Mr. Charles Bernard, who had been a most zealous Clerk and high in the esteem of the Court, died somewhere between the 5th and 20th February, 1740.
25th March, 1740. Joseph Wheeler, son of John Wheeler, Barber-Surgeon, elected Clerk, vice Bernard. Wheeler wrote a fine bold and flowing hand; and the books were well kept, but he was evidently not so able a man as Mr. Bernard.
4th July, 1740. Joseph Wheeler provided two sureties who entered into a bond for £3,000, to ensure his fidelity in the execution of his office.
17th January, 1743. The Commissioners of the Navy having complained that sufficient regard had not been paid to former letters of theirs respecting Surgeons’ Mates, and it appearing that the Clerk had withheld the said letters from the Court, it was ordered that he should be suspended forthwith, with which the Commissioners were acquainted and also that the Court had resolved not to take off such suspension but by the consent and desire of the Commissioners.
31st January, 1743. The Commissioners of the Navy having signified their desire that the Clerk should be restored to his office, he was called into Court, severely reprimanded, reinstated in his position, and cautioned as to his future conduct.
Mr. Wheeler continued Clerk until the separation of the Surgeons from the Barbers in 1745, when neither body retained his services, and it appearing that moneys were due from him to the Company, application was made to his sureties.
25th June, 1745. John Paterson was chosen Clerk to the Barbers’ Company at the first Court held after the separation, and entered into a Bond with two sureties in a sum of £2,000.
19th February, 1746. Mr. Paterson having brought in an account of his Costs in the matter of the separation of the Surgeons amounting to £167 13s. 2d., and also an account of voluntary contributions by members of the Company towards defraying the same amounting to £168 10s. 6d., he begged the Court to accept of his past services as a return for the honour done him in his election, and the Court were pleased to accept of the compliment, but having a high sense of the services rendered by Mr. Paterson, they directed the sum of £80 to be laid out in plate and presented to him “to remain in his family as a memorial of his merit and of their gratitude.”
5th March, 1765. Mr. Paterson requested permission to resign his office, which the Court accepted with great reluctance, and passed a complimentary resolution in his favour.