FAUX, John (Grimwade p.506)

[buckler]

FAUX, John (1294,1312)

Many collectors have examples of his work, or when he was in partnership with George Love but Grimwade biographic details are sparse and there is an intriguing mystery which Theatre experts amongst us may be able to resolve .

I believe he may have had a mark in the lost smallworkers register, almost certainly he worked either as a master or a journeyman before his first recorded mark of 6 May 1763
His wife was probably the Sarah Whild who married a John Faux at Saint Bartholomew The Great, London, on 24 Dec 1759
His son, Thomas Thames Faux was baptised at Saint Andrew, Holborn, London, on 3 October 1761.

His parnership with George Love, formed in 1764, ceased in late 1773 on Love's death, Love's will being proved at PCC on 29 December 1773.

The son, Thomas Thames Faux was apprenticed in 1776 to John Wren II of Worship Street, John himself having moved to Worship Street by 1771, perhaps as early as 1767. Thomas never entered a mark as far as I have found although Heale believes he took over at Worship Street in 1784.

John Faux was declared bankrupt in late 1785. He, almost alone of the older major specialist bucklemakers does not seem to have moved with the times and diversify out of buckles. A mistake, as the silver buckle trade shrunk dramatically in the late 1780 and early 1790.

In 1786, and his house, contents and workshop etc were advertised at auction in the Times and presumably sold for the benefit of his creditors.

He then disappears from view until 1 November 1798 when General Evening Post reports
" The Coroners Inquest sat yesterday on the body of Mr John Faux at his house Suffolk Street, Charing Cross., who died suddenly on Saturday evening last [ 27 October 1798] while on his duty at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane . Mr Faux was formerly an eminent Silversmith . Verdict , died by visitation of God"

Note that he appears to have been able to get a new house, and a job at an important theatre. Did he have some influential friends in Drury Lane to give him a new life ? Details or speculation very welcome !

To complete the story, Thomas Thames Faux married Mrs Rachel Borman, the widow of Allen Borman of Bethnal Green in September 1790 and died in 1802, as Keeper of a House for the reception of Lunatics , (Will proved at PCC 4 May 1802)

Incidentally I think his name was pronounced to rhyme with Hawks, not Doe.


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[dognose]

Hi Clive,

Thanks for posting this interesting piece.

My immediate thought was that perhaps we have another example of the benevolent nature of Philip Rundell. The more I read of Rundell, the less I believe of his supposed harsh character.

In Rundell's obituary at http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15260" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; we have the line 'With the late Mr. Wroughton of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, he was particularly intimate.' It is very likely that Faux and Rundell were aquainted and Rundell would have certainly been in an influential position to be able to help a colleague who had fallen on hard times.

Incidentally, this is the third time this year that we find a connection with Drury Lane and the world of silversmithing, somewhat earlier we see the triumph of the former Dublin silversmith, Spranger Barry on stage there.

http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14828" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Regards Trev.
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[buckler]

Thanks Trev.
Speculation - but seems a very likely possibility
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[buckler]

Another possible link with Faux at the Theatre Royal is Sheridan. The deputation of the Birmingham, Walsall and Woolverhampton [sic] bucklemakers to the Prince of Wales in 1791 was introduced to HRH by a Mr Sheridan — who in the context of the newspaper reports could only be the playwright who owned Theatre Royal at the time. Were Faux and Sheridan in perhaps connected.
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[dognose]

Hi Clive,

I know that you will be fully aware of the plight of the bucklemakers at this point in time, but for the sake of those who are not students of Birmingham's and London's social history, here is the very briefest of outlines of the situation at that time, hopefully you will correct the errors and fill in the holes.

Around the mid 1780s it was estimated that around five thousand people were involved in the bucklemaking industry in Birmingham and its surrounding vicinity alone. When you include the dependents of these five thousand, you are talking about many thousands.
Everybody wore buckles, from the King to the peasant, from the great-grandfather to the great-grandchild, until the fashion changed, and it changed very quickly. In the space of just a couple of years, suddenly everyone was wearing strings and laces.
This of course was a disaster for the bucklemakers, who just could not adapt their skills fast enough, they were in the depths of despair and petitioned the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York in 1791 and again in 1792 regarding their distress. In a show of support for the trade, the Royal Household were ordered to wear buckles in the vain hope of a return to the former fashion. A demonstration was also organised where a donkey was led through the streets of London bedecked with strings to mock this change in style and to insult wearers of the new fashion.
Despite all their efforts, the buckle was to disappear from clothing almost completely as the century ended. The trade had to evolve and adapt, which of course it did, but not without much suffering to many people.

