w, FROM THE INCOME OF THE FISKE ENDOWMENT FUND THE BEQUEST OF L,ibrarian of the University 1868-1883 1:90s 3184 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://archive.org/details/cu31924030128692 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE AT WELLINGTON, SOMERSET THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE AT WELLINGTON, SOMERSET Compiled from the Records of an Old Family Business;^ Joseph Hoyland Fox London: ARTHUR L. HUMPHREYS 187 Piccadilly, W 1914 INTRODUCTION THIS narrative of the growth of an industrial under- taking in the West of England, carried on for nearly 250 years by the same family, may, I trust, be of interest as revealing some of the difficulties that beset men engaged in business in the days preceding the intro- duction of steam power, railways, steamships, telegraph, telephones, and the many other inventions that have brought all the nations of the world into such close touch with one another. The men of the old time had great difficulties to contend with ; their lives were much quieter and simpler than ours, their interests more limited, and they knew little of the excitement which seems to be inseparable from modern life. These men were Quakers, and those who lived in the seventeenth century must have shared in the bitter persecutions of those days. I am much indebted to Dr. R. Kingston Fox and to Mr. Francis Were for valuable information in regard to the Were and Fox families, and to Mr. Arthur L. Humphreys for useful hints and for kind assistance in the work. CONTENTS General History ..... 1 Appendix A, i. Pedigree of the Were Family 62 „ „ II. Pedigree of the Fox Fainiily 63 „ B. Wellington Justices . . 65 „ C. Money invested in the Busi- ness of Weres and Co. . 70 „ D. The Firm's Assets . . 7S „ E. Serge-Makers' Combine . 75 „ F. Trade Accounts . . 79 „ G. Opening of the First Banking Account with Messrs. DuNTZE, Praed and Co., Exeter . . .81 „ H. Letter relating to Duties ON Woollen Goods im- ported into Germany, 1774 86 „ I. List of Towns in which T. Were and Sons had Customers . . .94 „ J. Some Family Wills . . 96 „ K. Transcription of Latin Docu- ment DATED 1527 . .107 „ L. Profit Sharing and Pensions 109 „ M. Valuation of Real Property BELONGING TO ThOMAS FoX IN 1819 . . .111 Index ...... 113 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Joseph Hoyland Fox (on his 80th birthday) Frontispiece Robert Webe's Business Assets, 1734 facing page 4 Armada Chests . . . . „ 10 Thomas Fox (1748-1821)— Sarah Smith . „ 12 Marriage Certificate of Thomas and Sarah Fox, 1783 . . . „ 48 Thomas Fox (1786-1862) — Samuel Fox (1794-1874)— Henry Fox (1800-1876)— Charles Fox (1801-1860) . . „ 50 Edward Fox (1789-1845)— Sylvanus Fox (1791-1851) . . . . „ 52 Indenture of Apprenticeship of Sylvanus Fox TO Thomas and Sarah Fox, 1805 „ 54 Thomas Fox (1828-1898) . . . „ 56 Dillworth Crewdson Fox (1828-1887) . „ 58 Joseph Hoyland Fox {b. 1833) . . „ 60 Charles Henry Fox (1835-1908) . . „ 62 Henry Fox {b. 1856, lost in the Caucasus 1888) „ 64 rhe WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE AT WELLINGTON, SOMERSET THIS history begins with a short sketch of the Were family taken from Burke's Commoners of England, and from a pedigree of the family kindly given to me by JNIr. F. Were, of Stoke Bishop, also from a pedigree that is in an old memorandum-book belonging to the Were firm. In Appendix A will be found a compilation from these various sources. The earliest reference to the Weare family, as it was then spelt, is found in a deed in the library of Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bart., relating to the family of Weare. This deed was used by John Burke in his History of the Commoners. The concluding part of the document states :^' This indenture made at Weare GifFard^ between William de Salene of the one part and William Weare, lord of Weare Giffard of the other part.' Anno 13, Henry IV. (1461). Signed William Weare. The family of GifFard took the name of Weare only upon inheriting that part of the property of the Manor of GifFard caUed Weare Giffard. At the time of the Civil War a Colonel John Were lived at Halberton Court. His relations were on the ' Weare Giffard is situated on the River Torridge, not far from Bideford. B THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE Royalist side, but he fought against the King, having a command in the Parhamentary army. He was im- prisoned in the Tower, on a charge of treachery and of having betrayed a portion of the Parliamentary forces to the enemy. He petitioned the House of Commons, who ordered his release after a year's captivity, and he returned to his home at Halberton. It is highly probable that he was a relation of the Weres who lived in the parish of Burlescombe.