A List of English and Welsh Provincial Gunsmiths and ...

1 Research Press Library English and Welsh Gunsmiths and Gunmakers, 1550 1850 RPL004 1 A List of English and Welsh Provincial Gunsmiths and Gunmakers from 1550 to 1850 by Brian Godwin The following pages contain a list of English and Welsh Gunsmiths and gunmakers from around 1550 to about 1850*. The list has been compiled from free on-line sources such as County Record and Archive Offices and The National Archives, but it must not be considered a definitive list, as new information is added from time to time. The availability of on-line sources from English and Welsh County Record and Archive Offices varies enormously, some as yet having no searchable digitised records, while in other Offices the digitalisation of records can vary from 20% to 80%.

2 In the tables each County is listed alphabetically in a PINK banner, although this may cause some confusion as Yorkshire and Sussex, for instance, are split into east and west regions. For those searching for the gunmakers of Birmingham and its environs you will need to search the three principal sections of the list, Birmingham and the West Midlands , Staffordshire Record Office and Warwickshire Record Office . The Record Office document reference is shown on the right hand side and the date of the document on the left. A copy of the document can usually be obtained from the appropriate Record Office quoting the reference, although there is no guarantee that the document will provide additional information.

3 However, the vast majority of Wills do give an insight into a particular gunmaker and sometimes provide details of his wealth, family and workshop. The PDF is searchable via Edit on the drop-down menu, select Find and enter the search word. Alternatively the search facility can be accessed by pressing ctrl-F on a keyboard. * excluding LONDON Gunsmiths /gunmakers - these can be found in the 2 volumes of A Dictionary of London Gunmakers 1350 - 1850 by Howard Blackmore, London 1986 & 1999 May 2017 English & Welsh gunmakers & Gunsmiths from the mid 16th century EXCLUDING LONDON A record of names.

4 Dates and places compiled from free on-line sources - Spring 2017 Version 1 DATE NAMEEVENTLOCATION City/TownSOURCE Record Office Reference NumberSee NOTES at the end of this listBEDFORDSHIREB edfordshire Record Office1651 John AdamesConveyance (Feoffment): John Butler, labourer, to John Adames, gunsmith , both of Lidlington -- 1 ac. in Windmill FdLidlingtonCH60920 Jun 1664 Thomas Peobody Marriage Settlement (Feoffment): 30. (i) Maurice Sharley of Loddington, tailor.(ii) Thomas Peobody of Bailden parva, gunsmithBaildenHI981684 Samuel Browne PRESENTMENTS OF RECUSANTS - includes Samuel Browne of Salford, gunsmithSalfordHSA1684/W/61-62 11 Jun 1695 Francis ReynardsonAssignment of Mortgage Parties.

5 Mortgage by demise for 60 years of 8 Dec 1656 in which Richard Loton, Abraham Jeson of Whitechapel, gentleman, Francis Reynardson of Whitechapel, gunsmith and John Wells of Whitechapel, brewer LondonWB/WF5/1/2 1695 Humphrey Pickfatt Settlement on marriage of Edward Turvey, gunmaker, & Mabel Howell (widow of John Howell) all of LondonLondonWG1291698 Christopher Watford Christopher Watford s receipted bill to the Earl of Bolingbroke for gunsmith s work and clock cleaning. ??J42822 Jun 1698 John Gillam Feoffment Parties: (i) Sarah Gillam of Luton, widow; (ii) John Gillam of Luton, gunsmith , son of Sarah Gillam LutonZ660/D/3/2/3 12 Dec 1717 John Gillam Covenant Parties: (i) John Ewer of Luton, gentleman and Sarah, his wife; Edward Ewer of Luton, gentleman, father of John Ewer.

