See the Potteries List section for the Redcliff Street Pottery 1.
| 1668 | Edward Crofts was recorded as paying rent on a ‘work house’ in St Mary Redcliffe parish, which suggests that he was operating a pottery, probably producing tin-glazed earthenware, at that time. |
| c1660-70 | He was residing in St Mary Redcliffe parish between these dates and may have been operating a pottery during that period. |
| 1660 | 22 Dec. A potter of St Mary Redcliffe parish he was one of the persons required that they ‘doe hang out a Lanterne and Candle lighted at their respective doors during this season from six to nine of the clock evy. night upon paine for forfeiting for evy. default 3s.4d’ (MO). |
| 1665 | 30 Dec. A potter of St Mary Redcliffe parish, he was bondsman to a licence granted to John Weston, clothworker (M). |
| 1666 | 27 Dec. Ann Bissicke of Brislington, widow of John Bissicke, gallypotmaker, bequeathed ‘unto Edward Croftes my great household Bible in token of my love … I doe give and bequeath unto Sarah the wife of Edward Croftes one small booke Called the Sanctuary of a Troubled soule. Item I doe give and bequeath unto Sarah the daughter of the said Edward Croftes my silver cuppe with my husbands name and myne ingravin thereon. Item I doe give and bequeath unto Elizabeth the daughter of the said Edward Croftes Tenne shillings in moneys to buy her a ring. Item I doe give and bequeath further unto Sarah the wife of the said Edward Croftes my gold deathes head ring … Item I doe give and bequeath more unto Sarah Croftes daughter as aforesaid of Edward Croftes my small box of drawers …’ (PRO Prob. 11/323). |
| 1668 | 6 Mar. A lease between the Dean and Chapter of Bristol and Edward Crofts of Bristol, potter, in consideration of the surrender of a lease dated 1 July 13 Charles II, between the Dean and Chapter of Bristol and Edward Lewis of Bristol, cooper, and for a sum of money, of the following premises: ‘All that messuage or tenement wherein one John Richards formerly dwelt and now in the tenure of Edward Croft situate in Redcliff St in St Mary Redcliffe parish between a tenement now or late in the holding of the Thomas Gerry cooper on the one side and a tenement in the holding of the said Edward Croft on the other side together with all shops, cellars, sollars, halls, etc.’ for a term of 40 years and for an annual rent of 30 shillings (BRO DC/E/40/44/1). By 2 May 1671 the above tenement was described as being in the tenure of Widow Crofts (BRO DC/E/40/37/52068). By 21 December 1689, Edward Yeamans, mariner, was living in Crofts’ property and the lease had passed to Yeamans (BRO DC/E/40/37/52083). Yeamans was the husband of Crofts’ daughter Elizabeth. This property can be identified as 108 Redcliff Street. |
| 1668 | An assessment for St Mary Redcliffe parish for the period 23 June 1668 to 29 September 1668 includes: ‘Edward Crofte p. work house Rent 1s.1d; Edward Crofte p. Dwellinghouse Rent 1s.6d Estate 1s.2d’ (BRO). |
| 1670 | 18 Jan. ‘Whereas Edward Crofts, Potter, has lately builte upon the Cities waste on Redcliffe Backs the same being surveyed containes sixteene foote in breadth and six foote in width and being willing to hold and enjoy the same by grant from the Citie. It is this day agreed by and betweene the surveyors of the Citie Lands and the said Edward Crofts that for and in consideration of the yearly rent of six shillings and eight pence there – a lease granted him of the said ground and the buildings thereupon to hold for 99 years if he the said Edw. Croft, Sara Croft his wife & Eliza Croft their daughter or any or either of them shall happen soe long to live at the rent aforesaid and other covents. usuall in Citie Leases’ (BB). This property adjoined that leased to Crofts on 6 March 1668 and can be identified as 109 Redcliff Street. |
| 1671 | 2 May. By this date Edward Crofts had died (BRO DC/E/40/37/52068). |
| 1687 | 9 Nov. The will of Sarah Crofts of Bristol, widow: ‘I give devise and bequeath as followeth … Whereas (as Admex. to Edward Crofts my late husband dec’d) I stand possessed of an interest in All that Messuage or dwelling house and Garden hereunto adjoining conteyning by estimation One acre … situate in the North Streete of Bedminster in the County of Somsett … I doe hereby give … the same Messuage or dwelling house and Garden … unto my daughter Elizabeth Yeamans (now wife of Edward Yeamans of the Citty of Bristoll … Marriner) … And whereas alsoe I stand possessed of … A certaine Messuage or Tenement wherein one John Richards heretofore dwelt and wherein I the said Sarah Crofts, the Widdow Walker, John Grymes, Robert Castell and William Lancaster now dwell (pte whereof being now void) was alsoe late in the holding of James Stevens, Mason, situate and lying and being in Redcliffe Street … I doe hereby give devise and bequeath the said Messuage or Tenement … unto my Daughter Sara Crofts … Item I give and bequeath unto the said Sarah my Daughter fower Sandy pewter platters, one pewter plate, three pottingers, a paire of small gratis, a looking glasse, one great brasse pottage pott, one little pottage pott, one little brass Kettle, Three Ruggs and all such other goods as I have already delived to her which shee hath locked upp in the Roomes over the late dwelling of the said James Steevens and in the Cockloft over the forestreete Roomeths of the said Messuage or Tenement situate in Redcliffe Street … Item I give and bequeath unto the said Sarah my Daughter fower joint stooles, one table Board, and one Iron Back now being in the Dwelling house of Thomas Joines of the p’sh of Temple … Weaver … Item I give and bequeath unto the said Thomas Joines Tenn Shillings to buy him a Mourning Ring …’. The will was proved on 1 February 1689 (BRO Will). |