Pepy's Diary. 03 Sep 1665. Among other stories, one was very passionate, methought, of a complaint brought against a man in the towne for taking a child from London from an infected house. Alderman Hooker (age 53) told us it was the child of a very able citizen in Gracious Street [Map], a saddler, who had buried all the rest of his children of the plague, and himself and wife now being shut up and in despair of escaping, did desire only to save the life of this little child; and so prevailed to have it received stark-naked into the arms of a friend, who brought it (having put it into new fresh clothes) to Greenwich, Kent [Map]; where upon hearing the story, we did agree it should be permitted to be received and kept in the towne.

Pepy's Diary. 24 Dec 1665. Then to church, and placed myself in the Parson's pew under the pulpit, to hear Mrs. Chamberlain in the next pew sing, who is daughter to Sir James Bunch, of whom I have heard much, and indeed she sings very finely, and from church met with Sir W. Warren and he and I walked together talking about his and my businesses, getting of money as fairly as we can, and, having set him part of his way home, I walked to my Lord Bruncker (age 45), whom I heard was at Alderman Hooker's (age 53), hoping to see and salute [his daughter] Mrs. Lethulier (age 22), whom I did see in passing, but no opportunity of beginning acquaintance, but a very noble lady she is, however the silly alderman got her. Here we sat talking a great while, Sir The. Biddulph (age 53) and Mr. Vaughan (age 62), a son-in-law of Alderman Hooker's (age 53). Hence with my Lord Bruncker (age 45) home and sat a little with him and so home to bed.

On 01 Feb 1666 Alderman William Hooker (age 54) was knighted.

Pepy's Diary. 13 Feb 1666. Up, and all the morning at the office. At noon to the 'Change [Map], and thence after business dined at the Sheriffe's [Hooker] (age 54), being carried by [his son-in-law] Mr. Lethulier (age 33), where to my heart's content I met with his [his daughter] wife (age 23), a most beautifull fat woman. But all the house melancholy upon the sickness of a daughter of the house in childbed, Mr. Vaughan's (age 62) lady (age 48). So all of them undressed, but however this lady a very fine woman. I had a salute of her, and after dinner some discourse the Sheriffe and I about a parcel of tallow I am buying for the office of him.

Pepy's Diary. 05 Apr 1667. So to the 'Change [Map], and there met with Mr. James Houblon, but no hopes, as he sees, of peace whatever we pretend, but we shall be abused by the King of France (age 28). Then home to the office, and busy late, and then to Sir W. Batten's (age 66), where Mr. Young was talking about the building of the City again; and he told me that those few churches that are to be new built are plainly not chosen with regard to the convenience of the City; they stand a great many in a cluster about Cornhill [Map]; but that all of them are either in the gift of the Lord Archbishop, or Bishop of London, or Chancellor (age 58), or gift of the City. Thus all things, even to the building of churches, are done in this world! And then he says, which I wonder at, that I should not in all this time see, that Moorefields [Map] have houses two stories high in them, and paved streets, the City having let leases for seven years, which he do conclude will be very much to the hindering the building of the City; but it was considered that the streets cannot be passable in London till a whole street be built; and several that had got ground of the City for charity, to build sheds on, had got the trick presently to sell that for £60, which did not cost them £20 to put up; and so the City, being very poor in stock, thought it as good to do it themselves, and therefore let leases for seven years of the ground in Moorefields [Map]; and a good deal of this money, thus advanced, hath been employed for the enabling them to find some money for Commissioner Taylor, and Sir W. Batten (age 66), towards the charge of "The Loyall London", or else, it is feared, it had never been paid. And Taylor having a bill to pay wherein Alderman Hooker (age 55) was concerned it was his invention to find out this way of raising money, or else this had not been thought on.

Pepy's Diary. 20 Apr 1668. Thence with Creed, thinking, but failed, of dining with Lord Crew, and so he and I to Hercules Pillars, and there dined, and thence home by coach, and so with Jack Fenn to the Chamberlain of London to look after the state of some Navy assignments that are in his hands, and thence away, and meeting Sir William Hooker, the Alderman (age 56), he did cry out mighty high against Sir W. Pen (age 46) for his getting such an estate, and giving £15,000 with his daughter, which is more, by half, than ever he did give; but this the world believes, and so let them.

In 1673 Alderman William Hooker (age 61) was elected Lord Mayor of London.