Surnames A - H are below, click here for I - Y
For family historians, here are the names of the cow-keepers named in the London newspapers of the Burney Collection, on the Gale website. The first hit was in 1681 and the last in 1800. Not all of them are mentioned in the essay itself but it seemed sensible, having found them, to publish the list. I have made a separate entry for each event I found reported in the newspapers. I have tried to keep the original spelling, or at least make a note of it, but I did standardise a bit so that each person's hits are grouped by Surname then Date. Often the person was 'Mr XXX' so sometimes I made an educated guess at his full name, or address; this is indicated by being in italics. Not everyone was named; I frequently read "a servant of a cowkeeper fell off his cart" or "the son of a cowkeeper from Islington did xxx" - not much help there then.
I searched for 'cow keeper' which also brought up 'cow-keeper' and for 'milk dealer' of which there were surprisingly few, and half of them for one bankrupt. I have also tried to identify the cow-keeper's District from the newspaper item when it was given; they were not always consistent; nor was I. Nor can I make any guarantee that I found them all, although I was trying to! Please note that although I got over 800 hits, many of them were duplicate bankruptcy notices. I did not search the London Gazette itself, but relied on the many ordinary newspapers which re-printed the official bankruptcy lists. When I found a particularly interesting story I did try to find out more, which involved checking British History Online and the National Archives catalogue, as well as the IGI and the usual suspects, and I have added my findings here. The occasional mention of '20% William tax' is my shorthand for the Four Shillings in the Pound tax charged by King William for his various wars - a full copy of this huge list of taxpayers is on British History Online.
Date | District | Place | Surname | Firstname | Newspaper story was about.. |
1752 Nov | Whitechapel | Church Lane | Abbit | Jnr? | stolen horse |
1728 Sep | Stepney | Stepney Field | Abbot | stolen horse | |
1779 Jul | Paddington | Ackerman | John | retired cowkeeper | |
1791 Dec | Vauxhall | Allen | John Jnr | bankrupt | |
1724 Nov | Surrey | Deptford Road | Allen | Widow | stolen horse near the Turnpike |
1799 Nov | Allesley | Thomas | servant stole hay; Guilty | ||
1761 Mar | Marybone | Alsop | died after a fight; son of a cowkeeper | ||
1794 Jul | Clerkenwell | Cold Bath Fields | Ashton | Matthew | sale of land and brickworks |
1794 Sep | St Pancras | Bagnigge Wells | Ashton | Matthew | notice of guaranteed milk price 2.5d per quart; money back if overcharged |
1784 Apr | Camberwell | Austin | William (dec'd) | sale of 52 houses and stock | |
1784 Jul | Walworth | opposite King's Head | Austin | William (dec'd) | sale of household furniture |
1783 Apr | St Pancras | Tottenham Ct Rd No 150 | Baker | Mary s | ale of house, garden and stock (Mrs, retiring) |
1729 Oct | Islington | Banister | James | bankrupt in the Fleet Prison | |
1748 May | Shoreditch | Castle Street | Banks | Abraham | died reputed very rich |
1780 Oct | St Pancras | Gray's Inn Lane | Barber | robbed of 16s | |
1778 Nov | Westminster | Horseferry road | Barrow | William | bankrupt |
1776 Apr | Shoreditch | Kingsland Road | Bartmater | John | died; farmer and cowkeeper [Badmaker] |
1776 Apr | Shoreditch | Kingsland Road | Bartmater | Elizabeth & Ann | wife and daughter, executors, request all debts be paid only to them |
1769 May | Limehouse | Bayley | Samuel | bankrupt | |
1766 May | Shoreditch | Kingsland | Bellis | John | married Miss Helley of Bishopsgate street |
