John was sheriff of London in 1587. (He had paid a fine of £200 for refusing the office in 1585.)
Events
Date of Birth: abt 1536.
Place of Birth: unknown.
John is aged “26 years and more” at his father’s inquisition post mortem 19 January 1563.
Date of Death: 5 October 1602.
Date of Burial: 12 October 1602.
Place of Burial: St Peter le Poer, London.
The burial is recorded in the parish register.
Relationships
Father: Edward Catcher.
This relationship is given in the Catcher pedigree (MGH v. 5, v. 3). John is named as Edward’s son in Edward’s will and inquisition post mortem.
Mother: Elizabeth Burgh.
This relationship is given in the Catcher pedigree (MGH v. 5, v. 3).
Spouse: Ellen Southwick. Married 10 April 1564 in Saint Andrew Undershaft, London.
The marriage is recorded in the parish register.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Elizabeth Catcher (baptized 21 February 1564 in St Peter le Poer, London) married Ambrose Royston 12 June 1582 in St Peter le Poer, London.
Mary Catcher (baptized 14 February 1566 in St Peter le Poer, London) married married (1) Thomas Moody, grocer to Queen Elizabeth, 2 December 1583 in St Peter le Poer, London; possibly married (2) Thomas Blande.
John Catcher (baptized 25 July 1568 in St Peter le Poer, London - buried 16 November 1638) married (1) Anne Drewe; married (2) Joan; married (3) Cicely. John was knighted, and was sheriff of Berkshire in 1618-19 and M.P. for Truro in 1621.
Edward Catcher (baptized November 1569 in St Peter le Poer, London - died about 1625) of Trinity Hall in Cambridge.
William Catcher (buried 17 January 1627/8 in Truro, Cornwall) married Margaret Pye.
Ellen Catcher (baptized 9 November 1572 in St Peter le Poer, London) married (1) Martin Roberts 13 July 1590 in St Peter le Poer, London; married (2) William Willoughby 13 June 1599 in St Peter le Poer, London.
Robert Catcher (baptized 8 November 1573 in St Peter le Poer, London)
Anthony Catcher (baptized 30 November 1574 in St Peter le Poer, London)
Jane Catcher (baptized 9 June 1577 in St Peter le Poer, London - buried 19 September 1580 in St Peter le Poer)
Thomas Catcher (baptized 29 September 1578 in St Peter le Poer, London)
Richard Catcher (baptized 31 January 1579 in St Peter le Poer, London)
Jane Catcher (baptized 6 January 1580 in St Peter le Poer, London) married Richard Challoner 20 December 1599 in St Peter le Poer, London.
Margaret Catcher (baptized 7 March 1581 in St Peter le Poer, London - buried 22 August 1625 in St Brides Fleet Street) married Edward Kiffin 21 July 1603 in Datchet, Buckinghamshire.
Ursula Catcher (baptized 2 Febuary 1585 in St Peter le Poer, London - died 1618)
Evidence
from the St Andrew Undershaft parish registers:
Marryges
Aprill. 10. John Catcher and Ellin Suthwicke was Marryed the 10. day 1564.
from the St Peter le Poer parish registers:
Baptismi
Elizabeth Catcher filia John’is Catcher 21 Februa: Anno. 1564.
Marie Catcher The daughter of John Cather 14 of Februa: Anno 1566
John Catcher the son’e of John Catcher the 25 of July 1568
Edward Catcher the 31 Nouemb: An’o 1569
Helen Catcher filia Johannis Catcher 9 Nouemb: Anno 1572
Robert Catcher the Sonne of John the 8 of Nouemb: Anno 1573.
Anthony Catcher filius Johannis 30 of Nouemb: 1574.
Johannis Catcher filius Johannis the 15 Janua: An’o 1575
Jane Catcher filia Johannis the 9 of June Anno 1577
Thomas Chatcher the Sonne of John the 29 of Septem: Anno 1578
Richard Catcher Son’e of John the 31 Janua: Anno 1579.
Jane Catcher filia Johannis. 6. Janua: 1580.
Margart Catcher daugh of John the 7 Martij 1581
Ursula Catcher filia Johannis. 2 Februa: Anno 1585.
