The Leatherworker in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg: Being an Account of the Nature of Leather, & of the Crafts Commonly Engaged in the Making & Using of It.Ford, Thomas K.
History
The Leatherworker in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg: Being an Account of the Nature of Leather, & of the Crafts Commonly Engaged in the Making & Using of It.
Ford, Thomas K.
Leatherwork -- Virginia -- Williamsburg
_WILLIAMSBURG LEATHERWORKERS_
The list below includes the known leatherworkers who engaged in business
in Williamsburg during the eighteenth century. The dates following the
men’s names indicate the years the men are known to have worked in the
city.
_Thomas Allen—shoemaker_ (_1710-1716_). The first record of Thomas Allen
is in 1710 when the death of his daughter was recorded in the Bruton
Parish register. In 1716 Allen purchased a lot in Williamsburg. No other
information concerning Allen has been located.
_John Coulthard—saddler_ (_1734-1756_). John Coulthard’s name is first
mentioned in Williamsburg in 1734 when he did saddlery work for Thomas
Jones. In 1751 he announced in the Virginia Gazette that he had moved
his shop “from next Door to the Printing-Office to the back Street, next
Door to the house of Mr. Walter King.” Coulthard died in 1756.
_Alexander Craig—saddler_ (_1748-1776_). Alexander Craig, who owned a
saddle shop and tannery, is first mentioned in Williamsburg in 1748. His
business was quite extensive. Craig made and sold shoes, saddles,
harness, and other leather goods, and he employed several journeymen
leatherworkers. Craig died in 1776 and left a large estate.
_Robert Gilbert—shoemaker_ (_1768-1783_). Robert Gilbert announced in
1768 that he had “opened Shop near the Capitol in Williamsburg,” where
he advertised leather and shoes for sale. Gilbert continued his business
in Williamsburg until 1783 when he moved to Richmond.
_Henry Gill—tanner and shoemaker_ (_1707-1720_). Henry Gill, tanner and
shoemaker, arrived in Williamsburg from Charles City County in 1707. He
established his shop on Duke of Gloucester Street, where he soon opened
an ordinary. Gill died in 1720.
_Daniel Groome—tanner and collarmaker_ (_1713-1719_). Daniel Groome
purchased a lot in Williamsburg in 1713. At that time he was described
as being from James City County. By 1719 Groome had left Williamsburg
and settled in Henrico County.
_James Hern—harnessmaker_ (_1762-1764_). James Hern worked as a
journeyman harnessmaker with Alexander Craig from 1762 to about 1764.
_Gabriel Maupin—saddler and harnessmaker_ (_1752-ca1800_). Gabriel
Maupin was born in Williamsburg and probably learned his trade from
Alexander Craig. He carried on the saddle and harnessmaking business,
but was primarily a tavern-keeper. He died about 1800.
_Edward Morris—leather-breeches maker and glover_ (_1739_). Little is
known of Edward Morris. He announced the opening of his business “near
the College in Williamsburg” in June 1739. In his advertisement he
stated that he was from London. In addition to making breeches and
gloves, he dressed leather “after the Philadelphia manner.”
_William Pearson—tanner_ (_1760-1777_). William Pearson appeared in
Williamsburg in 1760. He worked with Alexander Craig and may have been
in partnership with him. Pearson later became owner of Craig’s tannery
in Williamsburg, which he operated until his death in 1777.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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