ALLEN, William (Grimwade pp.423, 404)

[buckler]

On 1772 William Allen, formerly of Middlesex Passage , late of Little Bartholomew Close, in the parish of Great St Bartholomew , in the City of London, Bucklemaker was reported as Prisoner for Debt in His Majesties Prison of the Fleet
([London]Gazette Issue 11243 of 25th April 1772)

He seems to have survived this as he appears in PR1773 as a bucklemaker in Bartholomew Close.

By 1776 he seems to have migrated to the West End from the Clerkenwell/East Smithfield area, although it is just possible Grimwade may have conflated two William Allens and the subsequent career may be a separate man entirely. His speciality as a bucklemaker however makes unlikely.

Certainly a William Allen, silver bucklemaker emerges at Dukes Court, St Martin Lane .
In an Old Bailey trial of 4th December 1776 (t17761204-41) he is the victim of the theft of "one pair of silver shoe-buckles, value 18 s. the property of William Allen " and he states " I keep a silversmith's shop in Duke's-court St. Martin's-lane"
He was insured there as "William Allen, Silversmith and Bucklemaker" by the Sun Insurance in 1780 for £700 (1780 SUN 1 284 17\02\78 Policy Number 431543 )

Grimwade reports him as entering a bucklemaker mark in 1781 at 92 Strand and the Morning Chronicle and London Advertiser of 26th April 1782 has a classified advertisement for a house with one of the adresses to contact as "Mr Allen's, silver buckle-maker ,near Beaufort-buildings in the Strand"

By 1785 he was in trouble again
The [London] Gazette Issue 12654 of 7 June 1785 reports the bankrupty of William Allen of the Strand, Goldsmith, Bucklemaker , Dealer and Chapman .

But he seems to have survived as Grimwade reports him as entering a second bucklemaker mark in 1786 still at 92, the Strand

The Times of 29 April 1789 reports "The shop of Mr Allen near Exeter Change in the Strand , Buckle maker to the King was robbed "

By this time his trade card (British Museum Heal collection reference AN462868001) claims him as "Silver Bucklemaker to His Majesty", a claim born out by his inclusion in "The Royal kalendar, or, Complete and correct annual register for England " ( J.Debrett 1817 ) as - Buckle- Maker - William Allen, along with Rundell Bridge and Rundell as - Jewellers and Goldmiths

However it is likely that , although avoiding bankrupcy this time, he got into further trouble.

The Times of 30 May 1791announced the sale by auction "on the premises , No 92, near Beaufort Buildings, Strand " of " A quantity of neat Household Furniture, with the Stock in Trade of Mr William Allen, Silversmith and Bucklemaker, going into the Wholesale Business "
As the effects included Curtains, Beds and Bedding , a harpsicord and much household silver.it looks as though Mr Allens prosperity was probably brought to a halt by his creditors . He may have re-emerged as the William ALLEN at Noble Street in 1800 recorded by Heal - he seems a slippery man.

One somewhat unusual buckle fitting described as "Allens Patent " may well be his. However the same device is also claimed by by George Burrows as "Burrows Patent" and also by an unknown man as "Jacksons Patent "