1767 Oct | Shoreditch | Kingsland | Bellis | John | tenant of small field owned by Barts Hospital (just N of St Paul's) |
1782 May | City | Saffron Hill | Bellis | John | burgled whilst house occupied in daytime; burglar given death sentence |
1794 Sep | City | Kingsland | Bellis | John | notice of guaranteed milk price 2s 5d per quart; money back if overcharged |
1778 Dec | Bethnal Green | Bennet | burgled; disturbed; only took 30s-worth of halfpence | ||
1785 Feb | Westminster | Horseferry road | Berrow | William | bankrupt |
1714 Sep | St Pancras | Tottenham Court | Bilson | William | group notice saying our cows are free of Distemper [Tatnham Ct] |
1751 Nov | Marybone | Marybone Fields | Bilson | servant attacked during violent burglary | |
1695 Sep | Southwark | St George's Fields | Bouckenell | Charles | stolen horse |
1794 Sep | Islington | Wenlock Burn | Brook | Joseph | notice of guaranteed milk price 2s 5d per quart; money back if overcharged |
1794 May | Bow | Mile End | Burgess | Francis | servant (carman) Daniel Nightingale apologises for dangerous driving |
1783 Feb | Westminster | Burgess | Stephen | bankrupt | |
1714 Oct | Hackney | Burton | Ann | group notice saying our cows are free of Distemper | |
1714 Oct | Hackney | Burton | Henry | group notice saying our cows are free of Distemper | |
1735 Feb | Shoreditch | Hoxton | Burton | Mrs | bricklayer broke into house to lie with the Maid |
1711 Dec | Islington | Burton | Walter | theft of £200 bond | |
1714 Oct | Hackney | Burton | Walter | group notice saying our cows are free of Distemper | |
1715 Jun | Islington | Lower Street | Burton | Walter | farm and land to let; lately held by ... |
1735 Sep | Shoreditch | Hoxton | Burton | Walter | died rich; of apoplexy |
1757 Apr | Hackney | Buxton | John | bankrupt | |
1762 Sep | St Pancras | Battle Bridge | Byrn | Morris | bankrupt |
1762 Jul | Marybone | Cale | Mr | died | |
1690 Aug | St Giles in the Fields | Capper | Christopher | married Mary Bletchingden; he aged abt 27 [so yob~1663], she aged abt 20 [so yob~1670] | |
1692 Feb | St Giles in the Fields | Gt Russel St | Capper | Christopher | stolen horse from Hackney Marsh [not sure if same one; not named as cowkeeper] |
1712 Mar | St Giles Pound | Capper | Christopher | stolen horse from grounds of Benj Coker in Stepney; 5 guineas reward [much more than usual] | |
1714 Sep | St Giles in the Fields | Capper | Christopher | group notice saying our cows are free of Distemper | |
1716 May | St Giles in the Fields | Capper | Christopher | on jury list for Westminster Hall trial of men from Preston (gent) ALSO at Old Bailey jury Oct 1707 | |
1736 Mar | Marybone | Tottenham Court Road | Capper | Christopher | died Mr Capper, the great Cow-keeper, at his House in Tottenham Court Road, said to have died worth £30,000. |
1722 Jun | City | Lincoln's Inn | Capper | Francis | made a Commissioner for licensing and regulating hackney coaches and chairs; reappointed 1727; 1725: Commissioner in the new Commission of Bankrupts |
1733 Dec | Capper | Francis | still alive! re-appointed to the Commission for Bankrupts; and again 1737; wife was the daughter of Mr Thomas Bennet, an eminent Bookseller in St Paul's Churchyard, and who inherited very considerably when her mother was buried 3 Oct 1734 | ||
1738 Apr | Capper | James | unsuccessful in applying for post of organist at St Mary Magdelen Bermondsey | ||
1721 May | Capper | John [lawyer?] | lost a banknote made out to him in the sum of £640 dated Dec May 1721; found in the Transfer Room upstairs at the South-Sea House | ||
1728 Sep | Harton Street | Capper | Mr | drowned; fell from a barge; cheese-monger | |
1722 Sep | Capper | Mr | robbed by highwayman Ellstree/Edgworth road, of 5 guineas and bank note; robber used his name and knew about the Note | ||
