengers which were used to be carried by the pacquet boats, whereby he is a great sufferer.' The response of the Treasury Lords was to desire 'that like injunctions may be given to all the Captains of His Majesty's Yachts as hath been formerly given to Captain WRIGHT.'
"Yet it is difficult to see what VICKERS had to complain about, as in 1695, 'Soesdyke' (one of H.M.'s Yachts) visited Holyhead only once; and in 1696 she visited Holyhead three times and 'Beaumaris' (another) once up to September, the date of VICKERS' petition. Of course, VICKERS' contract to carry mail gave him no monopoly of passengers, and his touchiness merely reinforced the tendency of the yachts, and therefore of the quality traffic, to visit Parkgate."
On 29 March 1698, James VICKERS of Dublin again wrote to the Navy Board, concerning the ships Penzance and Talbot, naming Captain ASHTON and Samuel HUNTER, for the locations London and Highlake [TNA, Kew - ADM 106/524/9, folio 9].
James VICKERS evidently acquired, about 1700, the farmstead known as Tyddyn y Feiler; this was part of the Llanfawr estate, which had belonged to Harry PARRI, who is said to have held the previous Royal Mail contract (but this name is not recorded in the e-book, "Holyhead Services, 1561-2011"); by 1848, this estate was owned by Eleanor VICKERS (the widow of James's great-grandson), and had been leased out to Eliza and John ROBERTS.
[See the Castlering Archaeology Report, Number 236, May 2006, H.E.R. Copy, concerning a development application for land at Tyddynn Bach, South Stack Road, on the western outskirts of Holyhead, on the www.walesher1974.org website].
James VICKERS evidently acquired, about 1700, the farmstead known as Tyddyn y Feiler; this was part of the Llanfawr estate, which had belonged to Harry PARRI, who is said to have held the previous Royal Mail contract (but this name is not recorded in the e-book, "Holyhead Services, 1561-2011"); by 1848, this estate was owned by Eleanor VICKERS (the widow of James's great-grandson), and had been leased out to Eliza and John ROBERTS.
[See the Castlering Archaeology Report, Number 236, May 2006, H.E.R. Copy, concerning a development application for land at Tyddynn Bach, South Stack Road, on the western outskirts of Holyhead, on the www.walesher1974.org website].
Edward WATSON, in his "The Royal Mail to Ireland," London, 1917 [at page 70], noted that:
"John VICKERS, who was a packet contractor, died, and his children petitioned the Post Office for compensation on account of damage to the James, packet, in a storm in 1706, and for the loss of the Anne, packet on 24 October the same year."
But this date appears to correspond with our James, rather than with his son John - although it seems likely that his elder sons may well have continued to provide the service under the terms of their father's 1689 contract.
[Frontispiece to "The Royal Mail in Ireland," by Edward WATSON, London, 1917.]
The Calendar of Treasury Books, October 1706 to December 1707 [Warrant Books for June 1707], clarify the picture:
"June 26. Allowance by Treasurer GODOLPHIN...
"Warrant by same to the Postmasters General to pay £400 to Clement MILWARD in trust for the children of Mr VICKERS, late manager of the pacquet boats between England and Ireland, as in consideration of his losses by storm, etc.
"Prefixing: report by said Postmasters General:
"Mr VICKERS contracted with us to furnish 3 packet boats to carry mails and expresses between Holyhead and Dublin for £600 per annum. His packet boat 'James' was damaged by a great storm on 17 September last, in which several Chester, Liverpool and Whitehaven ships were lost; his packet boat 'Ann' [suffered] similarly by a violent tempest on October 24 last, and on the following day [his packet boat] 'Expedition' was surprised by a terrible storm coming from Dublin to the Head, and thereby driven upon the coasts of south Wales where she was destroyed among the rocks, as were many merchant ships at the same time. The Irish correspondence has nevertheless for some years been very punctually and regularly carried on. He has left eleven children wholly unprovided for and without father or mother. Money Book, XIX, page 23."
From where I am looking, it would appear that only James VICKERS, who died in 1705, could be the Mr VICKERS mentioned here. Further, the mention of Clement MILWARD as trustee does explain his role in the 1705 Administration. And it all suggests that the eleven children "... wholly unprovided for" were inevitably those named in the subsequent 1710 Administration, and that both Administrations WERE for the same James VICKERS.
From where I am looking, it would appear that only James VICKERS, who died in 1705, could be the Mr VICKERS mentioned here. Further, the mention of Clement MILWARD as trustee does explain his role in the 1705 Administration. And it all suggests that the eleven children "... wholly unprovided for" were inevitably those named in the subsequent 1710 Administration, and that both Administrations WERE for the same James VICKERS.
Indeed, it would appear that the second Administration may have been facilitated, or otherwise made necessary, by the death of the trustee Clement MILWARD in 1709 (his will, dated December 1707, was proved on 21 October 1709). MILWARD was also a Master of the Company or Guild of Merchants of Holy Trinity, Dublin.
The e-book "Holyhead Services, 1561-2011" (see above), wraps up the aftermath of the VICKERS contract, as follows:
"In 1715, J. MACKEY, a director of the Dover to Calais packets, was authorized to operate ships on the same conditions as James VICKERS. We find VICKERS' heirs seeking compensation for the loss of the packet Ann in 1706, and for damage to another ship as late as 1720.
"In 1723, Thomas WILSON, a Dublin Merchant, was granted the contract for 7 years, subsequently extended by another seven. He supplied three ships for 300 per annum..."
I have yet to sight documentary verification of this 1720 date mentioned above.
JAMES VICKERS BACK IN DUBLIN.
The e-book "Holyhead Services, 1561-2011" (see above), wraps up the aftermath of the VICKERS contract, as follows:
"In 1715, J. MACKEY, a director of the Dover to Calais packets, was authorized to operate ships on the same conditions as James VICKERS. We find VICKERS' heirs seeking compensation for the loss of the packet Ann in 1706, and for damage to another ship as late as 1720.
"In 1723, Thomas WILSON, a Dublin Merchant, was granted the contract for 7 years, subsequently extended by another seven. He supplied three ships for 300 per annum..."
I have yet to sight documentary verification of this 1720 date mentioned above.
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JAMES VICKERS BACK IN DUBLIN.
James VICKERS may have been back in Dublin as early as 1692, and were evidently back in St Andrew's Parish by July 1694.
Capt James VICCARS was named as Co-Defendant to a cause brought before the High Court of Chancery, Dublin, 19 January 1693[-94], by William WATT, Plaintiff, the other Defendants being Henry GREENHILL, Jane DISMYNSEN (?) and Honora PONSONBY - the subject matter was not mentioned, and VICCARS did not reply [Chancery Court Bill Books, Findmypast.co.uk].
James was named in a Deed of Assignment dated 21 July 1731 [Memorial 46483, Book 65, Page 476], which recited several earlier deeds, including a Deed of Lease dated 31 October 1700, by which Joseph ROGERS of the City of Dublin had demised unto Christopher SMITH, Gent, "... all that piece of ground in Hawkin's Key, Dublin, between Mr VICKERS' house on the east, and Mrs BRETHRIDGE's ground on the west..."
It is unclear how long James had been residing here prior to 1700.
Hawkins Quay (or Key) does not show up on old or contemporary maps of Dublin.
However, several other establishments in or near Hawkins Quay, in the Parish of St Andrews, and mentioned in early Dublin Property Deeds, including a House of ye Sign of ye Swan, and A House of ye Sign of ye King of Denmark's Head; also a piece of ground between Hawkins Key and Fleet Street; and yet another at the corner of the east end of Hawkins Key and Hawkins Street.
[The 1708 PRATT Map of Dublin. Image courtesy of the www.irishtimes.com web-site.]
PRATT's 1708 Map of Dublin does show that what was (or would become) Hawkins Street was then the eastern limit of built-up Dublin immediately south of the Liffy. Indeed, this map shows the Liffy dividing, delta-like, into two streams about 150 yards to the east, the southern branch under where present day Poolbeg Street stands, inevitably on ground reclaimed between 1708 and 1756.
From this map, it would appear likely that the VICKERS residence was probably on the western side of what would become Hawkins Street.
In John ROCQUE's 1756 Map of Dublin, there is a part of the south bank of the River Liffey between Aston's Quay to the west and George's Key to the east, which was developed, but not as a publicly accessible riverside quay.
