GRESWELL, John (Grimwade p.365)

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GRESWELL, John (Grimwade p.365)

Post by MCB »

Goldworkers List (Section VII).

As John Gresswell he married Henrietta Moulding at St George, Bloomsbury in 1822.
A mark was entered at Goldsmiths Hall in 1824 by John Greswell, a gold worker from 21 Portland Street, Soho.
Christening records at St James, Piccadilly for daughters Henrietta Jane in 1825, Caroline Louisa in 1827 and Ann Sarah in 1828 all show their father as a goldsmith from Portland Street.
Ann Sarah died in Portland Street in 1829.
Henrietta Jane and Caroline Louisa both married in Perth, Western Australia in 1842 and 1849 respectively.
A John Greswell born in 1798 and a Henrietta Gresswell born in 1800 respectively died in Western Australia in 1882 and 1888.
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Re: GRESWELL, John (Grimwade p.365)

Post by dognose »

John Gresswell , or Greswell (the use of both spellings appears throughout his life) arrived at the port of Fremantle on the 18th November 1831 on board the 'Jolly Rambler', a cutter that he was a part owner of. He was active as a Goldsmith and Assayer at Perth WA from 1831 until his death on the 27th July 1882.

He was born on the 25th November 1798 at Burgh-le-Marsh, Lincolnshire, the son of William Gresswell and Mary Wood, who were married at Boston, Lincolnshire on the 14th April 1789.

John and Henrietta Gresswell also had an Australian born son, Alfred William Gresswell, who was born at Perth WA in 1836 and died on the 11th June 1862 at Otago, New Zealand.

John Gresswell trained as a Practical Assayer prior to leaving England, but it was his skills as a Goldsmith that made him well known in London. A ledger belonging to John Gresswell is now in the hands of the Royal Western Australian Historical Society and it shows that the important firm of Storr & Mortimer were customers of Gresswell.


DIED

GRESSWELL - At his residence, Adelaide Terrace, Perth, on the 27th instant, John Greswell, goldsmith and jeweller, in his 84th year; much regretted by his sorrowing wife and daughter, and his numerous relatives and friends. (The funeral will take place at 3pm on Saturday July 29th).


Source: The Western Australian - Friday 28th July 1882

(Note even the Death Notice used both spellings of the name)
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Re: GRESWELL, John (Grimwade p.365)

Post by dognose »

It's not often we see a photograph of one of the silversmiths that Arthur Grimwade recorded, but here we have an image of John Greswell in the form of an undated advertisement:

Image

Source: Gold and Silversmithing in Western Australia - A History - Dorothy Erickson

Trev.
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Re: GRESWELL, John (Grimwade p.365)

Post by Jasswiss »

As far as I know there is no evidence yet found that John Gresswell was born at Burgh-le-marsh,Lincolnshire.
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Re: GRESWELL, John (Grimwade p.365)

Post by MCB »

Hello and welcome to the forum.
The evidence for a John Gresswell being born in or around Burgh-le-Marsh is contained in a christening record there dated 25th November 1798.
If this christening doesn’t relate to the goldsmith of Perth, Western Australia it would be helpful to know the reason please.

Mike
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Re: GRESWELL, John (Grimwade p.365)

Post by dognose »

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

This website: http://www.familiesunearthed.com/reilly ... l/john.htm notes the following information which appears to have taken from an article entitled 'Nineteenth century silver and goldsmiths (jewellers) of Western Australia - Swan River Colony. The first smiths' by Dorothy Erickson that was published in Australiana Vol. 11 No. 1, February 1989.

John Gresswell was born on the 25 Nov 1798 in Burgh-Le-Marsh, Lincolnshire, England. His parents were William Gresswell and Mary Wood. They married on the 14th Apr 1789 in Boston, Lincolnshire, England. John married Henrietta Caroline Moulding, in about 1822

Henrietta was born on the 2nd of September 1800 in Chiseldon, Wiltshire, England. Her mother was Anne Moulding.

