Some Known Journeymen Silversmiths and Other Employees

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John Lacey Hawkins (Grimwade 1389) as at November 1822
Andrew Main (Apprentice) (£60 - 7 years)

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The Apprentices of Nathaniel Gillet of Aberdeen

John Allan......... 19th May 1785 (Five years)
William Breck..... 21st December 1790 (Six years - Indenture registered on the 17th December 1796 upon completion of term)
Andrew Findlater... 6th June 1792
Nathaniel Rae*...... 1st January 1800
Emslie Whitecross................ 1802
James Brander......20th July 1804
William Rae.......... 1st January 1809

*Nathaniel Rae worked for Nathaniel Gillet as apprentice, journeyman, and foreman, upon Gillet's retirement in c.1824, Nathaniel Rae continued the business.


'ABD', 'NG', 'Zodiac sign Cancer', 'Mallet'.

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The Apprentices of James Erskine of Aberdeen

William Whitecross........4th February 1800
Robert Mair...............20th January 1801
James Smith..............20th November 1803
John Leith.................20th March 1805
James Pirie................1st May 1810
David Primrose............1st August 1811
John Sim Rae..............1st August 1811

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The Staff of Gerald Benney

A photograph that was taken in around 1973, probably outside Gerald Benney's showroom and workshops at 36, Bear Lane, Southwark, London.



From left to right:

Richard Stephens..............Silversmith
Don Ward.......................Senior Apprentice
Dave Corley.....................Master Polisher
Reg Vant........................Master Silversmith
Andrew Juleff...................Master Silversmith
Robert Jones...................Silversmith
Frank Beck .....................Master Silversmith
Neil Lovesey....................Apprentice
Janet Benney
Brutus...........................Guard Dog
Gerald Benney
Anne Wakely....................Secretary
Stephen Biddlecombe..........Apprentice
Mark Gilson.....................Apprentice
Jim Streeter....................Master Silversmith
Robert Winter..................Master Silversmith and Enameller
Alan Evans......................Beenham Manager and Master Enameller
David Murray...................Master Silversmith and Assistant Manager
John Lewis.....................Apprentice
Michael Hanley................Apprentice Polisher
Brian Fuller....................Manager

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Montague Levyson (Pall Mall)

Thomas Clifford (Journeyman and Little Master) (Grimwade 2722, p.467)
Robin Ryder (Errand boy)

Thomas Clifford appeared at the Old Bailey on the 15th January 1823, accused of stealing a tea-urn, four cream ewers, a tea-pot, and a tea-set from Montague Levyson, the goods having been sent to Clifford's workshop for polishing. The work was detained much longer than expected, and after making enquiries it was found that Thomas Clifford had absconded, and the plate never recovered.

Clifford was found guilty and transported for seven years.

Sources: Old Bailey Court Records, and Royal Cornwall Gazette, Falmouth Packet & Plymouth Journal - 25th January 1823

For further detail of Thomas Clifford see: viewtopic.php?f=74&t=25322&p=63879#p63879

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The Apprentices of James Gordon of Aberdeen

James Law....................18th July 1765
George Roger.................18th August 1766
John Shirras ..................13th May 1768
Robert Gordon..................1st August 1772
John Mair......................31st October 1776
Alexander Roger..............14th October 1779
George Gordon.....................Whitsun 1781
Benjamin Lumsden...........26th September 1782
David Izat......................13th June 1786
Robert Greenlaw................4th December 1787
George Will....................10th November 1790
William Jamieson...............1st May 1793

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W. & P. Cunningham & Sons of Edinburgh

Robert Gemmell (Gemmells, Gemmill, Gemmel) (Silversmith and Chaser)

Robert Gemmell started his long career in the silver trade with George Milne at Glasgow and later with Patrick Cunningham at Edinburgh for whom he worked for thirty eight years. The Incorporation of Goldsmiths of Edinburgh granted him ten guineas in 1810 in recognition of his long and faithful service.

