JONATHAN WEDGWOOD, “of the Borough of Derby, China or Porcelain Repairer or Thrower,” was employed for some time at the Derby Works. On the 2nd of December, 1772, articles of agreement[31] were drawn up between him and William Duesbury, by which he was to serve Mr. Duesbury for three years “in the Arts of Repairing or Throwing China or Porcelain Ware,” at the weekly wages of fourteen shillings “for every whole week” he “shall work according to the usual hours of Repairing at the said Wm Duesbury’s Manufactory in Derby aforesaid.” In the contested election of 1776, a John Wedgwood, son of William Wedgwood, of St. Peter’s Parish, Derby, claimed, through apprenticeship, to be admitted and vote as a freeman, and before the Committee of the House of Commons, was accordingly admitted. By the registers of St. Alkmund’s, Derby, it appears that a Jonathan Wedgwood was married on the 12th November, 1785--thirteen years after the date of this agreement--to Mary Stenson; and that three years before this time, 22nd Sept. 1782, an Amy Wedgwood was married to Abijah Tyrrell, both of that parish. The probability is that the Jonathan Wedgwood whose agreement I have quoted was born at Ellenborough in 1735; that he migrated to Burslem (where one of his children was born in 1757), and afterwards to Derby; and the Jonathan and Amy, whose marriages are noted, were his son and daughter. His name appears as one of the workmen in 1787. Other artists, &c., were as follows:-- JOHN ASH, a thrower and presser in 1794. JOSEPH BANCROFT, who belonged to the old Derbyshire family of Bancroft, of Swarkestone and elsewhere, was apprenticed at the Derby Works, and became a proficient in painting flowers, birds, insects, and shells. He did not remain long after the expiration of his apprenticeship, but worked for Copelands and others, and lastly for Minton’s, in whose employ he died. JAMES BANFORD, of London, a clever painter, was employed from 1790 till 1795. He removed from London to Derby in the middle of 1790, his wife, Bernice Banford, and family following him in August of that year. He appears, from penitent letters, to have been, like many of the other hands, addicted to drinking, and to have been of improvident habits. In one of his letters (Feb. 1, 1794) he says, “I cannot help informing you that I have been dissatisfied some time at the difference of wages between Mr. Boreman and self. I am not conceited of my work, but every man knows what he is capable of doing, and in any line of painting china except landscapes, I have the advantage of Mr. B. Cannot help observing that in the landscape line, when there is anything minute or requires neatness, my optic nerves are to be strained for 18_s._ pr week less, and tim’d to ten hours each day at the manufactory.”