William Hickman, goldsmith?

[neverendingstory]

Hi,
Does anyone know anything about William Hickman, Goldsmith and Jeweller of High St., Southwark, Surrey [according to Census and his Will]. He was b. c. 1760 and died Mar. 1842 . Are there any apprentice records?
Thanks,
N.

[MCB]

Hello
The biographies written by Arthur G Grimwade in his book London Goldsmiths 1697-1837 Their Marks & Lives would be the usual place to find published detail of goldsmiths' apprenticeships but William Hickman doesn't seem to be mentioned which indicates he may not have entered a maker's mark at Goldsmiths Hall.
Information on Duty paid for Apprentices Indentures is available from the National Archives and on documents relating to Freedom of the City of London detail is available from London Metropolitan Archives.
If you discover more about this goldsmith please post detail on this Forum. If you have an example of a maker's mark you believe is Hickman's please provide an image.
Mike

[neverendingstory]

Thank you Mike,
The only Freedom of the City of London docs I have seen are for -
1. Jeweller, William Hickman, by Redemption, presented by Wm. Cotterell, 27th Oct. 1807 admitted Jan. 5th 1808. Other names on the Doc. are Ansley Mayor and at the bottom is the word - Woodthorpe - do not know if it's a person or place.
2. Chamber of London, William Hickman, Goldsmith, son of Rowland admitted by Patrimony. There are three dates 'Copy 1769', Born [perhaps] 1777, admitted 1805. This doc was signed by Goldsmiths - Thos. Biddle, Richd Cover ?, Wm. Punnington, Nathn Patt..ney?, John Walker, Jas. Bower?
I do not know if they are 'my' Wm. Hickman or if the info is of use to you. I do not have any items with a makers mark.
Please do not feel you have to reply.
n.

[dognose]

Hi,

A scrap of information, unfortunately I appear to have failed to note as to where I found this detail, but a cutting provided the below information:

This house is now a silversmith's shop No. 89, High Street, Borough, and is of small dimensions, containing, according to the admeasurement in the last trust-deed only nine feet in front, and eighteen feet six in depth. It is on lease to Mr. William Hickman for 31 years, from Michaelmas, 1798, at the annual rent of 30l.

I shall try to find the source of this detail.

Trev.

[dognose]

I have found the source. The information came from a book entitled 'The Endowed charities of the City of London', published in 1829. It is available to view online at:

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=6UkXAAAAYAAJ&dq

The property in Question was under the ownership of May's Charity, whose object was the provision of means for the apprenticeships of poor children.

Trev.

[neverendingstory]

A belated thank you Trev for this fascinating insight. One would think it almost certainly 'my' William Hickman.
N.

[MCB]

My apologies for missing your post of the 8th February 2012.
Further information has now come to light. You may find the detail on John Edington now posted in the Forum's Grimwade secton interesting.
Rowland, William’s father, was apprenticed to William Cox of the Goldsmiths Company in 1761. The premium of £10 for the apprenticeship was paid by the Charity of St Dunstan in the West parish in London. His father was Charles Hickman who was a barber.
Rowland was christened in 1748 at St Sepulchre, Holborn, the son of Charles and Elizabeth of Fleet Lane and was made free of the Goldsmiths Company in 1769 hence the “copy 1769” on William’s application for freedom by patrimony.
Rowland and his wife Ann had two children christened at St Dunstan’s; Jane in 1771 and Ann in 1773 when they lived in Apollo Court. Also Thomas in 1775 at St Luke, Finsbury and William in 1777 and Louisa Ann Mary (born 1790 or 1796) in 1808 at St Andrew, Holborn only the latter record showing their address as Shoe Lane.
Rowland’s burial in 1802, late of Crown Court, was recorded at St Dunstan in the West. It suggests that the christening in 1808 was either his daughter’s or his widow’s effort to put right an omission.
I'm sorry I don't know who "Woodthorpe" was other than the fact that many of the Freedom of the City documents carry his name. Perhaps other Forum members may know the answer.
Other snippets picked up along the way relate to William Hickman paying for entries in trade directories in 1789-90 as a silversmith and jeweller at 9 or 91 High Street, Borough.
Best Wishes,
Mike