SILVERSMITHS

[gmt]

Can anyone help me?? My great, great, great grandfather - John Philip Hedger (born 1874) was a silversmith/chaser. I am trying to find out of you had to serve an apprenticeship and if so where this would have been served. Was he registered with a guild etc. I hope that someone will be able to help me.
Thanks Gill

[MKG]

Hi gmt - the answer, I'm afraid, is yes and no.

He could well have served an apprenticeship but that, by the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, was far from necessary - there were lots of independent silversmiths around (see how many of them were working within the Arts and Crafts Movement). Likewise guild membership - he could have joined a guild for the kudos, but it wasn't necessary. The guilds, by then, had no commercial clout such as they'd had in the medieval period and, decreasingly so, in subsequent centuries. Also, many Schools of Art were offering silversmithing as part of their curricula. He could have done any of those things - or he could simply have taught himself and then set himself up in business.

Mike

[Carmela]

Hi gmt,
By the end of the 19th century, the majority of people in the metal-working trades were employed by large manufacturers. There were, as Mike has said, many independent craftsmen, but since your ancestor called himself a "chaser" ( presume that came from a census), I think he probably worked in a workshop or factory where
a man might do just one job (early assembly-line), in this case chasing (cutting a design into the surface of a silver object).

Most of them never served an apprenticeship; they just learned on the job and often did one particular task such as chasing and never acquired the many skills of a silversmith.

Where did your ancestor live? If he lived in a small town, then he might have been an independent craftsman, but if he lived in say, Sheffield, then he probably worked in a factory.

If you could give his full name and where he lived , I could check my silver mark book to see if he ever registered his mark.

Cheers,
Carmela

[gmt]

Thanks guys for the replies. The occupation is listed on all of his children's and his marriage certificates. Him and his family came from the St. Lukes area of Middlesex. His name was (as mentioned in posting) John Philip Hedger. He was born in 1784.
Hope you can help. Much appreciated.
Gill

[behindthefrogs]

You have confused us by posting two different dates of birth.  If he was born as your second post suggests in 1784 then you can be fairly sure that he did serve an apprenticeship.  I am a bit confused but I think he would have been in the Goldsmiths' Company most of whose records are still at their guildhall rather than in Guildhall Library.  In fact at that time you would expect him to be following a family trade as the guilds were very "closed shop".

David

[gmt]

My apologise David I did actually type in the wrong date of birth (1874). It should actually have read 1784. That's what happens when you try typing without putting on the glasses. Sorry. If he did serve an apprenticeship do you know where I would be able to search records.
Gill

[behindthefrogs]

The Goldsmiths' Company has a few records in Guildhall LIbrary but all their apprenticeship records are still at Goldsmiths' Hall, Foster Lane, London EC2V 6BN in the custody of the Clerk.  I have checked that these do include siversmiths.

David

[gmt]

David
Thank you for your help. I have been on their website and have emailed then with my enquiry. Hopefully I will hear from them soon.
Once again thank you.
Gill