Robert Roberts (d. 1701; fl. 1679–1699)

Identifiers

  • Grubstreet: 28712

Occupations

  • Printer

Dates

  • Freedom: 1662
  • Clothed: 1679

Robert Roberts, printer, fl. 1679–99, St. Martin Ludgate.

Roberts, never formally bound, was freed by Thomas Lock on the 4th of August 1662. He was clothed the 7th of April, 1679.

On the 4th of August 1690 Roberts was summoned for printing an unlicensed pamphlet but he failed to appear and was suspended from printing for the Company. There was further debate on his contempt of Court on the first of September, but this proved inconclusive. On the 5th he was fined £3 for contempt. His Almanack printing, however, was not taken away (Treadwell). When bookseller Dorman Newman was accused in June 1691 of selling Dr. Williams' Catechism, Roberts confirmed he had printed 1500 in the first impression. Both Newman and Roberts claimed to have informed the Treasurer of "Dr. Williams' willingness to make allowance to the Company. Newman was ordered to pay 40s. per thousand (£9 in all), which was the usual rate paid by members for the like liberty of printing and selling Catechismes" (SCF ff. 154–154v; McKenzie and Bell, 106).

Records concerning the renewal of the lease for his house provide information about his location: on the 11th of November 1700, a committee was scheduled to review his house for repairs for the taking of his lease. The committee determined on the 3rd of February 1701 that the house (in Ave Mary Lane) was to be repaired and that Roberts was to have a lease for 21 years at his present rate of £32 per annum. Roberts withdrew from the debate before it was completed. He was buried on the 5th of November 1701. His will, probated the 25th of November, granted administration of his estate to his wife Mary. Just over a year later, 9 February 1702, it was determined that the lease intended for Robert was now to be made for his widow and executrix, Mary Roberts. On the 26th of March her lease was sealed for 21 years at £32 per annum for two houses fronting Stationers Hall (Treadwell). 

Roberts' widow Mary seems to have carried on as printer for several years.

 

References

McKenzie, Donald Francis  and Maureen Bell. A Chronology and Calendar of Documents Relating to the London Book Trade 1641–1700: Volume III: 1686–1700 (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005).

Treadwell, Michael. Research Notes.

A Dictionary of the Booksellers and Printers who were at Work in England, Scotland and Ireland from 1641 to 1667, by Henry Plomer (1907)

Mr. Roberts—He was Master over himself—When he had a Storm in his Heart, he made all fair Weather in his Face—He wou'd look big, but I never found he was Passionate, Proud, or Vain—However, he had this particular in him, that he never broke bis Word to a Bookseller —IN TWENTY BOOKS that he printed for me, he never disappointed me once, or exacted Twopence; so that what he left to his Widow will wear well, for 'twas every Penny honestly gotten.

A Dictionary of the Booksellers and Printers who were at Work in England, Scotland and Ireland from 1641 to 1667, by Henry Plomer (1907)

ROBERTS (R.), printer in London, 1679 (?)–99. He may be the R. R. who with A. M. printed in 1679 A True Relation of the ... Cruelties lately acted by the Rebels in Scotland. [Haz. in. 224.] He is first mentioned in the Term Catalogues in Mich. 1685, as printer of The Mirror of Martyrs. The advertisement states that it was printed "for R. Roberts"; but in this as in many other cases, it does not imply that he was a regular bookseller. In 1690 one R. R., with M. C., printed for Adiel Mill a folio ed. of the Letters of Gerard Vossius. In 1692 Roberts printed the Votes of the House of Commons in Ireland. [Burney, 104 A], and in 1699, for J. Nutt, Dr. W. Harris's Description of the King's Palace and Gardens at Loo. [T.C. III. 154.] Dunton says of "Mr. Roberts" (no doubt this man): "In twenty books that he printed for me he never disappointed me once ... so that what he left to his Widow will wear well"; which shows that he was dead before 1703.