JOHN HANCOCK, son of George Hancock, of Derby, was bound apprentice for seven years, on the 29th of September, 1769, “to learn the Art of Painting upon China or Porcelain or China Ware;” to receive 1_s._ 6_d._ a week for the first year, 2_s._ for the second, 2_s._ 6_d._ for the third, 3_s._ for the fourth, 4_s._ for the fifth, 5_s._ for the sixth, and 6_s._ for the seventh year. He became a very clever and successful flower painter. From Derby he is said to have gone to Swansea for a time, and from thence to have removed into Staffordshire. In 1786–7, he was settled at Hanley, where he seems to have remained many years, and occasionally supplied Mr. Duesbury with enamel colours. He had a brother (probably George Hancock) working for Mr. Duesbury in 1790. To him is due the invention of gold, silver, and steel lustre, which, according to his own account, written when at the age of 89, he first put in practice at Spode’s manufactory. After working at many places--Spode’s, Turner’s, and others--Hancock, about 1816, was engaged by Messrs. Wedgwood as colour-maker and manager of one of the departments of their works. He died in 1847, in the 90th year of his age. Some receipts of his and of Aaron Hancock are given in Shaw’s Chemistry. His five sons were all brought up to their father’s business. J. HANCOCK, jun. There appears to have been a second J. Hancock, who was an apprentice and who absconded. He is described as “5 ft. 5½ inches high; dark brown long hair; between 18 and 19 years of age; had on a dark blue coat with yellow metal buttons (rather too short for him), velvet breeches, and either a striped velvet waistcoat, or red and white washing waistcoat.” GEORGE HANCOCK, second son of John Hancock, removed to Derby in 1819, and became a painter at the Derby works; and in 1820 his elder brother, John, also was there engaged as a colour maker and painter. He died in 1840. George Hancock is said for a time to have been employed by Billingsley at Pinxton and at Mansfield. In 1835 he removed to Burton-on-Trent, having been engaged by Mr. Edwards for those works. After many changes he died in 1850. These two were uncles of Mr. Sampson Hancock, the proprietor of the present Derby China works, whose father was James Hancock. William Hancock, a son of the younger John, was one of the last apprentices at the Derby works, and is now one of the most successful designers in the potteries. WILLIAM HAND, a handler and presser.