SIR JOHN LETHIEULLIER.
Sir John Lethieullier, who was born in 1633, was descended from the Le Thieulliers, an old Protestant family in the Low Countries; his great grandfather John was burnt at Valenciennes for his religion by the infamous Duke D’Alva. His grandfather John was a merchant at Cologne and died there in 1593. His widow survived him thirty-eight years and came over to England in 1605 with her only son John, who was born in 1591. In 1620 he was established as a Merchant in London, but on the breaking out of the Civil Wars he went over to Amsterdam and returned to England at the Restoration; he lived at Lewisham, where he died on 2nd November, 1679, having married Jane, daughter of John de la Fortre, of London, by whom he had five sons and three daughters. His eldest son, Sir John Lethieullier, was apprenticed to Sir John Frederick (Barber-Surgeon) and admitted to the freedom by servitude 11th November, 1657. He served the office of Master in 1676, having been Sheriff of London in 1674. He was a successful merchant and a rich man, having a great fortune by his wife Anne, daughter of Sir William Hooker, who was Lord Mayor in 1673. Sir John was a free brother of the Company of Merchant Adventurers of England, and of the Society of Merchants of London Trading to the Levant Seas and the East Indies. His third brother, Sir Christopher Lethieullier was Sheriff of London, 1689, and died 1690. On the 20th November, 1707, Sir John wrote to the Court asking to be relieved from the office of an Assistant on account of his indisposition and age (he was then 74), but the Court, out of a feeling of respect towards him, refused to accept his resignation, and ordered that the Wardens should have a personal interview with him to know his pleasure. This was done, and on the 15th January following his resignation was accepted. Sir John, who resided at Greenwich, died there on the 4th January, 1719, having had two sons, John and William (both of whom were free of the Company), and three daughters.
Sir John Lethieullier’s will, of prodigious length, is dated 6th May, 1709, and he therein directs that he shall be buried in the vault in Greenwich Church with his late wife. To his two daughters, Letitia and Leonora he gave £10,200 each, and to his married daughter, Lady Ann Dodwell, whom he had previously provided for, £1,000. To all his grandchildren £100 each. To Christ’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals and to the French Congregation in Threadneedle Street £100 each, numerous gifts to the poor in various parishes, and bequests to friends, relatives and servants for mourning and rings. All his lands and houses in the City of London (except two) and in the county of Essex to his son John. Two houses on College Hill, late in the occupation of Sir Henry Furnese and Sir Alexander Cairnes, to his two daughters, also his house and land at Lewisham, his best coach and chariot horses, live stock, &c. All his other freeholds and houses in Beckenham, Lewisham and Battersea, his lands at Dartford and his manor of Sutton at Hone and Wilmington to his son William. There are four codicils to this Will and by one of them (19th July, 1714) he gave the manor of Rowhill, which he had then lately purchased to his son William. His two sons were appointed executors.
Arms. Ar. a chev. gu. betw. three parrots’ heads couped vert. beaked of the second.