^ The following extract from the Register of UfFculme Parish Church seems to indicate this : — ' 1670, Dec. 3rd was Edith, the daughter of John Were of Halberton and Agnis, his wife, buried.' We find that another .lohn Were lived in the reign of Queen Elizabeth at Pinksmoor Mills, situated on the river just above Westford, and in the parish of Welling- ton. It is probable that at that time they were fulling miUs, and that John Were was a serge-maker ; if so, the business of serge-making may have been carried on by the family for considerably more than three hundred years. This John Were had two sons, the elder, John, in- herited the land at Wellington, and the younger, Nicholas, had Sowden Farm in the parish of Burlescombe, land at Prescott, near Culmstock, and at Little Sanford. Robert, son of Nicholas, owned Sowden Farm. He was the father of Peter Were, who moved to UfFculme in Devonshire, and was married in 1686 at the Friends' Meeting House called Spiceland to Joan Rawlings (Uifculme), and was the inventor of the celebrated lAOp mark, well known in the trade for a great many years. ' UfEculme and Burlescombe are adjoining parishes and not far from Halberton. 2 AT WELLINGTON The branch of the Were family living at Burlescombe and UfFculme must have joined the Society of Friends in its very earliest days. There were at that time a large number of Friends residing at Cullompton and in the Culm Valley. Besse's Sufferings of Friends records that seventy Friends from Cullompton and its neighbourhood were at one time imprisoned in Exeter Gaol, and in the same book we find this entry : — ' Robert Were prosecuted by John Moggridge, priest, of Burlescombe, for tithe, was committed to the High Court in Exon, by warrant from two justices grounded on a certificate out of the Ecclesiastical Court, on the 17th day of December, 1690.' The first authentic evidence that I can find of the connection of the Were family with the serge business is derived from a declaration made before the Wellington Justices in 1751 (see Appendix B), where it was stated that Thomas Were the elder is the son of the next brother and heir-at-law of Peter Were, deceased, the ancient author of the W R E mark and first sort of goods, and that Thomas Were the elder has been in the business for thirty or forty years. It also appears that the father of Thomas Were the elder was engaged in the business. Thomas Were the elder must have been engaged in it from 1711 or 1721. It may from this be safely inferred that his father and uncles were serge- makers at the beginning of the century, and probably at a considerably earlier date, as Peter Were was married in 1686. In addition to the work carried on at UfFculme, they must have had fulling mills at Tone and Harford Bridge, Wellington, from a very early date. There exists among the archives at Tonedale the Balance Sheet, dated 1736, 3 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE of Robert Were, who carried on the serge business at WeUington. Thomas Weare, grandson of Robert Weare, dropped the ' a,' and spelt the name Were. He resided at Welling- ton, and was possessed of lands at Great and Little Sowden, the Westleigh Estate, ' Old Baums,' Penslade, Escotts, Osmonds, in the County of Devon ; also the manor of Runnington, Landcox, Rockwell Green, Perry Elm, Durston, and other estates in the County of Somer- set. These he divided among his eight sons. He also left three daughters. The sons were as follows : — 1. Robert of Runnington Manor. 2. Peter, d. s. p. 3. Thomas, d. s. p. 4. John, d. s. p. 5. Nicholas of Landcox, Osmonds, Penslade, &c. He married Mary Colesworthy of Mount Radford, Devonshire. 6. William, d. s. p. 7. Berry, d. s. p. 8. Joseph, who moved to Bristol and married Elizabeth Colesworthy, sister to Mary, of Mount Radford. (The Colesworthys were descended from the old family of the Harfords. ) Thomas Were's second brother was Peter of Sampford Arundel, who owned the Werescot Estate. He also had a sister, Elizabeth, who married George Fox, of Perran, near Falmouth. Mary, the wife of Nicholas, the fifth son, was a well-known minister in the Society of Friends. Sarah Champion, afterwards the wife of Charles Fox of Ply- mouth, paid a visit to Landcox in 1782, and writes : ' a 4 1^ =y :i \ /- 4-f \. - ■ ' "*> """"' •■ i™ Jiij J . JO 09 Z£H' _/l/ '' " '^^"y^^^<^- (Tat 0-f I , I ' i ■' ' y ' J"' =.