Causton One-Name Study

Newsletter Number 5 February 2002

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Plumbers and Glaziers

View from the church yard gate at Earls Colne, Essex

Close up of sign

The 1820 stone engraving above is a view from the east gate looking eastwards in Earls Colne, Essex. The building on the far left is the Causton stained glass factory. The trade sign on the wall under the window on the left margin of the picture is just readable. The building was demolished some time ago but the road on which the lady in the picture is standing is now the main road through Earls Colne. The road still has a sharp bend around the church yard. The 1805 map of Earls Colne shows the church as a '+'.

Earls Colne, Essex in a map from 1805

John Cawston married Susan Barrell in Hunston in Suffolk in 1776 and had a son, Robert Cawston, in 1778. It appears that Robert came to Earls Colne before 1800 for he married Ann Harding there in 1802. Ann's father was Joseph Harding and her mother was Ann Allpress. Both Harding and Allpress occur as interesting second names in subsequent generations. In the 1851 census return Robert is 72 years old and is described as a plumber and glazier. The workshop in the engraving would have been used to work on lead, sheet, piping and window glass jointing. There would have been a furnace to melt the lead as well as benches to cast sheet lead and to lay out stained and plain glass windows under construction. It was very likely his home as well. This meant that the family as well as the tradesmen could have been exposed to toxic lead fumes.

The trade was carried on by three of his sons Frederick Harding (1806), Robert Allpress (1811) and John (1814). There were four other children - Joseph (1823, who died aged 2), Susan Ann (1821, died aged 4), Susan Ann (1824, died age 1), Harriett (1827) and Susan Ann (1834, who died unmarried aged 72 in 1906). What happened to Harriett is not known but there is a death of a Harriett Causton recorded in Colchester in 1891 aged 67. If this is correct then she also did not marry. Click here for the family tree.

According to the manorial records Frederick Harding Cawston purchased a tenement in Earls Colne in 1841 for £270 but after that his financial affairs took a downward turn. He was declared bankrupt on 9 April 1847 (as announced in the London Gazette). Soon after his son Frederick Harding Cawston late of Cromwell Road, Brixton, London was also bankrupt (Times 31 January 1866).

There is probably much more to be discovered about this family as it is likely that a John Cawston who married Sarah Fox in 1802 in Earls Colne and had four children and many descendants is related. Also the parish records for Earls Colne refer to a Hugh Cawston who must tie in somewhere.... This family is being researched by Roy Cawston in Surrey, England.

John de Caustone (d. 1353) – a medieval family member

By Ann Causton

The records of John de Caustone relate to his adult life and little is known of his birth place or childhood. We do not know who his parents were, but he probably came from Norfolk as his first wife, Basilia, was the daughter of a Norfolk pepperer. In addition we know that in the early years of the 14th century many Norfolk men migrated to London (1).

John became a mercer joining one of the earliest guilds, the Mercers Company whose members traded in silk, velvets and other costly materials but might also trade in small wares with stalls in city markets.

In tracing his history chronologically one might describe him as successful in business and in his public appointments, but there were low points. For example, in 1305 he was indicted in London with Hugh de Caustone and William de Dalling, a Norfolk man, and others, for an assault in St.. Lawrence, Cheapside, but subsequently acquitted (2).

The Lay Subsidy Roll, listing those property owners eligible for taxation, shows that in 1319 John de Caustone was assessed at £1 (equivalent to £319 at today's prices) (3).

He was active in political life within the City of London serving for almost 30 years. In 1322 he was elected as alderman for Cordwainers ward and subsequently served for the Broad Street, Lime Street and Billingsgate wards (4). In both 1322 and 1324 he was elected sheriff, an office with a staff of 2 clerks and 2 serjeants bestowing the power to apprehend people and hold court at Guildhall. Records of some of his cases survive (5). He was also elected to serve as Member of Parliament in 1330, 1332 (twice), 1334, 1336 and 1337, and was auditor in 1339 and 1346.

