This is the first study of goldsmiths who were apprenticed and/or worked in
the City of Oxford. Prior to this probably fewer that a dozen such craftsmen
were known, but it is now evident that nearly 100 of these artisans were
domiciled in the University city from the end of the twelfth century to 1800.
Manuscripts in Oxford and London depositories reveal an enormous amount of
information regarding not only their work, but also their personal lives,
relationships and politics. Those active from the end of the 16th century to
1800, about whom more is known, were the for the most part citizens
participating in local government serving as aldermen and mayors, playing a role
of charitable endeavours and in civic pursuits. For some, banking came to
supersede the practice of their craft. The two occupations, traditionally, had
gone hand in hand.
There was no goldsmiths' guild in Oxford and no assay office, hence no
marking of plate was done locally. There is positive proof of only two pieces of
plate made by an Oxford goldsmith being sent up to Goldsmiths' Hall in London
for assay and marking - these in 1650 - but there may have been others of which
no record remains. These two items, a tankard and a salt, made for New College
by Thomas Berry no longer exist. Only a few pieces of plate, unmarked, which are
possibly the work of Oxford goldsmiths are extant.
Contents:
About the Notes
The SourceS
The Beginnings
Thomas Gower
George Cary
Thomas Crompton
Thomas Berry
William Gough
Daniel Porter, Sr.
Daniel Porter, Jr.
William Robinson
Lemuel King
John Slatter
Richard Dubber
Edward Dubber
Timothy Dubber
Walter Wilkins
Samuel Wilkins
John Wilkins the Elder
John Wilkins II
George Tonge
Edward Lock I
Joseph Lock
William Wright I
Martin Wright
William Wright II
Alexander Wright II
William Wright III
John de Gruchy
John Gavey
William Jones
Elusive Goldsmiths and Apprentices
A Last Word
Appendix
