Son of William Fernell of Oakingham (Workingham?), in the Country of Berkshire tallow chandler, apprenticed to William Grundy, Goldsmith 4th August 1762. Free, 6th December 1769 (for a relative of an earlier generation see John Farnell). First mark as plateworker, in partnership with William Grundy, 23rd February 1779. Address: 119 Fetter Lane. Second mark alone, 19th January 1780, same address. Third mark, 11th November 1780. Fourth, 13th February 1781. Fifth, 29th June 1787. Sixth, 18th July 1787. Seventh, 3rd August 1787. Eighth, 8th August 1787. Ninth, 18th September 1787. The reason for this spate of new marks in 1787 is mysterious. They should be distinguished carefully from those of Edward Farnell of later date (q.v.) Heal records him in Fetter Lane, as silversmith, in 1796.