Funera
Jaine Catcher the daughter of John 19 Septemb: 1580
Mr. John Catcher 12 Octob. 1602.
from the 1569 will of William Mason, merchant tailor:
Mason(William), "merchaunttaylor."—To be buried in the parish church of S. Botolph without Bishopsgate. To Joane Colye, widow, his mother, his copyhold lands and woods in the parish of Sutterton, co. Suffolk. To Jane his wife a certain messuage in the borough of Bungay, co. Suffolk. To his cousin John Katcher, pewterer, the reversion of certain houses in the parish of Aldermarye, formerly belonging to Sir William Laxton, charged with the payment of one third of their rent to the aforesaid Jane. Further bequests of twenty pounds to Joane Colie aforesaid, and of five pounds each to Edward Colye, Johan Colye, wife of Thomas Gillette, Osey Coley, wife of Thomas Boyton, Adrey Colye, wife of William Androwes, Mary Colye, wife of Lewes Sympson, Martha and Sarah Colye, children of the aforesaid Joane; the said sums to be also paid by John Katcher aforesaid. Among other bequests he leaves to Martha and Sarah Colye "halfe a garnyshe of pewter." Dated 7 March, A.D. 1569.
Roll 260 (40).
John was a warden of the Pewterer’s company in 1581 and 1583 and master in 1585 (Welch, v. 2, p. 207) Their records contain an interesting record (v. 1 p. 270-1) of his direct speech during a quarrel in 1572 (the topic of which is unclear):
…And as for maister Catcher, he stouteley affyrmed, that is was, but a follie, for him, to vtter, his griefe, to eny of the saide maister wardeins, or assistaunce, for quothe he, hathe not Maister Curties, saide dyuers, tymes, to me, and in your hearinges, prate what I cann, doe what thowe canstes do. saie what thou wilte saie, for thowe arte like, to haue, no manner, of remedie here (wth other vayne talke,) not thought mete, to be vttred, of so honest a personage, muche les to trouble, this booke, wth suche fryvelous speeche.
1582 London Subsidy Roll:
Broad Street Ward
Broade Strete
John Catcher (£150) — 7 10 0
Thomas Catcher (£3) — 0 7 0
In a Star Chamber case (STAC 5/W53/24r) (Michaelmas 31 Elizabeth, Hilary 31 Elizabeth [1589]) it was established that during his time as sheriff John Catcher (with John Skynner, another sheriff, and John Warfield, treasure of Bridewell) had apprehended and committed to Bridewell two women without cause and caused them to be stripped naked to the waist and whipped as lewd women. Catcher was committed to six months in prison until he paid a fine of £500, and contributed to the £600 in compensation to the women. His fine was reduced to 200 marks, which he paid. (from the abstract by “kk” at the AALT site.)
Here is some information on the case from the Cecil Papers:
November 1588
753. Alderman Thomas Skinner to Archibald Douglas.
1588, Nov. 2
According to promise, I have sent your lordship a copy of so much of our charter as concerneth the matter of which your lordship and I talked in the Fleet. If you go to the Court within a day or two, my humble suit is that it would please you to speak with her Majesty, my lord Treasurer and my lord Chamberlain, for their lordships as we take it are somewhat bitter towards us. The whole cause which moved me to send the women to Bridewell was first, the report of the Common Council and inhabitants of my ward, who made many complaints of the misdemeanours done in the night times about and in the house where I found them. Next, when I examined Mrs. Smyth alias Grey, she told me that about seven years since she was married to one Mr. Grey, of Derbyshire, which was most false, for within two days after I had a letter from one Mr. Nevell out of the Tower, who challenged her to be his wife, saying he married her in the Tower on the morrow after Twelfth Day last. And lastly, after I sent this letter to the Lieutenant of the Tower, being a Justice of the Peace and in the High Commission, he came the next day to the Guildhall to my brother Catcher and me, and told us that she was a common harlot, and desired us to send her to Bridewell to receive such punishment as she deserved, and that he neither kept the prison to have any marriages or evil life suffered there. And that this is true we will with many witnesses and our own oaths affirm it. Thus craving your furtherance herein with what convenient expedition you may, &c.—From the prison of the Fleet, this second of November 1588.
John had the lease of the entire Stocks Market from 1599 until his death (Perks, pp. 55-61, 85).