John was the fourth born. The siblings were:

Elizabeth Gresswell, b. 31 May 1795 in Wisbech, Lincolnshire, England, d. 10 Jun 1866 in Orby, Lincolnshire, buried in Monksthorpe Chapel, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England. She married Samuel Cutforth, married 21 Nov 1826, b. 1786 in Orby, Lincolnshire, ENG, (son of George Cutforth and Mary Burton) d. 15 Sep 1861 in Orby, Lincolnshire, ENG, buried in Monksthorpe Chapel, Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England.
Mary Gresswell, bapt. 14 Feb 1792 Burgh-Le-Marsh, Lincolnshire, ENG
Henry Gresswell, b. 6 Nov 1796.
John and Henrietta with their two children, Henrietta Maria and Caroline Louisa, arrived in Fremantle WA on the cutter Jolly Rambler on 18th November 1831.

In the 1832 census of Western Australia, John is listed as a 'merchant'. Before emigrating to Western Australia, he had worked for 15 years as a jeweller - a 'Master Manufacturing Goldsmith'.

In letters to the colonial secretary, in February 1832 he asked if he could be employed as an assayist (20/146), and also in March 1832 he signed a petition at Fremantle (21/113).

John Gresswell became the first Perth goldsmith and assayer 1841-c.1870 (ref 1)

John died 27 Jul 1882 in Perth, WA. Henrietta died d. 29 Sep 1888 in Perth, WA. (another source has date as 27 Sep 1885).

Children

Henrietta Maria Gresswell, b. 3 Dec 1824 in London, Middlesex, England
Caroline Louisa Gresswell, b. 1828 in London, ENG, d. 7 Jul 1871 in Perth, W.A. She married Terence Frederick Farrelly, married 22 May 1849 in St. John's Catholic Church, Perth, W.A., b. 1822 in CAVAN, d. 2 Jul1883 in Perth, W.A.
Alfred William Gresswell, b. 1836 in Perth, WA, d. 11 June 1862 in Otago, NZ.
References

ref 1: Australiana Vol. 11 No. 1, February 1989, Nineteenth century silver and goldsmiths (jewellers) of Western Australia - Swan River Colony. The first smiths, by Dorothy Erickson


It sounds like you may have been doing some research into the life of John Gresswell, if so, is it possible that you can share your findings here?

Trev.
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Re: GRESWELL, John (Grimwade p.365)

Post by Jasswiss »

Hi Trev and Mike,
Sorry for the delay replying to the forum.I am a descendant of John Gresswell and have been trying to gather information on his life, as have others such as the Reilly's and Dorothy Erikson. I am not sure who decided first that John Gresswell would have been born in Burgh-le-marsh but both the Reilly’s and Dorothy Erikson have not listed a reference as to where they found this information ie. death registration or apprenticeship papers. The International Genealogical Index indeed, lists a John Gresswell, baptised at Burgh-le-marsh and it does fit in well with the fact that John Gresswell must have been born about 1798 but as every genealogist or hobby genealogist like me knows, the IGI index is not a complete baptismal index. John Gresswell may have been a nonconformist and therefore not baptized until adulthood, he may even have been a Catholic.
I don’t know whether this is relevant to your study but other jewellers that could be included in Gresswells network were Robert Owen Aland, Henry Kitchin and Henry Silvester.

3 Jan 1824 advertised in the London Gazette.“ The partnership existing between John Gresswell and Robert Aland, Jewellers, of 24 Portland-street, Soho*, is this day dissolved by mutual consent: As witness our hands this 31st day of Dec 1823.“
*Today Portland street is called “D’Arblay street”. According to the Survey of London(St. James Westminster Part 2) No 24 is described as a uniform 3 story house with rebuilt roof. Interior-completely altered. It could be the original built in 1736.
17 Jul 1827 advertised in the London Gazette „Take notice that the Partnership subsisting between us the undersigned, John Gresswell and Henry Kitchin, of Portland —Street, Soho, in the County of Middlesex, Goldsmiths and Jewellers, is this day dissolved by mutual consent. Dated this 9th day of July 1827“.
Robert Owen Aland you already have info on.
Henry Kitchin appears to have moved to Dufour's place by 1828 and remained there until at least 1833. I have not been able to find out anything more about him.
Henry Silvester was a witness to Gresswell's marriage to Henrietta Moulding.I presume he must be the Henry Silvester who was also based at Portland street at No 19,as a jeweller, definitely from 1818-22 but that could have been longer.
If I find out anything more about these men I will definitely post it on your forum.
Cheers,

Jasmin.
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Re: GRESWELL, John (Grimwade p.365)

Post by MCB »

Hello Jasmin

Thank you for the additional information on the goldsmith and jewellery businesses.
The International Genealogical Index is, as you say, not a complete baptismal record. The information concerning John Greswell's place of birth and parentage which was posted here came, though,
from Volume 11 of Australiana and, as no caveat was inserted in the article as to the facts stated, the detail was taken to have been verified.
Best wishes for your further research. We look forward to seeing any further information you may find please.

