The Silversmith in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg: An Account of His Life & Times, & of His CraftFord, Thomas K.
History
The Silversmith in Eighteenth-Century Williamsburg: An Account of His Life & Times, & of His Craft
Ford, Thomas K.
Silverwork, Colonial -- Virginia
_John Bryan._ Mentioned in several legal documents of the 1740s as a
silversmith in Williamsburg.
_John Coke_ (1704-1767). Worked at silversmithing in Williamsburg from
about 1724 until his death, and also, after 1755, kept a tavern in
the present Coke-Garrett House near the Capitol.
_Samuel Coke_ (died 1773). Son of John Coke; jeweler and possibly a
silversmith in his father’s shop and later for himself.
_James Craig_ (died 1794). Arrived from London about 1745 as a jeweler;
added silversmithing and was established at the Golden Ball by
1765.
_Jacob Flournoy_ (born 1663). Came to Williamsburg about 1700 from
Switzerland, where his family were watchmakers and jewelers;
referred to as a “goldsmith” in a deed of 1712.
_James Galt_ (1741-1800). Born in Williamsburg, where his father was a
silversmith; had his own shop in Richmond and later in
Williamsburg; became the first superintendent of the hospital for
the insane in the latter place; brother of John Minson Galt, the
physician, and son of:
_Samuel Galt_ (c. 1700-1761). A watchmaker who also did gold and silver
work in Williamsburg from about 1750 until his death; keeper of
the Public Gaol, 1759-1760.
_James Geddy, Jr._ (1731-1807). Williamsburg’s most accomplished
silversmith until, about 1778, he moved to Dinwiddie and thence to
Petersburg.
_Alexander Kerr_ (died 1738). Arrived in Williamsburg in 1717. Jeweler
and silversmith in Williamsburg for several years before his
death.
_Blovet Pasteur._ Apparently born and died in Williamsburg, dates not
known; a silversmith there at least from 1759 to 1778.
_James Patterson_ (died 1773). A watchmaker who probably arrived in
Williamsburg about 1760, and by 1771 was also making jewelry and
silver.
_William Rowsay._ Was an apprentice to James Craig in 1771; combined his
jewelry and silver work with his brother John’s general
merchandise business in 1774.
_Anthony Singleton_ (1750-1795). Opened a jewelry and silversmith shop
in Williamsburg in 1771; moved to Richmond probably in 1787.
_William Waddill._ Engraver and silversmith; worked at one time in the
shop of James Geddy, Jr., who is presumed to have been his
brother-in-law; moved to Richmond about 1782 and thence, it is
believed, to Petersburg.
_SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER READING_
Carl Bridenbaugh, _The Colonial Craftsman_. New York: New York
University Press, 1950.
Kathryn C. Buhler, _American Silver_. Cleveland: World Publishing Co.,
1950.
E. Milby Burton, _South Carolina Silversmiths, 1690-1860_. Charleston:
Charleston Museum, 1942.
George Barton Cutten, _The Silversmiths of North Carolina_. Raleigh:
State Department of Archives and History, 1948.
——, _The Silversmiths of Georgia, Together with Watchmakers and
Jewelers_. Savannah: Pigeonhole Press, 1958.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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