Note 33 — PART I Financing the Plymouth Colony
Reading edition
Bradford, “Letter Book,” 34; Goldsmiths’ Company, London, Apprentice Book, I, 1578–1645, 151; Wardens’ Accounts and Court Minutes, vol. P, pt. 1 (1611–17), 76, 198; pt. 2 (1617–24), 189 and passim, 76, 77, 79; vol. Q, pt. 1 (1624–29), 79; vol. R, pt. 2 (1631–34), 193, 195, 199, 200, 223, 224, 225; vol. T (1637–39), 185, 186, 189; vol. V (1639–42), 58, 62; vol. unlettered [W] (1642–45), 228, 237. Presumably because he was living in Clapham, James Sherley is not listed among those who paid poll money to the Commissioners. A duty of the prime warden, with his second and third wardens, was to have custody of the plate belonging to the City of London, ibid., 238. In 1652 Sherley was appointed with other wardens to prepare an answer to a petition by the freemen of the Company to a committee of Parliament concerning their rights in choosing the wardens, Sir Walter S. Prideaux, Memorials of the Goldsmiths’ Company ... (London, 1896), II, 24.
Of the several James Sherleys who are contemporaries, I have concluded that the James Sherley, third son of Robert Sherley, originally of Wistonston, was the one involved with the Plymouth venture. The other James Sherleys in this family are (1) the eldest son of John Sherley of London, and (2) the elder son of James Sherley, son of Robert. See Visitation of London, 1633–35, II, 235–236. It is difficult to determine whether the James Sherley, merchant, who owned houses in London in 1637 is the same, “Returns of Divided Houses in the City of London, 1637,” 208. The one who appeared with Robert Sherley to turn over property to Robert’s daughter, Sara, in 1632 is our man, P.R.O., C. 54/2950; see also Registers of St. Vedast, Foster Lane (Harl. Soc., 1902) 35, for birth of Sara in 1611.
“Foynes” or foins were originally fur of the weasel family, or more generally, furs.