SANDERSON, RALEIGH [SSNE 7777]
Text source
Raleigh Sanderson was an English merchant based in Stockholm in the 1620s. He served frequently as a go-between for James Spens [SSNE 1642] and the Swedish Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna with regard to financial transactions. An early mention of his role is in a letter from James Spens to Axel Oxenstierna on 16 February 1624. In June 1626 Spens signed a receipt recognising the loan of £750 from Sanderson to cover Spens' expenses as ambassador for the Stuart Court to Sweden and confirmed that Sanderson solicited King Charles I for the repayment of the loan.
He appears in the Stockholm city council records for 1628 as Rhale, appearing in disputes with several members of the Stockholm burgess and professional community, including Dr James Robertson [SSNE 1637], of which Raleigh appears to have a poor impression: "Robertsonus multa dicit, pauca probat". Their dispute lasts from January through the end of March when the issue gets pushed forward to the coming session. Raleigh calls Thomas "Engelschman" (probably Thomas Parker [SSNE 819], often referred to as Engelsman in the records) and one Johan Dix as his guarantors. Raleigh probably returns to England in the meantime until he reappears before Stockholm city council in early June 1628 on another issue. The matter with Dr Robertson resume in August, however, regarding a debt owed to Nicolas Bass in Hamburg. Apparently on 2 May 1629 the courts decided in Raleigh's favour and Dr Robertson was to compensate Sanderson for everything he had supplied to the doctor's pharmacy and also to compensate Sanderson for his legal costs.
Sources: Riksarkivet, Stockholm, Oxenstiernska samlingen, E724. James Spens to Axel Oxenstierna, 16/26 February, 10 March, 3 April, 8 April, 26 April 1624, 8/18 January, 20/30 January, 15 December 1625, 8 /18 March 1625; The National Archives, London, SP95, II. f.150. James Spens to Raleigh Sanderson, 16 June 1626 and ff.175-176, James Spens to Sir John Coke, 4 October 1627; Stockholmsstads Tänkeböcker från år 1592, del xvii, 1626 (Stockholm, 1998), pp.2-5, 8, 13, 16-17, 22, 26, 52, 54, 59, 67, 68, 70, 73, 78, 102, 237, 243, 244, 258.
Service record
- GREAT BRITAIN, STOCKHOLM
- Arrived 1626-06-16
- Departed 1629-05-02
- Capacity MERCHANT, purpose TRADE