John’s will:
In the name of God Amen the Foureteenth daie of March in the yeare of our Lorde god according to the computac’on of the Church of England One thowsand five hundred nynetie eighte, and in the one and Fortith yere of the raigne of our sovereigne Ladie Elizabeth by the grace of god Queene of England Fraunce and Ireland defendor of the faithe &c I John Catcher of London esquire, being at this p[resen]te in p[er]fect health and memorie (laude and praise be therefore given to almightie god) doe noe for certain good respects me hereunto movinge, make ordaine and declare this my p[resen]te last will and Testament, in manner and forme following (that is to saie) Firste and principallie I commend my soule to almightie god, my maker, redemer, and sanctifier, hoping and assuredlie beleiving through the onelye merrites death and passion of the second person in the Trinitie Christe Jesus, to haue free remission and pardon of all my sinnes, and to inherite eternall lief in the gloriouse kingdome of heauen, And my bodie I commit to the earth, to be buried in xrian buriall where it shall please god to appointe, Item I will that all such debts as I shall happen to owe at the time of my decease, shall be truelie paied, or set in order to be paied within convenient time, And whereas by the Custome of the Cittie of London, my goodes chattells and Credits should be devided into thre equall parts and porcons, And One equall Thirde parte thereof should remaine to Ellen my welbeloued wief, One other thirde parte thereof to and amongest my children unadvanced, And the other Thirde parte thereof, at my disposic’on, For as much as a greate of my substaunce consisteth in landes and leases, and moste of my children are already advaunced, My will and minde is, that the guiftes legacies and bequeasts hereafter in this my will given willed or demised to my saide wief and children unadvaunced shalbe in lieu, recompence and satisfaction of her and their partes and porc’ons of and in my goodes chattells and credits by the Custome of the Cittie of London or otherwise, And therefore first I giue, deuise, and bequeath to the said Ellen my wief, all that my great messuage and house with thapp’rtenances wherein I doe nowe dwell, in or neare Broadstreate London, and all my messuage landes tennements rents reverc’ons seruing and hereditaments scituate lienge or beinge in Morden in the Countie of Kente, To haue and to hould all and singuler the same premisses with thappurtenances unto the said Ellen my wief, For and during her naturall lief, The remainder thereof after her deceasse to my righte heires for euer, Item I giue and bequeath to Edward Catcher my sonne and to his heires for euer, all that my messuage or tennement Called the horsse head with Shoppes Cellars Sollers warehouses yardes casments and other commodities and apputenances thereunto belonging scituate and being in the parish of blessed Marie Abchurch in the warde of Candlewike Streat in London, and all that my messuage or tennement with thappurtenances nowe in the tenure or occupac’on of William Bich habberdasher or his assignes scituate and being in Broadstreate London, And also I giue and bequeath to the saide Edwarde my sonne all my lease interest and terme of yeres to come, of the market place called the stocks in London And all my leases interestes and termes of yeres to come, in the parish of Sainte Bennet-Finck in London, And all my lease interest and terme of yeres to come of my wind mill in High Onger in the Countie of Essex, And Further I giue will and deuise to the saide Edward Catcher my sonne and to his heires for euer, All my Coppiholde landes tennements and hereditaments in Stoke Newington in the Countie of Midlesex, and I will that the same shalbe p[er]fectlie conveyed and asssured unto him and his heires by Surrender, according to the Custome of the mannor whereof the same is houlden, Item I giue and bequeath to my thre younger daughters, Jane Margaret and Ursula Catcher to either of them, the somme of two hundred poundes a peece of lawfull money of England, which I will to be truelie paide unto them by my saide wief and sonne Edwarde, as my saide daughters shall accomplish and come to their seauerall lawfull ages of twentie and one yeres, or daies of mariage, first happening, Item I giue and bequeath to my sonne William Catcher (for whome I haue obteined my Office in the Courte) all my mowldes and other necessarie tooles whatsoeuer apperteyning to my Arte of Pewterer, or the somme of One hundred poundes in money in lieu thereof, Item I giue and bequeth to my eldest sonne John Catcher (whom I haue alreadie advaunced) fortie shillings to make him a ringe, for a remembraunce of my love towardes him, Willing him to be loving and good to his mother and brother Edwarde and the rest of his brothers and sisters, The residue and remainder of all and singuler my goodes chattells and credits I doe wholie giue, deuise, and bequeath unto my saide welbeloved wief Ellen and to my saide sonne Edwarde equallie betwene them to be devided parte and porc’on like, And I doe ordaine and make my saide wief and sonne Edwarde my full and onelie executors of this my last will and Testament, In Witnesse whereof I haue hereunto put my hand and Seale the daie and yere first above written. John Catcher, Sealed subscribed pronounced and delivered by the siade John Catcher for and as his laste will and Testament, in the pr[esen]ce of me John Mayle Sen’: Edwarde Kyffine.