Captain James VICKERS was named in a Deed of Mortgage dated 25 June 1709 [Memorial 775, Volume 3, Page 148], which cited an earlier Indenture of Lease dated 23 February 1705, by which Thomas and Samuel HAWKINS had demised unto Joshua CROWTHER, of the City of Dublin, Brewer (Grantee of the 1709 Mortgage), "... all that House and Tenement then lately in possession of Captain James VICKERS, deceased, situate on Hawkins Quay, Dublin, with the Backside, Garden, Warehouse, Stables and all other appurtenances thereto belonging, in as large and ample manner as the said James VICKERS held and enjoyed the same, for the term of 61 years from the 25th March next ensuing, at £40 per annum..."
I presume that this was probably the same residence as indicated above in 1700.
James VICKERS was buried at Saint Andrew's, Dublin, on 8 May 1705.
He died intestate, and his property was the subject of two different Administration Grants.
The first, dated 16 May 1705, named Clement MILWARD (evidently as Trustee for James's surviving under-age children), and four of his adult sons (James, George, Edward and William - as "the children"):
The second, dated 23 January 1710, which named those four sons (James now a Merchant in Dublin), another son (John, interposed between James and George, and who may have been on service abroad in 1705), four more sons (including Michael, Thomas, Samuel, Allen) and two daughters (Jane and Letitia) as the children:
This second Administration clearly took place as a result of the death, in late 1709, of Clement MILWARD (the 1705 Trustee), and was probably necessitated by the continued servicing of the Mail Contract by surviving members of Captain James's family.
Clement MILWARD was a Dublin Merchant, and a Master of the Holy Trinity Guild of Merchants in Dublin.
A burial took place at St Andrew's parish church on 27 March 1705 for a Mary VICKERS. The abstracts of this register in the Dixon Papers [MS 8522 (2), Genealogical Office, Dublin] record this Mary VICKERS as the wife of John VICKERS.
However, it was also recorded in these papers that Sir Arthur VICARS had identified her instead as the wife of James VICKERS. If VICARS was right, then this could well have been Mary, wife of our Captain James VICKERS, and dying just a few months before him.
But if she was our Mary, it is unclear as to whether she was born Mary ANDREWS, or instead Mary SWAN?
James was named in a Deed of Assignment dated 21 July 1731 [Memorial 46483, Book 65, Page 476], which recited several earlier deeds, including a Deed of Lease dated 31 October 1700, by which Joseph ROGERS of the City of Dublin had demised unto Christopher SMITH, Gent, "... all that piece of ground in Hawkin's Key, Dublin, between Mr VICKERS' house on the east, and Mrs BRETHRIDGE's ground on the west..."
It is unclear how long James had been residing here prior to 1700.
Hawkins Quay (or Key) does not show up on old or contemporary maps of Dublin.
However, several other establishments in or near Hawkins Quay, in the Parish of St Andrews, and mentioned in early Dublin Property Deeds, including a House of ye Sign of ye Swan, and A House of ye Sign of ye King of Denmark's Head; also a piece of ground between Hawkins Key and Fleet Street; and yet another at the corner of the east end of Hawkins Key and Hawkins Street.
[The 1708 PRATT Map of Dublin. Image courtesy of the www.irishtimes.com web-site.]
PRATT's 1708 Map of Dublin does show that what was (or would become) Hawkins Street was then the eastern limit of built-up Dublin immediately south of the Liffy. Indeed, this map shows the Liffy dividing, delta-like, into two streams about 150 yards to the east, the southern branch under where present day Poolbeg Street stands, inevitably on ground reclaimed between 1708 and 1756.
From this map, it would appear likely that the VICKERS residence was probably on the western side of what would become Hawkins Street.
[Part of ROCQUE's 1756 Map of Dublin. Image courtesy of the iiif.lib.harvard.edu web-site.]
In John ROCQUE's 1756 Map of Dublin, there is a part of the south bank of the River Liffey between Aston's Quay to the west and George's Key to the east, which was developed, but not as a publicly accessible riverside quay.
Captain James VICKERS was named in a Deed of Mortgage dated 25 June 1709 [Memorial 775, Volume 3, Page 148], which cited an earlier Indenture of Lease dated 23 February 1705, by which Thomas and Samuel HAWKINS had demised unto Joshua CROWTHER, of the City of Dublin, Brewer (Grantee of the 1709 Mortgage), "... all that House and Tenement then lately in possession of Captain James VICKERS, deceased, situate on Hawkins Quay, Dublin, with the Backside, Garden, Warehouse, Stables and all other appurtenances thereto belonging, in as large and ample manner as the said James VICKERS held and enjoyed the same, for the term of 61 years from the 25th March next ensuing, at £40 per annum..."
I presume that this was probably the same residence as indicated above in 1700.
James VICKERS was buried at Saint Andrew's, Dublin, on 8 May 1705.
He died intestate, and his property was the subject of two different Administration Grants.
The first, dated 16 May 1705, named Clement MILWARD (evidently as Trustee for James's surviving under-age children), and four of his adult sons (James, George, Edward and William - as "the children"):
[Sir William BETHAM's Abstract. Image copyright of the National Archives of Ireland, courtesy of Findmypast.co.uk.]
The second, dated 23 January 1710, which named those four sons (James now a Merchant in Dublin), another son (John, interposed between James and George, and who may have been on service abroad in 1705), four more sons (including Michael, Thomas, Samuel, Allen) and two daughters (Jane and Letitia) as the children:
[BETHAM's Abstract. Image copyright of the National Archives of Ireland, courtesy of Findmypast.co.uk.]
This second Administration clearly took place as a result of the death, in late 1709, of Clement MILWARD (the 1705 Trustee), and was probably necessitated by the continued servicing of the Mail Contract by surviving members of Captain James's family.
Clement MILWARD was a Dublin Merchant, and a Master of the Holy Trinity Guild of Merchants in Dublin.
A burial took place at St Andrew's parish church on 27 March 1705 for a Mary VICKERS. The abstracts of this register in the Dixon Papers [MS 8522 (2), Genealogical Office, Dublin] record this Mary VICKERS as the wife of John VICKERS.
However, it was also recorded in these papers that Sir Arthur VICARS had identified her instead as the wife of James VICKERS. If VICARS was right, then this could well have been Mary, wife of our Captain James VICKERS, and dying just a few months before him.
But if she was our Mary, it is unclear as to whether she was born Mary ANDREWS, or instead Mary SWAN?
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A cover note to the DIXON Papers MS resource (it was actually mostly typescript) dated 8 May 1911 was made by my forebear, William Jackson PIGOTT. I am of the opinion that the information was probably collected by him from his personal research efforts among manuscript sources in Dublin, many of which did not survive the Four Courts fires of 1922 (WJP died in 1921, without knowing that a lot of his research would thereby have achieved de-facto "primary source" status).
The marriage register of St Andrew's parish, Dublin, was published in 1913 by D.A. CHART, together with the marriage registers for St Anne's, St Audoen's and St Bride's parishes. These marriages are viewable on the www.irelandgenealogy.ie web-site.
These are the two principal sources I have used for constructing the following family pedigree. I cannot now verify any of it from any other original source.
James VICKERS and his wife Mary (possibly SWAN? - see above) appear to have had issue:
1. Mary VICKERS was married at St Andrew's, Dublin, 12 December 1699, to Josias THOMPSON (she may have been born in Westminster in 1675 - see above). Presumed to be a daughter. No further particulars yet discovered.
2. Margaret (or Margery) VICKERS, baptized at St Andrew's, Dublin, 4 May 1677 [DIXON]; a Marjory HENRICK (sic) was buried at St Luke's, Dublin, 14 December 1746 (however, her entry in the published Dublin Wills Index, 1746, a Widow, recorded her as "alias CRIPPS" - therefore probably another); as Margaret, she was married at St Andrew's, Dublin, 23 October 1701, to Robert HENDRICK [DIXON, and Marriage Register]; her marriage before 1705 may account for her not being mentioned in the Administrations; Robert may have been admitted to Trinity College, Dublin, 17 January 1695-96, as a Pensioner (Mr YOUNG, Dublin), aged 16, born Dublin, son of Thomas HENDRICK, "Pistor"; they had issue:
a. Jon HENDRICK, baptized at St Nicholas's Without, 10 October 1703 (mother Margery); probably buried at St Nicholas's Without, May 1705, from New Row.
b. Chas HENDRICK, born at Francis Street, and baptized at St Nicholas's Without, October 1704.
c. Robert HENDRICK, born at Francis Street, and baptized at St Nicholas's Without, 5 May 1708.
