Thomas Lester, Thomas Pack
& William Chapman
Whitechapel
1769 - 1769
In the last year of Thomas Lester's life, his nephew William Chapman joined Whitechapel and became his foreman.
Our Sussex examples are at Fletching and Bexhill, and judging by the inscriptions, the 3rd, 6th, and 7th at Fletching were cast later than the rest, as Chapman's name is not included.
Their bells are inscribed the same, reading:
LESTER, PACK & CHAPMAN
usually followed by
OF LONDON FECIT 1769
and they continued using Lester's alphabet and his ornamentation.
The Dove's guide database shows an interesting bell in Yorkshire dated 1771, 2 years after Thomas Lester died. Although this may be a mistake?
Due to declining health, Thomas Lester wrote a draft of his will in the winter of 1768 - 1769. On June 17th, he visited his lawyer's office and found two clerks present. They read over his will and he later realised that he left too much money in legacies. Therefore, he added up all the money, and had some reduced. The £50 he had for Thomas Janaway was omitted altogether.
The following day, he had a fit which rendered him speechless, and he passed away on Monday 19th June 1769, aged 66.
He surrenders the foundry to the use of his will. He gave John Exeter of Hornchurch the premises of the foundry on trust for the sole use and benefit of Lester's Granddaughter, Sarah Oliver. Upon her death, her child, or children, shall then become tenants.
I Give devise and bequeath unto John Exeter of Hornchurch in the county of Essex Gentleman Allthough my custamony or copy hold messuage or tenement with the Bell Foundry coach house yard stable and all other the appmis thereunto belonging situate and being on the South side of White Chapel Street in the manor of Stepney otherwise Stebonheath in the county of Middlesex (and all which said premisses I have in due form of Law surrendered to the use of this my will) To hold to the said John Exeter his heirs and assigns forever Upon Trust nevertheless for the sole use and benefit of my Grandaughter Sarah Oliver Spinster and her assigns for and the rest of her natural life and from and Immediatly after her decease. Then upon trust to and for the use benefit and behoof of all and every such the child or children of my said granddaughter lawfully to he begotten as shall be having at the hind of her decease and their heirs and assigns for ever share and share while for hold as tenants in common and not as joint tenants.
He also wished that Thomas Pack took William Chapman into equal partnership and directed that John Exeter grants them a lease in the foundry for £75 per year. He mentions that if Thomas Pack were to retire from the company, the profits should be shared equally between them.
The Said William Chapman and Thomas Pack shall be both hiring at the time of my disease that the said William Chapman shall become copartner of the Said Thomas Pack in the said trade or Business of a Bell Founder. If the said Thomas Pack shall solong continue the said trade or business of a Bellfounder and upon his [?] the same that he shall loane or make ever the whole of the said business to the said William Chapman and that during the time the said copartnership shall so continue as aforesaid that the said Thomas Pack shall allow unto the said William Chapman one full and equal [?] or half part of the profits
He bequeathed all his tools, crooks and gauges to John Exeter for Thomas Pack and William Chapman's use.
Upon his death, the foundry was worked under the name of Pack & Chapman.
Our Sussex examples are at Fletching and Bexhill, and judging by the inscriptions, the 3rd, 6th, and 7th at Fletching were cast later than the rest, as Chapman's name is not included.
Their bells are inscribed the same, reading:
LESTER, PACK & CHAPMAN
usually followed by
OF LONDON FECIT 1769
and they continued using Lester's alphabet and his ornamentation.
The Dove's guide database shows an interesting bell in Yorkshire dated 1771, 2 years after Thomas Lester died. Although this may be a mistake?
Due to declining health, Thomas Lester wrote a draft of his will in the winter of 1768 - 1769. On June 17th, he visited his lawyer's office and found two clerks present. They read over his will and he later realised that he left too much money in legacies. Therefore, he added up all the money, and had some reduced. The £50 he had for Thomas Janaway was omitted altogether.
The following day, he had a fit which rendered him speechless, and he passed away on Monday 19th June 1769, aged 66.
He surrenders the foundry to the use of his will. He gave John Exeter of Hornchurch the premises of the foundry on trust for the sole use and benefit of Lester's Granddaughter, Sarah Oliver. Upon her death, her child, or children, shall then become tenants.
I Give devise and bequeath unto John Exeter of Hornchurch in the county of Essex Gentleman Allthough my custamony or copy hold messuage or tenement with the Bell Foundry coach house yard stable and all other the appmis thereunto belonging situate and being on the South side of White Chapel Street in the manor of Stepney otherwise Stebonheath in the county of Middlesex (and all which said premisses I have in due form of Law surrendered to the use of this my will) To hold to the said John Exeter his heirs and assigns forever Upon Trust nevertheless for the sole use and benefit of my Grandaughter Sarah Oliver Spinster and her assigns for and the rest of her natural life and from and Immediatly after her decease. Then upon trust to and for the use benefit and behoof of all and every such the child or children of my said granddaughter lawfully to he begotten as shall be having at the hind of her decease and their heirs and assigns for ever share and share while for hold as tenants in common and not as joint tenants.
He also wished that Thomas Pack took William Chapman into equal partnership and directed that John Exeter grants them a lease in the foundry for £75 per year. He mentions that if Thomas Pack were to retire from the company, the profits should be shared equally between them.
The Said William Chapman and Thomas Pack shall be both hiring at the time of my disease that the said William Chapman shall become copartner of the Said Thomas Pack in the said trade or Business of a Bell Founder. If the said Thomas Pack shall solong continue the said trade or business of a Bellfounder and upon his [?] the same that he shall loane or make ever the whole of the said business to the said William Chapman and that during the time the said copartnership shall so continue as aforesaid that the said Thomas Pack shall allow unto the said William Chapman one full and equal [?] or half part of the profits
He bequeathed all his tools, crooks and gauges to John Exeter for Thomas Pack and William Chapman's use.
Upon his death, the foundry was worked under the name of Pack & Chapman.
Alphabets & Ornaments
Fig. TLE, 1 - Walthamstow 7th
Fig. TLE,2 - Horsham 7th
Fig. TLE,2 - Horsham 7th
Larger Set
Smaller Set
Inscriptions
- RICHARD PHELPS LONDINI FECIT 1706
- R: PHELPS MADE 1707
- RICHARD PHELPS MADE ME 1708
- R. PHELPS MADE ME 1708
- R PHELPS MADE ME 1712
- R. PHELPS FECIT 1713
- 1717
- RICHARD PHELPS MADE ME 1718
- R: PHELPS FECIT 1721
- R : PHELPS FECIT 1729
- R: PHELPS FECIT 1733
- RICHARD PHELPS MADE ME 1734
- R : PHELPS FECIT 1737
- R PHELPS FECIT 1737
- R PHELPS LONDINI FECIT 1737
- R : PHELPS LONDINI FECIT 1737
Sussex bells by Lester, Pack & Chapman in Chronological order |
No places with Lester, Pack & Chapman are on The Bells of Sussex yet. |
Sources:
.Sussex Bells & Belfries by George P Elphick
.History of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry by Amhurst D. Tyssen
.The National Archives - PROB 11/952/173 Thomas Lester's Will
.Sussex Bells & Belfries by George P Elphick
.History of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry by Amhurst D. Tyssen
.The National Archives - PROB 11/952/173 Thomas Lester's Will