Trev.
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[buckler]

Thanks for the information. I'm afraid that the history of the Black County buckle trade is little known and very little modern research has been done on it.
The numbers involved were vast. I think it was estimated by Boulton to employ around 30,000, mostly in the Midlands . Philip Mould wrote a comprehensive account of it in "The English Shoe Buckle" when he was about 17 - of which I think he must be highly embarassed now. He has many interesting facts, some now known to be wrong and it's all a bit suspect due to lack of references. Also his dating of actual buckles was way off the beam. Without Grimwade to show the light he put buckles now known to be 1720-40 into the late 17th century.
Mould for example states that the Birmingham petition had twenty thousand signatures - I've seen the actual petition in the Royal Archives and it has actually about thirty (30) . Like the London petition it's also only signed by the great and the good.
There certainly was poverty, but I do not think on the scale sometimes visualised. And the collapse seems to have been fast on the base metal buckles and slow on the more expensive items. Curiously in London the number of new silver buckle makers registered each year actually increased from 1785 onwards , only starting to decrease in 1793. Which is strange as the number of silver bucklemakers going bankrupt in the same period increased !
Much work needs to be done on this era on the Black Country Trade - the Victoria County Histories all need serious revision. Not by me - I've enough trouble trying to understand the silver buckle trade !

What does intrigue me is the tale (pun) of the donkey. I've heard another version of this but have never found any contemporay references . Do you have a source please ?
Incidentally the petitions had one lasting effect - it was only the current Queen who abolished the compulsory wearing of mens shoe buckles at court.
.

[buckler]

December 17th 1791 To the Prince of Wakles
The Humble Petition of The Buckle Manufacturers of Birmingham , Walsall, Wolverhampton and Environs
Extract only

"that the Buckle Trade gives employment to twenty thousand persons numbers of whom in consequence of the prelevency of Shoestrings and Slippers are at present without employment almost destitute of Bread and exposed to … the Horrors of Want at this inclement Season of the Year. "

The Petition was signed by about thirty bucklemakers, mostly known silversmiths or firms, but with the exception of Samuel Pemberton - perhaps he was off sick that day
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[dognose]

Hi Clive,

No, sorry, no contemporary references so far, just internet references such as the Victoria County Histories. But I'll keep searching.

Regards Trev.
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[buckler]

George Love, Faux's former partner died on 18 November 1773.
(from Daily Advertiser 22 November 1773 - "On Thursday died Mr George Love , Goldsmith in Worship Street, Moorfields" )
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[buckler]

Latest information

The Gentlemans Magazine reports him as dying suddenly as a doorman at Drury Lane

From Google Books comes the entry from a book on period Actors etc

"Faux, John d. 1798, doorkeeper. On 30 October 1790 John Faux was added to the paylist at Drury Lane as a house servant at a daily salary of 1s. 6d. "

(from A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Volume 5, Eagan to Garrett: Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers, and Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800 by Philip H. Highfill, Kalman A. Burnim, Edward A. Langhans - Performing Arts - 1978 - 504 pages page 191

If anyone outside the UK has access to the full quote - US citizens probably have - I'd greatly appreciate the rest of the quote please. English copyright prohibits access for me !
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[admin]

Clive,
No access here, it will be decades before that reaches public domain.
Regards, Tom
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[buckler]

I have now obtained access to a copy of the Biographical Index of Actors etc. As feared very little further information on Faux. Indeed the book fails to give any indication of the scope of the internal records of the theatres concerned - leaving me with some doubt if there is any more information to be gleaned from that source.

The book states
"Faux, John d. 1798, doorkeeper. On 30 October 1790 John Faux was added to the paylist at Drury Lane as a house servant at a daily salary of 1s. 6d. He seems to have served the theatre regularly until his death in 1798 and was cited each spring as one whose benefit tickets would be accepted at the playhouse.. .. .. .. Another house servant at Drury Lane named Faux was cited in the theatre accounts in 1802-3, 1806, and 1811-12 as a ticket taker - he may have been the son of John Faux " [ This may be Thomas Thames Faux ]

The book adds a note, firmly indicating as unlikely that it refers to our Mr Faux
"On 4 November 1798 the administration of the estate of John Faux, late of Hyde in the Parish of Minchenhampton , Gloucester ,widower was granted to Richard Webb, husband of Martha Webb, a lunatic and the natural and lawfull sister and the only next of kin.The estate ,valued at £5,000 was to be used for the benefit of Martha Webb"

My first reaction was the same as the author's - not the same man. Thomas Thames Faux was the next of kin, ( certainly Martha was not the only next of kin) and Faux , an ex bankrupt, was unlikely to have an estate of this amount.
Further reflection suggests perhaps it could be our Faux .
- the dates match up very well- usually probate or administration were very soon after death.
- The son, Thomas Thames Faux died in 1802 and his will gave his occupation as "Keeper of a House for the reception of Lunatics"

Could have been a legal device to get perhaps a life assurance into family hands, and not the hands of the creditors of the bankruptcy ?