In June 1324, he was granted protection with clause nolumus for one year staying beyond the seas, which may indicate that he was abroad on the King's business (6).

Stow (7) suggests that John de Caustone was a man of substance prepared to challenge the authority of the King when occasion demanded, which resulted in a charge against him for contempt within the Verge of the Tower. King Edward II and his entourage, on visiting London, required accommodation and the Serjeant Steward of the Household attempted to billet the King's Secretary with his livery (i.e. men and horses) at the house of John de Caustone who in turn refused to accommodate them. John defended himself, claiming that 'he was guilty of nothing', since the King had agreed to abide by the charters of the city, which stated that the mayor was responsible for the billeting of the King's men. The mayor, Hamo de Chigwell, supported John's case, and he was found 'faulty in nothing'.

In his personal life we find that in 1327 he married his second wife, Eva, widow of Symon de Abyndon who had also been an alderman and sheriff of the city of London. Eva brought property from the estate of her first husband, consisting of houses in Hackney and Stepney including a brewhouse. Symon's son Stephen was also a mercer and became mayor of the city of London in 1315.

Gwyn A. Williams (8) gives us more detail of John's business activities, he writes 'John de Caustone, for example, was a brilliant figure. He handled Picard wheat, Irish grain, Malines cloth, he traded at St.. Omer and stocked Ghent fabrics in his shop at Boston. He exported wool from London and Yarmouth, lead from Boston. His factor sold mercery worth £172 to the court in 1341 and it was Causton who supplied much of the velvet and Aylsham [a linen cloth made in the village of that name in Norfolk] for thirteen sets of ornate armour ordered in the same year.

In 1330 at the time of the war with the Scots, John was appointed Collector of Customs for wool and wine in the port of London, (9) and for hides and fells in the city and port. The taxes were 10s. on each sack of wool (equivalent to 300 fells) or 300 woolfells [sheepskin plus wool] and 20s. for each last of hides (~4000lbs.), whilst the duty on imported wine was 2s. per tun (~252 gallons) (10).

In 1335, a further royal appointment followed when John was made King's proctor and was sent, with others, to treat with Louis, Count of Flanders in trade disputes relating to the wool staple. The staple was the market for wool, and the dispute was about who should receive the tax. They visited Bruges, Ghent and Ypres and were able to settle the long running dispute (11).

Further tax collecting functions followed in 1342 when he was jointly commissioned with the mayor of London, Simon Fraunceys, to collect taxes from the merchants of Lombardy and other Italian provinces then trading in London (12).

When the King's first born son, Edward of Woodstock was to be made a knight in 1346, it was John de Caustone who was one of those appointed to levy 40s. on each knight's fee (13).

Shortly before his death, John made charitable bequests and set up two chantries at the Priory of the Holy Cross near the Tower of London, reflecting the practice of the times when men looked to their after-life. At that time, Catholicism was the national religion and the chantry would have provided money to pay for monks to sing mass for the souls of the deceased. The document arranging for this, with the seal of the Priory on it, survives in the archive at Westminster Abbey (14).

What follows is a transcription of John's will proved in the Court of Husting (15).

AD 1353 Monday next after the Feast of the Translation of St.. Edward [13 Oct.].