-:« Y r~r^7^ ^71^ / 'L-^\-pf' ^ -jC$h '20 C ■ r, I ►?«:>/;■ ft/£^^^J^j tm It f/^^// ■ njfc ROBICRT WERK'S l^USINESS ASSETS, 1734. AT WELLINGTON very worthy and agreeable family in which harmony and simplicity and order reign.' She also relates (1785) that Mary Were, the wife of Nicholas, ' sang us two or three of her delightful songs.' Nicholas Were left a legacy of 50/. Consols, for the upkeep of the Wellington Meeting House, to be accumulated until it reached 500/. The Friends of Wellington have long enjoyed the proceeds of this legacy. He also left a legacy of 20/. towards the purchase of a field attached to the Spiceland Meeting House premises, situated in the Parish of tJffculme, Devon. The following extract from Francis Dymond's History of the Trust Properties belonging to the Devon and Cornwall Quarterly Meeting of Friends gives a vivid picture of those days of religious persecution. ' Most of the Meeting Houses in the West of England and elsewhere throughout the country were not built until after the Toleration Act, 1689. Archbishop Shel- don's terrible Act for the extirpation of Nonconformists generally and especially of Quakers, was passed in 1670, and for nearly twenty years its provisions had been enforced aU over England with pitiless rigour. It is difficult in these days to realise the ruin that they brought to thousands of peaceful and once prosperous homes. ' This desolating tempest was in full blast when these East Devon Friends purchased their site, erected their Meeting House, and boldly recorded the purposes for which it was to be used. ' It is probable that they were weU aware that, in the same year in which they signed the Trust Deed, the names of thirty Devonshire Friends were recorded in the Monthly and Quarterly Meeting minute-books as being at that time prisoners in the filthy cells of the county jail at Exeter. 5 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE ' He who remembers the surrounding facts will hardly fail to recognise in the now quaint language of the quoted Deed, the earnest faith and abounding spiritual life of the men who risked their humble all, and their personal liberty, to raise this building for the worship of their God, and to provide a last resting-place for their loved but departed brethren.' 1752. The name of the firm at that time was Thomas and Robert Were, or Thomas and Robert Were and Co. Letters were addressed in both ways. Also in 1754, Thomas and Ehzabeth Were and Sons, as shown bythe inscription on the stone that was let into the wall at Tone Mills :— Thomas & Elizabeth Were & Sons 1754. Elizabeth Were was the daughter of Peter Berry of WelHngton, who married Elizabeth Hewlett in 1695, both being Friends. He was one of the Trustees in whose names the Friends' Burial Ground at WelHngton was invested, Robert Were being another: the land was bought in 1700 ; the land for the Meeting House six years earher, in 1694. The erection of the present Meeting House was completed in 1845. Peter Berry, described in an old deed as a yeoman, removed from Wellington to Taunton, and either pur- chased or rented an estate called ' Fullerns ' or ' Fullands,' and in old deeds ' FuUings.' As there was a very large serge trade carried on at that time in Taunton, it is probable that FuUings was a fulling mill, and it may be hat he carried on serge-making there. He had several children, among them Elizabeth, who married Thomas 6 AT WELLINGTON Were, the son of Robert Were, of Sanford, in 1717 ; and Sarah, who married in 1735, William Cookworthy, of Plymouth, the inventor of Enghsh porcelain or china. The introduction of machinery for the carding and spinning of wool did not take place until the close of the eighteenth century. Before that time all the work was carried on by hand, as well as combing and weaving, this being done in the cottages. A large part of the popula- tion of Somerset and Devon were thus employed, not only the people in the towns, but also throughout the country districts. The introduction of machinery and the erection of mills caused a social revolution and concen- trated in the towns the work previously done in the country districts. 