A LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY WHO HAVE SERVED THE OFFICES OF SHERIFF, ALDERMAN OR LORD MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LONDON.

Name.Master.Sheriff.Alderman.Mayor.
Sir John Ayliffe (Grocer)15381548Bridge Without, 1551
Dowgate
Sir Peter Proby (Grocer)16151614Queenhithe1622
Sir John Frederick (Grocer)16541655Vintry, 16531661
M.P. for Dartmouth, M.P. for the City.1658Coleman Street
Edward Arris1651— Bridge Without, 1663
Sir Nathaniel Herne16741674Billingsgate, 1676
M.P. for Dartmouth.
Sir John Lethieullier16761674——
Sir Humphry Edwin (Skinner)16881688Tower1697
Sir William Stewart (Goldsmith)— 1711Cripplegate, 17111721
Sir John Bull (Clothworker)— 1718——
Sir Thomas Challoner17611762Aldgate, 1760
Walter Henry Wilkin1885— Lime Street, 1888


HISTORICAL ACCOUNT

THE BARBERS UNINCORPORATE.

The origin of the Barbers’ Guild partook of a religious character; and the meeting together of men of the craft for religious observances, for attending the funerals and obits of deceased members and their wives, and for feasting once a year, gradually transformed a semi-social and religious guild into what ultimately became a purely secular or “trade guild.” This religious origin is borne out by the very important Return made by the Barbers of London, to the Writ of 12th Rich. II, and is strengthened by reference to the Returns made by the Barbers of Lincoln and of Norwich (both which latter are preserved at the Record Office), and which clearly point to those guilds being of a religious character; indeed the Barbers of Norwich do not seem to have had a single secular or trade ordinance in their constitution.

1388. In the Return of the Barbers of London to the Writ of Richard II, the Masters recite that they “have found a document amongst the articles of their records made of the time to which memory runneth not,” concerning the points upon which the fraternity was founded;