[Proved 13 October 1602]
from A Survey of London (1603):
Brodestreete Warde
…till yee come to Bartholomew lane…In this street amongst other fayre buildings the most ancient was olf old time an house pertayning to the Abbot of S. Albans, John Catcher Alderman now dwelleth there…
The will of John’s daughter Ursula:
In the name of God amen, The Nyneth daye of October. 1618 and in the Sixeteenth yeare of the reigne of o’r Soveraigne Lord Kinge James of England Fraunce Ireland, And of Scotland the Two & Fortith. I Ursula Catcher of Lonon, gentlewoman beinge at this p[rese]nte tyme sicke in bodye, but in good & perfecte memorye & remembrance (thanks be giuen to god) doe make this my p[rese]nte last will and Testament in manner & forme followinge that is to saye, First & principallie I comitt & comend my soule into the hands of Almightie God my maker & creator trustinge & assureinge my selfe that by the death & passion of my Lord & Sauior Jesus Christ I haue & shall haue full remisson & pardon of all my sins, and after this miserable lyfe ended I shalbe made a member & inheritor of the kingdome of heaven with the electe in Christ And my bodye to be buryed in the parish Church of St Peter the poore in London in the middle Ile neare my Father & mother Item I giue & bequeath to my sister Kiffyn Fifty pounds to remaine t her to receaue the profitts thereof dureinge her naturall lyfe If her husband so longe shall liue And yf her husband happen to departe this lyfe, then for her better preferm’t if she fortune to marrye againe, And if she departe this lyfe before such seconde Mariage then to her two sonnes, Edward & Henrye equallie to be deuided betweene them, And if both or eyther of them fortune to departe this lyfe before theyr age of xxj yeares, then both or eyther of theyr p[ar]ts so deceasinge to remaine to John & Willm theyr brethern equallie Item I giue & bequeath to John Catcher the sonne of my brother Thomas Catcher Thirtye Pounds and my brother Willm to haue the keepeinge of the said xxxli puttinge in good securitie to my executors, and alloweinge ls [50 s] p[er] annu[m] for the use of it, which ls p[er] annu[m] shall remaine to my said brother Thomas Catcher until his sonne come to the age of xxj ty yeares If the said Thomas Catcher so longe liue/ And if the said John Catcher to sonne happen to dye then to remaine to his said Father, And if both of them fortune to dep[ar]te this lyfe then to remaine to Edward Catcher the sonne of my brother Willm Catcher Item I giue to my brother Richard Catcher the som[m]e of lxli more or lesse which is oweinge unto me by one John Plomer in Yorkshire Item I giue & bequeath to my uncle brother Edward Catcher Fyve Pounds to buye him a Cuppe Item I giue & bequeath to my fiue bretheren & there sisters to euerye eache of them the som[m]e of xxijs apiece to make eache of them a Ringe for a remembrance, Item I giue & bequeath to my brother Ambrose Roiston the so[m]e of Fortye shillinges to make him a Ringe Item I giue & bequeath to Elizabeth Parratt the younger iiij li to be paid at her full age or mariage, or her grandfather Ambrose Roiston to haue the keepinge of it in the meane tyme, Item I giue to the poore of St Peter the poore in London the som[m]e of Foure pounds Item I giue to the foure prisons of the Two Compters & ledgate & Newegate Twente shillinges a peece, Item I giue & bequeath to my Cozens John Smyth & Edward Palmer Forty Shillinges apeece to make eache of them a Ringe for a remembrance Item I giue & bequeath to my sister Kyffen All my weareinge apparrell Item I doe appointe that the remainder of Fiftye Pounds which shall not be disbursed for me in my sicknes shall be laid out by my executors for my decent & orderly buryall at the discretion of my Executors Item all the rest & residue of my goods and Chattells whatsoever I giue & bequeath to my brother Edward Catcher & Ambrose Roiston whom I make my full & whole Executors or this my last will & testament, And I do ordaine John Smyth & Edward Palmer to be overseers of this my p[rese]nte last will & Testam’t: In witnes whereof to this my p[rese]nte Last will & Testam’t conteyninge Two sides of paper I the said Ursula Catcher haue hereunto put my hand & seale dated the daye & yeare first aboue written
Ursula cacher [seal]
Signed sealed published declared & delivered as her last will & testament the daye & yeare aboue written in the p[rese]nce of me Giles Parsons
John Myles
[proved 4 March 1618]
The will of John’s son Edward:
