WHITFORD, Thomas (Grimwade p.323)

[buckler]

..................................................WHITFORD ALERT
Anyone researching the Whitfords should be aware that they normally only seemed to use three forenames, Samuel, Thomas and William. Each generation named their sons with one of those names. Hence in the late 18th century in St Martin Le Grand there were about four Williams, four Thomas' and four Samuel’s . . To further confuse matters they had a penchant for marrying, or having daughters called Mary .
Other Thomas Whitford’s in the period included one who died in 1763 . "Sunday last Mr Thomas Whitford, Jun. Buckle-maker in Spital-fields, bathing in the Hackney river ,was drowned . He left a wife and three children" (London Evening Post 18th August 1763)
Also a Thomas Whitford is recorded In the Goldsmiths Apprentice Book 9 , page , as the son of William Whitford deceased apprenticed in 1790 to Samuel Gamon, Goldsmith and turned over to Samuel Glover .
And two insurances -
1782 sun 1 300 28\07\78 jt Policy Number 459928 Insured Value £200 .
Insured Thomas Whitford , Silversmith, 11 Wells Row ,Islington
1782 sun 1 301 03\08\78 jt Policy Number 458157 Insured Value £1000
Insured Thomas Whitford , Silversmith, Watchmaker and Goldsmith, No 1 , West Smithfield.

None of these seem to relate to the St Martin Le Grand family.
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Thomas Whitworth of Kings Head Court, St Martin le Grand was born around 1711 as he died on 20th February 1792 "in the 82nd year of his age"

Thomas Whitford was perhaps the brother of Samuel Whitford who died in 1778 and probably the father of Samuel Whiford the Optician who died in 1789. He describes himself a spectacle maker in his will and one of his executors is "my worthy friend Peter Dolland of St Pauls church yard , Citizen and Optician". Dolland was the founder of the firm of Dolland and Aitchison, opticians,who survived into the 21st century .

He probably had marks in the lost 1740- 1758 register

Westminster Pollbooks: Votes in Westminster Elections, 1st January 1749 - 31st December 1749
Thomas Whitford Bucklemaker, Main Street , St Martin le Grand (same address as William Whitford in 1749 and Samuel Whitford the Bucklemaker in 1774) voted for Vandeput
Westminster Pollbooks: Votes in Westminster Elections, 1st January 1774 - 31st December 1774
Thomas Whitford, Silversmith of Kings Head Court St Martin le Grand voted for Percy and Clinton.

12st July 1774 - Thomas Whitford entered an incuse mark as smallworker at 6, Kings Head Court , St Martin le Grand . He would have been in his sixties at this date. This mark was probably for spectacles.

Westminster Pollbooks: Votes in Westminster Elections 1st January 1780 - 31st December 1780
Thomas Whitford, [no profession ] of Kings Head Court St Martin le Grand voted for Rodney and Lincoln

9th June 1782 — The Gentlemans Magazine reports as an obituary
"At Islington aged 75 ,the wife of Mr Whitford of St Martin le Grand"
This could be his wife as his will indicates he died a widower.

Westminster Pollbooks: Votes in Westminster Elections, 1st January 1784 - 31st December 1784
Thomas Whitford, Silversmith of Kings Head Court St Martin le Grand voted for Hood and Wray .
Westminster Pollbooks: Votes in Westminster Elections, 1st January 1788 - 31st December 1788
Thomas Whitford, Silversmith of Kings Head Court St Martin le Grand voted for Hood

9th February 1790 - Thomas Whitford entered another incuse mark as smallworker at 6, Kings Head Court , St Martin le Grand

23rd February 1792 - General Evening Post reports
"On Monday morning last [20th February 1792] died ,in the 82nd year of his age, Mr Thomas Whitfield of St Martin le Grand

1st March 1792 — William Dupeecy of St Martin Le Grand in the liberty of the city of Westminster , Woollen Draper and William Ballantine of the same place Goldsmith appeared personally in court in connection with the will of Thomas Whiford signed and dated 25th January 1792 but not witnessed
They "made oath that they know and were well acquainted with Thomas Whitford late of the parish of Saint Anne and Agnes in the liberty afresaid, deceased and with his manner and character of his handwriting and subscription "
Both swore that the handwriting and signature were that of Thomas Whitford

3rd March 1792 - The will of Thomas Whitford, Spectacle Maker of St Anne and St Agnes, Westminster, Middlesex proved at PCC by Mary Wall and Peter Dolland

5th March 1792
Mary Wall , his widowed daughter entered an incuse mark as bucklemaker at 6, Kings Head Court, St Martin Le Grand.

Details from the will
"I Thomas Whitford of the Parish of St Anne and Agnes in the Liberty of Saint Martin le Grand in the City and Liberties of Westminster and the County of Middlesex Spectacle Maker ..

.I give my son Thomas Whitford of Smithfield Barrs One hundred and Fifty Pounds what he may owe me on Account being part thereof.. Also I give the lease of the house he inhabits that I hold of the Drapers Company

I give Dorothy Whitford , daughter of my son Samuel deceased ten pounds also
Also I appoint any sum not exceeding five pounds to be laid out in ????ing his son Samuel ????? during his apprenticeship with his present master

I give Martha Whitford daughter of my son William Whitford deceased five pounds
I appoint any sum not exceeding six pounds to be laid out on his son William apprentice to ?????? ?Cutler? during his apprenticeship

Also I order the sum of twenty pounds to my son Thomas Whitford to defray the expense of keeping my grandson Thomas Whitford apprentice to Mr ????? (Gannon citizen and Goldsmith in Clothes
Also I order any sum not exceeding ten pounds be laid out on my grand daughter Marian Whitford to put her out either as an apprentice or to service

I give my sister Mary ???? (? Bxxgx) to be paid her in one month after my decease. If she be dead I give that sum to her daughter Marian Stall??? or her late ???????????

I give my ????? deceased his daughter Sibella ten pounds

I give Peter Dolland my worthy friend a ring .

I give to my daughter Mary Wall , Widow the leases of my four houses in Kings Head Court , St Martins Le Grand . where ?hold on the executors of David Humphreys deceased .

I also give her all my household goods my book that is my reading books and my clothes to be disposed of between my Son Thomas and my daughter Mary Wall my 3 foot astronomical telescope I give my son Thomas . The rest of my estate being only personal I give to my daughter Mary Wall whom with (aforesaid ) Peter Dolland of St Pauls church yard , Citizen and Optician do make executors of this my last will and testament revoking all other made by me

Signed 25th January 1792

A fair copy to be made as soon as I can "

No witness signatures

It is probable that his son, who from the above will was dead by 1792, was the Samuel Whitford, Optician who according to the Whitehall Evening Post of 25 August 1789 " died yesterday [ 24 August 1789 ] at his house in Ludgate Street"