1754 was the year of the Taunton Election, that proved so disastrous to the woollen industry in that town, where the manufacture of serges had employed some eight thousand people— men, women, and children. Much of this trade was diverted to other places, and a considerable share must have gone to Wellington. The following extract from Toulmin's history of Taunton explains the reason for the diversion of the serge trade from Taunton to other localities : — ' The trade of Taunton is now reduced to a low ebb. Houses in the suburbs have fallen into ruins and been destroyed, and the number of inhabitants greatly decreased ; while the woollen manufactory in other places, and in the north particularly, has flourished. The decay of it here must be therefore sought in causes that have had a local operation. Contested elections, by no means friendly to industry, must have proved particularly pre- judicial to a trade which, at times, could admit of no delay in the execution of orders for goods that must be 7 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE ready for the sailing of ships and the seasons of foreign affairs. ' The mischief of their influence in this respect was particularly felt in the continued and violent opposition of the year 1754. The demand for its goods was then great ; but through the idleness and debauchery of the season it could not be answered. The orders, being returned to the merchants, were sent for execution to other towns, with which, the intercourse being thus opened, was continued.' This growth of the Wellington business that followed the Taunton election, is shown by the following figures. In 1754, the total assets of the Weres' business amounted to 9816/., and the partners' capital to 6089/. In 1771 these figures had increased to 39,984/. and 22,433/. respectively, the amount being nearly quadrupled — a remarkable growth ! In order to obtain sufficient capital to carry on the business, a large sum was borrowed from relatives and friends, amounting at that time to 14,000/. The principal amounts will be found in Appendix C. The early history of this serge business carried on by our ancestors takes us back to the latter part of the seventeenth and to the eighteenth centuries, and it is interesting to try to picture the conditions of fife during this period, not only in England, but in the world beyond the sea. The means of inter-communication were very different from what they are at the present day. In our own country the roads were very bad, and the ordinary way of going from place to place was on horseback. To travel by ' post-chaise ' was a very expensive luxury, and there were few public conveyances before the mtroduction of 8 AT WELLINGTON the mail-coach in 1784. For carrying goods there were heavy stage wagons drawn by six or eight horses, and other stage vehicles, traveUing very slowly, for the use of those who could not afford horses. It appears that as early as 1673 coaches ran between London and Exeter, making the journey in five days. The roads were infested by highwaymen and robberies were frequent. The mail coaches were first introduced by John Palmer, manager of the Bath Theatre in 1784. The first coaches from London to Bath took two days ; as they used the same horses, but the plan of having relays was soon introduced. As the system extended, it was found needful to improve the roads, and the turnpike trusts were started with the toll- gates. Prior to the days of the mail-coach, the letters were carried on horseback at an average speed of 3^ miles per hour. As they did not travel by night, letters must have taken about five days from Wellington to London ; our forefathers, on horseback, about four days to go to London or to Falmouth — the ladies riding behind on piUions. All goods for London and the continent were shipped from Topsham, on the Exe, and wool was brought over from Ireland to Minehead. Very little went to any great distance by road, probably some goods were carried by wagon as far as Bristol, but by far the greater part went by wagon through Exeter to Topsham, for transit by water. Early in the eighteenth century, two or three daily papers had been started in London, followed by the Times in 1785, but the early papers were only half-sheets, printed on one side, and can have contained very little information. Our ancestors at Wellington may have taken in some small weekly news-sheet, published in the West, but Wellington being on the main road, they THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE