| Click Images to View Coin Details |
Saffron Walden
The notes relating to the issuers of the tokens of this town have been kindly furnished by Joseph Clarke, Esq., F.S.A., of Saffron Walden. |
W272: Essex, Saffron Walden (Farthing): (Date Unknown)
| O | The Mercers' Arms |
| RICHARD KENTISH |
| R | R K |
| IN SAFFRON WALDEN R K | |
|
Image not available |
W273: Essex, Saffron Walden (Farthing): (Date Unknown)
| O | Head of a black boy |
| RICHARD KENTISH |
| R | R K |
| IN SAFFRON WALDEN R K | |
|
Image not available |
| Black Boy, sign of an inn so named. It is several times mentioned in the corporation and churchwardens' books of the time as being the place where they occasionally held their festivities. The head has been called crowned, but it is more like a turbaned head, and doubtless is meant for that of a black boy. It is beautifully executed in low relief. As neither of these tokens have any date, they may not have belonged to the same person, or the mercer may have merged into the publican, or the publican into the mercer, as the two initials on the reverse are alike on both, without a third. They may have been issued by the same man, evidently a bachelor. Extract from the Mayor's book, Saffron Walden, 1682, May 27th: "Spent at the Black-boy with the Chamberlains, when we assessed fines on the Quakers, 4s. 6d." |
|
W274: Essex, Saffron Walden (Farthing): (1653)
| O | Two tobacco-pipes |
| SAMVELL LEADER |
| R | 1653 |
| OF SAFRON WALDEN 1653 | |
|
Image not available |
| As his name frequently occurs among the churchwardens' books, he must have been an active man. He was one of the earliest on record who filled the highest office of the borough, which was only held for one year. He was treasureer in 1662, and again in 1670, and in 1680 he was fined £5 for refusing to serve the office. |
|
W276: Essex, Saffron Walden (Farthing): (1656)
| O | The Grocers' Arms |
| ANN MATHEWS IN |
| R | A M |
| SAFFORN WALDEN 1656 A M | |
|
Image not available |
| The widow of a schoolmaster, after whose death commenced business on her own account.--See John Potter. |
|
W277: Essex, Saffron Walden (Farthing): (1658)
| O | The Grocers' Arms |
| THOMAS MEHEW OF |
| R | T M 1658 |
| SAFFORN WALLDIN T M 1658 | |
|
Image not available |
| Thomas Mayhew (Mehew) during the disturbed times of the Commonwealth and the Restoration, was in and out of office more than once; he had been treasurer, but an extract from the Corporation election-book, 1662, 2nd Charles II gives us: "William Leader, Thomas Runham, the elder, and Thomas Mayhew were (illegally) displaced from the body corporate for refusing to take the oath of supremacy." Henry Leader took the oath. Thomas Mayhew must afterwards have had the ban removed, as in 1665 he was one of the chamberlains, and in 1680 was treasurer. |
|
W279: Essex, Saffron Walden (Farthing): (1656)
| O | A hart couchant and I A P |
| IOHN POTTER I A P |
| R | A M |
| SAFFORN WALDEN 1656 A M | |
|
Image not available |
| This reverse is that of Anne Mathews, without the slightest alteration, as the very crowded date testifies. John Potter was chamberlain in 1670, and treasurer in 1679. He was landlord of the White Hart (now the Hoops), then the most popular inn in the town. He married the widow of a schoolmaster, who had commenced as a grocer on her own account, neither of them giving up their occupations on marriage; as may be seen by their amalgamated tokens, they carried on their respective callings conjointly. There is a bill extant for groceries supplied to the Corporation by John Potter alone. |
|
W280: Essex, Saffron Walden (Farthing): (1655)
| O | 1655 |
| EDWARD TOMPSON 1655 |
| R | E K T |
| IN SAFFRON WALDEN E K T | |
|
Image not available |
W281: Essex, Saffron Walden (Farthing): (1659)
| O | 1659 |
| EDWARD TOMSON 1659 |
| R | E K T |
| IN SAFRON WALDEN E K T | |
|
Image not available |
W282: Essex, Saffron Walden (Farthing): (1656)
| O | Two fishes |
| WILLIAM WILDMAN IN |
| R | 1656 |
| SAFFRON WALLDING 1656 | |
|
Image not available |
| Was chamberlain in 1661 |
|
W283: Essex, Saffron Walden (Farthing): (1667)
| O | Two fishes |
| WILLIAM WILDMAN |
| R | 1667 |
| OF SAFFRON WALDEN 1667 | |
|
Image not available |
| Son of the above. Was treasurer in 1674. |
|
