[1006]Captaine John Graunt (afterwards, major) was borne (ex MStopatris sui) 24º die Aprilis, ½ an houre before eight a clock on a Munday morning, the signe being in the 9 degree of Gemini that day at 12 a clock, Anno Domini 1620.
He was the sonne of Henry Graunt, who was borne 18 January 1592[1007], being Tuesday, at night; et obiit 21 March, 1661/2, being Fryday, between one and two in the morning; buryed in the vault in the new vestrie in St. Michaels church in Cornhill. He was borne in ..., Hantshire.
His son John was borne at the 7 Starres in Burchin Lane, London, in the parish of St. Michael's Cornhill.
He wroteObservations on the bills of mortalityvery ingeniosely (but I beleeve, and partly know, that he had his hint from his intimate and familiar friend Sir William Petty), to which he made someAdditions, since printed. And he intended, had he lived, to have writt more on the subject.
He writt also someObservations on the advance of excise, not printed: quaere his widowe for them.
To give him his due prayse, he was a very ingeniose and studious person, and generally beloved, and rose early in the morning to his study before shop-time. He understood Latin and French. He was a pleasant facetious companion, and very hospitable.
He was bred-up (as the fashion then was) in the Puritan way; wrote short-hand dextrously; and after many yeares constant hearing and writing sermon-notes, he fell to buying and reading of the best Socinian bookes, and for severall yeares continued of that opinion. At last, about ..., he turned a Roman Catholique, of which religion he dyed a great zealot.
He was free of the drapers' company, and by profession was a haberdasher of small-wares. He had gone through all the offices[1008]of the city so far as common-councell-man. Captain of the trayned-bands severall yeares; major, 2 or 3 yeares.—He was a common councell man 2 yeares, and then putt out (as also of his military employment in the trayned band) for his religion.
He was admitted a fellowe of the Royall Societie, anno 16.. (about 1663).
He broke[1009].... He dyed on Easter eve[1010]1674; buryed on the Wednesday in Easter-weeke in St. Dunstan's church in Fleet Strete under the gallery about the middle (or more west) north side, anno aetatis suae 54.
He had one son, a man, who dyed in Persia; one daughter, a nunne at ... (I thinke, Gaunt). His widowe yet alive.
[1011]Major John Graunt dyed on Easter-eve 1674, and was buryed the Wednesday followeing in St. Dunstan's church in Fleet street in the body of the said church under the piewes towards the gallery on the north side, i.e., under the piewes (aliashoggsties) of the north side of the middle aisle (what pitty 'tis so great an ornament of the citty should be buryed so obscurely!), aetatis anno 54º.
Was borne in Burchin lane, at the 7 Starres, in St. Michael's Cornhill parish, at which place he continued his trade till about 2 yeares since.
{1. Political}His 'Observations on the bills of mortality {2. . . . . . }'{3. . . . . . }
hath been printed more then once; and now very scarce.
He wrott some 'Observations on the advance of the excise,' not printed; and intended to have writt more of the bills of mortality; and also intended to have written something of religion.
He was by trade a haberdasher of small wares, but was free of the drapers' company. A man generally beloved; a faythfull friend. Often chosen for his prudence and justnes to be an arbitrator; and he was a great peace-maker. He had an excellent working head, and was very facetious and fluent in his conversation.
[1012]He had gonne thorough all the offices of the city so far as common councill man. He was common councill man two yeares. Captaine of the trayned band, severall yeares: major of it, two or three yeares, and then layd downe trade and all other publique employment for his religion, being a Roman Catholique.
Ex MSS. patris ejus:—'My son, John Graunt, was borne 24th day of April halfe an howre before 8 a clock on a Monday morning anno Domini 1620.'
He was my honoured and worthy friend—cujus animae propitietur Deus, Amen.
His death is lamented by all good men that had thehappinesse to knowe him; and a great number of ingeniose persons attended him to his grave. Among others, with teares, was that ingeniose great virtuoso, Sir William Petty, his old and intimate acquaintance, who was sometime a student at Brase-nose College.