1729 Aug | Hackney | Hackney Marsh | Capper | Mr | and Mr Byfield raced two Galloways, for 10 guineas; Mr Byfield won and much money was lost |
1737 Aug | Marybone | Tottenham Court Road | Capper | Mr | Tues 23 Aug; died Mr Capper, Father to the Rev Mr Capper and Uncle to Counsellor Capper of Chancery-lane [report dated 3rd Sept says Father to Counsellor Capper and does not mention the Rev; think this was a mix-up; cowkeeper CC died March 1736] |
1731 Nov | City | Chancery Lane | Capper | Mr Counsellor | died on Sunday last [31 Oct] at his brother's House in Chancery Lane who is this? |
1769 Oct | Marybone | Tottenham Court Road | Capper | Mrs | rent refunded and given £100 by her landlord (Duke of Bedford) to replace her stock after distemper |
1720 | Bloomsbury | St George's | Capper | Rev | Reader at Lincoln's Inn [resigned 1728]; 1724 Reader at Parish of St Giles in the Field; 1739 was lecturer of St George's Bloomsbury when mother died; son of widow Capper |
1728 Nov | Capper | Rev | made Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge; 1729 Chaplain to Bishop of Norwich; 1729 Bishop made him Preacher of Queen St Chapel, Lincoln's Inn Fields; 1729 Lent-Preacher at St Paul, Covent Garden; 1731 Rector of Bloomsbury's new St George's church £200pa; as Rev Dr, 1732 Rector of Thorp, Co Norfolk (presented by the Rt Hon Lord High Chancellor) | ||
1737 Feb | Capper | Richard | Esq, replaced as Sec of the Decrees and Injunctions, and Clerk of the Docquets, by the new Lord Chancellor | ||
1730 Aug | City | Jermain St | Capper | son of Mr | attorney in Chancery Lane, passing through Jermain St, rotten Cornish of a House fell down upon his Head so that his Brains came out; and on Sunday [26 July] he died of his Wound; on Sunday 2nd Aug [Daily Post 3rd Aug] - alive but speechless; died 3rd August [described thus, BUT NOT FRANCIS, who was still alive in 1733] |
1727 | Capper | Thomas | blacksmith, on voter list; later had a red velvet lined coach sold (1732) | ||
1733 Dec | Capper | W | an eminent Attorney at Law, died at Shafton, Dorset, a few days ago [ie early Dec] | ||
1739 Jul | Marybone | Tottenham Court Road | Capper | widow | died rich; aged 70+, widow of great cowkeeper |
1745 Jul | Marybone | Tottenham Court Road | Capper | fire | |
1714 Oct | Hackney | Carnell | Phillis | group notice saying our cows are free of Distemper | |
1797 Jan | Kennington | Kennington Common | Carter | John | bankrupt |
1746 Aug | Stoke N'ton | Newington Green | Chappin | Martha | farm to let; stock for sale |
1756 Oct | Mayfair | Hanover Sq | Charles | Thomas | bankrupt |
1771 Apr | Bethnal Green | Bishop Bonner's | Clark | John Jnr | bankrupt |
1729 Mar | Mayfair | Tyburn Lane [now Park Lane] | Clark | Joseph | £10 reward after conviction of highwaymen |
1737 Jun | Mayfair | Hyde Park Corner | Clark | Samuel | bankrupt |
1766 Feb | Paddington | Clark | Mr | son hanged himself | |
1775 Feb | Southwark | St George's Fields | Clarke | Mr | died of apoplexy |
1711 Oct | Hackney | Shore House | Coates | Thomas | stolen horse from Hackney Marsh |
1724 Aug | Bethnal Green | Coates | Thomas | horse stabbed, in the grounds of TC between Shoreditch Church and Bethnall-Green; £5 reward | |
1731 Nov | Bethnal Green | Coates | Thomas | stolen horse from Hackney Marsh | |
1737 Aug | Coates | Thomas | bankrupt | ||
1740 Dec | City | Old Bailey | Coates | Thomas | sentenced to death, with Thomas Nash, for breaking into and robbing the house of Hugh Dixey [aged 22; son of honest parents (Old Bailey transcripts) but died in his cell 1741] |
1667 Feb | Stepney | Bull Lane Independent | Coker | Benjamin | baptised by parents Thomas and Joane [IGI] |