The appearance here of the name Margery does incline me to the view that this family probably was connected to the VICKERS of Fulham, and perhaps directly.
3. Alice VICKERS, baptized at St Andrew's, Dublin, 1 June 1678 [DIXON]; she was buried there, 26 August 1679, infant [DIXON].
4. James VICKERS, baptized at St Andrew's, Dublin, 30 October 1679 [DIXON]; evidently admitted a Freeman of Dublin, about 1698-99, of the Merchant's Guild; he was named in the 1705 Administration, and in the 1710 Administration as "... of Dublin, Merchant, the son" [BETHAM's Abstract]; a Merchant and Freeman of Dublin in July 1729, when he petitioned the Lord Mayor for financial relief, 18 July [Dublin Assembly Roll, XX, m.58b, 1729]:
"James VICKERS, merchant, setting forth that he is a freeman of this honourable city near thirty years, and by the assistance of some friends hath got a small employment in Great Britain, where he and his family design in a short time to go; but, being a considerable time out of business, is reduced in his circumstances, and therefor prayed to have some relief in order to enable him and his family to provide necessaries for setting him up in his new employment; it was ordered that the treasurer, on the Lord Mayor's warrant, do pay the petitioner 15 sterling, the same to be allowed on his accounts."
[Calendar of Ancient Records of Dublin, by Sir John GILBERT, Dublin, 1898, Volume VII, page 462].
He may have gone to Llanfawr, near Holyhead, where a James VICKERS died on 7 April 1735.
James VICKERS Senior appears to have been married secondly, by Banns, at St Bride's, Dublin, 30 December 1680, to Mary ANDREWS (although no burial appears to have been recorded for the earlier Mary - so perhaps this James was another?).
James had further issue (but whether by Mary SWAN, or by Mary ANDREWS, or perhaps even by another, is not yet entirely clear, and may never become so):
5. Elizabeth VICKERS, baptized at St Andrew's, Dublin, 11 February 1680-81 [DIXON] (the proximity of this date to the Mary ANDREWS marriage may present an evidentiary difficulty); she died in 1756 [DIXON, and see pedigree, www.otway.com web-site]; she was married at St Andrew's, Dublin, 1 August 1703, to James OTWAY, of Kilnaccor, County Tipperary (son of John OTWAY, of Clonohan Castle, County Tipperary, and Phoebe LOFTUS of Fethard, County Wexford) [DIXON, and Marriage Register]; her marriage before 1705 may account for her not being mentioned in the Administrations; BURKE [L.G. of G.B. & I.] recorded his death in 1733; he may have died at Knockalton, County Tipperary, 1735 [Will Index], wife Elizabeth; they had issue [from the otway.com web-site]:
a. James OTWAY, born in 1704; Major in the Army, and was present at Dettingen and Fontenoy; he died at Rapla, County Tipperary, in February 1763; he was married to Jane WOODWARD (BURKE records her as Sarah, daughter of William WOODWARD of Cloughprior, County Tipperary); they had issue:
i. James OTWAY, born in 1751; he was named in his uncle Loftus OTWAY's will, 1760; he built Prior Park House on his mother's land at Clogh Prior, County Tipperary, and lived in it from 1786; he died in 1839, unmarried [BURKE].
ii. William OTWAY; died young [BURKE].
iii. [BURKE records a daughter Phoebe (Mrs FREEMAN) - ? perhaps in error for her aunt].
b. John OTWAY, born in 1705; he died near Nenagh, County Tipperary, in 1740, "... shot by a robber" [BURKE].
c. Loftus OTWAY, born in 1706; of Lissenhall, County Tipperary; he died on 14 February 1777; his will, dated 14 February 1760, was proved P.C.I., 15 October 1777, naming his sister Phoebe FREEMAN, of Nenagh, widow, her daughters Mary and Elizabeth and only son Lieutenant James FREEMAN, his nephews John LOFTUS and Lieutenant George CUPPAIDGE, his niece Jane CUPPAUIDGE, his brothers Edward and Caesar OTWAY, his nephew Loftus the son of Caesar OTWAY, and his late brother Major James OTWAY and his son James [BETHAM's Abstract]; Loftus was married to Ann LLOYD, of Lloydsborough, County Tipperary; without issue [BURKE].
d. Mary OTWAY, born in 1707; she was married to John CUPPAIDGE; they had issue:
i. George CUPPAIDGE; named as Lieutenant in his uncle Loftus OTWAY's will, 1760.
ii. Mary CUPPAIDGE; named in her uncle Loftus OTWAY's will, 1760.
e. Caesar OTWAY, born at Kilnacarr, County Tipperary, 1709; Army Officer; Merchant in Cork; he died at Nenagh, 15 September 1782; he was married firstly, to Sarah CLARKE; they had issue:
i. William OTWAY.
ii. Loftus OTWAY, born 11 April 1755; he was named in his uncle Loftus OTWAY's will, 1760; he died at Nenagh, 18 February 1789; he was married in 1776 to Sarah WOODWARD, daughter of William WOODWARD of Cloughprior [BURKE]; with issue.
iii. James OTWAY.
iv. Sarah OTWAY.
v. Phoebe OTWAY.
vi. [BURKE records that there were twelve children, all of whom died young except Loftus]
Caesar was married secondly, in 1762, to Grace SHORT, daughter of William SHORT of Cashelrone, King's County [BURKE].
f. Phoebe OTWAY, born in 1712; she was a widow when named in her brother Loftus OTWAY's will, dated 1760; she died on 1 April 1786; she was married to Daniel FREEMAN; he died before February 1760; they had issue:
i. James FREEMAN, born in 1743; Army Officer; named as Lieutenant in his uncle Loftus OTWAY's will, 1760; he died in 1809.
ii. Mary FREEMAN; named in her uncle Loftus OTWAY's will, 1760; she died in 1802.
iii. Elizabeth FREEMAN; named in her uncle Loftus OTWAY's will, 1760; she died at Prior Park, 1785.
g. Thomas OTWAY, born on 1 April 1715; an Army Officer; he died during the Battle of Fontenoy, 1745.
h. George OTWAY, born in 1716; in the Army; he also died during the Battle of Fontenoy, 1745.
j. Edward OTWAY, born in 1718; he was married to Sarah McCLURE; they had issue:
i. Robert OTWAY; 44th Regiment; he died at Cork, 11 March 1836; he was married at Grenada, West Indies, in 1786, to Harriett BRIDGEWATER.
ii. Caesar OTWAY.
iii. George OTWAY.
iv. Thomas OTWAY (?)
v. Elizabeth OTWAY.
vi. Phoebe OTWAY.
k. Henry OTWAY, born in 1720; an Army Officer.
l. Richard OTWAY, born in 1722; in the Army.
m. Elizabeth OTWAY; she died at Prior Park, County Tipperary, in 1785.
n. William OTWAY.
6. John VICKERS, baptized at St Andrew's, Dublin, 4 July 1682 [DIXON]; he was not named in BETHAM's Abstract of the 1705 Administration (there is no reason I have yet discovered for this omission, other than he may have been on Army service abroad - but in and of itself, this omission may present another evidentiary difficulty); he was named in the 1710 Administration, his name inserted between James and William, which point of insertion is supported by the baptismal evidence. See [E] below.