I may well get a copy of Thomas's will and see if that gives any clues.
But my experience of wills is that they rarely give the information that you specifically seek. But that just occasionally you strike unexpected gold .
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[buckler]

Further information

John Faux wife was Sarah Whild, a spinster who he married in December 1759. Sarah was illiterate as was not unusual for women even of high status in the period. One of the witnesses to the marriage was a John Nicklin, almost certainly the John Nicklin who registered a mark as smallworker in January 1760. He is recorded as moving to the Curtain, near Holywell Mount in July 1760 - the same location as Faux and Love. It is possible he was related to the bride, or was Faux’s old Master. Or perhaps as a neighbouring silversmith he came for the beer. The other witness was Howell Jones - who was probably Welsh and perhaps a biscuit maker - so he may have done the catering !

I have now got a copy of the PCC record of the will of George Love, probated on 29 December 1773
It appears that Love had been sick for some time and the will, dated 17th November was signed, probably literally on his deathbed, the day before he died. According to the will, Love executed a deed of assignment of his share of the partnership to Faux in exchange for a bond for £2000 to himself ,George Love and his executors on the same day as the will. This would have simplified the administration of the executorship tremendously.

John Faux was given £10 for mourning and his wife Sarah Faux was given £50 "for her great care and tenderness of me during a long Illness". "Master Tommy Faux " was given £5 and all George's books.
The will also names John Faux’s parents as Richard and Elizabeth Faux and tells us that he had a sister George and an unmarried sister Anne , all of whom must have been alive at the time of the will. As small legacies were given to all these relations , but without naming their addresses, it seems that they were probably all in London.

Love himself seems to originated from Ickleford in Hertfordshire and as no mention is made of either a wife or children, was probably unmarried. No mention is made of his parents so they probably were dead. The will indicates that Love was a fairly wealthy man and the will was almost certainly drawn up by a professional lawyer, probably the Benjamin Jones of Doctors Commons, London ,Gentleman appointed as one of the executors .

Now all we need to know is who John Faux was apprenticed to !
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[buckler]

We now know a little more of Faux's son , Thomas Thames Faux .

Although still no idea where the "Thames" comes from !

Thomas Thames Faux , who was free of the Goldsmiths took at least one apprentice shown in Goldsmith Hall records - William Andrews in 1782

Thomas Thames Faux married Mrs Rachel Borman, widow of Allen Borman of Bethnal Green in September 1790..(newspaper report )
She was previously Rachel Chaplain who had married an Allan Borman on 8th September 1785 at St Katherine Creechurch London (IGI) Her husband had died by 1789 - Will of Allan Borman, Gentleman of Saint Matthew Bethnal Green , Middlesex proved at PCC on 7th March 1789. From the will he was a wealthy man, with many freehold and leasehold properties

The will of Thomas Thames Faux , Keeper of a House for the reception of Lunatics, of Saint Matthew, Bethnal Green , Middlesex was proved at PCC 4th May 1802. He left only Copyhold property and it would appear that most of his wifes property was entailed.

The will of Rachael otherwise Rachel Faux, Widow of Saint Matthew Bethnal Green , Middlesex was proved at PCC 11th April 1809. Numerous bequests, most to her family and to charity . The codicil added a bequest to William Clarke, Silversmith of 8, Sun Street, Bishopsgate Street. Clarke is given at that address as silversmith and jeweller in Holdens 1805 etc

[buckler]

Origins of John Faux
The 1773 will of his partner George Love gives details of John Faux's family - but not their location, which I assummed , I now think wrongly, must have been London.

The will gives of John Faux
Father - Richard Faux. Mother Elizabeth Faux. Brother George Faux. Sister Miss Anne Faux.
Wife - Sarah Faux. Son - Master Tommy Faux.

For John's parents and origins IGI gives several possibles , all in Warwickshire, but none gives the mothers name !

23 August 1724
John Faux, son of Richard Faux baptised at Fillongley, Warwickshire

11 April 1732
John Faux, son of Richard Faux baptised at Polesworth, Warwickshire (presumed to have died in infancy )
8 July 1733
John Faux, son of Richard Faux baptised at Polesworth, Warwickshire

IGI also reports
9 January 1729 /1730
George Faux son of Richard Faux baptised at Polesworth, Warwickshire
No trace of an Anne Faux relevant in IGI

There is also, on Ancestry
28 October 1725
John Faux, son of Richard Faux baptised at Polesworth, Warwickshire. Again no mothers name .

