John Haydon d1582

JOHN HAYDON, whose name was variously spelt as Heidon and Heydon, was a native of Woodbury in Devon, and married Martha, daughter of Nicholas Rose of London. He became a wealthy citizen and mercer of London, and admitted as an alderman of Aldgate ward, and died on the 26 November 1582 whilst in office as Sheriff of London. He was buried in the church of St. Michael, Paternoster Royal.

Haydon became warden of the Mercer's Company for 1575/6, and master for 1581/2. In September 1582 he was granted thirty pounds to aid his expences as Sheriff of London, but from the extent of his various bequests it does not seem that he was in need of such a grant. His will is a long and detailed document, and his bequests generous and surprising, but he was careful to add as a postscript to many of them that they were to be 'as the guifte of me John Haydon of London, mercer'. The will was made 11 March 1579/80 and proved 18 November 1582, and the references to Gloucester formed but a small part of his wishes. His benefaction in Gloucester was the sum of one hundred pounds to 'twoe younge men of the said Citie of Gloucester, being marchaunts trading ov' the seas (viz.) To eyther of them ffyftie poundes apeece to occupye for theire best profitt and advantage for and during the space of fower yeares next after the receipte thereof, putting in twoe sufficient suerties for the repaymente thereof at the end of the said fower years ... and then to twoe other younge men of the same cittie'. The interest on this money, amounting every year to £3 6s.8d. he desired to be paid 'to the poore prysoners remayninge in pryson wth in trhe said Citiee of Gloucester'. He made similar bequests to other cities, such as Bristol.

This requirement of his will was carried out for many years, long after his name was forgotten, and by 1747 we find his bequest being referred to in the Chamberlain's Accounts as 'Mr. Holdens Gift'. By then the money was lent, we are told, 'to Two Tradesmen or Merchants Fifty pounds each they paying each one pound thirteen shillings and Fourpence yearly to the poore prisoners in the Northgate'. This was one of the City prisons, whose inmates were then living under appalling conditions, relieved, it seems, by occasional gifts of charity. They could be seen from the street, their arms stretched out through the prison bars, appealing for help. John Haydon's bequest must indeed have been welcome.

Like Sir Thomas White, Alderman John Haydon does not seem to have had any personal connections with Gloucester, but almost certainly he had close business contacts here, as with other parts of the country.

It is not clear why the portrait gives his name as 'Master Joh.Hoiden' but it does suggest that the artist may have taken it from another picture, and had no direct contact with, or knowledge of, the subject, or he would have made a better attempt to get the spelling correct.