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on the life and achievements of eighteenth-century inventor Henry Cort. Please email site controller Eric Alexander
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GOSPORT WORTHIES
Bedford
An influential local family,
possibly descended from Dukes of Bedford, who own much of the local land in the
eighteenth century.
At a windmill on this land, the
miller in the 1730s is James Bedford.
Many Gosport Bedfords are his descendants.
Among his sons are Charles
and William, both listed among the original Gosport
trustees: this William is their clerk in the 1770s.
Charles's son, attorney James
Bedford, is involved in administering Elizabeth Attwick's
will and in the Delmé v Missing lawsuit.
Clerk and treasurer to Fareham Turnpike's trustees at the time of the dispute with Peter Barfoot. Apparently living in Portsea when he makes his will in 1797.
This James's brother Charles,
"brazier, Middle St", is also a Gosport trustee. Serves on inquisition
into Cort's Gosport properties, 31 October 1789. By 1798, when he makes his will, he has moved to Droxford (some
way north of Fareham).
William Buckland
The name occurs first as
keeper of a public house, the Queens Head, rented from John
Attwick in 1715. Also the name of
an original Gosport trustee. A Sir
William Buckland offers a mortgage in 1779 on a Middle Street property formerly
owned by John Attwick.
John Cockram
Associate or employee of John
Attwick. Appears first as witness to
the 1742 deed by which Attwick buys a property in Middle Street. Is named in the wills of both Attwick (1744)
and his widow (1754) as foreman of their works in Gosport.
James Collins
Several Gosport characters
with this name, but no sign of any father-son relationship.
The most important one is an
associate (clerk or partner) of William Hollis. Witnesses affidavits by Cort in defence against a complaint by James Waller, and by Henry
Foxall about his stay at Ketley (claimed to be
evidence that Reynolds is pirating Cort’s process); also several wills. An original Gosport trustee, also a juror.
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Sworn at the
House of William Hollis, Gentleman of the Town of Gosport in the County of
Southampton Provenance of Henry Cort’s defence
against James Waller’s complaint, witnessed by James Collins, 21 October 1778 |
Thomas Curry: father and son
Father is one of the original
Gosport trustees. Probably the one who
participates in inquisitions into the affairs of Cort & Jellicoe in 1789.
Son dies first. His will, made in 1793, describes him as a
ropemaker, in partnership with his father: it is proved in 1797.
His widow Mary Ann (née Holloway) becomes Samuel Jellicoe’s
second wife.
Eames
Another important Gosport
family. The names John, William, James
and Elizabeth all occur. James is one
of John Attwick's executors.
The most successful is John,
who pursues a career in law in London.
Signs the 1791 petition to William Pitt on
behalf of Cort.
Forbes
Another notable Gosport name.
John Forbes is a
"sailmaker & ship chandler" in 1783.
"Merchant" Robert
Forbes signs a bail bond for Henry Cort in a dispute
with David Parry: possibly the same Robert Forbes responsible for building
the toll bridge connecting the town with Haslar Hospital in 1795.
Benjamin Gay
A colourful local
character. One of original Gosport
trustees, is nevertheless reprimanded by the board for non-payment of dues in
December 1769. In 1771 turns down an
offer to become their treasurer, and in 1779 leaves the board. Then becomes involved in deals concerning
Middle Street property previously owned by John Attwick.
Hackman: see separate page
William Hollis, lawyer
Acts for both William Attwick and Henry Cort. Nominated as a Gosport trustee in 1775.
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Mr
Cort’s agent was with Me this afternoon & by a letter from Mr Hollis Mr
Cort’s Country Attorney informs Me that you have consented to take your
Brother together with Mr. Cort as security for your Debt. From letter to Major David Parry from his lawyer, 6 November 1776. |
According to the web-posted
record of burials at St Mary Alverstoke (not always
reliable), he lives to the age of 81, being buried on 11 December 1806; so it is
probably he, rather than a younger namesake, who becomes clerk to the trustees
in 1796.
His son, Aiskew Paffard
Hollis, becomes an admiral and enjoys a commemorative plaque in St Marys. (Paffard is his mother's maiden name, Aiskew
the surname of her brother-in-law.)
John Huish
Another lawyer, like Hollis
in Middle Street: more likely a rival than a partner. Original Gosport trustee.