Died
At Edinburgh, on the 26th ult. in the 78th year of his age, Mr. Robert Gemmell, Silversmith and Chaser, in the latter ingenious art he was unrivalled. Mr Gemmell was upwards of 40 years in the employment of Messrs W. and P. Cunninghams and Sons, by whom, and by all his acquaintances, he was greatly respected. Some months ago, The Incorporation of Goldsmiths, of which Mr G. was not a member, unsolicted made him a handsome present, for his long and faithful services to the trade, and as a mark of their esteem for his character. Mr G. was an excellent workman, a most agreeable and convivial companion, and an inoffensive honest man.

Source: Caledonian Mercury - 4th March 1811

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Gerard Grace of Dublin

Thomas Boulton (Apprentice)

Thomas Boulton was apprenticed to Gerard Grace in 1676. He became a Freeman in 1686, elected Warden of the Dublin Company in 1690-1692, elected Master of the Dublin Company 1692-1693, and served as Assay Master at Dublin for the period 1692-1697. Boulton was also appointed to serve as Lord Mayor of Dublin for the year 1716.

Thomas Boulton was the son of the Rev. Henry Boulton of Ratoath. He married Abigail Lackey of St. James (license 10th November 1692) at St. Werburgh's, Dublin.

The mark of Thomas Boulton:



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William Hughes of Dublin

Robert Breading (Apprentice) as from 1768
Henry Nalty (Apprentice) as from 1769
Robert Thornhill (Apprentice) as from 1774
George Fitzpatrick (Apprentice) as from 1776
James Jones (Apprentice) as from 1777

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Joseph Jackson of Dublin

Samuel Hawthorn (Apprentice) as from 1780
John Charles (Apprentice) as from 1784
Henry Nalty (Apprentice) as from 1785
James Hartley (Apprentice) as from 1789
William Dean Stubbs (Apprentice) as from 1800

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Edward Barnard & Sons

G. Ward (Apprentice) as from 1911

The Wardens were told of the death in action of Lance-Corporal G. Ward who had been apprenticed through the Company to Mr Barnard in 1911.

Source: The minutes of the Court of Wardens - Goldsmiths' Company - 1st November 1916.

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The Apprentices of William Abdy (I) (Grimwade p.419)

Thomas Garrard (III) 1754
John Wren 1759
John Humphreys 1765
Samuel Simpkins 1766 (Turned over)
James Smither 1766 (Turned over)
Joseph Scammell 1767
William Cock 1768
Charles Neale 1768 (Turned over)
George Rubbins 1769 (Turned over)
William Allen 1771
James Barratt 1772
James Marriott 1772
Thomas Marson 1773 (Turned over from James Jones of the Cutlers' Company)
William Batchelor 1775
Benjamin Riley 1775
John Bush 1777
Thomas Abdy 1777 (Son)
John Complin 1779
John McCure 1782
William Wake 1784
William Cleets 1787

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The Apprentices of William Palmer (Engraver)

William Palmer was granted the freedom of the Goldsmiths' Company in 1760. He was originally apprenticed to John Pine in 1753, but turned over to Richard William Seale in 1757.

Edward Jones - 1764
John Russell - 1765
John Cary - 1770
Richard Simpson - 1772
James Lymens - 1779
Benjamin Baker - 1782 (Turned over from William Berresford of the Stationers' Company)
Robert Rowe - 1789
Joseph Allen - 1791
John Thomas Price - 1803

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The Apprentices of John Ustonson

John Ustonson was recorded as a Spectacle Maker, Optician, and Silversmith. He was the son of Thomas Ustonson a Victualler of Islington, London, and served his apprenticeship under Onesimus Ustonson, a Fishing Tackle Maker, as from 1787. John Ustonson was granted his Freedom of the Turners' Company in 1794.

He was recorded at the following addresses:

1804-1811 - 21, George Yard, Old Street, London
1817 - Fleet Street, near St. Dunstan's Church, London
c.1818 - Cross Street, Islington, London
1830 - 15, Whiskin Street, Spa Fields, London

He took the following apprentices:

Felix Samuel Sheppard - 1804 (Grimwade p.294-5) See: viewtopic.php?f=74&t=29233
James Sheperd - 1809
Joseph Wooster - 1810
William Hall - 1811
John Mountford - 1811
John Richardson - 1812
Charles Lewis - 1812
Thomas Rafe Winter - 1815

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The Apprentices of George Thomas

George Thomas was granted his Freedom from the Goldsmiths' Company in 1790. He was recorded as a Compass Maker and Mathematical Instrument Maker, located at Deptford Dockyard. He served his apprenticeship under Samuel Saunders, a Mathematical Instrument Maker, also of Deptford Dockyard and also of the Goldsmiths' Company.

