Richard Britton, Silversmith

[Kit]

Are we dealing with one or two Richard Brittons?

On our London marks pages, there is a Richard Britton with a mark [R mid-pellet B] in a rectangular field, registered London, 1812, Grimwade 2278, but no listing in Jackson (3d revised.)

Yet, there is also a Richard Britton, Grimwade 449, no mark but noted in Jackson's London lists, p. 263, as "earliest 1848."

I am trying to identify, if possible, the maker of a fiddleback spoon, assayed in London in 1846. I'll post a photo and a "who made this" in the London section if you need it. PS - It has the R mid-pellet B mark.

Thanks,
Kit

[dognose]

Hi Kit,

Additional material on many of the 'smiths recorded in Grimwades can be found in our 'Grimwade Updates' forum.

For additional material on Richard Britton see: viewtopic.php?f=74&t=25231&p=60993

Trev.

[Kit]

Trev.

I guess I didn't explain myself well. I have read the additional information from Grimwades posted in the Grimwades Updates forum but can't reconcile that the Richard Britton, who apparently was registered in 1812, was unentered in the rolls until 1848 (Jackson.)

I certainly don't wish to beat the proverbial horse, so I shall assume that the material in Grimwade on page 2278 (which I don't have) provides Richard Britton's earlier history and that Jackson is not the better source. Or that there were two?

Thanks,
Kit

[agphile]

The revised Jackson simply reproduces a list from the earlier Jackson which shows that there was a record of Britton in 1848, possibly in something like a trade directory. This makes sense given that the additional information on this forum shows him still in business in 1851 as I read it. The Jackson entry doesn't mean Britton was not around earlier but just that at the time the list was produced an earlier record had not been turned up. Grimwade records marks entered at Goldsmiths Hall and taken from their records so is the more definitive source for London marks. I don't think there is anything here to suggest two Brittons.

[Kit]

Thanks, Agphile.
That cleared up a few questions about the relative usefulness of Grimwade and Jackson, at least for this type of question.
Sincerely,
Kit