7. William VICKERS, baptized at St Andrew's, Dublin, 23 July 1683 [DIXON]; he was named in both Administrations [BETHAM]; he probably went to Holyhead, Anglesey; if so, he died in Anglesey, 17 May 1761, and was buried at Llanfaethlu, 19 May; this William VICKERS married Susan OWEN, who died at Llanfaethlu, 26 April 1710; and by him had issue (recorded in the HAYNES Family Tree on Ancestry.com):
a. M. (perhaps Michael?) VICKERS, born 1700; he was married with issue:
i. Jane VICKERS, born at Llanfawr, Anglesey, 1723; she died in 1805; she was married to Michael JACOB, Surgeon; he died in 1798; they had issue, including sons William JACOB (1751-1828) of Dublin, and John JACOB (1754-1827), Surgeon to the Queen's County Infirmary.
ii. Martha VICKERS, born Holyhead, 1730, a half sister of Jane; named in her cousin William VICKERS will, 1818.
b. William VICKERS, born in July 1706; of Holyhead, 22 September 1764, when elected to the Society of the Garrison of Fort Williamsburg; Post master in Holyhead, September 1779, when his letter arrived in Dublin "... on the last Packet" mentioning that he "... had received a letter from his son, who is a Lieutenant on board his Majesty's frigate Stag, of 32 guns, Captain COOPER" [Saunder's News-Letter, 23 September], giving an account of his son Lewis's encounter with a French Privateer in the Irish Sea, and his being thereby severely wounded (see below); William was Sheriff of Anglesey, 1782 (unless instead the son); he died at Llanfawr, 7 February 1792; he was married to Mary JONES (born 1712, daughter of Lewis JONES of Holyhead); she died at Llanfawr, 3 January 1771, and was buried at Llanfaethlu, 9 January; they had issue:
i. Judith VICKERS, born at Llanfawr, 30 July 1730; she was named in the will of Phebe DEW, of Dean Street, parish of St Anne, County Middlesex, Spinster, dated 23 September 1773, with the bequest of her "... white Tabby sack and petticoat"; she died at Llanfawr, 7 October 1787, and was buried at Holyhead [M.I.].
ii. Jane VICKERS, born at Llanfawr, 26 March 1734; she died there, 12 April 1814, and was buried at Holyhead [M.I.].
iii. Susannah VICKERS, born at Llanfawr, 8 April 1735; she died there, 8 September 1804, and was buried at Holyhead [M.I.].
iv. Elizabeth VICKERS, born at Llanfawr, and baptised at Caergybi (Holyhead), 25 July 1737.
v. William VICKERS, born at Llanfawr, and baptised at Caergybi, 11 September 1738; he died there on 26 December 1738, an infant.
vi. James VICKERS, born at Llanfawr, and baptised at Caerbygi, 15 November 1739; died 16 April 1814.
vii. Eleanor VICKERS, born at Llanfawr, March 1740-41, and baptized at Caergybi, 12 March 1740-41; she died there, 6 November 1831.
viii. William VICKERS, born at Llanfawr, 10 May 1742; he may have established a coaching inn in Waterside, Holyhead, in about 1770, known as the Hibernian Inn, or Moran's Hotel; perhaps the High Sheriff of Anglesey, 1782 (unless instead the father); he died at Llanfawr, 23 February 1823, aged 82 [M.I.]; his will, dated 1 April 1818, was proved P.C.C., 19 November 1823, naming his wife Eleanor, his "... cousin Mary the daughter of my late uncle Richard JONES by Joane his wife," his nephew Robert Lewis VICKERS, "... natural son of my late brother Lewis VICKERS," his cousin Mary the wife of Owen KNIGHTS (?), his cousin Martha VICKERS and her sister (unidentified), and Vickers Hamilton JACOB, the son of William JACOB, late of the General Post Office, Dublin; he was married firstly to Jane ACKERLEY; she died on 12 April 1814; her will dated 1814, of Llanfur, Anglesey, North Wales [Index to Act of Grant Books, Diocese of Dublin]; he was married secondly to Eleanor ATCHERLEY (born 1769); she died 5 February 1853, aged 84 [M.I.]; her will, dated 22 June 1852, was proved P.C.C. 30 June 1853, mentioning her nieces Isabella and Elizabeth A. HOLT, and nephew William James HOLT, children of her late sister Isabella HOLT.
ix. Lewis VICKERS, born at Llanfawr, and baptized at Caergybi, 29 January 1744-45; Lieutenant, Royal Navy; serving under Captain COOPER, of H.M.'s ship Stag, of 22 guns, in August 1781, of Dublin, who got news of a French Privateer having captured an English prize off Waterford, and despatched the ship Hope, Cutter, of 12 guns and 55 men under command of his second Lieutenant, Mr Lewis VICKERS, her own commander (Lieutenant ROCHFORD being in Dublin on duty) - the Hope encountered another Privateer, the Chardon, of 20 guns and 150 men, who took the Hope after a severe engagement of 1 hour and 10 minutes, during which VICKERS received a deep musket shot wound in his thigh - COOPER went in pursuit of the Chardon, but instead fell in with the Viper, Cutter, on which he found the wounded Lieutenant VICKERS, and transported him to Plymouth - news of this encounter was received in Dublin in September 1781, and published in the Dublin Evening Post (Saturday 8 September) - and a further letter was published in the Saunders News-Letter of 23 September, received from Hollyhead by the last Packet, which recorded that Mr VICKERS, post-master ay Hollyhead, had received a letter from his son, Lieutenant VICKERS, of his Majesty's frigate Stag, of 32 guns Captain CoOOPEr, giving an account of that encounter; he died before 1818, and had an illegitimate son, Robert Lewis VICKERS, who was buried at Holyhead, 6 December 1826, aged 50, and who was named in his uncle William VICKERS will, 1818.
c. James VICKERS; died in 1711. There was a James VICKERS who died at Llanfawr, 7 April 1735 - perhaps instead the uncle?
8. Edward VICKERS; he was named in both Administrations [BETHAM].
9. George VICKERS; he was named in both Administrations [BETHAM]; a Lieutenant in OTWAY's Regiment; his Administration was granted on 31 December 1724 to his brother James VICKERS of Dublin, Merchant [DIXON].
10. Michael VICKERS; he was named in the 1710 Administration [BETHAM, and DIXON].
A Michael VICKERS was baptized at St Bridget's, Chester, 23 October 1690, son of James VICKERS - and a James VICKERS was one of the Deputy Commissaries in Chester in 1690-92.
11. Thomas VICKERS, probably baptized at St Andrew's, Dublin, 8 December 1689; he was probably buried there on 15 February 1689-90 [DIXON].
12 Thomas VICKERS; he was named in the 1710 Administration, a minor [DIXON].
A Thomas VICKERS was baptized at St Bridget's, Chester, 29 February 1691, son of James VICKERS (possibly the Deputy Commissary for the Army in Chester)
13. Samuel VICKERS; he was named in the 1710 Administration, a minor [DIXON].
14. Jane VICKERS; she was named in the 1710 Administration, a minor [DIXON], as the elder daughter.
15. Letitia VICKERS, probably baptized at St Andrew's, Dublin, 25 July 1694 [DIXON]; she was named in the 1710 Administration, as the younger daughter.
16. Allyn VICKERS, baptized at St Andrew's, Dublin, 22 November 1697 [DIXON]; he was named in the 1710 Administration.
There were another baptism and two burials at St Andrew's, Dublin, for children of James VICKERS, but whose names do not appear in either of the 1705 or 1710 Administrations; it is not yet established that they were of the above family, but it seems likely - unless there were two different families here:
i. Samuel VICKERS; buried there, 16 November 1684 [DIXON].
ii. Bartholomew VICKERS, baptized there, 19 December 1695 [DIXON]; buried there, 29 December 1695, infant [DIXON].
I am tempted to make the observation that a Church of Ireland Rector or Vicar would probably have been "obliged" to distinguish between two families in his parish if they had the same names - either by occupation, or by street address, or as the elder and the younger. As the original registers are now lost, it will not be possible to verify whether this was or wasn't done in the case of James VICKERS and his wife Mary in the Dublin parish St Andrew. But it would surprise me if that sort of detail had been "overlooked" or "left out" by those following (likely to have been "eagle-eyed" family historians) who made transcripts before the originals were destroyed.
