John Brown of Thornbury, Clockmaker

[Geordie daughter]

I am hoping someone can help me to fill in the gaps about this man. At present I only know that he moved to Thornbury from Bristol circa 1792, that he had premises on the High Street in Thornbury, and that he was still there in 1797. (There is apparently an indenture for that year in which he is mentioned). I am trying to determine whether he might have been the son John (b. circa 1766) who was mentioned in the will of Arthur Browne, bookseller of Bristol, in 1787 and, to date, I have come up with nothing but dead ends, so even the smallest of snippets would be helpful.

[Capetown]

?  may be, who knows!! with a name of John BROWN

I have just been going through the Gloucestershire Marriage Allegations 1637-1837 and Marriage Bonds 1730-1823, on the Forest of Dean Family website, just in case John BROWN, married by Licence.

There is on the 20 October 1772

John BROWN, aged 21, Batchelor,
Groom Rank/Profession: CLOCKMAKER
Groom residence: Langley in the County of Buckingham

Hester COOKE, aged 21, Spinster
residence: Bisley

He signs

Memoranda: sworn before Thos Parker (2) to marry at Bisley

There is also the BOND:
which he signs:
Witness 1: Henry GREENING a Victutualler of the City of Gloucester

Sealed and Delivered in the presence of Jas RUDGE

Marriage Bond

Memoranda:  The groom and Henry Greening are bound in the sum of £500 to marry at Bisley.

-----

There is another John BROWN aged 21, and a Watchmaker - who married in 1811 who was from Ledbury and married at St Michael's in Gloucester.

[Capetown]

Re: Henry GREENING the Vitualler of Gloucester listed on the wedding.

There is also a BOND etc for his marriage

9 November 1770

Henry GREENING, Innholder
Grooms residence: Saint Michael in the City of Gloucester
Anne ROSSER, spinster, residence: COWLEY
by Bond
He signs
Witness 1: John COSSAM of Stonehouse, Mercer

The groom and Henry GREENING are bound in the sum of £500.   To marry at Saint Michael and not elsewhere/

Witness signs: John COSHAM

---

The Licence again on Forest of Dean record, gives more detail

Henry GREENING aged 38, Widower, Innholder
St Michael in the City of Gloucester

Ann ROSSER, 30 Spinster, residence: Cowley

---


Assume there must be a connection between Henry GREENING and John BROWN.

[DRH123]

Looking at the Bristol Apprenticeship books there are some possible leads but nothing definite.

John son of George Browne , Labourer, Bristol, apprenticed to Matthew Wasborough, Clockmaker. 21 Sep 1778

John, son of Thomas Brown, Carpenter (decd.), Bristol, apprenticed to James Lock, Watch Maker 16 Jul 1783, (transferred to William Priest in 1785).

Arthur Browne's son Henry was apprenticed to a Jeweller in 1784 but I can't see his son John. The bookselling business seems to have been taken over by Arthur's brother William.

David

[Geordie daughter]

Thanks to both of you for taking the time to hunt down leads. David, you're spot on with Arthur's son Henry and brother William. This family are hugely problematic, not only because of the surname, which throws the field wide open, but because they were non-conformists AND because Arthur was originally from Honiton. Arthur had an older half-brother (also named John) who was apprenticed to a clock maker in Lyme Regis circa 1720, and Arthur's daughter Hannah married a clock maker, too, so I thought it might be worth following up this particular John Brown.

[Capetown]

Just for interest and background!!

---


Salisbury and Winchester Journal
Monday 26 September 1768

This Day was Published
A CATALOGUE OF BOOKS

Being the Library of the Rev Mr Davis, of Ilminfter, with other Collections lately purchased; which will be fold cheap, for ready Money only, the Prices fixed in the Catalogue, on Tuesfday the 17th of


September Inft. at the House of ARTHUR BROWNE, Bookseller, in Honiton.

The Books in general are in very good Condition .
The Sale to continue till the whole is fold.

Catalogues to be had of Mr Baldwin, the Pater-nofter-row, London;
Mr Collins in Salisbury; Mr Score, in Exeter: Mr Goadby, in Sherborne:
Mr Gould in Dorchester; and at the Place of Sale.

The faid ARTHUR BROWNE gives ready Money for any Library, or Parcel of old Books.

[Geordie daughter]

Oooh, thank you for that, Capetown! I've found a couple of those ads but not from when he was in Honiton, so that's absolutely brilliant!

[Capetown]

In the same Newspaper, i.e. Salisbury and Winchester Journal - Monday 7 August 1769.

It seems Booksellers  are listed and does have  (A. BROWNE, Honiton, but doesn't mention Bookseller after his name    .... sold

Dr JOHNSON's GOLD AND SILVER PILLS for a Speedy and Effectual cure for disorders of the flomach and bowels.  It's quite a long article - the cost being 1 6d per box, with proper directions.

and ends.....

N.B.  The Gold Pills are for men, and the Silver Pills for women.


----

Still finding : Salisbury Monday 22 August 1763

Headed: The Late Mr WARD's MEDICINES -
This day were published (Price Six-pence for Preparing and Comp..... the principal MEDICANES made  Ufs ? of by the late MR WARD togheter with an Introduction etc.

White Drops, in a Bottle, containing one-third of 20 Ounce, which is about a third Part more in Quanity than in the late Mr Ward's Bottles, for
Red Pills, fix in a Box
Emetic Sack Drop, Half and Ounce in a Bottle
Sweating Powders, No 11. 50 Grains
Fiftula Pafte, a Pound, and Tin Pot 4d.
Liquid Sweat, half an Ounce, about five Dofes,
Dropfy Puring Powders, fix in a Parcel
Effence for Head Act, &c. Half an Ounce

etc etc

Sold alfo, by Appointment, at the following Towns

HONITON, Mr BROWN

[Geordie daughter]

Hmmmm, interesting! Nice sales gimmick, having different colours for the men and women. I've discovered over the past few years of researching this lot that in those days booksellers didn't just sell books, but also patent medicines (Spilsbury's Drops come up a lot!), stationery, revenue stamps and a whole range of other things. Arthur's brother William even teamed up with a printer, down the line, which was quite a smart move.