When is a Brewer not a Brewer?

On a recent visit to Harwich, our Archivist was intrigued to discover a large plaque on one of the many historic buildings there, bearing the name Humphrey Parsons. The name rang a bell and a quick internet search on the spot revealed that, yes, her instincts were correct - he had been Master of the Brewers’ Company from 1730 to 1731.

The inscription is in Latin and roughly translates as:

‘This edifice for instructing the youth of Harwich in good manners, literature and the doctrine of the Church of England, was founded and built at the proper charge of Humphrey Parsons, Esq. citizen and Alderman of London and Member of Parliament for this borough, A.D. 1724.

The founder begs thee, O Almighty God, to take it into thy protection; do thou prosper the munificence of the illustrious benefactor, and under thy favour may both the youth and the building succeed to thy honour for ever'

As MP for Harwich from 1722 to 1727, Parsons founded a school, known as the Harwich Corporation Free School, in 1724 and donated £500 towards it (around £91,000 today!). Initially 20 boys aged 10 to 14 were nominated by the Mayor to attend, and numbers increased throughout the 19th century, reaching around 87 when the school closed in 1911. Over time the building became derelict but was restored as a house in 1981 and is now a listed building.

Parsons was a brewer and politician, inheriting the Red Lion Brewery in East Smithfield (down by St Katherine’s Docks, not at Smithfield Market as the name may suggest) from his father, Sir John Parsons, a member of the Brewers’ Company and Master 1689-90 but who translated to the Fishmongers Company (one of the Great Twelve companies) in order to become Lord Mayor in 1703. This practice of ‘translating’ membership from a ‘lesser’ livery company continued until 1742 as until then the Lord Mayor was almost invariably elected from one of the most wealthy and influential (‘Great Twelve’) companies.

Humphrey was apprenticed to a Brewer in 1697 but for unknown reasons didn’t take up his freedom. Nonetheless, the Red Lion Brewery prospered under him and his political career took off. He also loved hunting and the story goes that whilst out riding with a hunting party he got himself noticed by the King of France and was given an exclusive contract to supply the French Court with porter.

On being elected Sheriff in 1722, Humphrey was a Wax Chandler, but had only become a member at the age of 50 in 1720. When the mayoralty became a definite possibility for him, he also translated to a Great Twelve company, the Grocers, in 1725 and in due course was elected Lord Mayor not once (in 1730) but twice (in 1740)! He was Master of the Brewers’ Company during the same year as his first mayoralty, but when did he become a member? Fortunately a researcher from the University of Toronto who compiled the Mayors and Sheriffs of London database (MASL) tracked him down in the Court minutes, revealing that the Company approached him in 1729 with an offer of membership, and he was made free in October that year.

Image © National Portrait Gallery, London