MONZANI, Tebaldo and HILL, Henry (Grimwade p.321)

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Tebaldo Monzani and Henry Hill entered a makers’ mark at Goldsmiths Hall in 1808 in partnership as small workers from 3 Old Bond Street, later notified a change of address to 24 Dover Street, Piccadilly and in 1819 another change of address to Regent Street, Piccadilly in which year they appear in the Post Office Directory trading as Monzani and Hill at 28 Regent Street as patent flute and clarinet manufacturers and music sellers.
They appear similarly in Baines History and Directory of the West Riding from 1822-23 at 28 Regent Street, under the heading Music Sellers and Publishers of London.
The website http://www.oldflutes.com/articles/monzani.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; contains a portrait of Monzani and photographs of flutes by Monzani & Hill including one showing hallmarks.
After Monzani’s retirement in 1829 Hill continued alone.
Hill’s widow Ann(e) succeeded him in the business as indicated by the 1843 Post Office Directory entry for her trading as late Monzani & Hill from the Regent Street address.

Tebaldo Monzani
He was born in Verona, Italy around 1762, came to England around 1785 and was a professional flautist, a composer and a flute maker.
He appears in the Land Tax records of 1797 in respect of a property in Hamilton Street, St George, Hanover Square parish and from 1798 -1819 in respect of a property in Upper Baker Street.
He married Pleasant Price at St Mary the Virgin,Twickenham in 1800.
Their daughter Theresa Mercy was christened at St James, Piccadilly in 1802, sons Willoughby Theobald, Peregrine John Baptist and Theophilus Antonie at St George, Hanover Square in 1805, 1808 and 1809 respectively.
He appears as Monzani & Cimador, music publishers, in the Land Tax registers of 1805-6 for property in Old Bond Street.
He was admitted to the Musicians Company by redemption in 1807. His application for freedom of the City of London was endorsed “music seller”.
Son Theobald Peregrine was christened at St Marylebone in 1811.
Born in 1813 his daughter Jane Elizabeth was christened in 1818 also at St Marylebone, Westminster. As was the practice of this church for some time after 1813, even though the authorities required it, no details of her father’s address or occupation were recorded. There is a record at St George, Hanover Square of her as a minor marrying the widower Thomas Bowley in 1829 with Tebaldo Monzani’s consent. She would have been about 16 years old.
He is said to have retired from the partnership in 1829.
Monzani’s death in 1839 was recorded in the Thanet register.

Henry Hill
His earlier history has proved difficult to accurately determine because of the relatively large number with the same name.
He was admitted to the Musicians Company by redemption in 1807. His application for freedom of the City of London was endorsed “music seller”.
Christening records from 1807-10 at St George, Hanover Square for three sons of Henry and Ann (or Anne) Hill contain no further information regarding their parents’ address or their father’s occupation.
Christening records at St Margaret, Westminster from 1813 -22 for four more of their children note their father as a music seller from Park Row, Knightsbridge.
His son Henry (christened 1807) was apprenticed to him in 1822.
Christening records for two more their sons at St James, Piccadilly in 1824 and 1825 show their father firstly as a musical instrument maker from Chorland Court and secondly as a music seller from Regent Street.
A record of his death has not been identified.
He was absent from the Regent Street address for the 1841 UK Census where his wife is recorded as the music seller.

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The Will of Tebaldo Monzani, retired from business and late of St James, Westminster, was proved for probate on 18th July 1839 (National Archives reference PROB 11/1913/410).

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The mark of Tebaldo Monzani and Henry Hill, noted on a flute with silver embellishment, assayed at London in 1824:

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Some further information regarding Henry Hill obtained from The New Langwill Index:

HENRY HILL

Maker and publisher, son of Joseph Hill ( coal merchant of Lambeth), grandson of Joseph Hill, (founder of the famous dynasty of string instrument makers); 1807 freedom of Musician's Company, described as music seller; 1808-29 in partnership with T. Monzani, thereafter also as 'Monzani & Hill' ; 1829 successor on Monzani's retirement; listed as 'Muisc Seller in Ordinary to his Majesty, Patentee and Manufacturer of the New Improved German Flute, and Durable Clarinet' ;1839 succeeded by his son, ? identifiable with Henry Hill the younger who 1828 was granted freedom of the Musician's Company, when described as Musical Instrument maker, Waterloo PLace' ; 1840-43 listed as 'Miss Anne Hill', 1844 as 'Frederick Hill' ; 1845 stock sold by auction.

Information kindly supplied by Hammy Hamilton of Hamilton Flutes Cúil Aodha, Macroom, Co. Cork, Ireland.

[silverly]

The weekly magazine Musical World Feb 7 1839 issue (available on google) announced the death of H Hill on the 23rd inst. at the age of 57...formerly of the firm of Monzani & Hill.