Silversmiths - how to trace

[TessieWessie]

I have been trying to trace a Silversmith who lived in Paradise Row, Chelsea around 1808.  I have a Fire Insurance policies for his property and belongings but nothing on it shows any further info regarding his trade.  He was obviously a man of means living is such an affluent area, and must have been good at what he did.

I have asked the Goldsmith/Silversmith House in London and they couldn't help me.  Has anyone else tried and succeeded in finding an unregistered Silversmith from around that time?

Apparently you need to know the hallmark the Silversmith used.

Any ideas ???TWW

[behindthefrogs]

There are a number of sites on-line where you should be able to find the hallmarks used silversmiths if he had a company which was allocated one.  Just google "hallmarks".  If you post a name and dates some of us have books which might help.

David

[TessieWessie]

Thanks David

I will do just that and will get back to you if I dont get anywhere.

Thanks for your help

Theresa

[sillgen]

He must have trained somewhere so apprentice records might  help.  I have a vague recollection of the Guildhall Library in London holding those.
Andrea

[behindthefrogs]

The records of the Silver and Goldsmiths are one of the few sets which aren't in Guildhall Library.  They are still held by Goldsmiths' Hall which I assume is where Theresa has already asked.  Even there as far as I can see from my books they don't seem to hold apprentice records.

I have had a quick look on google and it isn't going to be easy.  I would suggest searching using the following:

hallmarks "makers marks"

but even that comes up with a lot of basic sites which just explain what they are.  Adding

London

might reduce the search.

David

[TessieWessie]

The Silversmith in question was a Moss Levin born c.1770.  Place unknown.

Theresa

[behindthefrogs]

Canyou tell us how you know that he was a silversmith please.

David

[TessieWessie]

On a record I found in the A2A records he is recorded as having taken out a Fire Insurance Policy on his property at No.4 Paradise Row, Chelsea.  The brick situate was given as £300 and the household goods/books/wearing apparel and plate were worth £350.  This policy was taken out in 1809.

His occupation on the policy was recorded as a Silversmith.

T

[Oxfordshire Cockney]

Hello Theresa from lovely Oxfordshire..On Rootschat I am Oxfordshire Cockney but my real name is LES...Moss Levin b 1768 ?? (age taken as death recorded in 1842)..He was my 2X great grandfather and his daughter Kate (Kitty) mrd my great grandfather William Montague Glenister (eventually Chief Constable of Hastings...Moss was a silversmith by trade and had a shop in a small street off the Strand in London..My brother found this out and a couple of years ago found the shop..It is still a silversmith's..They ,,like Moss,,had no personal silver mark,,they made things for other silversmiths on short contracts...I will ask brother to sort out address of shop and send it on OK???  We have no definite answers to his birth place but we believe he was a Russian/Polish Jewish immigrant who came (with his family) to London from Hamburg (Germany) in about 1780..I have been in touch with Richmond Surrey Synagogue ,,as he lived in Richmond,,but the building was destroyed by fire and all early records lost..They only have records from about 1952..We have been searching for about 15 years for Moss information...Soon as we have anything I'll let you know...I don't mind you having my email address--  ^(*)        Regards...LES.

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