were not dependent on that, as many travellers on horseback would be passing through, who would carry a certain amount of news ; many Friends also would stop at Wellington. It is probable that a good many of the latter were entertained at the houses of Peter Berry, Thomas Were, Nicholas Were, and others of the Were family. Thomas Were's three daughters and five of Peter Berry's were married to Friends Uving at a distance from Wellington; the young men probably making the acquaintance of their future wives whilst being hospitably received at their fathers' houses. The large trade that was done with the Continent at that time was carried on in spite of such disadvantages as the heavy postage, 3*. 4c?. for each letter ; the enormous cost of the transit of goods ; the difficulty of collecting debts ; the risk of bad debts ; and the interference with trade by the frequent wars in which England was engaged. In the earlier part of the century by far the greater portion of the goods the Weres manufactured was exported to the Continent, and was mostly sent to Dutch ports, or to Ostend, Hamburg, or Altona, and thence distributed over the Continent. There were about eighty towns with which they traded, in some of them having several customers. A list of these towns is given in an Appendix ; Holland, Belgium, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Russia, and Spain are all represented. There were four customers at Botzen, the capital of Sud Tyrol, as well as three at Verona. The goods for these places were shipped to Ostend, Hamburg, or Altona, and probably carried up the Rhine as far as Frankfort. Thence by wagon over the Brenner Pass, the great high road for the goods traffic between the North and South of the Alps from the time of the Romans to the nineteenth century. The cost of 10 "ARMADA" CHESTS. AT WELLINGTON transit from Ostend to Botzen and Verona must have been very great, but as the goods were shipped at Topsham f. o. b. there is no means of ascertaining the expense of the land carriage or of the customs duties, which I have reason to believe were considerable. The two iron chests now in the Board Room at Tone- dale have probably been in the possession of the family for a very long time, but I cannot find any facts that will throw light on their origin. They are known by the name of Armada Chests ; there is a similar one in the Museum at Exeter called by that name. I have also seen another offered for sale in a shop at Dover. It is not likely that these chests ever belonged to any of the ships of the Spanish Armada, but they are probably ship's chests of Spanish make. Ships of war in those days of necessity carried a chest for holding the specie that was needed to pay for stores purchased in foreign ports, the chest being under the charge of the purser. In the history of the Sun Fire Office, which was established in 1710, we find that the Directors procured two such chests for the purpose of keeping their monies. They are still to be seen in their Board Room, and illus- trations of them are given in the history of the Company. It was the practice to put all premiums paid to them into these chests and to draw out from them the cash required to pay for losses by fire. As there was no banking account kept these chests answered the purposes of bank and strong room. When the chests became full a bonus was distributed, and when empty a call was made. Soon after the Company started some of their funds were invested, but the founder of the Company protested against this practice, alleging that it was contrary to their regulations, and that, in his opinion, it was safer to 11 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE keep the money in the chests than to run the risk of investing it. The chests at Tonedale were no doubt used by the Weres to keep a supply of cash for paying wages. This was very necessary, as in those days they were unable to procure it from a bank, having no banking account, and the supply from other sources was very precarious, especially when there was such risk of robbery on the high roads. I find that before the opening of the first banking account in 1772, there was usually about lOOOZ. in cash shown in the annual balance-sheets, but subsequently the amount was very much smaller. The correspondence relating to the opening of this first banking account will be found in Appendix G. John Were died in the year 1772. He was a son of Thomas