VAUXHALL WORKS, AND CASPAR KALTOFF.

I.

The Honourable Robert Boyle, corresponding with Samuel Hartlib, the latter, under date “Duke’s Place, July 24th, 1649,” writes—“As for Vauxhall, there is a proviso put into the Act, that it shall not be sold.”

And in another letter, dated “May 8th, 1654,” Hartlib says—“The Earl of Worcester is buying Vaux-hall from Mr. Trenchard, to bestow the use of that house upon Gaspar Calehof and his son, as long as they shall live.” [Works, fol. 1744, Vol. V., pp. 257 and 264.]

II.

The annexed particulars of the premises at Vauxhall, where the Marquis of Worcester erected one of his Water-commanding Engines, and of Kalthoff and his family, are derived from the Books of the Duchy of Cornwall Office.

1.—Duchy of Cornwall Office.

From Index to Reports—1660–1684. A to P. 1. Kennington* (Surry).

Peter Jacobson.

*Kennington (Foxhall House) 26th Oct., 1666. His Majesty’s Warrant directed to Lord Treasurer Southampton and Lord Ashley, to grant Mr. Jacobson a Lease for his life at a moderate rent, he having expended the sum of £700. on the Premises in making them convenient for the Trade of a Sugar Baker.—

Fo. 218.

Surveyor General’s Constat [or Direction] on the Warrant of Lord Ashley, Chancellor of Exchequer, enters minutely into every particular of the premises, showing in what manner the whole has been occupied, and reports the value per annum, and the value for a fine, &c.

Fo. 219.

[^*_*^*Jacobson married Kaltoff’s daughter.]

2.—Martha Calthoff.

The Widow of Gaspar Calthoff (a native of Holland, who had settled in this House by his Attorney, and employed in making Guns and divers Engines and works for the King’s service). Her Petition and case at large. Here Sir Charles Harbard also enters into a very minute detail of the premises in question.

Fo. 326.

3.—Duchy of Cornwall Office.

Report H. 1.1665–1668.

(Signed)Charles R.

Vauxhall, Peter Jacobson.

[By his Petition—has been at a Charge of £700. in repairing and building a part of Vauxhall, which was waste, and made the same convenient for a Sugar Baker, the said J.’s profession—in con. of his charges—and losses by the late fire at London—desires some certainty of the Premises.—Our pleasure to grant a Lease to P. J. of that part of Vauxhall which he hath repaired and built for his trade of a Sugar Baker—for the term of his life—at some moderate Rental. Whitehall, 26th Oct. 1666. 18th year of reign.]

4.—Duchy of Cornwall Office.

Report H. 1.1665–68.

[Report of the Surveyors General C. Harbard and Hugh May, dated 25th and 27th April, 1668, respecting Foxhall House, parcel of the Manor of Kennington and Duchy of Cornwall.]

^*_*^* This is already quoted in the “Life, Times, &c.,” page 239.

5.—Duchy of Cornwall Office.

Particulars of a Lease in the form of Letters Patent.

22nd March, 1667–68. Letters Patent whereby the King demised unto Peter Jacobson—

All that part of our Mansion House called Vauxhall or Ffoxhall, part of the Manor of Kennington, in the County of Surrey, extending in length next the River Thames 186 feet, or thereabout, and in width 22 feet, or thereabout; and all that other part of the same Mansion House adjoining the premises, and from thence extending towards the S.E. 47 feet, and in width N.W. 33½; feet, or thereabout, and in other parts 24¼ feet, or thereabout; together with all that area or place adjoining and fenced in, extending in length 141½ feet, or thereabout, and in width to the W. end 40 feet, and to the S. end 47 feet, or thereabout, together with free ingress and egress in and through the steps and doors existing at the N. end of the aforesaid house, and through and over the area there, called the Court-yard, appertaining to the aforesaid House, and all that Stable lately built upon part of the said place or area last mentioned, consisting in length 28½ feet, or thereabout, and in width 17 feet, or thereabout; also that shed 26 by 10 feet—premises in or near the Parish of Lambeth, and now in the tenure or occupation of Peter Jacobson * *.

This Lease granted in consideration of the expense incurred in repairing and amending the buildings for and during his natural life, at a Rental of only £5.

6.—Duchy of Cornwall Office.

Mem. from various Drafts.

12th January, 1659–60.—Ch. II.

