Notes for Francis Constable

Notes for Francis Constable

Francis Constable was baptized at Datchet, co. Bucks 14 May 1592, the son of Robert and Margery (Barker) Constable and grandson on the maternal side of Christopher Barker, printer to Queen Elizabeth I. His career as a bookseller and printer is summarized in "A Dictionary of the Booksellers and Printers who were at work in England from 1641 to 1667", by Henry R. Plomer:- "Francis Constable, bookseller in London and Westminster firstly at the (sign of) the White Lion, Paul's Churchyard, 1616-24; then in St Paul's Church Yard at the sign of the Crane, 1631; then under St Martin's Church in Ludgate, 1637; then at King Street, Westminster at the sign of the Goat, 1640; then at Westminster Hall, 1640. He took up his freedom July 2nd 1614. His first registered publication was "Hymens Triumphes, entered on January 13th 1614/15. He published large numbers of plays, in which he was associated for some years with Humphrey Moseley. It is probable that he rented a stall in Westminster Hall very much earlier than 1640, but that is the first appearance of the Hall in the imprint of any book."

Francis and Alice Constable were the parents of fifteen children, four sons and eleven daughters:
i. Alice, bapt. St. Gregory by St. Paul, London 24 September 1615.
ii. Sarah, bapt. St. Gregory by St. Paul 16 March 1616/7 ~ Bishop of London license, 6 October 1646, to marry Anthony Savage - note misstatement of her age in the allegations. Francis Constable apparently signed the instrument himself. She probably died before going to Virginia, but her husband went and bought 50 acres of land from (Col.) Richard Lee [Va. Patents 2:153]). She and her husband were among those who presented the will of her mother for probate 22nd. September 1647.
iii. Joan, bapt. St. Gregory by St. Paul 11 September 1618.
iv. Mary, bapt. St. Andrew, Enfield, Co. Middlesex 21st October 1619. Still unmarried, she was among those who presented her mother's will for probate.
v. Elizabeth, bapt. St. Gregory by St. Paul 24 October 1620 - no further record.
vi. Anne, bapt. St. Gregory by St.Paul 21 February 1621/2. She was not among those who presented her mother's will for probate, but that may mean only that she was already out of the country. Anna Constable was the wife of (Col.) Richard Lee.
vii. Margaret, bapt. St. Gregory by St. Paul 26 June 1623 - married St. Margaret, Westminster, Robert Hunny.
viii. Rachel, bapt. St. Gregory by St. Paul 24 September 1624 - no further record.
ix. Simon, bapt. Datchet, co. Bucks 14 August 1625, bur. St. Andrew Undershaft, London 29 November 1627.
x. Robert, bapt. St. Andrew Undershaft 24 August 1626, twin, bur. 10 September 1626.
xi. Roger, bapt. St. Andrew Undershaft 24 August 1626, twin, bur. 10 September 1626.
xii. Alice, bapt. St. Andrew Undershaft 16 March 1627/8 - no further record.
xiii. Frances, bapt. St. Andrew Undershaft 5th July 1629, she was among those who presented her mother's will for probate.
xiv. Rachel, bapt. St. Andrew Undershaft 18 July 1630, married York County, Va. after 3 April 1651 [York co. Records 1:132] John Chew, Gent.; Richard Lee was one of her trustees in the pre-nuptial agreement. She was among those who presented her mother's will for probate.
xv. Robert, bapt. St. Andrew Undershaft 2 October 1631, bur. St. Margaret, Westminster 28 August 1647.

Francis Constable died 1st August 1647 of the plague and was buried the following day at St. Margaret, Westminster, while his widow was buried 4 August 1647. These registers are published and it should be noted that "Mr." is misread "Mrs." in his burial entry. Their only remaining son Robert was carried off by the plague the same month (buried 28 August). It was after his death that the will of Alice Constable was filed for probate.