Henry Middleton
McKerrow (p. 192) summarizes Middleton's career as a printer in
London between 1567 and 1587, when his shop was in St. Dunstan's
Churchyard. Numerous references to him occur in the Stationers' Register.
The parish registers of St. Dunstan's in the West record his burial on 9
September 1587: "Henrye Midletonn buryed" (Guildhall
Library
MS. 10,342). On 6 September 1587, "Henrye Middleton citizen and
stationer of London beinge sicke in bodie" made his nuncupative will
(P.R.O., Prob. 11. 71/Spencer 53),[6]
in
which he divides his estate (after payment of debts) into three parts:
one-third for his wife Jane, one-third for his children (unnamed), and
one-third for other relatives (the residue falling to his wife Jane, whom he
names sole executrix). He leaves £20 to his brother-in-law John
Danwood, gentleman, for the use and relief of the wife (apparently
Middleton's blood sister) of Garratte Heathe, goldsmith (this £20 to be
paid out of debts owing to Middleton before he married Jane). He
bequeaths £10 to Danwood's wife (apparently also Middleton's blood
sister), as well as £8 to Elizabeth Stacye (or Stacie), the eldest daughter
of Danwood's wife by her late husband Robert Stacye. Witnesses to the will
were John Danwood, Richard Peacock, and William Benedick. Through a
notary public, Jane Middleton probated the will on 13 September
1587.