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"ANOTHER" VICKERS FAMILY IN ST ANDREW'S.There were other VICKERS vital events recorded in the parish Register of St Andrew's, Dublin [Dixon Papers]:
a. Margery VICKERS, buried there, 3 November 1727; possibly the widow of John VICKERS of Fulham (the OSBORNE spouse - see above), but if so, at a very advanced age; perhaps more likely to have been the wife of Thomas VICKERS (next).
b. Thomas VICKERS, probably baptised at St Peter's, Dublin, 7 May 1675, son of John VICKERS of Kevin Street and his wife Elizabeth; he married Margery (-?-) and had issue:
i. James VICKERS, baptised there 10 December 1714.
ii. Mary VICKERS, baptised there 30 March 1724.
c. Michael VICKERS, probably baptised at St Peter's, April 1681, also a son of John and Elizabeth, a Barber; buried there, 21 April 1731; he appears to have had issue by his wife Phyllis, the following children:
iii. Elizabeth VICKERS, baptised there 28 May 1706; buried there 11 June 1728.
iv. Hester VICKERS, baptised there 7 April 1707.
v. John VICKERS, baptised there, 21 October 1708.
vi Robert VICKERS, baptised there 11 March 1710-11.
vii. Phillis VICKERS, baptised there 27 March 1712.
viii. Michael VICKERS, baptised there, 7 May 1713; buried there, 25 January 1717, aged 3.
ix. George VICKERS; buried there 25 September 1717?
x. James VICKERS; buried there 12 July 1716.
xi. James VICKERS; buried there 9 August 1717?
xii. Mary VICKERS, baptised there 12 September 1718; buried there 14 May 1719.
xiii. Anne VICKERS, baptised there 5 August 1720; buried there 19 February 1722.
The Fulham VICKERS pedigree (see above) does not identify a John VICKERS among the grand-children named by Mary VICKERS in her 1671-73 will - so probably therefore not a first cousin of our James (although our James may not have been a Fulham VICKERS).
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JOHN VICKERS AND MARY EMERSON.
[E] John VICKERS, baptised at Saint Andrew's, Dublin, on 4 July 1682, second son of James VICKERS by his wife Mary (probably Mary ANDREWES, who married James VICKERS at Saint Bride's, Dublin, on 30 December 1680 - unless it was an earlier wife named Mary SWAN?).
John may have served abroad in the Army (which may account for the omission of his name for his father's 1705 Administration); there was a John VICKERS, a Lieutenant in Captain Thomas ST CLAIR's Company in Major-General HAMILTON's Regiment of Foot, which served in Cadiz in 1702, and proceeded from there, and briefly, to the West Indies, returning to Ireland in November 1703 (but perhaps our John, at only 20, was too young to have been a Lieutenant in 1702?); there was a John VICKERS who served as Captain-Lieutenant in the 20th (Devonshire)Regiment of Foot in 1715, perhaps the same?
John was later a Brewer in Aledrape, or an Aledraper, Dublin.
John VICKERS died in Dublin in 1739; he died intestate, with a grant of Administration, dated 20 June 1739, to his widow Mary.
In 1890, one of his descendants, William Jackson PIGOTT of Dundrum, County Down, posted the following item in "Notes and Queries" [7th Series, Volume IX, 21 June 1890, page 499]:
"According to a note supplied by Mr Arthur VICARS, F.S.A., to the Irish Builder of April 1, 1888, and in connexion with the parish registries of St Audoen's, Dublin, John VICKERS, Alderman of Dublin, who died intestate 1739, left by Mary his wife, (1) George, (2) Joseph, and (3) Ann VICKERS."
John was married by Banns at Saint Catherine's (Church of Ireland), 30 March 1719, to Mary EMERSON (she was probably baptised at Saints Peter and Kevin, Dublin, 14 April 1686, daughter of John and Elizabeth EMERSON of Whitefriars Lane); Mary was buried at Crumlin Church, Dublin, 4 September 1753 [DIXON] (although a transcript in the Society of Genealogists in London records the year as 1759).
John may have served abroad in the Army (which may account for the omission of his name for his father's 1705 Administration); there was a John VICKERS, a Lieutenant in Captain Thomas ST CLAIR's Company in Major-General HAMILTON's Regiment of Foot, which served in Cadiz in 1702, and proceeded from there, and briefly, to the West Indies, returning to Ireland in November 1703 (but perhaps our John, at only 20, was too young to have been a Lieutenant in 1702?); there was a John VICKERS who served as Captain-Lieutenant in the 20th (Devonshire)Regiment of Foot in 1715, perhaps the same?
John was later a Brewer in Aledrape, or an Aledraper, Dublin.
John VICKERS died in Dublin in 1739; he died intestate, with a grant of Administration, dated 20 June 1739, to his widow Mary.
In 1890, one of his descendants, William Jackson PIGOTT of Dundrum, County Down, posted the following item in "Notes and Queries" [7th Series, Volume IX, 21 June 1890, page 499]:
"According to a note supplied by Mr Arthur VICARS, F.S.A., to the Irish Builder of April 1, 1888, and in connexion with the parish registries of St Audoen's, Dublin, John VICKERS, Alderman of Dublin, who died intestate 1739, left by Mary his wife, (1) George, (2) Joseph, and (3) Ann VICKERS."
John was married by Banns at Saint Catherine's (Church of Ireland), 30 March 1719, to Mary EMERSON (she was probably baptised at Saints Peter and Kevin, Dublin, 14 April 1686, daughter of John and Elizabeth EMERSON of Whitefriars Lane); Mary was buried at Crumlin Church, Dublin, 4 September 1753 [DIXON] (although a transcript in the Society of Genealogists in London records the year as 1759).
John and Mary VICKERS had issue:
1. Elizabeth VICKERS, baptized at St Catherine's, Dublin, 20 July 1720; named in her father's Administration, 1739.
2. Thomas VICKERS, baptized at St Catherine's, Dublin, 14 July 1723.
3. George VICKERS; named in her father's Administration, 1739; probably the mariner on H.M.'s Ship Ipswich, his will proved P.C.C, 18 August 1757, bequeathing his property to his brother Joseph VICKERS of Dublin, Velvet Weaver.
4. Mary VICKERS, baptized at St Catherine's, Dublin, 8 May 1726.
5. Ann VICKERS; named in her father's Administration, 1739.
6. Joseph VICKERS, baptized at St Catherine's, Dublin, 17 June 1734. See [F] below:
1. Elizabeth VICKERS, baptized at St Catherine's, Dublin, 20 July 1720; named in her father's Administration, 1739.
2. Thomas VICKERS, baptized at St Catherine's, Dublin, 14 July 1723.
3. George VICKERS; named in her father's Administration, 1739; probably the mariner on H.M.'s Ship Ipswich, his will proved P.C.C, 18 August 1757, bequeathing his property to his brother Joseph VICKERS of Dublin, Velvet Weaver.
4. Mary VICKERS, baptized at St Catherine's, Dublin, 8 May 1726.
5. Ann VICKERS; named in her father's Administration, 1739.
6. Joseph VICKERS, baptized at St Catherine's, Dublin, 17 June 1734. See [F] below:
[John MALTON's view of Saint Catherine's Church of Ireland, Thomas Street, Dublin, about 1790's.]
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JOSEPH VICKERS OF DUBLIN, SILK WEAVER.
[F] Joseph VICKERS, born in 1734; named in his father's administration, 1739; Silk Weaver, New Row, Saint Catherine's Parish, Dublin, October 1766; Silk Weaver, of Golden Lane, of the Coombe (1780), and of Chambre Street (1792); his death details have not yet been found.
Joseph was married to Elizabeth (maiden surname unknown, possibly YATES or YEATES?); she probably died on 14 May 1797, "...relict of the late Mr VICKERS of Dublin."
JOSEPH VICKERS OF DUBLIN, SILK WEAVER.
[F] Joseph VICKERS, born in 1734; named in his father's administration, 1739; Silk Weaver, New Row, Saint Catherine's Parish, Dublin, October 1766; Silk Weaver, of Golden Lane, of the Coombe (1780), and of Chambre Street (1792); his death details have not yet been found.
Joseph was married to Elizabeth (maiden surname unknown, possibly YATES or YEATES?); she probably died on 14 May 1797, "...relict of the late Mr VICKERS of Dublin."
Joseph and Elizabeth had issue:
1. Mary VICKERS, baptized at St Catherine's, Dublin, 4 August 1759; buried at Crumlin, County Dublin, 6 July 1767.
2. Esther VICKERS, baptized at St Catherine's, Dublin, 12 May 1761; buried at Crumlin, 21 June 1763.
3. John VICKERS, born at New Row, Parish of Saint Catherine's, 20 March 1763, and baptized at St Catherine's; he married Elizabeth STINSON. See [E] below.
