John Watson (d.c.1555), Citizen and Clothworker, gave property to The Clothworkers’ Company in Bow Lane (in the parish of St. Mary Aldermary), Basing Lane (in the parish of St. Mildred) and St Thomas the Apostle. Watson served as Quarter Warden of the Company from 1542 to 1543, and was Master in 1549.[1] His presence is recorded frequently in the Company's Court Orders on annual view days, on which he reported on the condition of Company properties within the City of London.[2] He lived in the parish of St. Mary Aldermary in the City, with his wife Katherine, and had no children. He was buried in the church there, according to his wishes.
Watson appears to have plied his trade as a clothworker, as his will contains bequests of numerous clothworking goods such as teasels and handles.[3] He was also an active Master of apprentices, with seven of his apprentices noted becoming Freemen between 1546 to 1556; Richard Dawson and Henry Shaforth in 1546; Ms. Tubbes in 1550; Richard Hall in 1551; William Cowper and Robert Sayer in 155;2 and John Browne in 1556.[4]
In his will, Watson gave both material goods and properties to a range of people and institutions. Much of his wealth appears to have been tied up with his properties, as personal bequests within his will consisted of small sums of money and clothing only. For example, he gave money towards the discharging of his tithes to the church of Aldermary; while his godson, Richard Mannsel received six shillings eight pence. He also bequeathed gilt spoons to John Ormston, Thomas Hubbert and Thomas West. He gave his house, shop, cellars, solars and yards in Basing Lane to his wife, Katherine, to hold during her lifetime. On her death, he stated that the properties should pass to the Commonalty and Chamberlain of the City of London. He also granted Katherine two tenements in Basing Lane, which were to pass to The Clothworkers’ Company upon her death. Under the terms of his will, the Company undertook to pay an annual stipend of twenty shillings to the parish of St. Mary Aldermary, to be distributed to the poor of the parish. Watson stated that any residue of the monies received from his properties should be given to the poorest Freemen of the Company.[5]
[1]T. Girtin, The Golden Ram: a narrative history of The Clothworkers’ Company, 1528-1958 (London, 1958), p. 324.
[2]The Clothworkers’ Company Archive, Court Orders, CL/B/1/1, f. 195v-196r, Watson noted as a viewer in Abchurch Lane, 6 June 1554 and CL/B/1/1, f. 219r, Watson noted as a viewer of Company lands and tenements, 18 December 1556.
[3] TNA PROB 11/39, The will of John Watson, 16 December 1555.
[4] 'Richard Dawson, freedom, 1546', Records of London's Livery Companies Online. URL: http://www.londonroll.org/event/?company=clw&event_id=CLLL7628. Date accessed: 7 January 2013; 'Henry Shaforth, freedom, 1546', Records of London's Livery Companies Online. URL:http://www.londonroll.org/event/?company=clw&event_id=CLLL13143. Date accessed: 7 January 2013; 'Ms. Tubbes, freedom, 1550', Records of London's Livery Companies Online. URL:http://www.londonroll.org/event/?company=clw&event_id=CLLL13991. Date accessed: 7 January 2013; 'Richard Hall, freedom, 1551', Records of London's Livery Companies Online. URL: http://www.londonroll.org/event/?company=clw&event_id=CLLL9208. Date accessed: 7 January 2013; 'William Cowper, freedom, 1552', Records of London's Livery Companies Online. URL: http://www.londonroll.org/event/?company=clw&event_id=CLLL6832. Date accessed: 7 January 2013; 'Robert Sayer, freedom, 1552', Records of London's Livery Companies Online. URL: http://www.londonroll.org/event/?company=clw&event_id=CLLL13169. Date accessed: 7 January 2013; 'John Browne, freedom, 1556', Records of London's Livery Companies Online. URL:http://www.londonroll.org/event/?company=clw&event_id=CLLL5653. Date accessed: 7 January 2013.
[5] ‘Report on the Charities of the Clothworkers' Company: Part II', City of London Livery Companies Commission. Report; Volume 4 (1884), pp. 599-614. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=69738&strquery=report on the charities of the Date accessed: 10 March 2011.