1693 | Stepney | Mile End Old Town | Coker | Benjamin | assessed to pay £9 on rental value of £44; 20% William Tax |
1714 Sep | Stepney | Coker | Benjamin | group notice saying our cows are free of Distemper | |
1714 Nov | Coker | Benjamin | 115 cows slaughtered for distemper [see main report in essay] | ||
1715 | Coker | Benjamin | one of five men paid £680 for digging foundations of Limehouse Church [BHO Cal of Treasury Books Vol 29] | ||
1730 Mar | Coker | Benjamin | Richard Jones sent to Newgate for stealing two horses (£5 each) from BC's stable | ||
1741 Sep | Stepney | Stebon Heath | Coker | Benjamin | sewer officer; plans at his house; please come and check |
1744 Dec | Mile End | Coker | Benjamin | stolen horse from the Grounds of BC near the Turnpike at Mile-end; 1 guinea reward | |
1769 Jan | City | St Mary-hill | Coker | Benjamin | died;wine merchant, of St Mary-Hill |
1697 May | Stepney | St Dunstan | Coker | Benjamin Jr | baptised by parents Benjamen and Elizabeth [NB another Benj bapt by Wm and Mary 1709, same parish] |
1741 Aug | Hackney | Coker | Benjamin Jr | Petty Sessions summons: failure to pay Poor Rate of £2 13s 9d [far more than anyone else; BHO] | |
1743 May | Hackney | Coker | Benjamin Jr | Petty Sessions summons: failure to pay Poor Rate of 10s No Distress to be had | |
1743 Feb | Stepney | Stebon Heath | Coker | Benjamin Jr | bankrupt |
1745 Jun | Mile End | Coker | Benjamin Jr | cow-farm to let; new buildings | |
1714 Sep | Stepney | Cooper | John | group notice saying our cows are free of Distemper | |
1749 Aug | Westminster | Tothill Fields | Cosby | Thomas | two young women sent to jail for stealing milk (his milkmaids?) |
1755 Jun | Westminster | Horseferry road | Cosby | Thomas | bankrupt |
1761 Oct | no place given | Coyth | Thomas | sale of stock (deceased) | |
1779 Feb | Hackney | Well Street | Curtler | Josiah | sale (bankrupt)stock; forced by Sheriff of Middx |
1800 Mar | Westminster | Tothill Fields | Dairy | William | sale of stock (retiring) |
1797 Dec | Westminster Bridge | Darley | holding pair of horses for sale, near the Asylum | ||
1765 May | Shoreditch | Kingsland Road | Davis | Bryant | sale of farm and land |
1778 Dec | Islington | Lower Street | Davis | John | bankrupt |
1783 Apr | Southwark | Borough | Davis | Mrs | robbed by girl she took in from the workhouse |
1764 Aug | St Pancras | Battle Bridge | Davis | servant killed when falling off moving cart | |
1791 Apr | Knightsbridge | Davis | servant Hannah Williams attacked by James Adams, milkman for another cow-keeper in the same cow-house | ||
1778 Jan | Paddington | Dawson | wife died | ||
1772 Jan | Paddington | Kilbourn Road | Deall | William | sale of stock |
1776 Jul | Islington | Dell | robbery near his house | ||
1784 Jun | Marybone | Portland Street | Dendall | sale of bay mare, property of gentleman recently come from Yorkshire | |
1798 Jun | St Pancras | Gray's Inn Lane | Dennett | servants (two) charged with rape | |
1782 Feb | Bethnal Green | Brick Lane | Dun | rents outbuildings there for £22 pa | |
1728 Feb | Southwark | Eades | John | (butcher) daughter disappeared | |
1735 Jan | Westminster | Tothill Fields | Eades | John | found drowned at Westminster Bridge |
1714 Oct | Hackney | Eden | William | group notice saying our cows are free of Distemper | |
1714 Sep | Stepney | Elderton | William | group notice saying our cows are free of Distemper | |
1762 Mar | Dulwich | Eldridge | John | died; wealthy farmer and cowkeeper | |
1761 Mar | Shoreditch | Hoxton [Hogsden] | Eldridge | Richard | rents two fields at Hoxton for £27 +two more for £77 |
1759 Jul | Shoreditch | Hoxton [Hogsden] | Eldridge | fire: large haystack entirely consumed [NB lots of Eldridges around town +Oxford base] | |
