Charles Pryse - Gunmaker & Jeweller, Birmingham

[Tarella]

Charles Pryse, born 10 Feb 1814 Birmingham died 12 Mar 1887. Joint owner of Pryse & Redman, gunmakers and Jewellers of 84 Aston St. Birmingham.
Married Emma Amelia Neck 20 Oct 1860 in Blomsbury, Three children Charles Henry Redman Pryse 1863 - 1873 ?, Henry Louis Vanneck Pryse 1865 - 1920, Annie Gwyneth Pryse 1868 - 1963.

Publications of English Gunsmiths and Groups and enthusiasts of English Guns, record that Charles Pryse junior, son of the owner of Charles Pryse & Co, after the partnership with Redman was dissolved, ran the business from 1873 - 1888. seeing that the only son called Charles that I know of was born in 1863 this seems improbable, and I think he died in 1873, but might be mistaken.

Is possible that Charles Pryse snr had another son Charles by an earlier marriage, but seems unlikely.

Can we check this out please.

[CaroleW]

Born 1814 married 1860 - what was his marital status on the 1860 marriage cert?

EDIT

They were bachelor & spinster on cert

[barryd]

A Pryce Revolver got itself to America.

https://www.collectorsfirearms.com/british-pryse-revolver-ah4184/

[Tarella]

A Pryce Revolver got itself to America.

https://www.collectorsfirearms.com/british-pryse-revolver-ah4184/

I have found many references to the Pryse Redman guns and stories in the collectors press and webpages, they all repeat the assumption that there was a Charles Pryse jnr who took over the firm. The only other Charles Pryse in the family was a nephew who was not successful and died early.

[Tarella]

I think I need to write a book about Pryse and Redman - anyone got any history?

[maddys52]

 seeing that the only son called Charles that I know of was born in 1863 this seems improbable, and I think he died in 1873, but might be mistaken.

This grave stone would certainly suggest Charles jnr died in 1873
https://images.findagrave.com/photos/2019/147/199505581_fd567999-15ef-425a-940a-bfa09ffa6868.jpeg

[maddys52]

You probably know how John, Charles' brother, also a member of the business died? There are many newspaper articles about it at the time - James SCOTT sentenced to death in July 1867.

Modified to add:
The sentence was reprieved to life, and he was released in 1887.

[bbart]

I've been going in circles trying to peg down Charles the younger, but it seems he does exist.

In the newspaper, the Birmingham Daily Post 02 February 1877 there is a list of patents, one being for Charles Pryse, the younger, who had applied for a patent for improvements for revolving and repeating small arms.  Patent dated November 15, 1876.

Sometime after 1888 (can't find the reference in my messy notes!) there is a clerk running an ad seeking employment, as his prior employer, Charles Pryse (gun manufacturer) had retired in 1888.  That makes me think Charles the younger wasn't all that much younger, in comparison to Charles the elder.

Could he be a cousin, and the terms elder and younger, were not meaning Senior/Junior, but just to keep it clear which Charles was being referred to? 

Could he have been a son of Charles the Elder's brother John?  I read the articles on John's murder, and it indicated he had children.

[maddys52]

Yes, I've been wondering the same thing trying to track down the members of the family. Agree that "the younger" does not necessarily mean the "son of".