Witness to several wills, including those of James Lind and his brother
John.
Thomas Jordan
Gosport juror and trustee. Listed as a draper in 1783 trade directory,
a mercer in 1784. Brother-in-law and
executor to William Buckland, 1784.
Knell
Family with navy connections,
starting with siblings William, Ann and Jane.
William becomes a ship's
carpenter. His son William becomes a
ship's captain in 1779.
Ann marries James Hackman, becomes grandmother of murderer James. Jane witnesses a will by Ann's son William.
Dr James Lind
Best known for his work on
prevention of scurvy. Physician at
Royal Haslar Hospital 1758-83. Brother
John and son James (later Sir James) both officers in navy. Son John continued his work at Haslar.
Marshall: see separate page
Mathis: see Hackman page
Thomas Andrew
Minchin
Information on the Web
suggest his second name is actually Andrews consequent on the marriage
of one Jane Andrews to an ancestor.
Said to be an attorney,
presumably the role in which he witnesses the Foxall
affidavit. Becomes a Gosport
trustee. Also Secretary to a body set
up by The Dissenters of Gosport in August 1787, suggesting a possible link with
James Watson.
William Morgan
Possibly son of Thomas. Gosport
juror, becomes Gosport court overseer by 1767, trustee in 1774.
Listed as grocer in Middle
Street in 1783 and 1784 directories.
Participates in inquisition into Cort property, 31 October 1789.
Witness at marriage of Samuel Jellicoe to Mary Ann Curry. 8 December 1800.
Paffard
Children of John and Mary
Paffard include:
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Elizabeth who marries John Aiskew
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Hannah who marries William Hollis
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Ann who sells a property to James Lind
There is also juror Peter
Paffard, listed as a painter in 1784 and 1792.
Peachey
John and William (at least
two) are important names. The
relationship between them has not been established.
John is named as executor by
John Attwick.
William the elder is a
bailiff, juror and original Gosport trustee.
Elizabeth Attwick names him as an executor, but he declines to act.
A Lieutenant General William
Peachey is reported to have donated a house in Cross Street to the trustees.
A younger William Peachey is
named as an executor in Hyde Mathis's original will.
Richard Porter
Wife Rachel. Children's baptisms: Ann
(1733) and Moses (1735), London; Gilbert (1741)
Titchfield; Elizabeth (1745) Gosport. (Gilbert
probably dies young: he is not mentioned in any family wills.)
Original Gosport
trustee. "Surgeon" in will
made 1767 (witness James Collins).
Probably naval surgeon: the name occurs for a period among those on half pay, though no on-ship service has yet been
discovered.
Buried Alverstoke 10 February
1778.
Connections with the navy
continue with his children – Ann’s with John Amherst,
Elizabeth’s marriage to navy officer Archibald Dickson – while at least one of
Moses’s sons joins the service.
John Burton
Timmings
Clerk to Cort’s Gosport works
circa 1779-85. Writes to Cramond on behalf of the business. Becomes Gosport trustee in 1790.
Joseph Villain
Constable at Gosport court
1760. Original trustee. Treasurer to trustees 1775-95. Participates in 1789
inquisitions.
Waller
Several dissenting families in
Gosport area.
Robert Waller, surgeon:
original Gosport trustee
Dr T Waller, physician of
Portsmouth Common, pens two letters to Annals of Agriculture about
Cort's achievements, 1786-7.
Daniel Waller supplies description of Gosport in Annals of Agriculture,
1789 (Vol 8 p217)
Ward
At least two named James,
probably related.
One James Ward (wife Jane)
chairs first trustees' meeting. William Attwick is
trustee to marriage settlement of his daughter Elizabeth.
Another James Ward marries Ann Hackman at Gosport, 3 March 1734.
A James Ward "of
Forton" sells land for a hospital in 1736.
A Rev Dr Ward, in service
with the East India Company, visits Henry Cort's son in
hospital in Calcutta, claiming to be a distant relative.
Thomas Whitcomb
Possibly more than one.
"Carpenter" (Middle
St) 1760. Buys land from William
Attwick, 1763. Juror from 1779. "Brewer and Coal Merchant"
1783. At inquisition into Cort's
properties 31 October 1789.
"Brandy merchant" 1796.
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Related files |
henrycort.net
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