COLES, William (Grimwade p.468)

[buckler]

The identities and live of the William Coles’ are very confusing and I can only present here an uncertain picture. Below are some of the facts that suggest there were actually two sets of William Coles, one a father and son as listed in Grimwade and at least one other silversmith of that name who has left no know registered mark. The unknow William Coles may well have marks in the lost Smallworkers Register.

This is significant in that there are many WC marks on small silver, and determining which were which of the William Coles’ and those that could be William Chatterton could be significant.

Grimwade gives the William Coles, who entered a mark in Shoe Lane in 1724, as the son of Joseph Coles, late of Ovinge, Buckinghamshire, tobacconist deceased who was apprenticed to Abraham Pope of the Leathersellers and consequently was free of the Leathersellers. This is an undoubtedly correct identification

Shoe Lane was an important road , which ran North to South Holborn to Fleet Street and was in the parishes of St Andrews, Holborn and St Brides. The only record in 1728/29 Poor Rates lists for these parishes to have a William Cole or Coles is St Brides parish, New Street Precinct. But this William Coles appears in Winches (Wynches ) Rents from at 1718 or even earlier until 1731. Curiously he appears to have taken the property after Abraham Porter, who is again shown in occupation in 1732. We may have an older Coles relative of the same name in occupation before and perhaps during our Willliam Coles occupation.

The following information kindly proved by Jerome Farrell — Archivist of the Leathersellers’ Company, confirms and expands Grimwade.
“William Coles was made Free on 7 Dec 1722 [at the end of his 7-year apprenticeship], and appears in the Quarterage Book of the Leathersellers from then until he went on the Livery on 1 Aug. 1738. His occupation is shown as ‘Silver Smith’ and address as ‘Shoe Lane’, crossed out and with ‘Pissing Alley, Gutter Lane’ (sic) neatly written below! One cannot tell from this in which year he moved. He became a member of the Court of Assistants and his death is recorded in the Court Minutes on 23 Jan. 1770, when he would probably have been about 70 years old (since apprentices were normally 14 or 15 when bound).”

We know that he seems to have left Shoe Lane around 1732 (assuming the Wynches Rents Cole is our man) to go to Gutter Lane. I cannot trace Pissing Alley but Gutter Lane is in the area of Goldsmiths Hall and mostly in the parish of St Vedast, with tiny sections in St Peter, Westcheap and St John Zachary . Although nearby, it is not in St Michael, Wood Street.

However the evidence of insurances and Poor Rate and Land Taxes records suggests that another William Cole was working in the parish of St Michael , Wood Street, from at least 1727. Originally recorded as Cooles, or William Cooles he first appears in the Poor Rate Book around 1727, replacing Jonas Lancton. He appears to have moved to Monkwell Street in St Olaves, Silver Street around 1741, and his Huggin Alley premises were taken by Samuel Meriton, another silversmith. This is almost certainly the William Coles that Heal records as Silversmith , Silver Street, St Olaves in 1744, much to the confusion of Grimwade . His premises at 38, Monkwell Street were taken by William Harrison around 1754. If, as is likely, he had registered marks, then they would have been in the lost Smallworkers Register

In the card files at Goldsmiths Hall are several slips of paper from the Guildhall Library which give details of insurance policies referencing to Goldsmiths or Silversmith
Two refer to this William Coles and nicely confirm the above hypothesis.
,
1727 William Coles Silversmith, Huggins Alley in St Michael, Wood Street. House £300, Stock £250, Linen etc £50. Total £600
1742 William Coles Silversmith, Mugwell Street in the Parish of St Olaves ,Silver Street, Furniture £100, Goods £600, Total £700

So now we appear to have two William Coles,

One, the Leatherseller is ex Shoe Lane and we last heard of him in Pissing Alley, Gutter Lane.

The other of unknown Company, but also a silversmith has moved from Huggin Alley to Monkwell Street. He probably died or retired around 1754 when William Harrison took over.

We have no further addresses for the Leatherseller Coles but Leathersellers Company records show William Coles (Jnr), son of William Coles, Citizen and Leatherseller, was apprenticed to his father on 19 Jan 1764. No other details are given except that there was no consideration .
However, 2 days later, on 21 Jan 1764, the same William Coles (Jnr), son of William Coles, was turned over to John Chapman, Citizen and Glover, for a consideration of £100.but no more details are given (no address, etc). This might be John Chapman II, given by Grimwade as a smallworker, no record of apprenticeship or freedom , with a first mark as a smallworker at 53 Old Street in 1774, moving to 133, Bunhill Row in 1777, although the date seems a bit late. However William Coles Jnr becomes an Oilman, not a silversmith.
.
William Coles Junior was made free on 22 Oct. 1772 (by Servitude, to William Coles) and was appointed to the Livery on 15 Oct. 1773. From the succession of Livery Lists this is the same William Coles described as an Oilman of Shoe Lane (back to Shoe Lane !!!! ) and that he was Master for 1808-09; he later moved to Newington Green and his will is at the National Archives (Ref PROB/1708), dated 6 Feb. 1826.

For those who have struggled to get here, and understand it .
Congratulations.

Note
There were several William Coles apprenticed in the late 17th / early 18th century shown in the Goldsmiths Hall Apprentice Books

Book No 3 page 88 - Father, Ambrose Cole , apprenticed to Thomas Rumon 1679, free 1687

Book No 3 page 177 - Father, Lawrence Coles Goldsmith of London (a spoonmaker) apprenticed to Samuel Layfeild Citizen & Goldsmith of London in 1688, free 1695

Book No 5 page 14 - Father, Thomas Cole of XXXX Salop, Clerk , apprenticed to Thomas Sadler, Citizen & Goldsmith of London on I7 December 1709. (Thomas Sadler had been an apprentice himself to Lawrence Coles in 1692.)

Any may relate .

[buckler]

Re-reading the above post, after grimacing at some of the typo's , an inconsistancy drew itself to me.
If the William Coles, son of Joseph Coles who entered a mark in 1724 was the father of the William Coles apprenticed in 1764 he must have been in his early 50's when that son was born. Perhaps we have a generation missing , or a much younger wife !

[buckler]

Another William Coles emerges from the Leathersellers archives.
This is William Coles of of Pater Noster Row, silversmith to whom two brothers (probably twins), John and Joseph both sons of John Coles ‘late of Shoe Lane, grocer, deceased’, were apprenticed on the same day (11 Oct 1769). Note that address of the father - we've seen it before

One presumes this William Coles is the Shoe Lane man who last seen in Pissing Alley . Perhaps, although he would be nearly 70 at the time. I have a strong suspicion that we may have two generations here. I only have the 1729 Poor Rate record for Shoe Lane and area but they show a Caleb Coles, a Thomas Coles and our William.

[buckler]

13 June 1742
IGI records the marriage of William Coles to Amey Clements at the "Mercers Hall Chapel Cheapside - non parochial London"
(which is close to Huggin Lane). She may have been daughter of a Mercer of course. This is the Huggins/ Monkwell Street Coles

13 September 1748
The birth is recorded in the christening records of St Olave, Silver Street of William Coles, son of William Coles. Mother was Amey . A further note says "Maternal - Fabian Clement "

30 December 1748
Registration of the birth of William Coles son of William Coles and Amey his Wife who was daughter of Julian (or Fabrian ) Clements on 13 September 1748 in Monkwell Street in the Parish of St Olave Silver Street London