Georgian Women Silversmiths - Lady Bucklemakers.

SM Publications

Silver Salon Forums - The premier site for discussing Silver.

SMP | Silver Salon Forums | SSF - Guidelines | SSF - FAQ | Silver Sales

In this Forum we discuss the silver of the United Kingdom, as well as British Colonial silver and Old Sheffield Plate.

Past British - Irish Sterling topics/threads worth a look.

How to Post Photos

Want to be a Moderator?

SMP Silver Salon Forums
tline

British / Irish Sterling
tline3

Georgian Women Silversmiths - Lady Bucklemakers.

profile | register | preferences | faq | search

SSFFriend: Email This Page to Someone!

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Author	Topic: Georgian Women Silversmiths - Lady Bucklemakers.
Clive E Taylor Posts: 450 Registered: Jul 2000	posted 10-24-2008 08:47 AM There has an increasing interest in female silversmiths in the last few years and I thought an update and a few corrections about Silver Bucklemaking ladies might prove of general interest. Certainly the notes below give some insights into the social history of the silver world of the late 18th century. The genealogists hopefully will find it useful also. All those below entered marks at Goldsmiths Hall, London, usually specifically as Bucklemakers or are known to have such marks. I have ignored Hester Bateman as her details are well know and buckles were not a major part of her business I would appreciate any further information on any of these ladies or their husbands. If you do not have posting priviledges to the Forum please contact me via enquiries(at) taylorswaterways.co.uk (at) = @ and I will add the details. Please specify "silver buckles" as your email subject as otherwise the Spam filter may get it! ............................................. Elizabeth BARROW & Jane WILLIAMS Mark entered 6th March 1789. ("Barrows" given in Grimwade is incorrect). These two ladies were respectively the widow and mother of John Barrow, silver bucklemaker of 8, Bedford Street, Strand whose will they proved as executrixes on 28th February 1789. Note the speed that things happened in the 18th century. Elizabeth, whose full name was Elizabeth Denis Barrow was a close relation, probably cousin, of Sir Peter Denis a retired and very successful Vice Admiral who died in 1778. He was of Huguenot parentage and appears to have come from the lower deck as an ordinary seaman by merit � and died a wealthy man with no heirs. Elizabeth seems to have brought John Barrow a considerable private income from her interest in Sir Peter's estate. John Barrow's will empowered and directed Elizabeth and Jane to continue his silver business for their own benefit and the education of his infant son, Peter Denis Barrow (guess who he was named after !). On the son's 21st birthday he was to join the business as a one third partner � but interestingly the two ladies were still to maintain control. ��the continuance of the said trade at the Sole disposal and direction of my said Wife and Mother and not in any manner subject to the direction of my said Son� � an unusually pro-feminine stance in a male dominated age . Young may well have been the maiden name of Elizabeth as she is named at one place in the will as "my said wife Elizabeth Denis Barrow then Elizabeth Denis Young". Or perhaps John was her second husband. Jane Williams, given as a widow at the time of probate, presumably had had a second husband. Their mark is not uncommon and the partnership mark of the two ladies has been seen up to 1792/1793. Peter Dennis Barrow did not become a silversmith Mary BEEDALL & William Yardley Mark entered 22nd March 1780 at 23 Thorney Street, Bloomsbury. Mary was the widow and sole executrix and beneficiary of Samuel Beedall Silver Buckle Maker of the same address who had died in early 1780. She, as Mary Hill, had married Samuel Beedall seven days after he entered his first mark as bucklemaker 9th January 1776. The witnesses to Beedall's will were William Yardley and Thomas Hill, the latter presumably a close relative and perhaps the silver bucklemaker whose first registered mark was in 1788. Both may well have been apprentices or journeymen of Beedall. After Beedall's death Yardley, who was 24 years of age, obviously wasted no time, marrying Mary on 30th April 1780, Thomas Hill and John Padmore being witnesses. His name alone replaced Samuel Beadall (sic) as the householder in the poor rate book in August and he entered a solo mark at 5 Thorney Street in November 1780. After this lightning courtship and take-over Yardley