HOWARD, Edlin (Grimwade p.293)

[MCB]

No records of apprenticeship or freedom have been found.
He entered a mark in 1772 at Goldsmiths’ Hall as a case maker from Little New Street, Shoe Lane.
He signed a bond in 1775 as a gentleman of St Bride’s parish, Fleet Street to marry Ann Phillis Howes at St Ann, Soho.
Three of their children were christened at St Bride’s between 1777 and 1779 without record of their address or their father’s occupation.
In a list of Duties paid for indentures in 1777 an Edlin Howard is shown as a freeman of the Joiners Company regarding the apprentice Thomas Hembry.
His name appears in Land Tax assessment books for property in Little New Street until 1778 and for unidentified property in St Bartholomew the Great precinct in 1787.
He entered another mark in 1787 at Goldsmiths’ Hall as a case maker from 14 Ratcliff Row, Old Street.
Two children of Edlin Howard, watch case maker, and a new wife Rebecca were christened in 1790 and 1792 respectively at St Luke, Old Street.
He was assessed to Land Tax on property in Cross Street, Southwark from 1798-1813 after which no further information has been found for the family.

[MCB]

His apprentice indentures have now, thanks to Pat (Silverly), been found transcribed on a website under the name "Edlen". They were signed on 17th July 1764 and show his father was William Howard, a baker from St Martin in the Fields, Westminster and his master as William Maddocks of the Joyners Company. There are several notes attached to the original indentures, some parts of them illegible and most of them a confusion.
A note attached to the indentures shows that at some unrecorded date Edlin was turned over to Fargus Toulman of the Goldsmiths Company.
Other notes similarly attached show that on 6th June 1766 he petitioned the Court of Aldermen at the Guildhall in London. The notes of the hearing, amongst other things, refer to Toulman as deceased and the reason for the petition, although not specified, appears to have been to find Edlin a new master. After much further confusion the notes conclude that the Court's final decision was for Edlin be turned over to another freeman "using the same trade" but be that joiner or goldsmith is not specified.
Another note of 2nd July 1766 records that Edlin was turned over to William Meadhurst of a Livery Company which might have been the Joiners, the Paviors or even the Farriers, such is the writing. The note states specifically that Edlin was turned over "to learn the art of joiner" which is even more confusing in the event because he took up the trade of watch case maker.
The same note, which some might say is headed "Joiners", is itself annotated "Nath (or Nash) Bishop under warden 6th October 1775" which might signify the date on which Edlin eventually gained his freedom in the Joyners Company, it being City practice to be free in the original Company.

Mike