A Dictionary of the Booksellers and Printers who Were at Work in England, Scotland and Ireland from 1641 to 1667/Ratcliffe (Thomas)

by Henry Robert Plomer

RATCLIFFE (THOMAS), printer in London; St. Bennet Pauls Wharf near Doctors Commons, 1646-67. Took up his freedom January 14th, 1628. [Arber, iii. 686.] About May, 1646, he joined partnership with Edward Mottershead. They had an extensive business, and their initials T.R. and E.M. are met with on the books and pamphlets of this period at every turn. In 1659 Ratcliffe petitioned the Vestry of St. Bennet's to be relieved from serving as a vestryman on the ground that he was above the age of threescore years. [Vestry Books of St. Bennets, Paul's Wharf; Guildhall MSS. 877/1, p. 182.] The date of his death is unknown. In the survey taken on July 29th, 1668, a Thomas Ratcliffe is returned as having two presses, two apprentices, and seven workmen [Plomer, Short History, p. 226], but this and later references probably refer to a son. [G. J. Gray, Index to Hazlitt, p. 639; Hist MSS., Comm. Report 9, App. p. 73^a.]