Causton (John de), mercer. To be buried in the church of St.. Pancras near Soperslane. To James Andreu and Matilda, wife of the same, his niece, tenements in the parishes of St.. Pancras aforesaid and St.. Antony for life; remainder to the Prioress and convent of Haliwelle, charged with the maintenance of a chantry in the said church of St.. Pancras for the good of his soul, the souls of his father and mother, Basilia and Eva his late wives, John de Langeton and others; Thomas de Langeton to have the right of presentation to the same for life after the decease of the aforesaid James Andreu and Matilda, and in the case of default, further provision made. Also to the said Thomas de Langeton tenements and rents in the parishes of St.. Mary atte Hull, St.. Andrew Hubert, St.. Botolph without Aldgate, and elsewhere for life; remainder to the aforesaid prioress and convent, charged with the maintenance of chantries in the said church of St.. Mary atte Hull for the good of his soul, the souls of Simon de Abyndon and Stephen son of the said Simon, William the testator's son, William de Causton his kinsman (cognati mei), and others; also charged with the maintenance of certain tapers in the said church. Also to the Prior and brethren of the Order of Holy Cross, London, he leaves certain tenements in the parishes of St.. Dunstan towards the Tower and All hallows at Graschurche, one being called "le Cardinshat", subject to similar charges; to the Master and Brethren of the Hospital of St.. Bartholomew de Smythefeld, shops in Temestrete in the parish of All Hallows upon the Cellar in aid of the poor of the said hospital; and to the Fraternity of St.. Anne in the chapel annexed to the parish church of St.. Antony, certain rents in the parish of St.. Christopher in aid of the maintenance of the chaplain to the fraternity. Thomas de Langeton appointed principal executor; John de Causton junior, John de Stouton, the testator's apprentice, and Hugh de Hegham, chaplain, appointed co-executors; Adam Fraunceys and James Andrew supervisors of his testament. Dated London, 30 July 1353. Also to the church of St.. Mary atte Hull he leaves his brewery and houses in the parish of St.. Mary aforesaid in aid of a chantry in the said parish church for the soul of Henry Bernard.

[Footnote to the will: From an 'Account of the Parish of St.. Mary at Hill, its Church estates and Charities' (privately printed in 1878), it appears that most, if not all, of this property came into the possession of the parish, notwithstanding the terms of the will. This did not, however, occur without considerable litigation, a lawsuit between the parish and the Convent of St.. Helen having been protracted over three years. The writer of the account states that no records of the suit exist in the parish books, except as to costs, which include a great many presents of wine etc. to the judges, "My lordes Hussey and Bryant". In the margin, opposite this devise to Thomas de Langeton, etc. there are written the words "Hic lege", probably as an instruction to counsel engaged in the suit.]

Although a son is mentioned as executor of John de Caustone's will it is not thought that any children survived him (16). Whilst our knowledge of the life of John de Caustone is limited it is clear that he was an important figure known in court circles and prominent in the life of the City of London.

Bibliography

1. Ekwall, Eilert Studies on the Population of Medieval London.

2. A.H.Thomas Calendar of Early Mayor's Court Rolls of the City of London 1298-1307, 193 Cambridge 1924

3. Ekwall E. Two early London Subsidy Rolls Lund 1951 p.223

4. Beaven, Rev. A.B. The Aldermen of the City of London London 1905,I,383

5. Calendar of Coroners Rolls of the City of London 1300-1378 pps.108,119,130

6. Calendar of Patent Rolls 1321-1324 p.424

7. Stow J. Survey of London (1720) II 362

8. Williams Gwyn.A. Medieval London from Commune to Capital London 1970 pps.137,140

9. Calendar of Patent Rolls 1327-1330, p.20

10. Calendar of Fine Rolls 1327-1337, p.260 (twice)

11. Calendar of Patent Rolls 1334-1338, pps. 103,197

12. Calendar of Fine Rolls 1337-1347, p.307

13. " " 1337-1347, p.492

14 Westminster Abbey Muniments WAM 13431

15 City of London Court of Husting, Calendar of Wills, Roll 81/71, p.672

16. Anne Sutton Ph.D. thesis 1995 The Mercery Trade and Mercer's company of London 1130-1348. University of London.

Ann Causton

The Y chromosome DNA project

Professor Goldstein's laboratory at University College London is running a DNA research project investigating whether families have Viking roots and how different kinds of Y chromosome relate to different surnames. The DNA sample is simply taken from a swab wiped inside the mouth. The DNA is tested for type and patterns of variation. This variation is normal and has no medical implications. The testing is free and can prove that people are related even when no paper record of such a link exists. Men inherit their Y chromosome from their father only. It mutates at a very slow rate, about once every ten generations. Thus it should be possible to show common ancestry even if the connection is back in the fourteenth century. We are collecting samples from males with the Cason, Caston, Causton, Cawston, Corston, Coston surnames. It was intended to include the Caxton surname but this has turned out to be very rare and no volunteers have been found. This study is open for new volunteers until the end of 2002. It will some time before the results are known but it should be in time for the next newsletter.

