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Have you been shopping in York?
Have you been shopping in York?
Famous for the Shambles, York boasts one of Europe’s best preserved medieval shopping streets. Today, York welcomes almost 9 million tourists a year, charming visitors with its winding streets and old-fashioned shop fronts. As ever, York’s streets are kept busy, and interest in York’s history continues to thrive.
Now, step back in time to the shops of eighteenth-century York, as we investigate the case of the Company of Merchant Adventurers vs the grocer Mr John Ramsey…
The case of John Ramsey
The case of John Ramsey
In the 18th century, the Company of Merchant Adventurers of the City of York held a monopoly over shops in York. York’s businessmen and women were required to take up their Freedom of the Company and become a member of the guild, swearing allegiance to the Merchant Adventurers and paying the Company a sum of money for the right to trade. On the 24th of April 1754, John Ramsey became the defendant in a legal battle with the Company for trading without paying for his Freedom. Though the term 'legal-battle' may be a slight over-exaggeration in this case, if you are a fan of true crime, then this just might be for you!
The investigation
The investigation
In 1754, the Company made the discovery about Ramsey’s trading as a grocer in York. On the 1st, 6th, 13th and 19th of April that year, the Merchant Adventurers carried out their investigation. Essentially, they paid for a person to go undercover and buy goods from Ramsey; they were looking for proof that he was trading without taking up his Freedom. Ramsey was questioned on 23rd April 1754. At a committee meeting in the White Swan Inn on Pavement, Ramsey confessed his guilt. He was later required to pay the Merchant Adventurers £36 to take up his Freedom of the Company.
The power of the Merchant Adventurers
The power of the Merchant Adventurers
Above all else, Ramsey’s case shows the power held by the Company of Merchant Adventurers over shops in eighteenth century York. This case isn’t the only example of the Company asserting its monopoly; Mary Tuke was caught trading on Walmgate in 1725. Furthermore Mr Jake, an admitted member of the company, took on an apprentice in the trade of a grocer without permission and was sued in 1768.
These stories show the Company’s powerful monopoly over all shops in eighteenth century York. The importance of the Company is unquestionable; as well as controlling the shops of York, its merchants traded all over northern Europe, second only to the merchants of London.
Today, the Company no longer control shops in York. The case of the Merchants Company of York v Harwood was judged in 1827 in favour of Harwood, ending the Company’s monopoly.
Why does the case of John Ramsey stand out?
The declining influence of the Company since the sixteenth century meant that by the time of John Ramsey’s case, they were particularly strict in enforcing their monopoly over shops in York. Their declining prosperity meant that few Adventurers could afford to join the national company and the main export trade. So, from the 1720s, they spent a lot of time making sure traders in the city were following the Company’s regulations and defending their power over trade.
In the eighteenth century, the hold of the Company over trade in York was increasingly challenged, with fewer York traders bothering to join. In particular, the decline of York as a great trading centre meant a larger part of the Company’s membership was composed of local businessmen such as grocers, apothecaries and ironmongers. Perhaps this explains the Company’s emphasis on defending their monopoly against citizens who sold imported groceries and merceries without becoming members.
Case closed
The case of John Ramsey in 1754 tells us about the once highly powerful Merchant Adventurers Company’s quest to maintain their power and influence within the city of York in the eighteenth-century. The Company remains influential in York today; it still has 160 members, with distinguished businessmen continuing to work for the Company and City of York.
Further reading
Further reading
If you are interested in finding out more about the Company, recommend the following:
If you are interested in finding out more about the Company, recommend the following:
The Company of the Merchant Adventurers of the City of York: A brief history of the guild
The York Mercers and Merchant Adventurers, 1356-1917
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