Indenture of Lease between the King’s Majesty and Henry Lord Moore.

22nd March, 1667–8.—19th Ch. II.

Letters Patent—The King unto Peter Jacobson. To hold during the natural life of P. J. Rent £5.

1st Aug. 1672.—24th Ch. II.

Letters Patent whereby the King from grace and favour towards Jasper Calthoff and Martha Calthoff lately deceased, and their children, devised unto Herbert Price, Knight and Baronet, James Read, Esq., and John Renny, Gentleman, at the nomination and appointment of Claude Denis and Catherine his wife, one of the daughters of the said Jasper Calthoff and Martha his wife.

Jasper Calthoff and Isabel Calthoff, others of the sons and daughters of the said Jasper and Martha Calthoff.

^*_*^* Then there would be also Peter Jacobson, the son-in-law, who married a daughter.

7. The following particulars are derived from the Records of the State Paper Office:—

State Papers. Vol. 142, No. 134.

Martha Kalthof and Peter Jacobson’s Petition.

To the King’s most excellent Majesty.

The Humble Petition of Martha, widow of Caspar Kalthof, and Peter Jacobson, her son-in-law.

Showeth,

That the said Martha is the distressed widow of the said Caspar, your Majesty’s and your Royal father’s old servant. That he was planted by your Majesty’s most gracious father in Vauxhall, and had building therein erected for the exercise of his art and feat as Ingineur [engineer].

That your Majesty upon your happy Restoration resettled him in the said house, after he had been long turned out of doors by the great Traitor and Usurper.

That in this ejection her husband was plundered and bereaved of an estate near £3,000. sterling, and left with 4 children, some whereof were infants.

That being reinstated by your Majesty as aforesaid, he was naked and without means to prefer his daughter grown up, but upon the trust of your Majesty’s grace, did dispose of one of his daughters to the Petitioner, Peter Jacobson, but without any other portion than the firm hopes of your Majesty’s continued grace and Royal goodness.

That in consideration the Petitioner, Peter Jacobson, did bestow in making the building of that house for his calling of sugar-baking near the sum of £700. sterling.

That now, on the death of his said father-in-law, he is left at your Majesty’s mercy for his continuance in this house to the Petitioner Martha’s subsistence and her other two daughters preferment, [which] depends wholly upon the said Peter Jacobson his enjoyment of the said house for perfecting his work, and refunding his said great expences. And although your Majesty hath been graciously pleased to design the son of the said Caspar to succeed this office and service, yet forasmuch as he is held up by the Emperor of Russia, the Petitioners are both under great fears without your Majesty’s special grace and clemency.

Their most humble Petition therefore and only hope is that your Majesty will be graciously pleased in contemplation of both their desolate otherwise, and truly sad condition, to grant them such terms of years in the said house, as may in some measure repair the estate of the said widow to provide of the maintenance of herself and preferment of her two orphan daughters, and enable the Petitioner Peter, her son-in-law, by holding the said Sugar-house some certain term of years to have recompense of his said expense of £700. bestowed upon your Majesty’s grounds, which he will leave after in good repair to the improvement of your Majesty’s interest.

And your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever with theirs pray, &c.

[See Col. State Papers, Dom. Series, 1665–66, edited by Mrs. M. A. E. Green. 8vo. 1864. p. 153, No. 134.]

[Vol. 102, No. 13. Sept. 5. Whitehall. Warrant from Secretary Bennet. (Ent. Book 16, p. 220.)]

It is his Majesty’s pleasure that Sir Herbert Price, Sir Paul Neal, and Sir Robert Murray, being attended by Mr. Gervase Price, his Majesty’s Serjeant Trumpeter, do visit Foxhall, and there enquire by whom the several rooms in it are possessed, and particularly what belongs to the Marquis of Worcester, what to Gaspar Collthoffe, late deceased, and what their respective interests in the Engines, Tools, &c. remaining in that place are, hearing on the one part the Lord John Somerset; and on the other the widow of the said Colthoff, and his son-in-law, and any persons relating to them, of all which the said persons above mentioned are to give an account to his Majesty in writing. Whitehall, September 5, 1664.

Henry Bennet.

[See Cal. State Papers, Dom. Series, 1664–65. Edited by Mrs. M. A. E. Green. 8vo. 1863. p. 2. No. 13.]