It seems more likely that John may have come from Polesworth in Warwickshire - good bucklemaking country.
Due to his marriage and death dates the July 1733 seems to fit best.
Unfortunately all emails to John concerning this have not been answered.

[buckler]

I recently received the following email from a Mr Rod Faux who is doing work on the general surname of Faux

QUOTE
During the 18th century there was a well known conjuror by the name of Isaak Faux / Fawkes - the name is spelt both ways. He was married, and was the chief professional juggler at the time of George the First. He died 25th May 1731 having acquired by his art a fortune of ten thousand pounds. A print by Hogarth which shows his emporium in Burlington Gate, London, can be seen in the Museum of London.
Fawkes at his booth at the lower end of Lee and Harpers, over against the 'Kings Head ' inn, in the fair exhibited entertainments in the following manner: '' His enterprising and incomparable dexterity of hand, in which he will perform several entirely new curiosities, that far surpasses anything of that kind ever seen before. A curious musical clock, that he lately purchased off Mr Pinchbeck, Clockmaker in Fleet Street, that plays several fine tunes on most instruments of Musick, and imitates the melodious notes of various kinds of birds, as real life''
I would like to think that John Faux was possibly the son of Isaak, and his father moving in the circles of Gold and Silversmiths influenced the young John?
UNQUOTE

It is normally very frowned upon to try to link two men with the same surname without a shred of evidence, but in view of John Faux's amazing act of getting a job at Sheriden's Theatre in Dury Lane , one wonders if his family did have performing art connections

[silverly]

I don't know if this link will work, but the July 1798 issue of The Gentleman's magazine has in the Obituary of remarkable persons; with Biographical Anecdotes on page 996 the following: (died) Suddenly , while on his duty at the Royal-theatre Drury Lane, where he was door-keeper, Mr John Faux of Suffolk-ftreet Charing Crofs, formerly an eminent filverfmith.

http://books.google.com/books?id=kUwDAA ... 22&f=false" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm hoping that this piece of information or something like it hasn't already been alluded to in this thread.

[MCB]

To the silversmiths connected with the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, the brothers Abraham and William Portal should be added to the likes of actor Spranger Barry, door keeper John Faux, patron Phillip Rundell and the band of Bucklemakers conducted by Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
Page 630 of Arthur Grimwade’s book lists Abraham Portal 's other work in writing plays, operas and poetry and later career looking after the theatre’s boxes.
Also on page 630 Grimwade ventures that the haft maker William Portal made swords for one of the theatre’s operatic productions.

Mike

[buckler]

I believe there is considerable evidence that John Faux worked for another silver bucklemaker, Benjamin Cooper, prior to John's first mark as an independent silversmith.

6 April 1760
In an Old Bailey trial (reference t17600416-33) it was reported :-

Benjamin Cooper . I live in Brownlow Street, Holbourn , and am a silver-smith . The prisoner was employed to file silver buckles for me, and had lived with me about twelve months. On the 8th of March John Fox had detected him with a parcel of silver file dust.......
......
Joshua Cooper. I am son to the prosecutor. John Fox, one of our servants, having seen the prisoner with some filings in his hand, I and my father went to his lodgings, and found there two other parcels of silver filings
.......
John Fox . I am servant to Mr. Cooper. On the 8th of March I saw the prisoner with some silver filings in his hand, and he seemed to hide it, which gave me a suspicion of him, so I acquainted my young master with it.

The case details tends to indicate that John Fox was not a household servant, but worked in the silversmithing workshop, perhaps as a journeyman.

I have speculated for some time if this John Fox is our John Faux, especially as Faux's later partner George Love, had two sisters who both married Coopers.

Now thanks to Silverly we know that George Love , originally apprenticed to Matthew Lea, actually finished his apprenticeship in 1761 with Benjamin Cooper.
Benjamin Cooper, George Love and John Faux were all silver bucklemakers .

Although we still cannot say definitely that John Faux = John Fox and worked as a young man for Benjamin Cooper, I would say the likelihood has increased dramatically. The dates tie up very nicely .

[silverly]

22 August 1747 James Swaine of Birmingham, Warwickshire Brass Founder paid apprentice identure duty for John son of Richard Faux ( a possibility for the subject Gentleman)

NB

FAUX, John (1294,1312)

....His son, Thomas Thames Faux was baptised at Saint Andrew, Holborn, London, on 3 October 1761.

Address on birth record Baldwin Gardens.