never looked back, being a successful silver bucklemaker who, like Samuel Cooke diversified into sword furniture when the buckle trade collapsed in the early 1790's. He is today only remembered for his perfume trade interests "Yardley's Old English Lavender surviving as a brand until quite recently. Yardley died in 1824 aged 67, still living at Thorney Street. I am not sure what happened to Mary, but she was not neglected" William and her had nine children, the last one born in 1795. I have never seen the joint mark although Yardley's is frequently found . Anne BICKERTON No marks in registers but known to exist as she was fined for substandard buckles in 1765 and 1766. She was the widow of Henry Bickerton smallworker, of Monkwell Street who died in 1765. She was an executrix and legatee of Henry's will and appears to have carried on trading as a bucklemaker. An Anne Bickerton who describes herself as a Goldsmith in the trial of her maid for theft in 16 Jan 1766 was almost certainly the same lady although no address given in the Old Bailey trial report. Not mentioned in Parliamentary Report of 1773 so she either retired or was dead by that date, unless her absence in Goldsmiths Hall registers caused her omission. Her mark cannot be positively identified but a pair of buckles of the correct period has been seen with an AB makers mark and a London assay mark. Elizabeth COOKE Mark entered 24th January 1764 as smallworker of Foster Lane . She was the widow of Samuel Cooke Silversmith of St Leonard(?) Foster Lane whose will dated 17th July 1763 was proved by her as executrix and sole beneficiary on 1st February 1764. This Samuel Cooke presumably had recorded marks in the lost smallworkers register. Grimwades suggestion that she was Thomas Cooke (II)'s widow is erroneous- despite it's acceptance by other writers. She was still alive in 1774, being mentioned in the will of Edward Cooke her brother-in-law I have never seen her mark, A mark SC with a London assay mark of 1740 �1756 has been seen on a stock buckle intended for the Continental market which is believed to be that of her husband, although there is possibility it could be an unrecorded mark of Simeon Coley whose early history is equally uncertain! . Catherine WHITFORD Mark entered (as Cattern Whitford ) 7th April 1774 at Sugar Loaf Court , Salisbury Court, Fleet Street. She was almost certainly the widow of William Whitford (0), a silver bucklemaker with a mark or marks in one of the lost registers. Fined for substandard silver buckles in the mid 1760's, William was listed as a bucklemaker at Salisbury Court in the Parliamentary Report 1773, and annoted "dead" by George Fair on the Goldsmiths Hall copy of the report � so he probably died in late 1773 or 1774. Catherine's mark is rarely seen. Mary WHITFORD Mark entered 6th November 1778 at 6 St Martin Le Grand. She was the widow of Samuel Whitford, mentioned in the Parliamentary report of 1773 as a silver bucklemaker at St Martin Le Grand, who died in late 1778. His will, proved in November 1778 named Mary his wife, and after a few minor bequests, as sole beneficiary and executrix. Interestingly, as will be seen below, one of the witnesses to the will was a William Ballantine � who may have been journeyman or an ex- apprentice of Samuel's. I have never seen her sole mark. In January 1779 Mary entered a joint mark with William Ballantine as the junior partner, at 6 St Martin Le Grand, the partnership presumably being dissolved by July 1788 when William entered a sole mark at 1, St Martin le Grand. The joint mark is not common, although William's sole mark is often found. His work is sometimes found in the United States, often without assay marks, so he probably had a thriving export side. At least until 1800 when he went bankrupt! Mary WALL (nee WHITFORD ) This lady recorded one of the very few incuse marks as a bucklemaker in 1792 and was the widowed daughter of Thomas WHITFORD. He was another silversmith who had only registered two marks, both incuse marks as a bucklemaker. He died in 1792 and Mary was probably living with him at 6, Kings Head Court , St Martin le Grand at the time. 6,Kings Court incidentally was literally just round the corner from Mary Whitford's address. I do not think that either Thomas Whitford or Mary Wall made many ,if any, buckles. Thomas descibes himself as spectacle maker in his will - and one of his executors was Peter Dolland the very well known optician (or his son) and founder of the oldest existant opticians chains in the UK. I suspect the