Cloth Seal, Dye Seal, Dyer's Two-Part Seal, Fran Wheatly

Cloth Seal, Dye Seal, Dyer's Two-Part Seal, Fran Wheatly, Image by Karen Ellis-Andrews, Found by Roy Ellis.
Found on the Thames Foreshore*, 28mm.
*by a loading platform on the south bank, just west of Southwark Bridge. The platform has almost eroded away leaving only the vertical studs remaining.

Blank // (..R)AN: / (W)heatly / (D)YER

Two examples of a named dyer's seal.

Geoff Egan personal communication to Roy Ellis, 24/4/1980, "Dyers' seals: (?17th century)
scratches // / W...LY DYER
- // FRAN WHEATLY DYER "

From Paul Cannon, "The following may relate to the Francis Wheatley or Wheatly of these dyers’ seals.

1)Francis Wheatley of St Saviours, Southwark, dyer, declared bankrupt, 1748 [Aris’s Birmingham Gazette, 29 August 1748, p3]

2) A document relating to Francis Wheatley, dyer, late of St Saviour, Southwark, a bankrupt, 1749. See National Archives - Ward v Wheatley.

3)”Days appointed for the payment of dividends: Jun 18th: Francis Wheatly of St Saviours: Southwark in the County of Surry, Dyer”. [Manchester Mercury 8 June 1756, p3]"

The finder has investigated this information further and come up with more:-
"1. FRANCIS1 WHEATLEY was probably born in Southwark, Surrey. He married MARY DUNCE (Dance) 3 June 1737 in Church of St. Martin Outwich, City of London, Middlesex. She was probably born in Southwark, Surrey.
The Church of St. Martin Outwich was gifted by John Churchman, in the reign of Henry IV ( c. April 1367 – 20 March 1413 also known as Henry Bolingbroke, was King of England from 1399 to 1413) to the Master and Wardens of Taylors (sic) and Linen Armourers Keepers of the Guild and Fraternity of St. John the Baptist in London..
1) Francis Wheatley of St Saviours, Southwark, dyer, declared bankrupt, 1748 [Aris’s Birmingham Gazette, 29 August 1748, p3]
2) A document relating to Francis Wheatley, dyer, late of St Saviour, Southwark, a bankrupt, 1749. See National Archives - Ward v Wheatley.
3) ”Days appointed for the payment of dividends: Jun 18th: Francis Wheatly of St Saviours: Southwark in the County of Surry, Dyer”. [Manchester Mercury 8 June 1756, p3]"
Short title: Ward v Wheatley.
Document type: Bill and three answers.
Plaintiffs: Thomas Ward*, dyer of St Olave, Southwark, Surrey (surviving assignee of Francis Wheatley, dyer late of St Saviour, Southwark, a bankrupt).
Defendants: Francis Wheatley and Mary Wheatley his wife, William Courtney, a hosier and Edmund Shallett, a mercer. (The Southwark parish records show both Courtney and Shallett remained in Southwark until their deaths.)
Date of bill (or first document): 1749
*Thomas Ward, Dyer of Maze Pond Southwark , Surrey. Thomas Ward’s will, dated 7 August, 1752 in which he was shown as a dyer.

I cannot find any trace of Francis Wheatley after this court case. He may have absconded to Ireland to escape his creditors, as did a namesake in the second half of the 17th century ( I cannot associate this Francis with our Francis Wheatley.
Debtor’s prisons were in existence until their abolishment in 1869.

Further entry found: Gentleman’s Magazine August 1748.
Francis Wheatley – 1726-1750 – Dyer of dying and colouring – Bankrupt – August 1748. (If the date of 1726 is meant to be his birth date, then I believe it was entered in error.)
Edmund Shallett
Marriage date: 13 July 1722
Marriage place: Mercers Hall Chapel Cheapside-Non Parochial, London, England (Mercer: a dealer in textile fabrics and fine cloth)
Spouse: Susanna Huthnance

William Courtney. Burial 8 June 1762, St. Saviour, Southwark, a hosier.
Marriage date: 17 April 1735
Marriage place: Church of St. Martin Outwich, City of London, Middlesex. Both of Parish of St. Saviour, Southwark, Surrey.
Spouse: Ann WHEATLY. Died St. Saviour 12 March 1755, wife of William, a hosier.
National Archives: Will of
More About FRANCIS WHEATLEY:
Fact: 3 June 1737, Their marriage entry stated that they were both from the parish of St. Saviour, Southwark, Surrey
Occupation: 21 October 1741, Dyer. Info. daughter Mary Ann church death register.
Children of FRANCIS WHEATLEY and MARY DUNCE are:
i. MARY ANN2 WHEATLEY, b. Unknown, Southwark, Surrey; d. 1741, St. Saviour, Southwark.

More About MARY ANN WHEATLEY:
Burial: 21 October 1741, St. Saviour, Southwark. Info. burial register

Fact: 21 October 1741, Identity discovered from burial register: Mary Ann daughter of Francis Wheatley- DYER.
ii. MARTHA WHEATLEY, b. c 1739, Southwark, Surrey
More About MARTHA WHEATLEY:
Baptism: 25 February 1739, St. Saviour, Southwark. Info. baptism register