In the name of God Amen I Edward Catcher beinge well and in good estate both in minde and bodie (thancks to our Lord, make and ordaine this my last will in manner followinge, First I bequeath my soule into the hands of the high and holie Trinitie Father sonne and holie Ghost most humblie prayinge him for his sup[er]aboundinge goodnes and infinite meritt of his sonnes passion, First to purge away the soule spotts that it hath contracted by sinne, and after that to receaue me into his heavenlie habitacon Amen And as for worldlie estate Inprimis I give to my good mother the use proffitts rents & revenues of all my freehold land and lease, To haue and to hould to her duringe her naturall life and afterward I will giue and bequeath my freehould land viz’ my house knowne by the name of the blewe bell in Brodstreete nowe in the tenure of William Butcher or his assignes, that my house knowne by the name of the white horse head in Candlewicke streete in the tenure of Mr Bright or his assignes, and the houses adioyning thereunto in the occupacon of my brother Chaldnor or his assignes to my three brothers William Thomas and Richard and theire heires males for ever either of them to be others heire in case they die without yssue male, And if it shall please god that they all die without sonnes then I give the my house called the blewe bell to my two sisters Margarett and Ursula and their heires forever And my my houses called the naggs head aforesaid and the houses adioyninge thereto beforesaid to the Colledge or hall of the holie Trinity of which I nowe am a fellowe I give and bequeath to haue and to hold to the same Colledge or Hall and their successors therein for ever, to which alsoe I give more one hundred pounds of lawfull money of England both that and the revenue of my lands formerlie bequeathed to it I will shalbe ymploied in some perpetuitie for the best good of the good suretie accordinge to the discrecon of my loving friends Mr Doctor Corbett, Mr Turner, Mr Blumfeild, to every of whome I give in money five pounds a peece to buy them a ringe to be worne in my remembrance Item I give to my two kinde freinds Mr Maile and Mr Pollard to each of them xli Item I give my sister Ursula in money one hundred pounds more I give to my said sister Ursula fiftie pounds Item I give to my brother Richard all my land in Hackeney and Newington together alsoe with my leases that I hould of Martin Colledge in Oxford of the Mercers in London, and of John Roberts the proffitts whereto I [...] he shall beginne to take after my mothers decease Item I give to my sister Kiffin tenn pounds Item I give to Jane Roysten my goddaughter fiftie pounds Item I give to my godson John Catcher xxx li Item I give to Martin Naufogge v li Item I give to all the prisons in London twelve shillings a peece, and to the prisons in Cambridge tenn shillings a peece The rest of my goods not bequeathed I freelie give my good mother whome I make sole executor of this my will In wittnes whereof I have writt this with my owne hand, and thereto putt my seale Edw: Catcher: This 27 of January Anno dni 1624: Item I give to Hackney Church 5 li Item I give to the church wherein [blank] shalbe buried five pounds Item I give to Thomas Clarke my man five pounds Item I give to John Parratt my godson 30 li Edw: Catcher./ My last will wittnes I Thomas Barcocke, wittnes I Martin Naufogge:/
[Proved 20 February 1626. William Catcher, Edward’s brother was appointed administrator, Edward’s mother having died.]
References
Abstracts of Inquisitiones Post Mortem for the City of London returned into the Court of Chancery during the Tudor Period. Part II. 4-19 Elizabeth. 1561-1577 (Sidney J. Madge ed.) (1901).
Calendar of Wills Proved and Enrolled in the Court of Hustings, London: Part 2, 1358-1688 (R.R. Sharpe ed.) (London, 1890)
Catcher pedigree from Harl. MS. 1096, fo. 83. in Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, series 5, volume 3 (p. 114) (1916).
Catcher pedigree in the 1634-5 visitation of London, in The Four Visitations of Berkshire part 1.(W. Harry Rylands ed.) (Harleian Society v. lvi, 1907).
Chamber Accounts of the Sixteenth Century (Betty R. Masters ed.) (London, 1984).
Parish registers of St Peter le Poer. Digital images on Ancestry.com.
Perks, Sydney. The History of the Mansion House (Cambridge University Press, 1922).
Hunneyball, Paul. “Catcher, Sir John (1568 - 1638), of London and Binfield, Berks.” in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629. (Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris eds.) (2010).
Sentence of Edward Catcher. 1627. Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
Welch, Charles. History of the Worshipful Company of Pewterers of the City of London based upon their own records 2 vos. (London, 1902).
Will of Edward Catcher of Trinity College Cambridge. Proved 1627 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
Will of John Catcher pewterer of London. Proved 1602 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
Will of John Catcher 1631 on a voyage to Barbados. Proved 1631 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.
Will of Ursula Cacher. Proved 1618 in London. Digital images on Ancestry.com.
Will of William Catcher of Truro, merchant. Proved 1628 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.