POTTER, Joseph (Grimwade p.311, 334)

[MCB]

He was born in St Luke’s parish, Finsbury in 1804.
Indentures were signed in 1818 as the son of John Potter, watch case springer of Ironmonger Row, to be the apprentice of Matthew Govett (Grimwade 313,345) Citizen, Goldsmith and watch case maker also of Ironmonger Row, to learn the art of watch case making.
He entered maker’s marks at Goldsmiths Hall in 1827 and 1832 as a case maker or a watch case maker from 47 Ironmonger Row. This was also his father’s business address and had been that of his master Matthew Govett until his death in 1823.
An undated document indexed to 1868 relating to the application by his son Joseph (born 1836) for freedom of the City of London by patrimony in the Company of Goldsmiths records his father gained his own freedom in that Company in 1827.
Also in 1827 Indentures were signed for his brother Thomas to be his apprentice. Joseph was described in the document as a gold and silver worker.
The christening record at St Luke, Finsbury in 1832 for Joseph, son of Joseph and Sarah, also shows the Ironmonger Row address.
Christening records at St Luke 1834-8 for three of their children show their address as 3 Radnor Street.
Christening records at Christ Church, Hoxton 1843-50 for five more of their children show their address as Salisbury Street.
The 1841-1871 UK Census records also show him at Salisbury Street, Shoreditch.
An undated document indexed to 1881 relating to the application by his son Charles (born 1839) for freedom by patrimony in the Company of Goldsmiths shows 3 Salisbury Street as Charles’ business address.
Joseph had died before the 1881 UK Census when his wife Sarah is recorded as a widow living at 36 Penn Street, Shoreditch.