Peter Hushar d.1685
Peter HUSHAR d.before 1685
Biographical Note
‘Merchant of London, deceased’; evidently a Frenchman who settled in London at an unknown date and who was involved in trade. The extant will of his widow Rebecca (née Tookie), made and proved in 1685, shows that they lived in Spitalfields. The date of Peter’s death is unknown and it is not clear whether that, or the death of Rebecca, was the main driver of the book sale. She left all her goods to her daughter (or, should she not survive to 21, to her brother and sister).
Books
Hushar’s library was auctioned in London, beginning 18 November 1685. The sale catalogue contains 897 lots and is unusual, in the context of English book sales, for its proportion of French language material, and absence of Latin, a reflection of its owner’s background. The catalogue begins with French language folios (27 lots), quartos (21), and octavos (174 theological, 107 history/poetry/miscellaneous). This is followed by English divinity (64 folio, 115 quarto, 266 octavo and duodecimo), English miscellaneous (29 folio, 56 smaller formats), and 24 volumes of English sermons and tracts, bound. Theological and devotional material makes up a little over 70% of the whole.
Characteristic Markings
None of Hushar’s books have been identified.
Sources
- Rebecca Hushar’s will, TNA PROB 11/381/185.
- A catalogue of the library of books ... of Mr. Peter Hushar, London, 1685, (ESTC r214512).
- Alston, R. C. Inventory of sale catalogues 1676-1800. St Philip, 2010.
- Glaisyer, N. The culture of commerce in England, 1660-1720, 2006, 134.