LEA, John Davis (Grimwade p.372)

[MCB]

Goldworkers List (Section VII).

He was born in 1786, the son of Joseph (Grimwade p.372) and Hannah Lea.
He married Mary Ann Hopkins at St Olave, Silver Street in 1812; both were from that parish. His father and his brother James Myson signed the register as witnesses.
He was made free by patrimony in the Goldsmiths Company in 1814.
Christening records from 1815-1830 at St Alban, Wood Street for seven of their children all show their father as a goldsmith from Silver Street.
His father had run the business from 20 Silver Street from 1788 and died in 1827, the year John Davis entered his own mark at Goldsmiths Hall as a gold worker from the same address.
The 1841 UK Census for Noble Street, St Olave’s parish recorded him as an engraver.
He was in the same trade at 17 Pear Tree Street in 1851 and at 16 Pear Tree Street in 1861 as a goldsmith.
His sons Charles (born 1826) and Alfred (born 1831) applied for freedom by patrimony in the Goldsmiths Company in 1855, sons John Thomas (born 1815) and William Henry (born 1818) applied in 1857 and Henry (born 1828) applied in 1872.
John Davis Lea’s death was registered at St Luke’s in 1869.