DANIELL, Francis (Grimwade p. 483)

[buckler]

The son of Thomas Daniel of Litchfield, Staffordshire. It is possible that the Lichfield refers to the Diocese , and that the actual location was Southam, Warwickshire.

Almost certainly had one or more marks in the Smallworkers Register of 1739 -1758. The documents below indicate he was a bucklemaker active in the period and a man of good standing.

15 August 1750. West Sussex Record Office Add Mss 17187 - Property Deed . From (a) Jacob Pring late of Benenden and now of Beckenham, co. Kent, yeo., and John Pring of East Grinstead, innholder, to (b) Francis Daniell of St. Dunstan in the West, co. Middx., silversmith

18 May 1758. West Sussex Record Office Add Mss 17192 -Deeds of East Grinstead and Lingfield,
From (a) Francis Daniell of St. Luke, co. Middx., bucklemaker, administrator of goods of Nehemiah Norgrove dec'd .. .. , to (b) the said John Norgrove of St. Peter's, London, poulterer

6 May 1761. Will of Francis Daniell, Silversmith of Saint Luke, Old Street , Middlesex proved at PCC.
Will was dated 7th July 1752, witnessed by William Stewart, Martha Cox and William Cox, (perhaps William Cox II, the silversmith ). Proved by his widow, so she outlived him.

It seems to have been drafted by Daniell himself as it is a strange mixture of formal legal phrases, requests to friends and instructions to his wife in personal terms . A very amateur, but moving will . It mentions his mother Mary Daniell, his brother William Daniell son of Thomas Daniell ( presumably Francis's father also) all of Litchfield. He left most of his estate to his wife Sarah Daniell ( the sole executrix) "hoping she will make the best use of it for the Education of my dear child Frances Daniell and lastly my desire is that ?she? (probably overwriting you ) should leave of the Business and go to your uncle Mr William Daniell or your aunt Ingeram [ Ingram] of Southam and they I hope will take care of you and my Dear Child . I beg the favour of Mr Charles Blythe and Mr Richard Mills to assist you in getting in my debts and Finishing the Business and selling the Tools .. .. .. "
Richard Mills is almost certainly the silversmith now best known for tongs and nips. Martha Ingram is recorded on documemts relating to land in Southam, Warwickshire in 1756 -1768 . She was styled widow throughout this period, and in 1768 was reported as dead. Almost certainly Martha was Francis Daniells sister.
She is buried about three miles from my house !

“Your uncle” and “your aunt “ in 18th century documents can, confusingly refer to any close relative on either side of the family.

Southam Parish Church records :-
13.06.1725 Married:- Isaah Ingram of Lutterworth married Martha Daniel of Southam.
25.10.1768 Buried:- Mrs Martha Ingam, widow of Southam


From County documents involving property the name of William Daniel of Southam appears as tanner (1711) , apothecary (1739) and gent (1762) - probably not all the same man. It would appear that the Daniel family were property owners in Southam for most of the century