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Described as John Holloway, Citizen and Goldsmith of Wych Street, in the indentures signed in 1777 for his son John to be his apprentice his own apprenticeship is unlikely to have been the one Grimwade identified as commencing with Ralph Ayscough in 1770 rather the one he identified as commencing in 1754 with John Wirgman.
He died in 1797. In his Will dated in that year and signed at the Wych Street address he left his estate to his wife Ann who gave an oath for the value being less than £300.

Grimwade gives his address as 24, Witch Street, Clement Danes and his last mark as being 17 January 1788.
However the National Archives records , under ref NRA/PROB 11/1160/213 the probate of the Will of John Holloway, Working Silversmith of Saint Clement Danes , Middlesex on 19 December 1787
Either NA have their date incorrectly recorded (normally unlikely but not impossible) or this was a near relative, also a silversmith , living at the same adrress or nearby.
Do we have any further details of the will of 1797 please ?

Hello Clive
The Will was signed on 3rd June 1797. It was witnessed by J and M (could be Mary) Elleray and Henry Walter. It was proved on 3rd July 1797 before the Worshipful Charles Coote, Doctor of Laws Surrogate on on the oath of Ann Holloway, widow and relict and sole executrix of the deceased. There is no address noted for Dr Coote. He made a note that the testator “died last month in Islington”. There is a reference on the Will in another’s hand which reads DL/C/434/194.
Although Heal records John Holloway as a working silversmith in Wych Street from 1775-93, this period seemingly extended by the 1797 Will, please let us know if you discover the Will of 1787 shows otherwise; perhaps a conflation of father and son?
Regards,
Mike

Thanks Mike

Well that rules out the possibility of the National Archive probate date being a mistake, certainly two wills/two testators. I've found the source of the 1797 will - it was proved at the London Consistory Court in July 1797 but did not show up in my records as the testator was not kind enough to give his occupation. LMA references are Microfilm XO19/023 and folio 216verso.

So we have two John Holloway, Silversmiths in Witch Street. One dying in 1787 , the other in 1797.
As you say , we may have a conflation but as I understand it John the 1797 deceased was probably the son of William Holloway of Croydon, Yeoman, not another John Holloway .
I may be able to check the 1787 will on my next visit to the NA and hopefully resolve the relationship if I get enough time.
The mystery continues !
Anyone with £3.50 to spare can solve it for us !

Hello again Clive

The reference to the Will of 1797 probably being made by the son of William Holloway of Croyden is interesting as Grimwade identifies his son John signed the indentures of 1754 to be John Wirgman's apprentice.
Think of the joy £3.50 will bring in forum members discovering who the silversmith who finally put down his planishing hammer in 1787 really was; and another copy of a Will to add to your collection.
Eagerly awaiting the denoument,

Mike

The following are a few details of the Will of John Holloway, Working Silversmith of St Clement Danes which was proved in 1787 at PCC

Will signed 8 January 1787, witnesses Thomas King and ? King.
Sole executor John Allen Holloway, the testators son.

We can deduce from this that he was a widower, and that his wifes maiden name may have been Allen