1763 Nov | Shoreditch | Hoxton [Hogsden] | Eldridge | servant attacked and robbed | |
1764 Mar | Shoreditch | Hoxton [Hogsden] | Eldridge | servant killed by empty cart rolling over him | |
1714 Oct | Hackney | Elerton | Edward | group notice saying our cows are free of Distemper | |
1770 Nov | South Ockendon | Ennever | Joseph | sale of the remainder of the stock | |
1772 Dec | Bow | Mile-end old town | Ennever | Joseph | bankrupt |
1773 Jan | Bow | Mile-end old town | Ennever | Joseph | sale (bankrupt) stock and tools |
1773 Jan | Bow | Mile-end old town | Ennever | Joseph | sale (bankrupt) of household furniture [1764: sale of a farm in Essex where Jos Ennever rents a small field for £2 5s pa] |
1775 Sep | Southwark | Gravel Lane | Evans | charged Walter Goodwin with burglary | |
1714 Sep | Stepney | Faudon | Henry | group notice saying our cows are free of Distemper | |
1737 Oct | Southwark | the Grainge | Fendall | Richard | horse died of a cut knee; his horse 44 years, within past 15 years pulled RF 50 miles in one day |
1739 Jul | Southwark | the Grainge | Fendall | Richard | died rich; wealthy grazier and cowkeeper |
1795 Sep | Bethnal Green | Fennemore | John Jnr | bankrupt | |
1723 Sep | Westminster | Tothill Fields | Ferryman | Richard | mad dog shot at by soldier in his fields, who missed and killed a cinder-woman |
1728 Jun | Westminster | Ferryman | Richard | appointed Overseer of the Poor, parish of St John the Evangelist | |
1743 Oct | Westminster | Ferryman | Richard | appointed Dir of Westminster Fire Office | |
1744 Jan | Westminster | Tothill Fields | Ferryman | Richard | died rich; great cowkeeper |
1714 Oct | Hackney | Fish | Samuel | group notice saying our cows are free of Distemper | |
1794 Aug | Middlesex | survey | Foot | Mr | contributed a report to the Board of Agriculture |
1768 Dec | Stepney | Church Street | Forbes | Robert | sale of stock; giving up cow-keeping part of his business |
1719 Jun | Hackney | Fox | fined for throwing two boys in the brook | ||
1798 Sep | Marybone | Tottenham Court Road | Francis | enquire of him concerning farm to let at Wood Green | |
1722 Jul | St Pancras | Lamb's Conduit field | Fuller | stolen horse | |
1779 Mar | St Pancras | Gray's Inn Lane | Furnesse | Jonathan | bankrupt |
1775 Aug | Marybone | Portland Street | Gardener | Helenor | lost: old red cow |
1776 May | St Pancras | Gardner | Helenor | bankrupt | |
1777 Jan | Marybone | Portland Street | Gardner | Helenor | sale (bankrupt) stock, furniture, brewing |
1756 May | Whitechapel | St Mary | Grainger | Arthur | bankrupt |
1793 Nov | Bethnal Green | Bishop Bonner's | Grant | (lately occupier) sale of farm and land | |
1714 Oct | Hackney | Green | Joseph | group notice saying our cows are free of Distemper | |
1716 Jul | Shoreditch | Green | Joseph | stolen horse | |
1714 Mar | Green | Thomas | fire policy holder | ||
1735 Apr | St Pancras | Battle Bridge | Green | won race from St Albans | |
1776 Aug | Knightsbridge | Green | worked from the Sign of the Red Cow opposite the Poulterer's | ||
1726 Oct | Mayfair | Hyde Park Corner | Gundrey | Robert | stolen horse from Stretton St |
1778 Apr | Clerkenwell | Cold Bath Fields | Hall | Christopher | bankrupt |
1778 May | Clerkenwell | Cold Bath Fields | Hall | Christopher | sale (bankrupt) stock, carts, furniture |
1743 Aug | Marybone | Hall | John | married Miss Dolly/Molly Des Champs | |
1730 Nov | Stepney | Stepney Field | Hall | mugged (church caretaker) | |
1770 Sep | Marybone | Tottenham Court Road | Hand | Robert | died recently |
1772 Jan | Totten'm Ct Rd | Store St | Hand | Robert | sale of lease |
1772 Jan | Totten'm Ct Rd | Store St | Hand | Robert (dec'd) | sale of land with sheds in Store St opposite Windmill St |
