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Hi,

On the Forum we often have debate on Hallmarks, makers etc. sometimes with differing views and opinions. With people I guess it's no different as I discovered when I found this interesting snippet taken from Thomas Bewick's Memoir.
Thomas Bewick (1753-1828) was in partnership with Ralph Beilby and was previously apprenticed to him. He was one of, if not the, finest engravers of his time. It is often his work we see on Newcastle silver of the period, he worked for many of the local silversmiths, although it is as a wood engraver that he found fame.
During the latter years of his life, he wrote his Memoir but he never got around to publishing the book. After his death his daughter, Jane, edited his manuscript.
This was how he described the Newcastle goldsmith John Robertson (1) as he went into partnership with John Langlands (1) "well known and much respected in almost every principal town in Britain, and I believe in Ireland, as a travelling silversmith and jeweller, and by his superior knowledge of business he greatly augmented that of their joint concern" but Jane Bewick had a somewhat different opinion, she noted "Langlands was a gentleman, but his partner Robertson, was a cunning Scot; under the appearance of great friendship he took every advantage" Jane Bewick also had strong words for John Robertson's nephew, John Robertson (2) she commented "Robertson nephew and heir... a spoilt young man who inherited his uncle's prosperous business and within a decade went bankrupt, he... took my father in for £1000 - as bad a fellow as ever lived, and as plausible - a fiend in human guise".
It would certainly seem she was none too fond of the Robertsons!

A brief summary of the Langlands/Robertson era.

John Langlands (1) and John Goodrick 1754-1757 (Both former apprentices of Issac Cookson).
John Langlands (1) 1757-1788 (From 1765 in partnership with Joseph Hutchson, the name of the firm unchanged)
John Langlands (1) and John Robertson (1) 1788-1795*
John Langlands (2) 1795-1804
Dorothy Langlands (Widow of John Langlands (2)) 1804-1814
John Robertson (1) and David Darling 1795-1796
John Robertson (1) 1796- 1801
Ann Robertson (Widow of John Robertson (1)) 1801-1811**
John Robertson (2) 1811-1820***
John Robertson (2) and John Walton 1811-1820****
John Walton 1820-1866

*John Langlands (1) died in 1793, for the last two years of this partnership, his widow Margret ran the firm with Robertson (1) until John Langlands (2) was of age.
**Ann Robertson ran the business in her own name but in trust for her nephew.
*** Retail & Jewellery.
**** Manufacturing.

Trev.
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Another insight into the character of the Newcastle silversmiths John Langlands (1) and John Robertson (1) and the Newcastle Assay Master Matthew Prior as noted from Thomas Bewick’s Memoir, published in 1862, thirty-four years after his death.

‘Mr. Langlands was of a cheerful, hospitable and charitable disposition, and full of stories and anecdotes and that kind of man who greatly esteemed men of ability, integrity and industry, these he never forgot when age or infirmities brought them down, he then shook hands with them as he had done before, but now his own mostly concealed his token of respect, a half guinea. Mr. Robertson was also, in many respects, of a similar disposition as his partner. I spent many a cheerful evening in Mr. Langlands’ house with these kind friends, in company with others who also partook of his hospitable board, but the most remarkable of these was Matthew Prior, who was the character of being one of the best mechanics in the kingdom, he was Assay Master, musical instrument maker and a turner, in which last he particularly excelled, many remarkable pieces of dextrous workmanship he had done in that way, which drew him into the notice of many gentleman in the two northern counties, with whom also as an angler, a sportsman and a jovial companion he was their welcome guest.
It happened on some pretence or other, that an attempt was made to take away the Assay business from Newcastle, which occasioned Prior being sent for to be examined by a committee of the House of Commons, as to his ability etc. of conducting that business, the ease, the clearness, as well as the straight forward way in which he answered all questions, excited some surprise as well as approbation, he at last when he was questioned as to the accuracy of his scale beam, told them that a hair clipped from the back of his hand, would cast his scales either way, and this was actually true. For a wager he turned two billiard balls of such equal weights that the difference was as nothing, he was of a most independent cast of character and open and frank in his conversation, upon one occasion it had been reported that Prior, should have said of a proud high minded gentleman, that he “durst do what neither the gentleman nor any of his family durst do”. Prior had never said any such thing, but this gentleman took him to task about it with great indignation and accused him of saying so, at this Prior in his turn felt offended and told him ‘tho he had never said so, he would say so to his face now, this produced a wager between them and Matthew told him he would double the bet if he pleased, now said the gentleman in high ill humour and what is it you dare do!, do said Prior, I dare spend the last sixpence I have in the world.'

Trev.
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An image of Thomas Bewick, whose fine quality work is often to be found on Newcastle silver of the period.


Thomas Bewick 1753-1828

Trev.