1666 - 350 in 66 items

350 YEARS IN 66 ITEMS
57. A Rare John Spink Farthing Token, 1657, In Nicholas Lane (St. Nicholas Lane), fine.
*The surname Spink (Spinks or Spinkes) was first recorded in the twelfth century and became quite
commonplace by the later Middle Ages, when it is found especially in Yorkshire and East Anglia. The
first records of a Spink being involved with the business that would characterize the firm of Spink & Son
occurs in the second half of the 17th century. An entry in the apprenticeship registers of the Worshipful
Company of Goldsmiths shows that in 1658 John Spink was apprenticed to a London goldsmith named
Alexander Venner. Why he came down from Yorkshire and how he became an apprentice is not known.
We would assume that John Spink completed his apprenticeship 1665/6 as they were normally for a
period of seven years. If this were to be the case then the origins of the firm Spink & Son are indeed in
1666. We do know from the records that a John Spink lived in St. Bride’s Precinct, Fleet Street, in a
house with three hearths.
The business of the goldsmiths who were rising in importance at this time was evolving into one of
money changers, lending money at interest (banking) and lending money against pledges of precious
objects. Several other members of the Spink family were involved in both activities during the latter half
of the 17th century.
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