Catalogue description Ralph Fordham's properties in Shoreditch

Begins with the will of Ralph Fordham, dated 26 Mar 1745, bequeathing his property in Shoreditch, comprising two properties on Holywell Street (later 87-88 Shoreditch High Street) one of which was The Fountain Inn (later renamed The Red Cow, No. 88) and also three properties on Boundary Street to the rear of these premises, to be split four ways between his three cousins and his uncle-in -law for life [1], this is followed by a series of lease and release transfers with related final agreements. In 1752 the trustees of Ralph Fordham sell the property to Nahum Crossley [2-5] and in 1753 and 1759 at their coming of age, his children release thier interest in the property to Crossley [6-9]. Nahum Crossley's grandson, Nahum Harcourt Crossley, mortgages and then sells the properties to John How in 1784-1786 [10-15], on How's death the property is transferred to his daughter Abigail, wife of Robert Young, in 1803 they sell the property to William Mitton while retaining the uses themselves [17-19]. In 1863 Robert Young Ellis leased The Fountain Inn to the City of London Brewery Company Ltd. and in 1866 the property in Boundary Street to George Babar [20-21], upon his death his trustees extend the lease to the Brewery Company for a further 21 years, however in 1875 the Brewery Company surrender the remainder of the lease to Jeremiah Rotherham and Co [22-23], Rotherham's also acquire the lease on 87 Shoreditch High Street and the property on Boundary Street [24-25]. Robert Young Ellis' trustees mortgage the property to Henry William banks and Edward Stringer in 1876, they transfer the mortgage to Ann Stent in 1884 [26-27]. In 1890 an agreement is made that Rotherham's can purchase the property [28-29], [30-33] are abstracts of title relating to The Fountain Inn. By 1891 the mortgage [26-27] had been repayed, and the property reverts to the trustees. They then sell to Rotherham's [34-35] who mortgage the property with the trustees [36-38], the series finishes with Rotherham's abstract of title [39-40]