Portrait of a Researcher

by Karen Andersen

Approximately a year and a half ago, I was "surfing" the Internet to see if I could find any information of several of my family names. I had been researching one line in particular for which there was a lot of information and research that had been completed. My Causton line seemed an unlikely prospect. However, I typed in the name "Causton" just to see if I might find something-anything-about this family name. Needless to say I found John Causton's site, and within days I learning about this family.

My great-grandmother, Harriet Causton Brown, died 50 years ago last May. During the summer of 2000 my mother was in England and obtained a copy of Harriet's birth certificate. Until that time we did not know the names of her parents. We did know that her father had died before her birth, and the birth certificate confirmed this information. It took awhile to find her father's death certificate. His name was listed as "Walter Corsten." He died four days before Harriet's birth. I have often thought that this must have been such a sad time for Harriet's mother.

From the 1880 Census I found that Harriet was living with her maternal grandparents, as was an older sister, Eliza Elizabeth. When I received the copy of Eliza Elizabeth's birth certificate it showed her parents to be William and Martha Southgate Causton. However, I have decided that the registrar must have made a mistake.

As I know very little about Harriet and her family I decided to order a marriage certificate for an Eliza Causton thinking that I might find out what became of Eliza Elizabeth. However, it was not the right person. As a mother and fulltime university student I have not had time to devote to this project. However, one of my next steps will be to order a certificate for the other Eliza Causton listed in the GRO. I am looking forward to the day when I can visit England again and visit the birthplaces of my ancestors and hopefully meet some of my living relatives.

Karen Anderson

Harriet Causton Brown 1874 - 1952

Support for the Poor

The xjth of Marche anno 1588 et 9 [11 March 1589]

Yt is ordred and agreed bi the wardens of Mr Tooley's Foundacion that Robert Cawston, a poore, aged, and lame man of this towne, beyenge of honeste fame and reporte, in resspecte of his poverty and ympotency, shall hove from hensforthe a weekly relyfe of ten pence allowed him out of Mr Tooley's Foundacion, to be paide him bi the renter-warden out of the revenues of the saide Foundacion, the first payment thereof to be begyn on Fryday next.

[Signed] Robert Snellinge, John Knappe

Ref: Poor Relief in Elizabethan Ipswich by John Webb

Taxes for the Better Off - the Hearth Tax

This tax was levied at the rate of one shilling per hearth twice a year. The poor (as certified by a minister, church warden or overseer) did not pay. The number of hearths was a clue to social status. Seven hearths or more indicated gentry, four to seven wealthy tradesmen, merchants and yeomen, two to three suggests craftsmen, merchants and yeomen and one hearth poor craftsmen, husbandmen and labouring poor. The tax was very unpopular as officers had the right to enter houses to count hearths. Some house owners bricked up chimneys. The tax was removed by William III in 1689 and was replaced by a window tax - so occupiers bricked up windows instead.

The numbers of hearths were recorded and some have survived. The following list is for Suffolk in 1674. Fractional number probably indicated multiple ownership and therefore a shared tax liability.

Analysis of the 1881 Census return in England and Wales

A computer generated analysis of the distribution and frequency of the Causton surname, including Causten, Caustin, Cawsten and Cawston spellings can be seen here . Even though by the time of this census the surname had been in use for more than five hundred years there is still a clear concentration in eastern England. This can be seen on this map of the United Kingdom. Caustons comprised only 0.0021% of the population.

ISSN 1473-3676