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Thomas Parr, son of Henry Parr late of the County of Cork in the Kingdom of Ireland clerk deceased, apprenticed to Simon Nov, 9 September 1687. Free of the apprenticeship, 8 August 1694. Liveryman of the Goldsmiths Hall, October 1712.

His first mark is entered as a large worker, undated, probably April 1697 on the commencement of his registration. His address was Wood Street, London. His second mark was entered 19 August 1717 and his address was Cheapside, London.

He was a signatory as "working goldsmith" to the petition complaining of the competition of "necessitous strangers" (the Huguenot silversmiths), December 1711. He also signed against assaying work of foreigners not having served seven years apprenticeship, February 1716.

The baptism and/or burials of eight sons and daughters of Thomas and Sarah Parr are recorded in the registers of St Matthew, Friday Street, between 1703 and 1713 and two further sons at St Vedast, Foster Lane, 1716 and 1718.

Thomas Parr’s own burial, however, appears to be unrecorded in either of these registers. He had died by 20 June 1728 when his widow Sarah entered her mark.

Thomas Parr

Antique Britannia Standard Silver Queen Anne Mug made in 1713

Smily Family:
William Smily; William Robert Smily; Samuel Smily and Thomas Smily.
William Smily (born in 1792) was apprenticed in 1809 to Joseph Preston, spoon and fork maker.
In 1815, following the death of Joseph Preston, he was turned over to Thomas Wallis II to complete his apprenticeship. However he did not take up his freedom of the Goldsmiths' Company until 1830 (freedom by Service at the address Gee Street, Goswell Street).
It is likely that, at that time, he had commenced to work in the factory of A.B. Savory &amp; Sons at 15 Gee Street.
His son William Robert Smily was apprenticed to him in Gee Street in 1833, obtaining his freedom in 1840.
In 1840, William Smily is recorded as residing and working at 5 Finsbury Place South, the address of another of Savory's factories where also the other two sons were apprenticed to their father (Samuel Smily I in 1840 and Thomas Smily in 1841).
William Smily entered his own marks at Goldsmiths' Hall only in 1855 and 1856 when he became works manager for A.B. Savory &amp; Sons. His marks (SS into a rectangle) were used on silverware manufactured for the firm (from c. 1860 often accompanied by the stamp "A.B. Savory &amp; Sons").
In April 1865, William Smily moved to 18 Red Lion Street (the address of A.B. Savory &amp; Sons factory) were he died on 9th September of the same year.
His eldest son, William Robert Smily, after apprenticeship to his father (1833) and freedom by Service (1840) established in 1842 his own business as W.R. Smily (spoon maker) at 7 Seaward Street, Goswell Street. In c. 1844 he moved to 9 Camomile Street, were he traded as manufacturing silversmith. In 1852 W.R. Smily moved to 65 Crown Street, Finsbury Square in the premises previously occupied by Charles Lias (1837 - 1847) and Judah Hart (1847 - 1852).
William Robert Smily died in 1858 (aged 34). The business was continued by his brother Thomas Smily maintaining the trade name of W.R. Smily.
Thomas Smily, the younger son of William Smily, was born in 1827. After the apprenticeship to his father (1841) and freedom by Service (1848) he, presumably, continued to work with his father for A.B. Savory &amp; Sons.
He entered his own mark in the Goldsmiths' Hall only in 1858, when he was called to manage the business at the death of his brother William Robert Smily. The firm maintained the name of W.R. Smily until 1883, when the business was acquired by Edwin Charles Purdie. Thomas Smily emigrated to Canada, where he died in 1918.
Samuel Smily (born 1825), the other son of William Smily, after apprenticeship to his father (1840) and freedom of the Goldsmiths' Company (1847) presumably continued to work with his father for A.B. Savory &amp; Sons. After the death of William Smily (1865), Samuel Smily registered his own mark at the Goldsmith' Hall (SS into a chamfered rectangle) and took over his father's position of works manager of A.B. Savory &amp; Sons.
In 1866, A.B. Savory &amp; Sons was converted into a limited liability company and changed the name to Goldsmiths' Alliance Ltd. From this date the hallmark "SS" was often accompanied by the stamp "Goldsmiths Alliance Limited". Samuel Smily retired from Goldsmiths Alliance Ltd in 1880 and died in 1882.
Other members of Smily's family obtained their freedom of the Goldsmiths' Company but didn't enter their own mark in the Goldsmiths' Hall. They were:
William Robert Smily II (born 1845) and his brother Alfred Smily (sons of William Robert Smily). They obtained their freedom by Patrimony in 1869 and 1871; Samuel Smily II (born 1860), son of Samuel Smily. He obtained his freedom by Service in 1882.
Thomas Smily, London 1858, mark entered 10th July 1858.
Thomas Smily, London 1866, mark entered 30th October 1866.
Thomas Smily, London 1872, mark entered 26th April 1870.
Thomas Smily, London 1876, mark entered 26th April 1870.

