John Howard, Necklace Maker

John Howard, necklace maker, was located at the sign of the "Hand and Beads" at 40 Fish Hill Street, London between 1763 and 1781, though he was in business both before and after these dates. Prior to this date he was working near London Bridge.

Detail from an Anonymous Print of Fish Street Hill, circa 1770, showing John Howard's Shop and Sign

© The Trustees of the British Museum

John Howard took over from James Howard, who had been working since at least 1735. In the advertisement below, Howard advertised that he "Makes & Sells Necklaces, Earrings, Stomachers, Sleeve Knotts [sic], Caps and Agretts, of every Quality and Degree; whether of English or French Wax, Garnet-Jett, Paste-Stones, or other Compositions, for Dress or Undress; in the most Exqisite and Modern Taste. On the Best Terms with the Quickest Dispatch - Wholesale and Retail. N.B. Beads in General, for Exportation. And all kinds of Necklaces &c. for the Country."

Trade Card for John Howard

© The Trustees of the British Museum

in March 1772, John Howard was also the supplier of beads for the second Pacific Ocean voyage of Captain James Cook.

Wallace Davidson and Johnson also did business with John Howard in 1772 and again in 1774.

Bill Head for John Howard

© The Trustees of the British Museum

By reading Howard's advertisement, we become aware that several of the terms used are either misspelled or can be further clarified. Here, egrets are aigrets, breast flowers are stomachers, and black refers to jet.

(from Maryland State Archives, Chancery Court (Chancery Papers, Exhibits) Wallace, Davidson Johnson, Order Books, 1771/4/25-1775/11/16. MSA S 528-27/28) 

For Wallace Davidson and Johnson
March 20, 1772

4 doz neat genteel egretts mock & real
italian head flowers some of them white for occasions
2 doz very handsome breast flowers some white
6 doz small neat single flowers to intersperse amongst the hair
1/2 doz genteel silver head flowers
1 doz sultannoes sorted
1/2 doz black head flowers
20 doz single strands best small white wax
french beads sorted accurately
2 doz larger do
2 doz larger do
2 doz larger do
all of the above must be of the best white sort
those you sent before were very paultry
1 doz bunches best clear pearl necklaces not strung in necklaces sorted
2 doz neat fashionable black necklaces
1 doz neat black earrings sorted
1/2 doz very neat pearl do
1/2 doz do best wax do
6 doz necklace spreaders some very broad

For Wallace, Davidson and Johnson

March 19, 1774

3 doz rows large clear white wax necklaces

2 doz rows middling do

4 doz rows very small neat do

1 doz white wax earrings

All Rights Reserved.

Robert Gosling, Goldsmith, Jeweler and Hardwareman of London

Robert Gosling, goldsmith, jeweler and hardwareman, was located at 160 Fenchurch Street, London between 1770 and 1784, though he was in business both before and after these dates.

 Trade Card for Robert Gosling

© The Trustees of the British Museum

This firm was also doing business with John Hatley Norton between March 23, 1761 and January 17, 1766 as well as John Norton & Sons, Merchants in Gould Square, London, from June 30, 1772 and August 23, 1774. John Hatley Norton had taken over his fathers business in Virginia in the 1760s.

Wallace Davidson and Johnson also did business with Robert Gosling in 1772. The firm wrote to Joshua Johnson, American born partner of the Annapolis firm, residing in London for the firm, on March 22, 1772 advising him "that if Mr Gosling would take back such of his goods as would not sell here [they] would would in that case a great many from him or you & he may send them without waiting for further orders. Johnson wrote to the firm on June 22, 1772 where he mentions that Gosling had sent out all his jewelry on the terms desired, but that Johnson would rather the firm sell them for cost and charges rather than return them as it would hurt the firm.

Below is the order book entry for the order placed with Robert Gosling in 1772.

(from Maryland State Archives, Chancery Court (Chancery Papers, Exhibits) Wallace, Davidson Johnson, Order Books, 1771/4/25-1775/11/16. MSA S 528-27/28)  

For Wallace, Davidson and Johnson
March 20, 1772

Jewellry of Goslings
5 doz ladies neat pocket books with instruments some good some large
12 cards mocoa & past[e] buttons sorted
12 neat lockets some sorted good
1 doz sett combs sorted
12 neat past[e] egrets sorted
2 doz neat cheap earrings
5 cards neat guilt sleeve buttons sorted
12 neat garnet rings sorted
2 doz neat stone rings sorted
1 doz neat gold night earrings
1/2 doz neat garnet & gold shirt buckles
1 doz gold shirt buckles
1 doz past[e] knee buckles
6 stock do
6 pr shoe do
12 sets plain pinchback buckles well guilt
12 stock do
6 pr plain shoe do
12 pr neat plain silver shoe buckles
12 pr neat plain silver knee do
12 neat tooth pick cases sorted
6 pr silver boot buckles for under the hams
6 pr silver spurs sorted
10 doz very neat hair pins sorted some of them roses & some single stones
6 tortoishell snuff boxes sorted
2 doz scals some silver the rest double guilt
6 pr neat wrought silver shoe buckles
6 neat covals & bills sorted
2 doz black hair pins & spriggs for mourning & 2nd mourning
1/2 doz garnet hair pins or spriggs
1 doz neat silver steel top thimbles

All Rights Reserved.