John Clarges was a farrier of The Savoy in London [1] or of Drury Lane. [2]
His daughter, Anne, married George Monck, a Parliamentary soldier on the 23rd of January 1653. [2][3]
After the restoration, largely engineered by John's son, Thomas, and his son-in-law, Monck, John's daughter became Duchess of Albemarle when, on the 7th of July 1660, her husband was created Duke of Albemarle. John was credited, without much evidence, of erecting a maypole at The Strand in 1661 in honour of Anne's elevation. [4]
The history of Parliament online entry for John's son, Thomas, says that Thomas succeeded his father in 1648 which if true makes the maypole legend merely a legend. [5]
↑ The maypole in the Strand stood on the site of the church of St Mary-le-, Strand and was a well-known object in 1634, when Captain Bailey set up a stand there for his hackney coaches. It was taken down by the Puritans, and re-erected in the first year after Charles II's restoration. In William Stowe's "Remarks on London" 1722 it is said that Clarges the farrier set it up in honour of his daughter having arrived at the dignity of Duchess of Albemarle but the statement does not appear to have any authority. The maypole was of great height, but it was gradually reduced by storms of wind and in 1717, when it was removed to Wanstead it had only twenty feet remaining." "The Diary of Samuel Pepys MA FRS" Bohn's Standard Library. Edited by Henry B Wheatley. George Bell and Sons, London 1913. Transcribed by Rev Mynors Bright, MA. Originally published 1893-1899. 8 volumes. Volume III Page 143