full text - Plant Family History Group

y John Plant
PLANTS IN THE PUBLICATIONS OF TFIE LONDON RECORD SOCIETY
The London Record Society was formed in 1964 to publish important primary sources for the
history of London. It publishes a document each year, most of which make fascinating
detailed reading. I have tracked down a few references to Plants in London among these
documents, which “Roots & Branches” readers might find useful.
1. “London Inhabitants within the Walls”, published in 1966, is a survey, almost a census,
of residents in the City in 1695. The information source is the tax assessment reports
for a tax imposed by Wrlliam & Mary on all burials, births and marriages, as well as an
annual tax on bachelors over 25 years old. Two Plants are listed in this survey ;
Reb (presumably Rebecca) Plant, a widow in the Parish of St Mary at Hill
Ric (presumably Richard) Plant, a servant in the Parish of St Andrew
Undershaft.
The book gives information which could be used to access the source records. These
would provide further information about residents in the same household (if any), and
an indication of what they were taxed for.
2. Richard Hutton’s Complaints Book, is a record kept by the Steward of the Clerkenwel
Quaker Workhouse between 1711 and 1735. It was published by the LRS in 1987.
Hutton records a Committee meeting on 13 September 1725, at which John Plantwas
Chairman. The meeting awarded Hutton a pay Increase on the condition that he would
never again ask for an increase, and would continue in the service of the Workhouse
for the rest of his working hfe !
At a later Committee meeting (9 October 1727), John Plant was again present, but not
noted as Chairman. This meeting instructed Hutton not to readmit children who had
run away from the workhouse, except at a monthly meetmg. The reason for this was
“the great inconveniency of the chtldren running away from this house, and thereby
taking the opportunity of telling diverse notorious lies to the prejudice of the same and
scandalising the government thereof”.
Presumably this John Plant could be traced from contemporary Quaker records
3. The London Pollbooks of 1713, (published 1981), lists everybody who voted in the
general election of 1713 in the City. It refers to a John Plant, a weaver. He is recorded
as voting for the 4 candidates on the Whig ticket.
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