The Bateman Silversmith Who's Never Mentioned?

[dognose]

It's been years since I read much, in detail, about the Bateman's, and I've probably forgotten a lot of the information over time, so forgive me if I've lost some important facts. Whilst pouring over the goldsmith's trade cards on the British Museum website I came across an example of the trade card of one Letitia Clarke.

Now, Letitia Bateman who was born in 1733 was Hester's eldest daughter and was married in 1755 to Richard Clarke, to whom Peter and Jonathan Bateman were apprenticed. Letitia must have had an important role within the Bateman family, she was one of the executors of Hester's will and the inheritor, along with her sister, Ann, of all Hester's linen and wearing apparel, a sure sign of their mother's affection.

But was Letitia's role in the Bateman household, also that of silversmith in the factory? I believe it may have been. Hester Bateman retired in 1790, she handed her business over to her sons, Peter and Jonathan, if Letitia was a silversmith at the workshops in Bunhill Row, she may have been devastated to learn that the business was to be given to her brothers and that she was not to be a member of that partnership.

Is it a coincidence that the first mention of one Letitia Clarke in the London directory is for the year 1790, occupying 'The Eagle And Pearl', 9, Holborn Bars, a place she is listed at until 1802. Earlier directories show this as the workshop of Richard Clarke who had since died.

If there was a rift in the Bateman family then Hester played her part in healing it, as many sources have it that after her retirement she went to live with her widowed daughter in Holborn.

Link to the trade card of Letitia Clarke:

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/s ... _id=390723

Link to an earlier trade card of Richard Clarke from the same address:

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/s ... _id=390731

Trev.
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[dognose]

Those with a sharp eye may have noticed the trade card spelling as 'Letticia'. John Fallon in his 'Marks of London Goldsmiths and Silversmiths 1697-1837' notes that in Hester's will, the spelling is 'Letisia', but under the proving of the will it is spelt in three different ways, 'Letticia' 'Lettitia' and 'Letitia'.

Trev.
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[dognose]

It will be noted that Arthur Grimwade, in his 'London Goldsmiths 1697-1837-Their Marks & Lives' acquired some of his biographical details on the Batemans from Miss Annette Bull, a direct descendant in the female line from Hester Bateman. The connection with the Bull family comes from the marriage of Letitia's daughter, also Letitia but known as Lety, to the Rev. Thomas Palmer Bull, Pastor of the Newport Pagnell Independent Church.


Thomas Palmer Bull (b.15-7-1773--d.11-3-1859) in 1817

They were married in Brighton on the 13th October 1803, the service was conducted by Rev. John Newton, an elderly and infirm friend of Thomas's father, the Rev. William Bull.

The marriage produced three sons, William Bateman Bull, who became a solicitor at Newport Pagnell, Thomas Bull, a doctor and expert in childcare and Josiah Bull, who was to succeed his father as Pastor at Newport Pagnell.

The Rev. Josiah Bull wrote a biography of his grandfather entitled 'Memorials of the Rev. William Bull of Newport Pagnell', there are but a few details regarding the Bateman family, although there is mention of a trip to Margate by William Bull and Peter Bateman in 1809.



William Bull (b.1738-d.1814) was a noted friend of the poet William Cowper.

Letitia Bull died on the 13th August 1836, her death notice that appeared in the 'Gentleman's Magazine' is shown below.



Trev.

[dognose]

A robbery occured at Letitia Clarke's shop at Holborn on the 24th November 1784. Below is a link to the trial.

http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.j ... 7841208-39

Trev.