6 John Gillam of Luton, gunsmith , and Sarah, his wifeLutonZ660/D/3/1/4 Bedfordshire - Wills available for download from National Archives, London12 December 1853 John DrageWill of John Drage, gunsmith of Leighton Buzzard , BedfordshireLeighton Buzzard PROB 11/2182 BERKSHIREB erkshire - Wills available for download from National Archives, London19 May 1653 James WalliceWill of James Wallice, gunsmith of Wantage, Berkshire WantagePROB 11/22630 May 1771 Robert BennettWill of Robert Bennett, Gunmaker of Cookham, BerkshireCookhamPROB 11/96709 May 1834 William AbnettWill of William Abnett, Gunmaker of New Windsor, BerkshireNew WindsorPROB 11/183129 January 1857 Edward Woodham Will of Edward Woodham, gunsmith of Hungerford, BerkshireHungerfordPROB 11/2245 BIRMINGHAM & THE WEST MIDLANDSB irmingham Archives and Heritage online catalogue6 September 1672 William AstonAbstract of grant of letters of administration of the estate of William Aston of Comets End in the parish of Berkswell, co.

7 War., gunsmith , to Anne Aston of Cometts End, Comets End, his widow. Comets End, BerkswellBirmingham City Archives MS 3615/Acc 1937-039/46885330 September (11 Will. III) 1699 John GreeneIndenture between John Greene of Solihull, co. War., gunsmith , and Thomas Greene, the younger of Coleshill, co. War., yeoman, and Richard Bates of Solihull, yeoman, concerning land in Yardley. SolihullBirmingham City Archives MS 3197/ACC 1919-025/280367 26 December 1699 William EachellIndenture between 1 Mary Cooke of Sheldon, widow and executrix of John Cooke late of Sheldon, yeoman, deceased, and Ralph Cooke of Sheldon, yeoman, their son, 2 John Cooke of Moseley, yeoman, and Margarett Eachell of Birmingham, spinster, and 3 William Eachell of Birmingham, gunsmith , and Robert Whatcock of Marston Culey Marston Green in the parish of Church Bickenhill Bickenhill, co.

8 War., gent., being a settlement previous to the marriage of the said John and Margarett, of a messuage and land with appurtenances in Sheldon. Consideration: 140. BirminghamBirmingham City Archives MS 3888/A 1717 1710 Samuel Vaughton Leases of Pinfold Leasow, the Upper and Lower Hinckleys, Clempson's Croft and Bettridge's Croft, adjoining Edgbaston Street, Birmingham; (Samuel Smalbroke of Birmingham, gent.; Robert Mansell of Birmingham, cutler; Samuel Vaughton of Birmingham, gunsmith ).Old Style year: 1676/77-1709/10 BirminghamBirmingham Record Office MS 1098/2/1/121710 John MucklowDeeds relating to West Riddings farm in Warley - 1710 lease and release, Richard Mucklow of Halesowen, Salop, yeoman and John Mucklow the younger of Birmingham, gunsmith to John Mucklow the elder of Halesowen, Worcestershire, Record Office MS 3101/A/B/7/613 October 1718 Jacob Pemberton Lease for six months from John Groves of Bosall Balsall Heath, blacksmith, Eleanor, his wife, and Benjamin Dolphin of Deretend Deritend.

9 To Sarah Dolphin of Deretend, spinster, and Jacob Pemberton of Deretend, gunsmith , of messuages with appurtenances in Deretend. Consideration: 5s. DeritendBirmingham City Archives MS 3449/Acc 1947-025/514 October 1718 Jacob Pemberton Release from John Groves of Bosall Balsall Heath, blacksmith, Eleanor, his wife, and Benjamin Dolphin, son of the said Eleanor, to Sarah Dolphin, of Deretend Deritend, spinster, and Jacob Pemberton of Deretend, gunsmith , of messuages with appurtenances in Deretend. Consideration: 25. DeritendBirmingham City Archives MS 3449/Acc 1947-025/6 28 September 1733 William MoorFeoffment - William Moor the younger of Handsworth, gunsmithHandsworthBirmingham Record Office MS 5/51 January 1735/6 John WhatelyIndenture between 1; John Whately the elder of Birmingham, gunsmith , 2; Joseph Porter of Birmingham, toymaker, and Edmund Scotton of Shustock Shustoke co.

10 War., gent., and 3; John Whately the younger of Birmingham, gunsmith , Henry Croxall the younger of Shustock, gent., and Mary Croxall, his daughter, being a settlement previous to the marriage of the said John Whately the younger and the said Mary Croxall of messuages with appurtenances in Smalbroke Street Smallbrook Street City Archives MS 3602/4343 J