Mike
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Re: GRESWELL, John (Grimwade p.365)

Post by Lodger »

Hi,
I recently acquired a not very exceptional fiddle pattern tablespoon by Eley & Fearn bearing the contemporary initials JHD and bearing the words ' The Jolly Rambler'. After some research, with the assistance of Google, I have ascertained that JHD was John Hodsdon Durand (MP for Maidstone 1802-1806)and that in the records of the Royal Yacht Club he was the owner of the cutter, The Jolly Rambler. Durand died in December 1830 and from previous posts and other research it would appear that either the executors or beneficiaries of his will sold the Jolly Rambler to Messrs. Greswell and Harris. I thought that this information might be of interest to the descendants of John Greswell.
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Re: GRESWELL, John (Grimwade p.365)

Post by dognose »

Hi Lodger,

Welcome to the Forum. Many thanks for supplying the above information.


Some references that may refer to the same vessel:

LIDDELL, JAMES (1807-76) a native of Scotland, arrived when nineteen years of age in Sydney as chief officer of a brig. In 1830 he had charge of the brig Admiral Gifford bound on a trading voyage to N.Z. She was one of the first vessels sent on such an expedition from Sydney, and from his kindly disposition he succeeded so well with the natives that he was induced to undertake several other voyages thither in the Hannah. In 1832 he arrived in Launceston as sailing master of the Jolly Rambler, and there first made the acquaintance of the Messrs. Henty, who gave him charge of their schooner Thistle engaged in the trade to Swan River. Whilst prosecuting one of these voyages he put into Portland Bay, and was so much struck with the beauty and fertility of the soil that he recommended the place to his owners as a desirable locality for settlement. After making other voyages to Portland the Thistle was sent on a trading voyage to N.Z. Just prior to starting, news came to hand that Captain McLean and the crew of the John Dunscombe were in the hands of the natives there, and Captain Liddell had orders from the Messrs. Henty to rescue them at all cost. He succeeded in relieving the crew and supplying them with articles for trade. About this time he purchased the schooner Industry, and amongst other ventures she was chartered by J. P. Fawkner to bring stock to Melbourne. In 1838 Captain Liddell was whaling out of Hobart Town, and in one voyage he filled his vessel up in less than six weeks with whales killed between Cape Schank and Wilson's Promontory. Being much impressed with N.Z. he in 1842 settled at Kawhia where he cultivated a tract of land purchased from the natives, with whom he soon established friendly relations, and built himself a small vessel to convey produce to Taranaki, Auckland and other ports. After some time his homestead was destroyed by fire, and that event induced him to break up his N.Z. home and returned to Melbourne, where he eventually joined the Victorian pilot service.

Source: Cyclopædia of Australasia - David Blair - 1881


.......since the passenger list of the Jolly Rambler (a cutter of 58 tons) both at Cape Town and Fremantle shows only Messrs Gresswell and Harris and their respective families........

Source: A Colony Detailed: The First Census of Western Australia, 1832 - Ian Berryman - 1979


The Jolly Rambler was totally wrecked at the Macleay River, NSW, during the week ending 11 December 1836. There was no loss of life, but no part of the vessel was saved.

Source: Australian Shipwrecks: 1622-1850 - Charles Bateson, Jack Kenneth Loney - 1972
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Re: GRESWELL, John (Grimwade p.365)

Post by dognose »

The Court for Relief of Insolvent Debtors

Court House, Portugal Street, Lincoln's-Inns-Field

Friday, 1st January 1830 at 9 O'Clock in the Forenoon:

Gresswell, John, late of Portland-Street, Soho, Middlesex, Goldsmith and Jeweller (formerly in copartnership with Henry Kitchen, carrying on business at Portland-Street aforesaid, as Goldsmiths and Jewellers, under the firm and style of Gresswell and Kitchen).

Source: The London Gazette - 11th December 1829
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