Gazetteer of Plasterers - U

UBANCK (EWBANK, HUEBANKE, UBANKE), George (fl. 1620-61)

A Plasterer who was the son of a Westmorland husbandman, presented by Kelham Roades for 8 years (29 April 1613). Ubanck was one of the team working under his master at the Charterhouse, as it was converted from a house to a hospital and school. In 1613 he spent 53 days there between August and November, earning 18d per day. His rate went up to 20d per day the following year, when he worked for 90 days between May and December 1614. [1] Ubanck paid his fines for abling (25 July 1620) and beadleship (25 July 1622). On 25 April 1626 he made a gift to the Company towards the charges of the suit brought against them by the Bricklayers and at the same time he presented Thomas Roe, son of a Hertfordshire cook, for 8 years. Ubanck signed his name when he paid for the pattern for his Livery gown and made a gift to the Company (2 June 1629); and again when agreeing to the memorandum concerning the money to be raised to buy two tenements for the Company (21 February 1630/31). Meanwhile, Ubanck had returned to the Charterhouse with Roades in 1628. By this time he was earning 2s per day for the 10 days he worked in May, accompanied by ‘his man’ for 3 days at the same rate. [2] In May 1631 he was accompanied by two men and received a total of £1 16s for the 6 days they worked. Further payments were made jointly to Roades and Ubanck for another 10 days in May, totalling £2. [3] When Roades made his will on 14 June 1632 he left his working tools and scaffolding to be divided amongst Ubanck and three of his other ex-apprentices ‘at the discretion of the Overseers. If any of them is discontented, he shall lose his share to the others’. [4] Ubanck’s next apprentice was Robert Cooke, son of a Norfolk husbandman (23 April 1634; freed 7 May 1641). On 14 March 1637/8 Ubanck and William Shute, as the two eldest members of the Livery, contested the election for a replacement Junior Warden and Ubanck was the successful candidate; he paid for admittance to the position on 28 May 1638. John Ubanck, son of a Westmorland yeoman, was apprenticed to him for 8 years (23 April 1638); followed by William Hill, son of a Southwark gardener, for 7 years (21 November 1639); William Oker, son of a Hertfordshire husbandman, for 7 years (26 July 1641; freed 8 August 1648). Ubancke failed to be elected as Senior Warden for 1641-2 (13 September 1641) but was chosen to serve for 1642-3. However, he requested dismissal from the post on account of ‘his earnest and urgent occasions’ and when this was granted, he made a gift of £4 and promised to donate ‘a new white Muskett, with a rest and bandeleres’, which he duly delivered (12 September 1642). Ubanck was not elected Master at his first attempt (3 September 1645) but obtained the post for 1646-7 (14 September 1646). George Russell, son of a Hertford husbandman, was apprenticed for 7 years but his indentures were cancelled by consent and crossed through (19 May 1647). Anthony Apling was turned over to him from John Spencer (24 April 1648; freed 15 June 1649). Robert Casselton, son of a London Tallowchandler, was next apprenticed for 7 years (11 August 1653); succeeded by William Charles, son of a Herefordshire weaver, for 8 years (7 September 1654; freed early on 13 October 1661); Christopher Wells, son of a Huntingdonshire yeoman, for 7 years (6 May 1656; turned over to Joseph Kinsman on 16 August 1660); Robert Gulston was turned over from Richard Adamthwaite (11 May 1661). Ubanck incurred relatively few fines considering his long career: he was fined for absence (3 September 1639); for lateness (26 January 1640/1); for absence again (7 May 1641); for bad work (18 August 1642); for lateness (19 October 1643); for taking work of a carpenter (6 February 1655/6); unspecified (23 April 1656); for absence (25 May 1658).

 

[1] LMA ACC/1876/F/09/48.

[2] LMA ACC/1876/AR/3/9/2, p. 15.

[3] LMA ACC/1876/AR/3/011, Lady Quarter Rent Book 1631.

[4] LMA DL/AL/C/003/MS 09052/008, will no. 55.

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