He had been apprenticed to James Callum the royal sword maker. Callum died in 1786 after which the business passed to his widow and son then in 1791 to a Mr Davies until Prosser took over in 1795.
He also became sword cutler and gunmaker by royal appointment.
He was assessed to Land Tax at 9 Charing Cross until 1837.
PROSSER, John (Grimwade p.634)
Moderators: buckler, MCB, silverly
Re: PROSSER, John (Grimwade p.634)
[Much of this is taken from the comprehensive account in Leslie Southwick's " London Silver Hilted Swords " which also contains much more detail and photographs. Some of the earlier section of this post is slightly inconsistent with that of MCB's above ]
18 May 1795
Will of Mary Cullum . Mary was the widow of Thomas Cullum (died 1790 at the age of 38) whose business as Royal Sword Cutlers and Belt makers had been established by his father James Cullum in 1741 . Mary died in December 1795 in poor health with no heirs .
In her will she offered her business to John Prosser, "her Shopman " , which he not unnaturally accepted . He would have been around 26 years old at the time.
9 July 1795
John Prosser appointed a Sword- cutler and Belt - maker in Ordinary to King George III
David Davies of St James had actually succeeded to the royal warrant on the death of Mary Cullum but this was an additional warrant
4 July 1796
Registered his only mark at Goldsmiths’ Hall , as a smallworker at 9 Charing Cross
18 July 1797
John Prosser, of the Parish of St Martins’ in the Fields, Batchelor and Mary Bagster, Spinster and Minor of the Parish of St Pancras were married by licence at St Pancras Old Church. Both were literate
5 April 1820
Appointed Sword-cutler in ordinary to King George IV
20 December 1837
John Prosser, Sword Cutler, died "of inflamation of the lungs" at Streatham aged 68
Like William Rawle , Prosser was principally a manufacturer, retailer and supplier to the military establishment of military arms and equipment . He also produced fine presentation swords etc during the Napoleonic wars and registered at least one patent for firearms manufacture .
His silversmiths work was largely incidental to the above two categories .
His mark of 4th April 1796
One of his buckles, probably a Sword hanger or a Sabretache buckle . assayed in London 1798/99. From the wear , almost certainly actually worn on campaign during the Napoleonic Wars .
18 May 1795
Will of Mary Cullum . Mary was the widow of Thomas Cullum (died 1790 at the age of 38) whose business as Royal Sword Cutlers and Belt makers had been established by his father James Cullum in 1741 . Mary died in December 1795 in poor health with no heirs .
In her will she offered her business to John Prosser, "her Shopman " , which he not unnaturally accepted . He would have been around 26 years old at the time.
9 July 1795
John Prosser appointed a Sword- cutler and Belt - maker in Ordinary to King George III
David Davies of St James had actually succeeded to the royal warrant on the death of Mary Cullum but this was an additional warrant
4 July 1796
Registered his only mark at Goldsmiths’ Hall , as a smallworker at 9 Charing Cross
18 July 1797
John Prosser, of the Parish of St Martins’ in the Fields, Batchelor and Mary Bagster, Spinster and Minor of the Parish of St Pancras were married by licence at St Pancras Old Church. Both were literate
5 April 1820
Appointed Sword-cutler in ordinary to King George IV
20 December 1837
John Prosser, Sword Cutler, died "of inflamation of the lungs" at Streatham aged 68
Like William Rawle , Prosser was principally a manufacturer, retailer and supplier to the military establishment of military arms and equipment . He also produced fine presentation swords etc during the Napoleonic wars and registered at least one patent for firearms manufacture .
His silversmiths work was largely incidental to the above two categories .
His mark of 4th April 1796
One of his buckles, probably a Sword hanger or a Sabretache buckle . assayed in London 1798/99. From the wear , almost certainly actually worn on campaign during the Napoleonic Wars .
Re: PROSSER, John (Grimwade p.634)
Well, I think the dateletter on the above buckle is the C of 1798/99 and not the large skinny c of 1818/19 .
If anyone has any doubts please let me know !
If anyone has any doubts please let me know !
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