The next London Carpenter to be introduced is Rodger Carpenter, likewise a pepperer/spicer like the previous William. No indication of relationship is divulged in the Calendar of Letter-Books. However, when Rodger passes away, and subsequently his heir is Thomas is guaranteed his rights of inheritance, an all-important clue of other family connections is divulged. Like William Carpenter before him, Rodger Carpenter is the possessor of substantial assets. “On Ash Wedsday [1 March], 14 Edward III. [A.D. 1339-40], came Sir Robert de Askeby, clerk for the lord the king, to the Guildhall, and announced to Andrew Aubri, the Mayor, on the King’s behalf, that he and all the aldermen, together with the more discreet and wealthier men of the City, were to appear before the King and his Council at Westminster on the following Thursday to treat certain matters. Upon their appearing on the day named the King desired a loan of L.20, 000 and allowed them until the next day to consider the matter. On Friday, the Mayor, Aldermen, and a great commonality, after consulting together in the Chapter House at Westminster, agreed to advance the sum of 5,000 marks and no more. This sum was rejected as inadequate, and they were ordered to bring the names of all the wealthier citizens in writing, to be submitted to the King and his Council for purpose of assessment on the following Sunday.” Letter-Books, F., pp. 45-6) In the end a compromise was reached and the king received five thousand pounds. In the list of those who made their contribution, to what was essentially royal extortion, was the name of Rodger Carpenter, one of the “rich” of the City of London. Rodger’s good name appears in many other documents as well, as a witness in court proceedings. In another document Rodger is included in a list with mayor and aldermen for the city that scripted and passed legislation. In another document Rodger and fellow merchants are asked yet again for money for the crown. Finally after copious real estate entries the demise of Roger Carpenter is recorded for 1349. “Wednesday before the Nativity of the Lord [25 Dec.], 23 Edward III. [A.D. 1349], the guradianship of Thomas, son of Rodger le Carpenter, “spicer”, commited to Thomas de Brandone, mercer, by Walter Turk, Mayor, Richard Lacer, Rodger de Depham, Aldermen, and Thomas de Waldene, the Chamberlain, by assent of William de Chalk and Agnes his wife, the aunt and nearest friend of the said Thomas, together with the sum of L.45, and rents of the value of 105s. 9 ½ d., to hold in trust for the said infant, who is not to marry without the permission of the Mayor and Aldermen. Surities, viz., Richard Vyncent, Rector of the Church of St. Benedict de Shorhogge, who holds a lay fee in the parish of St. Augustine, near St. Paul’s gate, and Adam Fraunceys, mercer.” (Letter-Books, F., p. 200) The interesting revelation here is the identification of Rodger’s sister, Agnes Carpenter. Agnes had appeared as one of the children of property rich John Carpenter in the early 1300s. Agnes inherited the rights to land that her father had held from Queen Philippa. John Carpenter’s manor holdings were so geographically diverse and import that the litigation took a number of years. John Carpenter was knighted. His death took place in 1339 and his main manor seemed to be just outside London in Berkhamstead, although he possessed manorial holdings in Oxford, Wiltshire and other locations. Fortunately the original documents identify his father as also a John le Carpenter, who must have lived in the late 1200s. It is tempting to equate this knighted John Carpenter with the John that appeared with Edward Charpenter, his son Robert and three other Carpenters in the 1305 ship salvage document. Likewise it is tempting to assign the ancestor of many of these Carpenters to a Jean le Carpenter, who was an officially designated wool exporter in 1273. At the least, the connections that are beginning to emerge between these individuals point to an enormous merchant-trading family. In my next message I will return again to the theme of wine and the interesting evidence for Rodger Carpenter’s involvement in it. Sincerely, Bruce E. Carpenter