Harman Samler was an important figure in the late 1700s. Hutcheson mentions him (1781),
and he was instrumental in the formation and success of the Phoenix Insurance Co in 1784 (Trebilcock).
Samler & Son of St Andrews Hill, Blackfriars, and Samler & Ferrers of Angel Alley,
Whitechapel, are both listed by Kent in his Directory of 1794. The St Andrews Hill
refinery continued under the name of W & R Samler (1817), and as Wm Samler (1823-4)
- these were Harman's sons, William & Richard.
PRO HO4 shows Harman received a grant of denization in 1767, with an address at St Ann, Blackfriars,
however an earlier reference I have to him, found surprisingly at the NRO (Ref. BrW221), is in the form of
an Indenture between himself and Mrs Ann Sikes, widow of Robert Sikes, and her son John of Epsom, Surrey,
for a property in Water Lane, Blackfriars in 1758. (Water Lane ran almost parallel to, and just to the
east of, the Fleet Ditch, the foul open-sewer which ran southwards past the Fleet Prison, under
Fleet St, past the Bridewell, and into the River Thames next to Blackfriars Stairs. Some years
later, Blackfriars Bridge was built across the river at this point, with the Fleet Ditch being
covered by a roadway which is now New Bridge St.)
This Indenture is interesting in that it
describes in detail the property that
Harman Samler was to lease for the next seven years at an annual rent of £40. It comprised a
messuage (dwelling house), timber yard, sugar millhouse, and stables.......
"In the room two pairs of stairs forward - one closet with shelves round it with a door and two
iron hinges a wood chimney piece set with black and white tiles and five old marble squares.
The dining up one pair of stairs forward - a wood chimney piece with a stone hearth set with
galley tiles five grey marble squares edged with black marble a Beaufort(1) painted and guilt
compleat with doors hinges and proper fastenings a cupboard under the same with a shelf and
double doors with iron hinges and locks and keys to two doors. In the little room forwards up
one pair of stairs - a fireplace set with galley tiles a fire stone and marble slab piers.
In the little room forwards up one pair of stairs - a lock and key to the door. In the little
parlour on the ground floor - a stone chimney piece hearth and fire stone and set with galley
tiles two small cupboards with shelves doors hinges locks. In the scullery - a wood sink
compleat lined with lead with an oak stand fixed in the wall for water tub two shelves.
In the kitchen an open deal dresser complete with three shelves over it a dark closet with a
door and iron hinges a fireplace with stone slab a wooden chimney piece with one shelf and two
racks a cupboard with one shelf a dresser over the door with four shelves round it. In the
cellar - the water laid into the cellar and up into the scullery with brass cocks and leaden
pipe and leaden waste pipe from the scullery into the sink in the cellar a door to the cellar
stairs with two iron hinges an iron latch and two iron bolts. In the yard next Fleet Ditch -
the stable complete with roof covered with pantiles and painted a rack and manger and hay loft
a door to the Ditch side with an iron bolt and staples and one pair of iron hinges the stable
paved with cobbles and a door and stout lock and a pair of iron hinges dimensions of the stable
and hay loft thirty seven foot five inches long out to out fourteen foot wide nineteen foot high
the back front and fifteen foot high the fore front. A sugar millhouse next Water Lane in the
front fifteen foot eight inches wide twenty two foot seven inches deep and twelve foot high the
front part weather boarded and two folding doors with two pair of hinges and proper fastenings
and the back front weather boarded and covered with pantiles and painted a girder and joysts and
part boarded on the raising plates an open door to the passage next Water Lane with iron hinges
and a stout lock and key. The front of the yard next Fleet Ditch inclosed twenty nine foot wide
ten foot high with a large bressummer and seven posts and two close doors and three open doors with
iron hinges and proper fastenings. A necessary house complete with a door iron hinges and proper
fastenings. The foot way in the yard paved with free stone and lead pipe from the top of the
house to the first floor to run away the water from there."
[ (1) abt 1485, three strong, iron-bound, chests attributed to Lady Margaret
Beaufort, mother of Henry VII ... so in this case, probably a secure cupboard. ]
Harman Samler was married to Ann Starr. Their children.....
John Harman, b. 1752.
Elizabeth, b. 1752, m. to Samuel Hadley.
Mary, m. 1781 to John Eamer, became Lady Mary Eamer.
Ann, b. 1754, m. 1773 to George Shum.
Richard, b. 1756, m. 1793 to Sarah Shaw.
William, b. 1762, m. 1792 to Frances Shaw.
Harman Samler died in 1792. The notice in The Times reads ...
"On Saturday morning,
after a few hours illness, died at his house on Clapham Common, HARMAN SAMLER, Esq., an
eminent Sugar Refiner of this City, and one of the Directors of the Phoenix Fire Office. His
exemplary life and character, which obtained the esteem and affection of all who knew him,
deserve particular mention at this time; by the most exact probity and unwearied
application, he aquired a large fortune; he was pious, charitable, unassuming, a kind
husband, a fond father, and a warm friend.
(The Times, 6 August 1792)
