I consider the gentleman to be a bucklemaker: certainly several buckles are known to be marked by him .
He is probably the Miles Ascough mentioned in an Old Bailey case of 1779 involving George Burrows, a bucklemaker.
GEORGE BURROWS sworn.
I am a buckle-maker. (Shewn the buckles taken from the prisoner's wife). I think they are my make; I cannot swear positively to them, because the mark is not very plain, the work on the top has disfigured it.
Do you believe they are your make? - I think they are.
Is it a new pattern? - Not very new, nor very old.
Mrs BENTON - I bought some buckles of Mr. Burrows, as near as I can say they are the buckles.
MILES ASCOUGH sworn.
I am a buckle-cutter (looks at the buckles found on the prisoner) these buckles I cut for Mr. Benton; I never cut any of this size for any body else.
(Proceedings of the Old Bailey t17790707-26 7th July 1779)
The Proceedings of the Old Bailey was a populist journal , not an official record, which reported an edited verbatim report from the Courts. It is not in any way an official publication !
Assumming I am correct and Ascough = Askew then Miles started as a workman for George Burrows.
He finished bankrupt.
London Gazette of 26 March 1814 gives Miles Askew as a prisoner for debt in the KINGS BENCH prison giving his first notice of statement of affairs as -
" Miles Askew, formerly of St Martin's le Grand in the liberty of Westminster in the joint parish of St Martin's le Grand and Christchurch,Newgate Street and late of Staining -lane in the parish of Saint Mary Staining ,both in the city of London, Silversmith "
The entry of his second and third notice, 4th and 8th August 1814 gives him as " Miles Askew, formerly and late of No 11, Staining Lane ,London Silversmith