George Smith Bradshaw ( 1717–1795), Paul Saunders, tapestry maker (ca. 1724–1771), Charles Smith ( –1767) and John Mayhew (1736–1811): Connections
| 1751 | Paul Saunders was admitted to the freedom of the Upholders Company. |
| 1756 | A notice placed on 26 October 1756 announced the dissolution of the partnership between ‘Messrs. Bradshaw and Saunders, Upholders and Cabinet Makers’ [confirmed to be George Smith Bradshaw and Paul Saunders from earlier advertisements identified by the author]:
‘We beg leave to inform the Nobility and Gentry, who for the future we may either of us have the Honour to serve, that the Business will continue to be carried out as usual, by Mr Bradshaw in Greek Street, Soho, and by Mr. Saunders in Soho Square, the corner of Sutton Street, on our own and separate accounts. And whoever has any Demands on the said Partnership, are desired forthwith to bring their Accounts to Mr. Mayhew at Mr. Bradshaw’s’.1 |
| 1759 | John Mayhew went into business with William Ince in Broad-street, Soho, taking over the former premises of Charles Smith, who was said to be ceasing this line of business.
A newspaper advertisement placed by the partners in this year states that John Mayhew served his apprenticeship with Mr Bradshaw.2 |
| 1763 | Charles Smith is listed as an upholder at The Late-Play-House, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London for this year and again in 1765.3 At some point, perhaps immediately after vacating his Broad-street premises, he entered into a partnership with John Trotter Senior (of Frith-street) and George Smith Bradshaw. |
| 1764 | The dissolution of the partnership between Charles Smith, George Smith Bradshaw and John Trotter is reported in The London Gazette in April of this year.4 |
| 1767 | Charles Smith died. An auction sale of his stock in trade at his great warehouse, the Old Playhouse in Portugal-street, Lincoln’s-Inn-Fields included many high quality items of furniture, carpets and household linen.5
His will, proved on 2 March of this year, includes an instruction to his executors to give five guineas to George Smith Bradshaw and John Trotter to purchase rings in his memory.6 |
| 1769 | George Smith Bradshaw of London, upholsterer, is listed as a Freeman of the Borough of Lancaster in this year, indicating a close connection with this north western area of the country, near to Liverpool.7 |
| 1771 | Paul Saunders died.8 |
| 1779 | William Moore, a former employee (possibly apprentice) of the firm of Mayhew and Ince9 in London is said to have set up in business in Waterford, Ireland in this year. |
| 1782 | William Moore advertised inlaid furniture from his premises in Dublin.10 |
| 1790 | John Trotter Senior died. |
| 1812 | George Smith Bradshaw died, age 95 at Pershore, Worcestershire. |
1
The London Gazette (9628), 19 October 1756, 2.
2 The Public Advertiser, 27 January 1759.
3 Kents Directory, 1763.
4 The London Gazette (10411), 21 April 1764, 3.
5 Appendix 1: The Soho Tapestry Makers, Survey of London: volumes 33 and 34: St Anne Soho (1966), 515-520.
6 The National Archives, Kew: PROB 11/927.
7 T W B Kendall and T Cann Hughes (1935), The Rolls of the Freeman of the Borough of Lancaster 1688–1840. George Smith Bradshaw had taken over control of the business of his kinsman, William Bradshaw, as early as 1743 when the latter purchased the manor of Halton, near Lancaster, and retired there. George Smith Bradshaw was named by William Bradshaw as one of his executors in his will, proved in 1775 (The National Archives, Kew: PROB 11/1008).
8 Paul Saunders will, The National Archives, Kew, PROB 11/970.
9 In 1782 Moore placed an advertisement in which he ‘hopes from his long experience at Messrs. Mayhew and Ince, London, his remarkable fine coloured woods, and elegant finished work, to meet the approbation of all who shall please to honour him with their commands’. (The Dublin Evening Post on April 16, June 6, and July 11, 1782, cited by The Knight of Glin and James Peill, 2007, Irish Furniture, 163).
10 See note 9.
2 The Public Advertiser, 27 January 1759.
3 Kents Directory, 1763.
4 The London Gazette (10411), 21 April 1764, 3.
5 Appendix 1: The Soho Tapestry Makers, Survey of London: volumes 33 and 34: St Anne Soho (1966), 515-520.
6 The National Archives, Kew: PROB 11/927.
7 T W B Kendall and T Cann Hughes (1935), The Rolls of the Freeman of the Borough of Lancaster 1688–1840. George Smith Bradshaw had taken over control of the business of his kinsman, William Bradshaw, as early as 1743 when the latter purchased the manor of Halton, near Lancaster, and retired there. George Smith Bradshaw was named by William Bradshaw as one of his executors in his will, proved in 1775 (The National Archives, Kew: PROB 11/1008).
8 Paul Saunders will, The National Archives, Kew, PROB 11/970.
9 In 1782 Moore placed an advertisement in which he ‘hopes from his long experience at Messrs. Mayhew and Ince, London, his remarkable fine coloured woods, and elegant finished work, to meet the approbation of all who shall please to honour him with their commands’. (The Dublin Evening Post on April 16, June 6, and July 11, 1782, cited by The Knight of Glin and James Peill, 2007, Irish Furniture, 163).
10 See note 9.
Illustrative Diagram of Cabinet Maker Connections
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