Thomas Smily

Antique Silver Victorian Mug made in 1872

Elkington &amp; Co. was a silver manufacturer from Birmingham, England. It was founded by George Richards Elkington and his brother, Henry Elkington, in the 1830s.

It operated under the name G. R. Elkington &amp; Co. until 1842, when a third partner, Josiah Mason, joined the firm. It operated as Elkington, Mason, &amp; Co. until 1861, when the partnership with Mason was terminated.

The firm operated independently as Elkington &amp; Co. from 1861 until 1963. It was then taken over by British Silverware, Ltd. In 1971 British Silverware, Ltd. became a subsidiary of Delta Metal Co. Ltd.

Over the course of history, it became very successful and was one of the prime producers of silver plating. Elkington received various royal warrants of appointments, and an Imperial and Royal Warrant of Appointment from the emperor of Austria.

One of their most famous pieces is the electrotype copy of the Jerningham Wine Cooler at the Victoria &amp; Albert Museum.One of the most important 19th century Silversmiths finally dissolving in the late 1960s.

Elkington &amp; Co

Antique Silver Victorian Mug made in 1867

A sterling silver hallmark (SIR J.B.Ltd) was entered in c. 1932 in the London Assay Office by Sir John Bennett Ltd. Presumably the trade mark "Sir John Bennett" was used by retailer shops in the UK and, possibly, in Sydney (Australia).

Sir John Bennett

Sterling Silver George V Mug with Glass Bottom made in 1932

Hester Bateman (1708 - 1794) known as "the Queen of British Silversmiths" was an English silversmith based in London. After the death of her silversmith husband, she successfully ran the family business for 30 years before passing it on to her sons. They in turn passed it on to their sons and the business continued with Batemans at the helm until the mid-19th century.

Hester married John Bateman in 1732 and had six children. When John died of tuberculosis in 1760, he left his tools to his wife and the business. She registered her first mark in 1761 as “HB” in script. Not much appears with her mark up until 1771/2, as it is likely she was supplying other silversmiths who over stamped her mark with their own.

Around 1774, Hester was joined by her sons, John and Peter, and they worked to build up a business in Bunhill Row in London. They first started to produce spoons in the early 1770s (with the odd fork which are very rare from Hester's workshop) and they expanded their range to produce neoclassical style household silverware, which included many items popular in the 18th century such as teaware, wine labels, jugs, salvers, salt cellars, trays and inkwells. There were certain items that she didn’t make such as candlesticks and candelabra - although I think one or two pairs are known!

The Bateman style is known for its bright-cut engraving, piercing and beading around edges. Hester retired in 1790 and her sons continued the business.

Hester Bateman

Antique Silver George III Mug made in I779

William and James Priest (Preist) were brothers and working London silversmiths during the mid to late 1700’s.
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William Priest, apprenticed to Richard Gurney in 1740, free 1749. 1st and 2 marks entered as largeworker in 1749 and 1750 in partnership with William Shaw. Livery 1758. 3rd mark with his presumed brother James Priest in 1764. Died circa 1801-1811.

James Priest, apprenticed to William Priest in 1750, free 1764. His mark was entered shortly after in partnership with William Priest and the presumed brothers are recorded as working together from 1764-1773. James’ son James Hammond Priest was apprenticed to him in 1783.

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From Grimwade

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William &amp; James Priest

Antique Silver George III Tankard made in 1765

Heming &amp; Co

Edwardian Silver Miniature Tankard of Golf Interest made in1907

Eoff &amp; Shepard, New York, NY 1852 - 1861.

A partnership of Edgar Mortimer Eoff and George L. Shepard. Successors to Eoff &amp; Phyfe. Makers of sterling holloware, most of which were sold by large New York City retailers.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-15002" src="https://williamwalter.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/W198x44m.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="558" />

Mortimer Eoff &amp; George L Shepard

Pair of American Antique Silver Mugs made in c.1855

Antique Silver George III Mug made in 1776

From then to the present-day, people have been enjoying drinks from wonderful vessels. We have a vast stock from lidded tankards to mugs.

Antique Tankards

Antique Tankards

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