Were, senr., and lived at Sampford Arundell. He left the following legacies : — Robert Were £54 15 Thomas Were, jnr. 54 15 Sons of T. Were, Nicholas Were 54 15 senr William Were 54 15 Elizabeth Matravers 54 15 vl T~V 1 . rt Anna Fox 54 15 1 Daughters of j T. Were, senr Mary Fox 54 15 Thomas Fox 5 5 I Grandsons of 1 T. Were, senr Stephen Matravers 5 5 Joseph Were 54 15 Son of T. Were, senr £448 10 My gi-andfather, Thomas Fox, was the son of Edward Fox, of Wadebridge, who had married Anna, one of the daughters of Thomas Were, senr. There were very few young men in the Were family, 12 THOMAS FOX. Born 1748. Died 1821. SARAH SMITH. (Wife of Thomas Fox. Died 1833. AT WELLINGTON the grandsons of T. Were, senr., who could be trusted to carry on the business, and it was no doubt in consequence of this that it was thought desirable to strengthen the personnel by the introduction of Stephen Matravers and Thomas Fox, both grandsons of T. Were, senr. Their uncle, Thomas Were, junr., when a young man had been sent to Holland to learn business and foreign languages. This probably was the reason why Edward Fox was persuaded by his father-in-law, the old Thomas Were, to send his son Thomas for a like purpose, that by so doing he might be better qualified to take a useful part in the concern. So Thomas Fox at the age of fourteen went for three years to HoUand and Germany, where he learnt the Dutch, German, and French languages, and so became competent on his return to England to conduct the foreign correspondence. Copies of his letters written in these three languages are preserved in the old letter-books — the copies were made by his own hand. On his return he came to Wellington, where both he and Stephen Matravers began their business careers, each receiving a salary of 100/. for the year preceding the formation of the new partnership — a handsome salary in those days — showing that their services were then of con- siderable value. It is probable that T. Fox resided with his grandfather at Bulford House. It appears from the account in an old ledger under the name of Thomas Fox that he began with a capital of 20/., being the amount of a legacy from his uncle, Peter Were, in 1768. Peter Were had been a partner with his father and brother and died at that time. My grandfather appears to have invested certain small sums in lotteries — these lotteries were probably of the nature of a tontine or an insurance, and for the purpose of 13 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE providing against sickness or old age, Friendly Societies and Life Insurance being almost unknown. In the eighteenth century lotteries were used by the Government to raise money for special purposes, but it was made illegal by Act of Parliament in the latter part of that century. The following extracts, taken from an old memorandum- book belonging to the Weres, may be of interest as throw- ing some light on the condition of the poor in Wellington at that period, and showing how the place was visited by Friends travelling on ministerial service, and how arduous their journeys through the country on horseback must have been. And also on other subjects more directly connected with the trade at the time. Objects from Weixington (Quaker) Meeting. (About 1745.) Jno Winter Aged abt 70 years — and not able labour Trade wever at his trade of a wever but Sweep Streets, and Labours verry Industrous in what he can gett Imploy. Ame Cape Aged about 30 years — Single woman Trade Spinster Earnes abt 3d. p" day when sh hath labour which is now scarce. WiLLM Clarke Aged about 45 : is a verry Laborious Trade Combr Industrous man where he hath Labour which is now halfe wanting — he hath a wife and fife Children y° youngest ab* 18 months and none earns mutch. Mary Burford Desires Ed pooll to Speek of her fammilly being Best Known to him. 14 AT WELLINGTON Roger Nott Aged abt 43 : & a wife & Familly of seven Trade Combr Children The eldest a Girdle abt 14 & is an Honest man & would labour if work was plenty. Rob'' Northam Aged abt 74 and is a worthy honest man Trade Combr — and would Labour — to ye best of hiss abillity if he could have Labour which is mutch wanting. Visits by Friends to Wellington. (1748-1756.) Samuel Spavold Shopkeeper in faulkstone Kent lodged at our house ye 12 of 7th Mo— 1748— By Will" Bidwell at CuUampton— from that town — he was directed to attend meet- ings as foUoweth Viz Wellington this day 5. Eveng. Ilminster 3** day