incuse marks were for spectacle frames - certainly I have never seen them on buckles. Mary WILLIS Mark entered 27th June 1798 at 81, Bishopsgate. Probably the widow of the John Willis whose first recorded mark was as a smallworker in 1789. Grimwade records him at 28, Blue Anchor Alley in 1791 and then at 81, Bishopsgate Without in 1794- then confusingly at 28 ,Blue Anchor, Bishopsgate Without in 1796. This may refer to two separate premises being run concurrently or another version of the same address � Blue Anchor Alley being just north of Bishopsgate � hence outside of the City . Mary Willis appears to have been active for at least ten years as a pair of her buckles have been seen marked with N for 1808/9 (although her MW appears to be an overstrike � she probably bought them in and acted as a retailer ). Probably the only one of the widows to continue her business for any length of time - Hester Bateman excepted. Mark not common. IP: Logged
agphile Posts: 798 Registered: Apr 2008	posted 10-24-2008 02:11 PM Fascinating stuff. I cannot add anything to your information but have enjoyed reading it. IP: Logged
Clive E Taylor Posts: 450 Registered: Jul 2000	posted 10-24-2008 04:49 PM Thank you agphile. In the past I have found that Google is so good and the genealogists so keen that a posting of this nature can produce unexpected information from very dedicated researchers who find data in areas I never would think of searching ! IP: Logged
Clive E Taylor Posts: 450 Registered: Jul 2000	posted 12-08-2010 11:33 AM Three more lady silver bucklemakers ! Ann ANDREWS Ann Andrews was the presumed widow of John Andrews of Brick Lane , Old Street a silversmith and believed a major bucklemaker in the 1750 – 1758 period . . John Andrews, the son of George Andrews of Colesbatch in Leicestershire, is recorded as having entered a mark as smallworker on 9th August 1758 . However he almost certainly had marks in the lost smallworker ledger of 1739 –1758 as he was free in 1751 and had taken Thomas Wilkinson apprentice in 1754. He was probably the John Andrews of Leicester who married Ann King at St Martin, Leicester in January 1743, while still in his apprenticeship. One can only speculate as to the reason for the unusually early marriage (he was only apprenticed in 1740) and the late freedom, but "shotgun marriages" of apprentices were not unknown. Freedom was unnecessary to him as Old Street is outside the City and he may have delayed taking it for financial reasons. Either he or his wife had a wicked sense of humour as one of his daughters was named Anne King Andrews (after her mother's father as was customary for the middle name ) and a subsequent daughter was Mary Princess Andrews! John died in March 1759 and was buried at St Luke, Old Street - the parish register records the death as "Suddenly" Ann entered a mark as smallworker at Brick Lane on 26 March 1759 and entered two further marks in 1760 and 1761. Her marks are very rare and I have only seen one example on a buckle. In November 1763 Thomas Wilkinson the former apprentice of John Andrews entered a smallworkers mark at Brick Lane, Old Street, probably the same premises as his erstwhile master and despite being prisoner for debt in the Ludgate Prison in 1772 appears as a bucklemaker at Pear Tree Street in the Parliamentary Report of 1773. I suspect that John, Ann and Thomas all actually successively occupied Pear Tree Street, Brick Lane in the parish of St Luke, Old Street Did Anne die, retire, or did Thomas marry one of the daughters perhaps? Christian Maria KATHRENS An Irish lady silver bucklemaker at last!!! She was a gold and silver buckle maker who worked from Skinners Row, Dublin. Her makers mark of CK in an oval punch appears in the Dublin registration records for 1765. (Information courtesy of Ronald Le Bas of the Dublin Assay Office and Ms Ida Delamer of their Antique Plate Committee ). I have only ever seen one example of buckles by her - undoubtedly made for the American market. Any further details of her very welcome. Sarey PRICE (probably Sarah Price) Little appears to be known about Sarey Price except the address of Blue Anchor Row, Bunhill Row and the registration of two marks as smallworker in June 1761 and June 1763. It is probable that Sarey is a ladies name (Sarah, Sally ?) which explains the illiteracy of the signature, as wives and daughters of silversmiths were not expected to be educated at this period. Her mark, or variants of that given in Grimwade, appears on silver buckles and it is likely this was much of her