4. George VICKERS, baptized at St Catherine's, Dublin, 5 October 1766, of New Row, Dublin.
5. Alice (or Alicia) VICKERS; buried at Crumlin, 5 March 1768, daughter of Joseph.
6. Mary VICKERS, born in Dublin, 7 July 1769; probably of the Coombe, June 1788, when she was admitted to Membership of the Dublin Methodist Society in the Class of Amelia SINGLETON; she was married in December 1793 to John PIGOTT Senior.
See further details of this family at this link:
http://pigott-gorrie.blogspot.com/2012/12/john-pigott-of-dublin-tax-collectors.html
7. Elizabeth VICKERS, born at St Bride's, Dublin, in 1772; she was married to Edward HALE, Vintner, of Island Bridge, Dublin; he was a Vintner, Dublin, 1824 [Pigot's Directory, City of Dublin]; Vintner, Island Bridge, 1835 [Dublin Almanac and General Register of Ireland]; he died at Island Bridge, 17 October 1842, aged 70 [Dublin Evening Packet, 20 October]; they had issue:
a. James HALE; died on 16 June 1844, unmarried.
b. Frances HALE, born at Hanover Street, Dublin, and baptized at St Nicholas Without, 13 October 1811; she died on 3 September 1843; she was married at St James's (R.C. Register, but by License of the Diocese of Dublin), 30 July 1839, to Isaac McGUINNESS (Register) or McGENNIS (M.L.B.); he died on 2 March 1842.
c. Susannah HALE; she was married at St James's church, Dublin, November 1844, to her cousin William Henry VICKERS.
8. Susannah VICKERS, baptized at St Luke's, Dublin, 1 August 1780.
1. Mary VICKERS, baptized at St Catherine's, Dublin, 4 August 1759; buried at Crumlin, County Dublin, 6 July 1767.
2. Esther VICKERS, baptized at St Catherine's, Dublin, 12 May 1761; buried at Crumlin, 21 June 1763.
3. John VICKERS, born at New Row, Parish of Saint Catherine's, 20 March 1763, and baptized at St Catherine's; he married Elizabeth STINSON. See [E] below.
4. George VICKERS, baptized at St Catherine's, Dublin, 5 October 1766, of New Row, Dublin.
5. Alice (or Alicia) VICKERS; buried at Crumlin, 5 March 1768, daughter of Joseph.
6. Mary VICKERS, born in Dublin, 7 July 1769; probably of the Coombe, June 1788, when she was admitted to Membership of the Dublin Methodist Society in the Class of Amelia SINGLETON; she was married in December 1793 to John PIGOTT Senior.
See further details of this family at this link:
http://pigott-gorrie.blogspot.com/2012/12/john-pigott-of-dublin-tax-collectors.html
7. Elizabeth VICKERS, born at St Bride's, Dublin, in 1772; she was married to Edward HALE, Vintner, of Island Bridge, Dublin; he was a Vintner, Dublin, 1824 [Pigot's Directory, City of Dublin]; Vintner, Island Bridge, 1835 [Dublin Almanac and General Register of Ireland]; he died at Island Bridge, 17 October 1842, aged 70 [Dublin Evening Packet, 20 October]; they had issue:
a. James HALE; died on 16 June 1844, unmarried.
b. Frances HALE, born at Hanover Street, Dublin, and baptized at St Nicholas Without, 13 October 1811; she died on 3 September 1843; she was married at St James's (R.C. Register, but by License of the Diocese of Dublin), 30 July 1839, to Isaac McGUINNESS (Register) or McGENNIS (M.L.B.); he died on 2 March 1842.
c. Susannah HALE; she was married at St James's church, Dublin, November 1844, to her cousin William Henry VICKERS.
8. Susannah VICKERS, baptized at St Luke's, Dublin, 1 August 1780.
[Ruins of Saint Luke's Church (built 1709, closed 1975) on Saint Luke's Avenue, near the Coombe, Dublin.]
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JOHN VICKERS AND ELIZABETH STINSON.
JOHN VICKERS AND ELIZABETH STINSON.
[E] John VICKERS, born in 1763; he was a Weaver, of Phordham's Alley, Dublin, in June 1784; at Elbow Lane, 1786; of 5 Elbow Lane, Dublin, January 1788, when he was admitted to the Methodist Society of Dublin, as a member of Samuel DAN's First Class; of the Coombe, Dublin, March 1789, when he was Listed in the Bands of the Methodist Society; Weaver, Phordham's Alley, Dublin, in February and May 1788; he was back at Elbow Lane, 1790-99; he was admitted Freeman of the Dublin Corporation, Weaver's Guild, at Easter 1790; a Warden of the Weaver's Guild, 1794; he subscribed to the publication of WHISTON's "Josephus," 1796, of Elbow Lane.
John died 22 April 1806, aged 43 (as recorded in William MAGUIRE's "Memoir" of 1823).
John was married at Saint Catherine's (Church of Ireland), Dublin, 22 August 1783, to Elizabeth STINSON (she was baptised at Saint Catherine's, 15 September 1765, daughter of Robert STINSON, Twister and Throwster, by his wife Elizabeth); Elizabeth was at 2 Elbow Lane, June 1787, when admitted as member of the Second Class of the Methodist Society of Dublin (unless that was instead John's mother, perhaps already a widow?); Elizabeth died on 27 July 1799, aged 33; she was buried at Saint Luke's, Dublin, 29 July, as Mrs VICKERS, Elbow Lane, eight days after the burial of her child, the entry preceding hers in the register [Register page image on the www.irishgenealogy.ie website].
John and Elizabeth VICKERS had issue:
1. Susanna VICKERS, born at Phordham's Alley, 10 June 1784, and baptized at St Luke's, Dublin, 13 June [as daughter of John and Eliz'th VIKERS, of Phor's Alley, Weaver]; she died young.
2. Mary VICKERS, born at Elbow Lane, Dublin, 25 January 1786, and baptized at St Catherine's, 29 January; she was of the parish of St Nicholas Without when she was married, by Consistorial License dated 17 January, in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin and by the Rev James NEVINS (Curate of Saint Andrew's), on 23 January 1804, to William MAGUIRE, of Back Close (St Patrick's), Dublin, Gent [Cathedral Register, William MAGUIRE's Memoir, and BETHAM's Abstracts].
See their separate blog-post at this link:
http://pigott-gorrie.blogspot.com/2010;09/william-maguire-of-dublin.html
2. Mary VICKERS, born at Elbow Lane, Dublin, 25 January 1786, and baptized at St Catherine's, 29 January; she was of the parish of St Nicholas Without when she was married, by Consistorial License dated 17 January, in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin and by the Rev James NEVINS (Curate of Saint Andrew's), on 23 January 1804, to William MAGUIRE, of Back Close (St Patrick's), Dublin, Gent [Cathedral Register, William MAGUIRE's Memoir, and BETHAM's Abstracts].
http://pigott-gorrie.blogspot.com/2010;09/william-maguire-of-dublin.html
3. Esther or Hester VICKERS, born at Phordham's Alley, and baptized at St Luke's, 2 February 1788, father a Weaver; she died on 18 May 1810.
4. John VICKERS, born on 21 February 1790, and baptized at St Catherine's, 11 March; Treasury Department, Dublin; he died at Charlotte Mall, Dublin, 30 November 1824; he was married in Dublin, 20 November 1815, to Hannah LEESON; with issue:
a. George VICKERS, born in Dublin, 30 August 1816; Organist in Limerick, 1853; Professor of Music, Ventnor Villas, Hove, Sussex, 1871; went to Canada; died at his brother's residence in Toronto, Ontario, 11 October 1883, the childless widower of Miss FORT of Limerick.
b. John Joseph VICKERS, born in Dublin 5 May 1818. See [G] below.
c. William Henry VICKERS, born in Dublin, 30 January 1820 [DIXON]; he was the subject of proceedings as an Insolvent Debtor, January 1847, of Island Bridge, Tailor, previously of Dawson's Lane [Dublin Weekly Register, 9 January]; he was married at St James's, Dublin, 5 November 1844, to his cousin, Susannah HALE, "... daughter of the late Edward HALE, Esq, of Island Bridge" [Limerick Chronicle, 20 November] .
