John Uthwat (?-1674)
John Uthwat had passed away long before his son Richard inherited the manor of Great Linford from Sir William Prichard, but his story is a fascinating one. We do not as yet know when he was born, or even whom his parents were, though A Guide to the Historic Buildings of Milton Keynes published in 2007 offers an unattributed suggestion of a Scottish origin for the Uthwatts. We know that John was living in London by the mid-1600s, but no Scottish roots have ever become apparent. Uthwatt is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname that came from the Old English personal name Untric, which meant dawn or powerful.
Marriage to Mary Pritchard
On October 23rd, 1656, a few months before he was appointed the Clerk of the Surveys at Deptford naval yard, John was married at Saint Olave, Southwark to Mary Prichard, a sister of the London merchant and politician Sir William Prichard. Prichard was a rope merchant with a lucrative military contract; perhaps then there was some greasing of the wheels on behalf of his new son-in-law that that secured him this plum job.
With a good job to support them John and Mary were free to raise a large family, at least 11 children; 7 sons and 4 daughters. There is a good account available of their offspring in the book, “Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica”, published 1874, which is worth summarising here. Sadly, there were several infant mortalities: sons William, Thomas and Francis, plus daughters Hannah and Martha; a particularly harrowing toll. They also lost two adult sons; another William died aged 36 in the West Indies where he was captaining a ship, whilst Robert died December 12th, 1712, in Ireland whilst serving as a Lieutenant in the army. Robert had married, but he and his wife had tragically lost all five of their children as infants! Of the surviving daughters of John and Mary, Mary was married to a Nicholas Cutler, a merchant of London, while Elizabeth married Alexander Hamilton, also a London merchant.
With a good job to support them John and Mary were free to raise a large family, at least 11 children; 7 sons and 4 daughters. There is a good account available of their offspring in the book, “Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica”, published 1874, which is worth summarising here. Sadly, there were several infant mortalities: sons William, Thomas and Francis, plus daughters Hannah and Martha; a particularly harrowing toll. They also lost two adult sons; another William died aged 36 in the West Indies where he was captaining a ship, whilst Robert died December 12th, 1712, in Ireland whilst serving as a Lieutenant in the army. Robert had married, but he and his wife had tragically lost all five of their children as infants! Of the surviving daughters of John and Mary, Mary was married to a Nicholas Cutler, a merchant of London, while Elizabeth married Alexander Hamilton, also a London merchant.
A Clerk of the Surveys
We do know quite a bit about John’s career, as it is well recorded that he was the Clerk of the Surveys at the King’s Naval Yard, Deptford, which had been founded by Henry VIII in 1513. For instance, Boyd’s inhabitants of London records John’s family in detail and his profession.
As one of the principal offices of the yard, John occupied an important role, responsible for checking the details of all stores received and issued, as well as surveying materials. We know exactly when he was appointed, December 1st, 1657, as it is recorded in the Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Interregnum, 1657-8. John’s name then makes frequent appearances in various records relating to the management of Deptford Yard, and from these we may infer he was a conscientious and hardworking officer.
As one of the principal offices of the yard, John occupied an important role, responsible for checking the details of all stores received and issued, as well as surveying materials. We know exactly when he was appointed, December 1st, 1657, as it is recorded in the Calendar of State Papers Domestic: Interregnum, 1657-8. John’s name then makes frequent appearances in various records relating to the management of Deptford Yard, and from these we may infer he was a conscientious and hardworking officer.
Working for Samuel Pepys
At the time John Uthwat was working at Deptford, the celebrated diarist Samuel Pepys was a naval administrator (rising to become Chief Secretary to the Admiralty) and had dealings with John, as the following extract dated Sunday October 27th, 1667, from his famous diary attests. The entry relates to a ship that Pepys has been gifted by the King.
After dinner, I down to Deptford, the first time that I went to look upon “The Maybolt,” which the King hath given me, and there she is; and I did meet with Mr. Uthwayte, who do tell me that there are new sails ordered to be delivered her, and a cable, which I did not speak of at all to him. So, thereupon, I told him I would not be my own hindrance so much as to take her into my custody before she had them, which was all I said to him, but desired him to take a strict inventory of her, that I might not be cheated by the master nor the company, when they come to understand that the vessel is gone away, which he hath promised me, and so away back again home, reading all the way the book of the collection of oaths in the several offices of this nation, which is worth a man’s reading, and so away home, and there my boy and I to sing, and at it all the evening, and to supper, and so to bed.
John Uthwat’s final resting place
We know that John passed away on August 28th, 1674 and was buried at the church of St. Nicholas in Deptford. A book published in 1769 entitled, Registrum Roffense presents an eclectic mix of various historical facts relating to the diocese that includes Deptford. This makes reference to the existence of a small monument to John within St. Nicholas, from which we learn his date of death. Unfortunately, between the general ravages of time and a bomb in WW2, this inscription appears to have been lost.
Interestingly, it appears that toward the end of his life, John had changed career to a Tidewaiter, this being a Customs officer tasked with watching for the arrival of ships. We know this due to an entry in the “Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 4, 1672-1675”, which contains the following passage.
Interestingly, it appears that toward the end of his life, John had changed career to a Tidewaiter, this being a Customs officer tasked with watching for the arrival of ships. We know this due to an entry in the “Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 4, 1672-1675”, which contains the following passage.
Same from same to the Customs Cashier to pay 65l. to the executors of John Uthwat for 1 year's fee to 1674, June 24. as a tidewaiter in London port: it appearing by certificate of Richard Holden, vicar of Deptford, that said Uthwat died in said parish 28 Aug., 1674. and was buried there 31 Aug.
His wife Mary survived him and passed away in 1702 at the age of 68. She was then living in the ward of Dowgate in London.
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