KIRKE, John (Grimwade p.366)

[MCB]

Goldworkers List (Section VII).

He was christened at St John Hackney in 1746, the son of Benjamin and Honour.
He signed indentures in 1760 as the son of Benjamin Kirke, a victualler of St John parish, Hackney, to be the apprentice of Thomas Hankins of the Goldsmiths Company. He was made free in 1777.
In 1787 Richard Kirke son of Thomas Kirke, a labourer of Hackney (presumably a relative), signed indentures to be his apprentice as a jeweller in Foster Lane.
He entered a mark at Goldsmiths Hall in 1790 as a gold worker from 9 Foster Lane.
William, son of butcher William Killby of Aldersgate deceased, similarly signed indentures in 1802.
No further information has been found which can be related to him with certainty.This is probably caused by the letter "e" at the end of his surname being omitted or mistaken in transcription for a flourish in the writing, leaving the name transcribed as the much more numerous Kirk.

[silverly]

17 August 1776 John Kirke jeweller of Southwark, St Saviour was bound to Rachel Mortimer for matrimony.

[MCB]

His predecessor at the address was Edward Holmes the younger (Grimwade p.282, 359).
The Will of John Kirke, jeweller late of 9 Foster Lane, Cheapside, was proved for probate on 13th April 1813 (National Archives reference PROB 11/1543/283).