d. Elizabeth VICKERS, born in Dublin, 25 December 1821 [DIXON]; she was residing in Hove, Sussex, 1871 Census, with her widowered brother George; she was a Lodger at Castlewood Avenue, Rathmines and Rathgar East, 1901 Census, aged 77, Annuitant, Unmarried; she died in Dublin, 12 December 1908, and was buried in her MAGUIRE cousin's plot in Mount Jerome Cemetery.
e. Frederick Thomas VICKERS ; born in Dublin, 27 June 1825; he died in Dublin, 28 February 1827.
c. William Henry VICKERS, born in Dublin, 30 January 1820 [DIXON]; he was the subject of proceedings as an Insolvent Debtor, January 1847, of Island Bridge, Tailor, previously of Dawson's Lane [Dublin Weekly Register, 9 January]; he was married at St James's, Dublin, 5 November 1844, to his cousin, Susannah HALE, "... daughter of the late Edward HALE, Esq, of Island Bridge" [Limerick Chronicle, 20 November] .
d. Elizabeth VICKERS, born in Dublin, 25 December 1821 [DIXON]; she was residing in Hove, Sussex, 1871 Census, with her widowered brother George; she was a Lodger at Castlewood Avenue, Rathmines and Rathgar East, 1901 Census, aged 77, Annuitant, Unmarried; she died in Dublin, 12 December 1908, and was buried in her MAGUIRE cousin's plot in Mount Jerome Cemetery.
e. Frederick Thomas VICKERS ; born in Dublin, 27 June 1825; he died in Dublin, 28 February 1827.
5. Joseph VICKERS, born in Dublin, 13 November 1792, and baptized at St Luke's, 21 November; Constable, St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin; he was married in 1818 to Mary Ann SPRATT.
6. George VICKERS, born at Elbow Lane, Dublin, 7 February 1794, and baptized at St Catherine's, 9 February; he died on 27 July 1828, and was buried in St Patrick's Cathedral churchyard; he was married on 21 August 1817 to Margaret CONNELL; she died in 1847, and was buried with her husband.
7. Elizabeth VICKERS, born at Elbow Lane, 17 October 1795, and baptized at St Catherine's, 26 October; died an infant.
8. Elizabeth VICKERS, born at Elbow Lane, 3 October 1796, and baptized at St Luke's, 5 October; died young.
9. Robert VICKERS, born at Elbow Lane, 13 September 1798, and baptized at St Luke's, 16 October; died young.
10. A child; died at Elbow Lane, and buried at St Luke's, 21 July 1799; perhaps instead one of the foregoing Robert or Elizabeth.
10. A child; died at Elbow Lane, and buried at St Luke's, 21 July 1799; perhaps instead one of the foregoing Robert or Elizabeth.
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JOHN JOSEPH VICKERS IN ONTARIO.
[G] John Joseph VICKERS, born in Dublin 5 May 1818; from his entry in "A Cyclopaedia of Canadian Biography," edited by Geo. Maclean Rose Toronto, 1886, at pages 222-223, we find that:
"... his early education was acquired in Dublin, and when a young man, he entered the service of the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company, and remained in their service for several years.
"In 1849, he left Dublin, and arrived in New York, bearing introductory letters from Mr James McHENRY, of Liverpool. He entered the service of the Howard Steamship Company, and continued in the employ of this company for about two years. In the meantime, having heard of the splendid agricultural prospects of Canada, young VICKERS, who had lots of energy and ambition, determined to try his hand at farming, and putting his resolution into effect, he left New York and moved to the Bay of Quinté district, and settled upon a farm in Prince Edward County. Two years practice as an amateur farmer convinced Mr VICKERS that rolling logs and growing buckwheat was very different to what he had imagined it, he abandoned agriculture, and left for Toronto.
"In 1852, he engaged with the American Express Company, and continued in their service for two years; when, on the completion of the Northern Railroad, he embarked in the express business on his own account, and by strict attention and great exertions he has developed his present extensive connection.
"In 1858, in conjunction with others, Mr VICKERS visited the Lake Superior district in the first Steamer (The Rescue), to Thunder Bay. He then noticed that the Kaministiquia river would in the future be a great harbor, and acting on his own prophetic instincts, he purchased, after its survey by the government, land in that region, and owns nearly half of the navigable portion of the river frontage on the north side. The Canadian Pacific Railway now runs through the greater portion of his property.
"Since his settlement in Toronto, he has taken an active interest in all that concerns the city's welfare, and in 1864 was elected alderman to represent St George's Ward, and he remained in the council until 1870. During the time he was a member of the council, he proposed the resolution to construct the new water works, which was carried in October, 10th, 1870.
"He is captain in the Sedentary Militia, having held a commission for many years. Mr VICKERS' political opinions are strongly Conservative."
[A photo portrait, published in "The Canadian Album: Men of Canada,' Edited by Rev Wm COCHRANE, D.D, Brantford, Ontario, 1891, at page 237.]
A businessman and local Tory politician in Toronto, from 1852; he was founder and sole proprietor of Vickers Express Company, 1854-1888; he was admitted as an Affiliate, St Andrew's Lodge, Toronto, 13 December 1859; his business was at 55 Yonge Street, Toronto, 1868, house at 171 Richmond W.; he was at St Patrick's Ward, Toronto West, 1871 Census, aged 52, Express Proprietor, with his wife Catherine, eight children and five domestic servants; business at 55 Yonge, 1874, house 152 Adelaide W.; business 10 Wellington W., 1877, house 152 Adelaide W.; residing at St Andrew's Ward, Toronto City, 1891 Census, aged 72, Gentleman, with wife and five children; he died at Toronto, 11 March 1896.
John Joseph was married in Belleville, Ontario, in 1851, to Catherine Mary MOODIE (born at Southwold, Suffolk, England, 14 February 1832, eldest daughter of John Wedderburn Dunbar MOODIE by Susanna STRICKLAND); she was at Ward 3, Toronto City, 1901 Census, with three children; she died on 14 December 1904.
They had issue:
1. Georgina Eliza VICKERS, born at 140 Adelaide Street, Toronto, 28 May 1856; aged 14, at school, with her parents, 1871; she died at Toronto, 6 October 1893; married at St James's Cathedral, Toronto, 6 August 1881, Edward Philip LEACOCK, of St Boniface and The Hill, Birtle, Manitoba, J.P.; he was at St Boniface, Provencher, Manitoba, 1891 Census, aged 38, with wife and three children; they had issue:
a. Thomas Murdoch LEACOCK, born at Kildonan, Manitoba, 6 August 1882; aged 9, with his parents, 1891; he died in 1957.
b. Ela Moodie LEACOCK, born at Kildonan, Manitoba, 20 March 1884; aged 7, with her parents, 1891; she died at Los Angeles, 17 October 1959.
c. Agnes Mary Vickers LEACOCK, born at Birtle, Manitoba, 7 June 1886; aged 5, with her parents, 1891.
2. John Alexander Dunbar VICKERS, born at Toronto, 22 May 1858; Upper Canada College, 1866-73; aged 12, at school, with his parents, 1871; went to Illinois in 1892; at Maddison Ave, Chicago, 1900 Census, aged 40, Superintendent Express Company, with wife and two children; at Washington Avenue, Chicago, 1910 Census, aged 51, Manager Express Coy, with wife, three children and his mother-in-law (Ellen TENCH, aged 82, Widow); of 29 Munro Street, Chicago, 1917, Vice President and General Manager, Western Lines, American Express Company; he died at Chicago, 17 February 1918; his will, dated 7 November 1907, was proved at Chicago, 12 June 1918, naming his wife Ellen Florence as a joint executor and trustee, and his three children; he was married at Chippawa, Welland County, 27 March 1889, to Ellen Florence TENCH (daughter of William E. and Ellen TENCH); with issue:
a. John Harold VICKERS, born in Canada, September 1899; named in his father's will, 1907.
b. Margaret Dunbar VICKERS, born in Illinois, April 1899; unmarried when named in her father's will, 1907.
c. Murray Alexander VICKERS, born in Illinois, about 1901; named in his father's will, 1907; died at Montreal, 12 June 1985.
3. Katie Moodie VICKERS, born Toronto, 28 January 1860; as Catherine, aged 10, at school, with her parents, 1871; she died 1932; married at Toronto, 20 September 1882, to James Playford McMURRICH, aged 22, Professor, of Guelph, Wallington County, Ontario; with issue.