trade. She may well have been the daughter or widow of the Andrew Price, who in partnership with a Joseph Mills, was accused of mistreating an apprentice in 1746. Price and Mills were referred to as Silversmiths of St Luke parish in the Middlesex Sessions: Sessions Papers - Justices' Working Documents relating to this case. Andrew Price appears to have been a dubious character as the Gazetteer and London Daily Advertiser reports on 18 February 1756. "The person committed to Newgate last Saturday for manufacturing silver in a clandestaine manner etc, was one Andrew Price who was formerly a bucklemaker near Bunhill-row and was only a journeyman to a silversmith in Little Britain at the time he was taken up" There is also an Andrew Price who in a witness statement at the Old Bailey on 6th May 1761 informs that "I live in Noble-street. I am a silver-smith" This may be the father of, or the same silversmith who entered marks in 1763 and 1766 as a smallworker at Noble Street, St Luke's. The relationships between all these Prices is very uncertain and any help in clarification would be appreciated. IP: Logged
agphile Posts: 798 Registered: Apr 2008	posted 12-09-2010 12:37 PM Thanks, Clive, for more fascinating information. Now, if only I could turn your enthusiasm towards 17th century spoonmakers....... David IP: Logged
Clive E Taylor Posts: 450 Registered: Jul 2000	posted 12-13-2010 12:00 PM Thanks to Scott for sorting out my error re HTML v UBB and to David for reading all this stuff. Both of you probably the only ones who do! David, I'm afraid that the bucklemakers give me enough headaches without the spoonmakers joining in. IP: Logged
agleopar Posts: 850 Registered: Jun 2004	posted 12-14-2010 07:46 AM Although buckles are not on my radar, I doubt I have seen three in 10 years, I have very much enjoyed this post for the light it sheds on the lives of 18c smiths and who knows there are, as mentioned, English buckles here (US)... at the least I know where I can get a ride on a beautiful canal boat! IP: Logged
Clive E Taylor Posts: 450 Registered: Jul 2000	posted 11-20-2011 10:03 AM Ann ANDREWS This lady led an interesting life after her widowhood! She carried on John Andrews business under her mark until 1762 when she re-married. Her new husband was an Irishman, Laurence Coughlan. Laurence was a somewhat radical Methodist preacher and a friend of John Wesley. Full details in the Oxford Dictionary Of National Biography. Laurence entered marks in 1762 and 1763 at Ann's premises, although as I see no evidence of him having a silversmithing background , Ann probably still ran the business. In 1765 or 1766 both Laurence and Ann were in Newfoundland, running the first Methodist ministry in that province. By 1773, having falled out with both Wesley , and the Canadian establishment, they had returned to England. Laurence ran at least two chapels in London for a Calvinist Methodist sect. Laurence, according to John Wesley , died in 1783 . Ann however died in her late seventies , in 1795. She died a wealthy widow, leaving at least six house in Shoreditch. And a Burial Ground which appears to have been run as a business ! IP: Logged

All times are ET	next newest topic \| next oldest topic
Administrative Options: Close Topic \| Archive/Move \| Delete Topic
	Hop to:

Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46a

^1. Public Silver Forums (open Free membership) - anyone with a valid e-mail address may register. Once you have received your Silver Salon Forum password, and then if you abide by the Silver Salon Forum Guidelines, you may start a thread or post a reply in the New Members' Forum. New Members who show a continued willingness to participate, to completely read and abide by the Guidelines will be allowed to post to the Member Public Forums.
Click here to Register for a Free password

^2. Private Silver Salon Forums (invitational or $ donation membership) - The Private Silver Salon Forums require registration and special authorization to view, search, start a thread or to post a reply. Special authorization can be obtained in one of several ways: by Invitation; Annual $ Donation; or via Special Limited Membership. For more details click here (under development).

^3. Administrative/Special Private Forums (special membership required) - These forums are reserved for special subjects or administrative discussion. These forums are not open to the public and require special authorization to view or post.

| Home | Order | The Guide to Evaluating Gold & Silver Objects | The Book of Silver