Sir William Ogbourne (his surname is spelt with and without the letter ‘u’ in various records) left an impressive record of public service in the city of London in the early 18th Century, including as an Elder Brother of the Trinity House, Master and Sheriff of the Carpenters Company,  and Governor of St Thomas’ Hospital in London.

St Olave’s church, in Hart Street, close to the Tower of London bears a commemorative plaque to Sir William Ogborne who held a number of high offices in the City of London in the 18th century. St Olave’s church was the parish church of the famous diarist and Secretary to the Admiralty Samuel Pepys, and was also well known to the author Charles Dickens, who described St Olave’s Church as ‘The Church of St Ghastly Grim’ due to the macabre skulls over an entrance arch Records of Sir Williams participation in the deliberations of the Carpenters Company (of which Sir William was a Master and Sheriff of the Carpenters Company)  appear in http://www.londonlives.org/ on numerous pages. Sir William is also listed as a donor towards new buildings at the prestigious St Thomas Hospital, and as a member of Court of Governors of St Thomas’ Hospital. Quote: Grand Committee Mercur 6o. Octobr 1725 Ordered that Green Staffs be sent to Thomas Edwards Francis Coulston and William Ogbourne Esqr . who are now Chosen Governours of this Hospital. November 1998. In an exhibition in the White Tower of the Tower of London opened by H.M.The Queen an example of Sir William’s work is exhibited. Golden Carvings by William Wade 1708 from the Master General’s (John Churchill 1st Duke of Marlborough) Barge are shown along with the Cabin Ceiling by ‘The Master Carpenter William Ogbourne’. The Trinity Green Almshouses built in 1695 by the Corporation of Trinity House to provide housing for “28 decay’d Masters & Commanders of Ships or ye Widows of such”;^[2] The almshouses were designed by Sir William Ogbourne. 

In the Will of Sir William Ogborne, dated Oct. 5, and proved Oct.23, 1734, in which he mentions himself as ” Knight, Citizen and Carpenter” of Rosemary Lane, Parish of St. Mary, White Chapel, County of Middlesex, he makes the following bequests:The freehold property, in Cheapside and Lawrence Lane, in occupancy, and an empty house adjoining, he gives to his wife Dame Joyce, and also the residence, in Rosemary Lane, during her lifetime, she paying £0, in half-yearly payments, to his Grandson, Ogborne Churchill. Upon his wife’s demise, these properties are given to his Grandson, Ogborne Churchill and Grand-daughter, Sarah Churchill, equally. In case both die before twenty-one years of age and leave no heirs, then these properties are to be equally divided between St. Thomas’ Hospital, Southwark, County of Surrey, and The Carpenters’ Guild, of London, for the benefit of their poor. The testator also gave to his wife his coach, his chariot horses, plate, hay, corn, etc. He owned many houses leased to many individuals. A full copy of Sir William’s will is available in this website. His widow, Dame Joyce, died about ten years later, and was mentioned in her will as of Greenwich, Kent County, England. She was doubtless a second wife for she mentions none of his legatees, except “Sister, Mary Bedson.” She willed her estate to her kinspeople, females, by the names of Williams, Clopton and Searles, and the residue of her estate to her nephew, William Singleton, of St. Christophers, West Indies. She made many bequests of good size to friends and servants.