Researched by Nicky Scowen

Jeffery Wale was apprenticed to Samuel Smith of the Stationers’ Company in 1698. He married Margaret Smith by licence on the 28 May 1702 at St Matthew’s on Friday Street.

His daughter Mary was born in May 1703 and baptised at St Faith under St Paul’s. Jeffery gained the Freedom of the City that October, but lost his wife the same month. She was buried in St Faith’s.

Jeffery married again in 1704 in St Vedast’s to Ann Tate and they had four children. He worked as a bookseller at the sign of the Angel in St Paul’s Churchyard, situated against the little north door. Some but not all of his stock was published directly for Jeffery.

He paid his taxes in Farringdon ward, but in 1707 he became bankrupt and signed over all his effects to his creditors. His wife Ann died in 1709.