4. William Wallbridge VICKERS, born at Toronto, 6 August 1862; aged 8, at school, with his parents, 1871; Upper Canada College, 1872-81; B.A., University of Toronto, 1885; Ontario Bar, 1888; he witnessed his brother John's marriage in 1889; aged 28, Lawyer, with his parents, 1891; Barrister-at-Law; visited London in 1905, returning on the S.S. Cedric, from Liverpool, arriving at New York on 16 April, with his wife, and going to 77 York Street, Toronto; at 77 York Street, Toronto, 1917, Barrister and Solicitor; he died at Toronto, 28 June 1927, and buried at St James's Cemetery, Toronto; he was married at Toronto, 13 December 1897, to Mary HOWLAND; with issue:
a. (son).
5. Isabella Josephine VICKERS, born at Toronto, 7 August 1864; aged 6, at school, with her parents, 1871; she died at Denver, May 1943; married on 21 September 1887, Henry SEWALL, M.D. (1855-1936), Professor of Physiology, Universities of Michigan (1881-89) and Denver (from 1889), Denver Health Commissioner, and Secretary of the Colorado Board of Health; no issue.
6. Victor Gilmore Ridgeway VICKERS, born at 140 Adelaide Street, Toronto, 1 June 1866; aged 4, at school, with his parents, 1871; at Ahunstic, Laval, Quebec, 1911 Census, aged 45, with wife Marcella, daughter Catherine, living with his father-in-law William SMITH (aged 82, born Scotland), along with his wife's three sons by her former ROUTH husband; Victor died at Montreal, 1944; married in 1905, Marcella Hay ROUTH (formerly SMITH); issue included a daughter:
a. Catherine VICKERS, born in February 1907.
7. Ethel Rosina VICKERS, born at Toronto, 4 March 1868; as Esther, aged 2, with her parents, 1871; she witnessed her brother John's marriage, 1889; as Ethel, aged 23, with her parents, 1891; she died on 17 June 1962, and was buried at Cimitiére Mont-Royal, Outremont, Montreal; she was married on 11 November 1891, to Samuel William (or Wellington) EWING, of Montreal; with issue a daughter:
a. Katherine Hamilton EWING, born Montreal, 1 December 1893; also known as Doria MARCH, silent film actress; twice married with issue.
8. Henrietta Moodie VICKERS, born at Toronto, 2 March 1870; aged 1, with her parents, 1871; aged 21, with her parents, 1891; aged 31, with her widowed mother, 1901; she died in 1938; unmarried.
9. Arthur Algoma VICKERS, born at Toronto, 26 March 1872; Upper Canada College, 1881-88; University of Toronto, 1890-93; aged 19, Law Student, with his parents, 1891; aged 29, with his widowed mother, 1901; partner of WALSH and VICKERS, Real Estate business, Fort William, Ontario; he died at Fort William, 6 April 1914; he was married to Marcella Gertrude FINN.
10. Agnes Strickland VICKERS, born at Toronto, 6 November 1874; aged 16, with her parents, 1891; aged 26, with her widowed mother, 1901; she died in 1950; she was married at Toronto, 24 September 1902, to Philip Edward McKENZIE, of Port Portage, Ontario.
______________________________________________
ANOTHER VICKERS FAMILY IN DUBLIN.
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ANOTHER VICKERS FAMILY IN DUBLIN.
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PLEASE TAKE NOTE:
THIS SECTION IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF BEING COMPREHENSIVELY RE-DRAFTED AS A NEW POSTING.
WHEN COMPLETE, AND POSTED, THIS SECTION WILL BE DELETED.
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This section has now been removed to a new post, at the following link:
http://pigott-gorrie.blogspot.com/2022/07/jeremiah-vickers-of-dublin-and-dundalk.html
It contains details of Jeremiah VICKERS (1682-1757), of Dublin, Tanner, and his two marriages, to Joyce JACKSON, and to Ann EMERSON.
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AN EMERSON FAMILY OF DUBLIN.
John EMERSON; he was married at St Catherine's, Dublin, 24 June 1666, to Mary PRICE.
John EMERSON, baptized at St Catherine's, Dublin, 11 May 1708, son of Luke EMERSON and his wife Joan. Luke also had a daughter Rose baptized there on 1 July 1699.
Robert EMERSON; of Dublin, Chandler; he died in 1729; Administration granted 20 June 1729, to Anne EMERSON, the widow and relict [BETHAM]; she was of Dublin, Widow, when she was married secondly, by License dated 15 April 1732, to Jeremiah VICKERS, of St Catherine's, Dublin (his second wife - see above).
Maria EMERSON, of Dublin, Spinster, was granted Administration, on 20 January 1728, of her father John EMERSON, of COLES's Dragoons, and of her two uncles Thomas EMERSON, of SADLER's Regiment, and William EMERSON, of COLES's Regiment [BETHAM].
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A POSSIBLE YATES CONNECTION IN DUBLIN.
In 1921, William Jackson PIGOTT (a first cousin of my great-grandfather, the Rev Henry Robert PIGOTT), in a Post Scriptum to his introductory notes to the DIXON Papers [MS 8222 (2), Genealogical Office, Dublin], wrote:
"I used to hear my father speak of a 'Nosey' YATES, whom I fancy was a Cutler in South Georges Street, and wonder if they were related, through the Joseph VICKERS connection, i.e., could Joseph's wife Elizabeth have been a YATES?
"In the Dublin Directory for 1835 I find a Richard YATES, Cutler-in-general, Georges Street, Kingstown. Directory of 1821, Richard YEATES, Knife and Sword Cutler, 9 Parliament Street."
https://pigott-gorrie.blogspot.com/2020/02/yeates-yeats-and-yates-families-in.html
Likewise, no evidence has yet been found among these families of a likely connection to the VICKERS family in Dublin.
AN EMERSON FAMILY OF DUBLIN.
John EMERSON; he was married at St Catherine's, Dublin, 24 June 1666, to Mary PRICE.
John EMERSON, baptized at St Catherine's, Dublin, 11 May 1708, son of Luke EMERSON and his wife Joan. Luke also had a daughter Rose baptized there on 1 July 1699.
Robert EMERSON; of Dublin, Chandler; he died in 1729; Administration granted 20 June 1729, to Anne EMERSON, the widow and relict [BETHAM]; she was of Dublin, Widow, when she was married secondly, by License dated 15 April 1732, to Jeremiah VICKERS, of St Catherine's, Dublin (his second wife - see above).
Maria EMERSON, of Dublin, Spinster, was granted Administration, on 20 January 1728, of her father John EMERSON, of COLES's Dragoons, and of her two uncles Thomas EMERSON, of SADLER's Regiment, and William EMERSON, of COLES's Regiment [BETHAM].
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A POSSIBLE YATES CONNECTION IN DUBLIN.
In 1921, William Jackson PIGOTT (a first cousin of my great-grandfather, the Rev Henry Robert PIGOTT), in a Post Scriptum to his introductory notes to the DIXON Papers [MS 8222 (2), Genealogical Office, Dublin], wrote:
"I used to hear my father speak of a 'Nosey' YATES, whom I fancy was a Cutler in South Georges Street, and wonder if they were related, through the Joseph VICKERS connection, i.e., could Joseph's wife Elizabeth have been a YATES?
"In the Dublin Directory for 1835 I find a Richard YATES, Cutler-in-general, Georges Street, Kingstown. Directory of 1821, Richard YEATES, Knife and Sword Cutler, 9 Parliament Street."
Joseph VICKERS was born in 1734; Silk Weaver, of Golden Lane, of the Coombe (1780), and of Chambre Street (1792); his death details have not yet found; he was married, probably about 1757, to Elizabeth (maiden surname unknowunknownn, perhaps YATES or YEATES?); she probably died on 14 May 1797, "... relict of the late Mr VICKERS of Dublin"; their first child Mary was born in 1759.
However, no information appears to have survived as to the birth identity of Joseph VICKERS' wife Elizabeth.
Details of some of the YATES/YEATES/YEATS families in Ireland may be found at this link:However, no information appears to have survived as to the birth identity of Joseph VICKERS' wife Elizabeth.
https://pigott-gorrie.blogspot.com/2020/02/yeates-yeats-and-yates-families-in.html
Likewise, no evidence has yet been found among these families of a likely connection to the VICKERS family in Dublin.
