James Levitt
James Levitt was apprenticed to a mercer in 1630. He was known as a grocer so he probably sold more than just fabric. He loaned money to Kingston residents and may have been an all round business man. His premises were located in Giggs Hill, near the present day Eden Street and Apple Market. He held various offices in Kingston including churchwarden, schoolwarden, chamberlain (treasurer), bridgewarden and constable.
He was a staunch Parliamentarian and refused to take the Oath of Allegiance to Charles 11 in 1662. For this he was banned from holding an further official posts in the Court of Assembly (equivalent to Kingston's present day Borough Council). He was fined and imprisoned several times over the next twenty years for attending unlawful religious assemblies and meetings with known Presbyterians.
Pictured: A farthing token.
Obverse. 'IAMES . LEVITT. OF' and three salmon swimming left.
Children's activity:
James Levitt was a mercer which meant he was a trader selling expensive fabrics. He was also known as a grocer so he may have sold other things too. Goods on sale: many expensive fabrics including rather nice wool (just enough to make a doublet) for 10 farthing tokens.Seventeenth Century Traders' Tokens