This raises an interesting question. We know ,see
http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic ... 74&t=26279 that on 23 February 1762 Laurence Coughlan, Widower and Anne Andrews,Widow, married by licence at St Giles, Cripplegate without. Both were described as "of this parish". Ann(e) was undoubtedly the Ann Andrews, widow of John Andrews , who took over his silversmiths business in Brick Lane after his death in 1759 and entered marks in 1759, 1760 and 1761. Although all were registered as smallworkers, they and their apprentice, Thomas Wilkinson , appear to have been bucklemakers.
But was Coughlan the Silversmith the same man as Coughlan the Methodist Preacher ?
There is another entry in the DNB specifically for Laurence Coughlan the Preacher .
Below is a very much edited precis
Coughlan, Laurence (d. 1784), founder of Methodism in Newfoundland, was born in Ireland. His parentage unknown. By birth a Roman Catholic, he converted to Methodism at Drummersnave, Leitrim, in 1753, and was soon afterwards recruited as an itinerant preacher, serving initially in Ireland and, on being transferred to England, at Whitehaven in Cumberland and Colchester in Essex. In 1760 he went back to Ireland and preached at Waterford, the port through which most Irish servants left for work in the Newfoundland fishery. He returned to London,
and on 23 February 1762 married Anne Andrews in the parish of St Giles Cripplegate. Coughlan was by then a widower. He had already, to John Wesley's dismay, ‘married and ruined’ one woman, details of whom are unknown ......
Coughlan sailed to Newfoundland and returned to London in autumn 1766 with a petition from the inhabitants to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts asking that he be appointed missionary and given a stipend. Coughlan was appointed SPG missionary in December. In September 1767, accompanied by his wife and daughter Betsey, he went back .
After some difficulties in Newfoundland he appeared in late 1773 before the SPG in London and resigned his mission. Coughlan's subsequent career was as a preacher in the Countess of Huntingdon's Connexion, a sect of Calvinistic Methodists. He served in at least two of her London chapels, those at Cumberland Street and Holywell Street, near Shoreditch. He died in 1784, according to Wesley ‘utterly broken in pieces, full of tears and contrition for his past unfaithfulness’.
It should be noted that the DNB entry categorically identifies the Coughlan who married Anne Andrews in 1762 as the Methodist preacher.However this could be a mistake by DNB (not unknown !) in ascribing this marriage to the wrong man . DNB, Grimwade and myself have all ben guilty of this offence on occasions !
The case of " Does Laurence Coughlan the Silversmith = Laurence Coughlan the Preacher "
AGAINST
The PR1773 gives Laurence Coughlan at Brick Lane, Old Street - without category. Difficult if he is in Newfoundland and Thomas Wilkinson has taken over the premises. However it appears that most of the information on locations etc were provided by Goldsmiths' Hall and it is possible that they were unaware that LC was no longer there. The absence of category certainly indicates a lack of knowledge.
The PR1773 gives Thomas Wilkinson at Pear Tree Street, Old Street. However Pear Tree Stree runs off Brick Lane and the Coughlan entry was in the register was made when general area rather than specific address was the norm.
FOR
The PR1773 gives no entry for broken plate for Coughlan. Neither however does it for Wilkinson.
I have only ever seen Coughlan's marks on buckles which in style are pre 1765. But then I've only seen two pairs and a single ! Although the scarcity of his , and Ann Andrews buckles, does tend to indicate a limited time span.
VERDICT
Until surving propery records are examined - suspended opinion.
Once I've looked at LMA at Poor Rates, Land Tax Assessments , Inhabitants list etc for St Luke Old Street we may know for sure.
