The Cely Papers

Date: About 1472 to about 1488
Location: London, England
Surnames/tags: Cely pre-1500 calais_staple

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Tenements and Messuages 3 Dramatis Personae 4 Sources

Introduction

Examination of the Cely Papers. The dates 1472-1488 refer to the coverage of the Cely Letters archived at the The National Archives, Kew, London, as the result of a will dispute at the end of the 15th century over financial issues within the partnership of brothers Richard and George Cely. There are other papers, such as accounts and wills which fall outside of these dates which should be used as well.

Tenements and Messuages

Dramatis Personae

Andrew, Agnes - Daughter of John, wife of Richard Cely senior.

Andrew, John - Of Adderbury, Oxfordshire and husband of Lucy.

Andrew, Richard – Son of John. Dean of York and other offices.

Cely, George - Son of Richard senior. Merchant of the Calais Staple.

Cely, John senior - Brother of Richard senior. Merchant of the Calais Staple.

Cely, Richard junior - Son of Richard senior. Merchant of the Calais Staple.

Cely, Richard senior - Brother of John senior. Merchant of the Calais Staple.

Cely, Robert - Son, probably the eldest, of 'Richard senior.

Cely, William – Apprentice, then factor, for the Celys in Calais. Precise relationship unknown.

Dycons, John – Attorney to John Wode.

Kesten, Thomas – Associate of the Celys, often in charge at Calais.

Maryon, William - Godfather of Richard Cely junior. Merchant of the Staple and grocer.

Midwynter, Willliam - Wool merchant from Northleach, Gloucestershire.

Punt, Margery – Wife and sole heiress of Edmond Rygon, then wife of George Cely.

Rawson, Anne – Daughter of Richard, wife of Richard Cely junior.

Rawson, Avery – Son of Richard.

Rawson, Richard - Mercer from Yorkshire who became alderman and sheriff of London.

Weston, Sir John – Friend and lord of Richard Cely junior. Prior of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem in England.

Wode, John – Debtor of Richard Cely senior.

Sources

• The Cely Papers: Selections from the Correspondence and Memoranda of the Cely Family, Merchants of the Staple, A.D. 1475-1488 edited by Henry Elliot Malden
• The Cely Letters 1472-1488 edited by Alison Hanham
• The Celys and their world: An English merchant family of the fifteenth century by Alison Hanham