George Thomas does not appear to have entered marks at the London Assay Office, unless perhaps he is the same George Thomas that recorded his mark in the Bucklemakers' Register in 1792 from 10, Crown Court, Fleet Street.

He took the following apprentices:

John Lissett - 1790
George Thomas (his son) - 1795
James Walker - 1797
George Richard Thomas (his son) - 1800
Richard Adams - 1801

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The Apprentices of Isaac Symmes

Isaac Symmes was granted his Freedom by the Goldsmiths Company in 1603-4. He was recorded as a Goldsmith and Clockmaker, located in Aldgate, London, in 1604, and Houndsditch, London, in 1618. He served his apprenticeship, firstly under John Humfrey, but was later turned over to Daniell Bennet.

He took the following apprentices:

Jonas Howe - 1604
Samuel Linaker - 1610
Onesiphorus Helden - 1615
Simon Hackett - 1622 (turned over to Samuel Linaker in that same year)

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John Symonds Marratt (Grimwade p.311)

George David Newton - 1832
John Spear - 1833
William Colmer Porch - 1837
William Pugh - 1838

For further information on John Symonds Marratt, see: viewtopic.php?f=74&t=29123

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Jeremiah Stevens

Jeremiah Stevens was a member of the Goldsmiths' Company, he was recorded as a Mathematical Instrument Maker and Philosophical Instrument Maker located at 5, Green Arbour Court, Doctor's Commons, London, in 1825, and at 2, Bell Court, Doctor's Commons, London, for the period 1831-1840. He served his apprenticeship under William Birkwood as from 1809.

Jeremiah Stevens took the following apprentices:

Joshua Samuel Barnett - 1825
James Chapman - 1831
William Miah Stevens - 1840

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William Simms

William Simms (b.1793,d,1860) was granted his Freedom by the Goldsmiths' Company in 1815. He was recorded as an Optician, Mathematical Instrument Maker, and Mariner's Compass Maker. He served his apprenticeship under Thomas Penstone (likely the Thomas Penstone mentioned in Grimwade p. 619) in 1808, but was turned over to his father, also named William Simms, in 1809.

He was recorded at the following addresses:

1, Bowman's Buildings, Aldersgate Street, London. 1821-1826
136, Fleet Street, London (as Troughton & Simms) 1826-1843
138, Fleet Street, London (as Troughton & Simms) 1843-1846 (also in 1843, 2 & 4, Peterborough Court, Fleet Street, which adjoined the rear of 138, Fleet Street.)

He took the following apprentices:

Alfred Septimus Simms (his brother) - 1821
John William Nutting - 1825
William Henry Simms (his son) - 1834
James Simms (his son) - 1843
Joseph Beck - 1846

The business of Troughton & Simms was continued by his son James, and a nephew also named William.

William Simms was a Fellow of the Royal Society (1852), and a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (1831). He exhibited at the Great Exhibition at London in 1851 under his own name. He resided at Brambleshaw, Carshalton, Surrey from 1851, until his death in 1860. William Simms is buried at Norwood Cemetery, London.

Obituary of Edward Troughton can be found here: http://adsabs.harvard.edu//full/seri/MN ... 9.000.html

Obituary of William Simms (II) can be found here: http://adsabs.harvard.edu//full/seri/MN ... 7.000.html

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William Parsons

William Parsons was granted his Freedom by the Goldsmiths' Company in 1717. He was recorded as a Mathematical Instrument Maker and had served his apprenticeship under William Collier as from 1710. His father, also named William Parsons, was a member of the Carpenters' Company.

William Parsons took the following apprentices:

Richard Whitehead - 1737
William Hack - 1740
Thomas Hodgkins - 1746
John Brind - 1746 (turned over the same day to his father)
Humphrey Parsons - 1747 (his son)
John Leverton - 1749
John Lane - 1756 (turned over in 1760 to Christopher Stedman)

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