Hello all, just joined the site! I have just discovered my great, great great grandfather was a jeweller in Manchester in the middle of the 1800s. I presume he owned a shop as after his death his widow is described as 'working jeweller employing 3 men and 3 boys'. Is there any way of tracing jewellers from days gone by? In one of the censuses, their address is Victoria St in Manchester and as this appears to be central Manchester I thought this may be the shop address but no luck so far! Any help greatly appreciated!
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Any way of tracing jewellers?
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Hi Rebecca, welcome to the forum.
I had a quick google using "victorian jeweller" + manchester and came up with a few references but nothing that looks like a site dedicated to the trade and/or people connected to it. In the past I have found sites along those lines in the photographic and clock/watchmaker industries so it might be a case of trying different search criteria. Perhaps the name = jeweller for example might bring something up. If I find anything i'll add it here.
My first thoughts are to check the National Archives for the name and also try the London Gazette site. Would a jeweller be apprenticed or a member of a guild? If it were a small family business however there may not be any records to find, i'm still hunting down my clockmaker after several years but found the photographer straight away.http://www.flickr.com/photos/50125734@N06/
Joseph Goulson 1701-1780
My sledging hammer lies declined, my bellows too have lost their wind
My fire's extinct, my forge decay'd, and in the dust my vice is laid
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Found this, might not answer the general jeweller but handy for anyone looking for a silversmith as it notes names, locations, assay offices and marks for makers,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50125734@N06/
Joseph Goulson 1701-1780
My sledging hammer lies declined, my bellows too have lost their wind
My fire's extinct, my forge decay'd, and in the dust my vice is laid
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Researching: BENNETT (Leics/Birmingham-ish) - incl. Leonard BENNETT in Detroit & Florida ; WARR/WOR, STRATFORD & GARDNER/GARNAR (Oxon); CHRISTMAS, RUSSELL, PAFOOT/PAFFORD (Hants); BIGWOOD, HAYLER/HAILOR (Sussex); LANCASTER (Beds, Berks, Wilts) - plus - COCKS (Spitalfields, Liverpool, Plymouth); RUSE/ROWSE, TREMEER, WADLIN(G)/WADLETON (Devonport, E Cornwall); GOULD (S Devon); CHAPMAN, HALL/HOLE, HORN (N Devon); BARRON, SCANTLEBURY (Mevagissey)...
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Originally posted by Olde Crone Holden View PostMy Manchester jeweller turned out to be a pawnbroker, lol.
OC
Knowing you OC, that doesn't come as a suprise.http://www.flickr.com/photos/50125734@N06/
Joseph Goulson 1701-1780
My sledging hammer lies declined, my bellows too have lost their wind
My fire's extinct, my forge decay'd, and in the dust my vice is laid
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Originally posted by Olde Crone Holden View PostGlen
It came as a big surprise to me and mine though, as we had been brought up on tales of our great grandfather, the Master Jeweller!
OC
Now there is a thought, perhaps Rebecca night find something via a probate record, maybe not an address but at least an indication of how well, or otherwise, the business did.Last edited by Glen in Tinsel Knickers; 28-08-11, 07:59.http://www.flickr.com/photos/50125734@N06/
Joseph Goulson 1701-1780
My sledging hammer lies declined, my bellows too have lost their wind
My fire's extinct, my forge decay'd, and in the dust my vice is laid
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Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I'll try looking at the trade directories and the probate lists next! I don't know the name of the shop but it could have been his own family name of McAlpin as you suggest. I'm not sure of the religion- he was born in Scotland.
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I would look at the Manchester City Council website too. They have quite a bit on old Manchester including a whole raft of photographs taken in the 1960s when various areas were cleared for redevelopment.
Can't think to the moment where Victoria Street might have been but there is a contact on the site and they have old maps and when I made an enquiry they very kindly sent me a map showing old streets.
Margaret
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Here's a link to the site for old photographs http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/44..._of_manchester
Margaret
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