1770 Sep | Marybone | Tottenham Court Road | Hand | Thomas | shot Joseph Holloway, brother's executor, at his house in Storehouse St |
1770 Dec | Marybone | Tottenham Court Road | Hand | Thomas | capitally convicted at Old Bailey |
1748 Jan | Mayfair | Hanover | son of, shot by accident and died | ||
1761 Nov | Westminster | Orchard Street | Hannever | William | bankrupt |
1772 Aug | Southwark | St George's Fields | Hannover | William | had six horses stolen; three men in jail |
1775 Apr | Southwark | St George's Fields | Hannaver | William | wife seized with an apoplectic fit whilst serving milk at Lactarium [dairy] |
1722 Sep | Mayfair | Hyde Park Corner | Harding | committed suicide | |
1793 Nov | Bethnal Green | Wilmot Square | Harris | Joseph | bankrupt |
1735 Aug | St Pancras | Gray's Inn Lane | Harrison | Daniel | boy from Christ's Hospital drowned in his pond |
1770 Feb | St Pancras | Gray's Inn Lane | Harrison | Daniel | died rich; the greatest cowkeeper in England |
1794 Nov | St Pancras | Gray's Inn Lane | Harrison | Thomas | on Old Bailey jury |
1796 Feb | St Pancras | Gray's Inn Lane | Harrison | Thomas | successful exemption claim against tollkeeper |
1714 Sep | Marybone | Hartshorne | Andrew | group notice saying our cows are free of Distemper | |
1712 Jun | Westminster | Tuttle Fields | Harvey | Samuel | stolen horse |
1737 Nov | Westminster | Horseferry road | Harvey | Samuel | farmhouse, stables and outbuildings to let [Saml was previous tenant] |
1750 Dec | Westminster | Masham Street | Harvey | Samuel | died rich; wealthy farmer and cowkeeper |
1714 Oct | Hackney | Harwood | Ralph | group notice saying our cows are free of Distemper | |
1729 Dec | Hackney | Sir George Whitmore's, Horton | Harwood | Thomas | bankrupt |
1729 Sep | Harwood | Thomas | wife died within days | ||
1791 Jul | Wapping | Virginia Street | Hawkins | fire: consumed cowhouses, outhouses, hay, valued >£100 | |
1768 Oct | Kentish Town | Herring | William | stolen horse | |
1773 Oct | Islington | Hickman | Benjamin | married Miss Spencer of Holloway | |
1777 Dec | Holloway | Hickman | Benjamin | died very rich, former contractor for supplying the Govt with cattle | |
1794 Sep | Islington | Hickman | George | notice of guaranteed milk price 2s 5d per quart; money back if overcharged | |
1776 Feb | Southwark | Dirty Lane, King's Bench | Higgins | Samuel | sale of stock; carts (late of Mr Clark, dec'd) |
1778 Oct | Marybone | High street | Hill | Thomas | bankrupt |
1789 Jan | Hackney | Clapton | Hockley | Snr | died; one of the oldest inhabitants of the parish |
1794 Sep | Shoreditch | Kingsland | Hollingshead | Thomas | notice of guaranteed milk price 2s 5d per quart; money back if overcharged |
1795 Apr | Shoreditch | Kingsland | Hollingshead | Thomas | bankrupt |
1714 Sep | Stepney | Hopkines | Prudence | group notice saying our cows are free of Distemper | |
1786 Feb | Kentish Town | Horseman | Walter | murdered by Joseph Richards; transcript by E Hodgson for sale | |
1728 Dec | Islington | How | Mrs | died recently | |
1728 Dec | Islington | How | Mrs | sale of stock and land | |
1728 Dec | Islington | How | Mrs (dec'd) | farmhouse to let; stock for sale | |
1737 Jun | Paddington | Oxford Road [A40?] | Huddell | died rich; dropt down dead | |
1746 Jun | Islington | Hudson | Widow | died aged 94; widow of Mr Hudson who had 50 cows die within 50 hours in 1715 (no separate hit on Gale site) | |
1767 Jul | Bow | Bow Road | Hugate | sale of stock; retiring; opposite the Plough | |
1736 Nov | Westminster | Pimlico Gate, St James | Hugger | John | farmhouse, stables and large cowhouse to let (prev held by JH) |
1752 Mar | Brentford | Hughes | burgled | ||
1761 Jun | Peckham | Hurling | servant died after being gored by a vicious bull |