DEGRUCHY, John (Grimwade p.487)

[MCB]

Grimwade’s suggestion that Heal had been in error in assuming Degruchy was from Oxford Street rather than Oxford is confirmed by a marriage bond of 1763 which declares the intention of John Degruchy, goldsmith of Oxford, to marry Ann Maze.
Degruchy was also listed in the 1768 Poll Book as a silversmith from St Mary Magdalene, Oxford.
Their son Martin was christened at Christ Church, Spitalfields in 1771. He died in 1773 and was buried at the same church. His last address had been East Street.
Their daughter Elizabeth was christened at the same church in 1778. She died aged 21 days and was buried at the same church. Her last address had also been East Street.
The burial of John Degruchy aged 58 years, late of Princes Street, was recorded at the same church in 1794. Ann Degruchy aged 77 years, late of St Luke’s, was buried at the same church in 1812.

[dognose]

John de Gruchy

by Ann Natalie Hansen

John de Gruchy advertised in Jackson's Oxford Journal 18 June 1763 that he was a goldsmith from London who had opened shop near the Printing House. Son of the Reverend Philip de Gruchy of the Island of Jersey, deceased, he was apprenticed for a term of seven years to John Swift under the London Company 4 October 1758 on payment of £50*. He may have been a native of St. Helier, Jersey, as Thomas de Gruchy, goldsmith, was working there at 2, Brook Street, circa 1822. He also sold long-case clocks**.

De Gruchy's master, John Swift, made more silver for the Oxford colleges in the eighteenth century than any other London goldsmith***. It is highly probable that Swift told him how much work for a goldsmith there was in Oxford, but it is unknown why his apprenticeship ended two years short of term. It is possible that Swift died. The date of death is not recorded and there is confusion arising from the fact that his son, John, was also a goldsmith. De Gruchy received his freedom in Oxford 28 March 1763, paying twelve guineas and official fees****.

Between 1763 and 1766 he did mending of plate at Brasenose, and that is the only reference to his work. He does, however, appear in the Parliamentary Report list of 1773 as a goldsmith in Oxford. By 1779, though, he was back in London were he registered his first mark as a smallworker in partnership with Alexander Field 20 April 1779 with the address, City Road. By 14 July 1780, the partnership was apparently dissolved when Field entered a separate mark*****. De Gruchy did not enter a separate mark, so he may have died or returned to Jersey. He had given Oxford a fair trial of more than sixteen years but he probably found that the goldsmiths who came from Oxfordshire families and who had served their apprenticeships in Oxford were favoured by the colleges and perhaps by the townspeople as well.

De Gruchy had been in Oxford little more that three years when Mrs. De Gruchy placed the following advertisement in Jackson's Oxford Journal 5 September 1767:

Young Ladies are carefully and expeditiously Taught French, by Mrs. de Gruchy, at Mr. Gruchy's, silversmith, opposite the King's Arms, the corner of Holiwell, Oxford, leading to the Parks.
The Terms are Half a Guinea a Quarter and Half a Guinea Entrance.
N.B. Young Gentleman, educated in any of the Schools in Oxford, may likewise be taught at convenient opportunities.

She probably felt the need to add to the family income.

* Goldsmiths' Company Apprentice Book 7.
** Richard Mayne, Channel Islands Silver, 2nd ed. (1985), 47.
*** E.A. Jones, Catalogue of the Plate of Magdalen College, Oxford (1940), xv.
**** OCA, 1752-1801, 51.
***** A,G. Grimwade, London Goldsmiths, 1697-1837, 2nd ed. (1982), 487

Source: Oxford Goldsmiths, Before 1800 - Ann Natalie Hansen - 1996