Thomas Martyn Foundation , charity supporting the children of watermen

Thomas Martyn Foundation , charity supporting the children of watermen

Thomas Martyn was a wealthy gentleman who lived in Putney in the late 17th century. In his will, made shortly before his death in 1684, he granted his estate to his niece Lucy Cook, with the proviso that if she died without children the proceeds of the estate should be used to endow a school for the sons of watermen. Although Lucy married, she died childless in 1701 and the trustees of the will established a Watermen's School in 1718. Scholars were provided with a uniform and tuition in reading, writing and arithmetic. From 1817 the trustees also provided a sum of money towards the apprenticeship of school leavers, to watermen and other trades. The Watermen's School continued in Putney until its closure in 1911, but the charity, now known as the Thomas Martyn Foundation, still exists as an educational trust making financial grants to the sons and daughters of licensed watermen.

For more details see LMA/4523/06/01/002.