PARR, Richard (Grimwade p.615, 399)

[buckler]

15th Jan 1784 - A James Tidbury , son of Job Tidbury , Castle Street, Leicester Fields, Middlesex, turncock, was apprenticed to Richard Parr, Spectaclemaker's Company. Soon after Richard Parr's death , Tidbury entered a mark as bucklemaker on 9th July 1788 at 8, Castle Street, Leicester Square which was his father's, a turncock (Water company worker ), premises . Whether he ever finished his apprenticeship is unknown. Parr obviously knew the Tidbury's as he left James Tidbury's mother a small legacy in his will

29th Mar 1787 - A John Davenport, son of Sanders Davenport , citizen and blacksmith (deceased), apprenticed to Richard Parr, Spectaclemaker's Company. John Davenport entered a mark as bucklemaker in 1796.

20th June 1788 - Will of Richard PARR, Silver Buckle Maker of Rolls Buildings, Fetter Lane, Silver Buckle Maker proved at PCC.
He was almost certainly illiterate - he signs with a cross and the entire will is written by his bookkeeper, Charles Storey the Younger. His register entry for his mark of 1772 was similarly signed with a cross.

".but poorly at present in health .. .. .. I do hereby appoint William Bird Hardwareman of the Strand in the parish of St Clement Danes in the County of Middlesex and William Price Sword Cutler of New Street in the parish of Saint Brides London my sole executors "
Main beneficiary is his brother William Parr of Honeysuckle Court Grub Street in the county of Middlesex , Smith
Many minor bequests, including "Sarah Elliot Daughter of John Elliot Bucklemaker my nephew " , two separate Wolverhampton, Staffordshire Buckle Makers , one of whom is "my first cousin on my mothers side " . There are several legacies to Staffordshire farmers, and mention of two other Parrs, (one a cousin) farming in Staffordshire . It seems extremely likely that his family were from Staffordshire.
An incomplete codicil gives small legacies to his two apprentices, Tidbury and Davenport, his servant Mary Willis ( "Old Mary ") and
John Wright of St Clement who he describes as a relation of his late wife . No mention of any children of his own


May be the Jeweller and Goldsmith whose trade card gives him at "the Diamond Croos in St Pauls Churchyard facing ye Pump"

[silverly]

4 April 1769 Richard Parr admitted into the freedom of the city in the company of spectacle makers by redemption paying forty-six shillings and eight pence. Bucklemaker.