Eve or 4th day. Taunton 5th day Noon. Milverton 6 day Evening. Minehead 7th day for first day M° Meeting. Bridgewater 2^ day. Grinton 3 day or Sidcott : Claram 4th day : Portishead 5th day. Bristol 6th day. Direct To John Heb- bard Curryer In Yeovil To Jonah Thompson Meetings ; as appointed by friends for Samuel Spavold. Viz — Wellington second day Ilminster — Third day on bridgewater 2 day — Grinton Taunton — 5 day 3d day — or Sidcott — Claram Milverton — 6 day evening — 4th day. Portishead — 5th Minehead— first day day — Bristol— 6th day. 15 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE At our house — ye 28 of 12. mo 1749 — Henry ffreeman NB. hee sells fflower of mustard and many other things — Direct to him — To Henry and Joseph ffree- man Confectioners on Margate Hill in the Burrow of Southwark — I^ondon. At our house ye — 30: of 4. Mo. 1751 ; Margreat Marsham of Becles in Suffolk and with Her Eliz. Morly of Bury : in Suffolk. At our house ye — 28: of 3d Mo. 1756 : John Ransome — of North Walsham County of Norfolk— who if we want Corrospondence at Norridge will acct the kind part to introduce us — and with him his Companion Edword Higginson of good Manchester in Huntington Shire. 1756. The 25th of 12: Mo. was at our house John Storer of Nottingham and his Companion Joseph Heath of Coventry. NB. John Storer and Robert Bukewell of Nottingham are partners in ye Wooll Stapleing Trade — and will buy or sell for us at 5 p. pack Comission — and a low sort of wooU with them is took out and sould in fleece at abt 12/ or 12/6 p. Todd when our common cuntry price was 6 pence p. pound — and likewise very Super fine wt pinions are sould with them — and can be brott down ye Severn — by puting one board at Stratford one ye Aven — if no better or cheeper port can be found. They also say that John Adkins wooll Comber at Warwick accasonally buyes & sells wooll &c. 1762 — ye 9th Mo. Sept — fromExeter yearly Meeting at our house to our quarterly meeting— with Catherine pajrtom — was Timothy Bevington in Worcester — he proposed 16 AT WELLINGTON to send a portion of Phissick for ye Convilshon ffitts — and if I remembr right it was remarked that ye white part of peeocks Dung powdered & given in Syrup of piony was also good for sd Disorder. Itinerary of Friends. About ye 20 of ye 12th Mo Dec'' 1754 ; was at our house our worthey and esteemed friends — Samuel Hop- wood — Edmund Pickover and John Alderson. The Two hath designing for vissiting friends meetings between this and Lands End (friend Hopwood Therefore advised as after (viz.) from Exon, &c. : — Say ye 22'* at Exon of a first day at that Meeting being their Monday Mor. Miles is 3 miles Third day at Topsham meeting — being the 24 day Mo. 3 do. back to Exon. 4"' & 5 day being Quarterly Meeting 25 & 26. 12 to Bovey. Sixth day (at Sara Splatts 27. 24 to Holberton. Seventh day (at James Kingstons 28. 10. to Plymouth. First day ye 29. 10. to over the passage and then to Germans "1 qq » oi 2^ day to have a meeting. 3'^ day at 10. J 6. two Looe third day ye same Evening from thence 1st Mo 6. to Liscard — and appoint a meeting there to beginn @ 12-4 day. 14. to Wade Bridge ye 5th day 2. 8. to Port Isaac. 3. 8, back to Edword Fox^ 4 17 c THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE 10. first day Monthly Meeting @ Dennis. 5. 5. from Dennis Meeting to Austill. There Quarter Meeting is 3* & 4 day 6. 7. 8. 20. to Penrin. 5 day to have a meeting 6^" day 9. 10. 20. to pensance — 7'^ day 11. 10. first day to Lands End. 12. 10. Same Evening back to pensance 3. Second day to Markell Jew or Merry Zion. 13. 20. Back to penrin — a 3* day 14. 2. to Falmouth Meeting — a fourth day 15. 6. to Key meeting a fifth day 16. 23. to Parr a Sixth day 17. 8. to Looe ye T''' day. 18. and if Looe Meeting is past down words then have a Meeting 19. 12. From Looe Back to Plymouth. The Petition of 1754. A Petition from the Serge Makers of Wellington and neighbouring towns was sent to the House of Com- mons about the year 1754. To the Honnorable Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parhament assembled. The Humble petition of ye Serge makers Drugatt Makers and principall manufactures of fleece wool! in the Towns of Wellington & Milverton and parts adjacent in ye County of Somersett Humbly Sheweth That your petitioners are Very great Sufferers by the fraudulent practice of wooU winders not under Oath And who for that reason with Impunity Conterary to ye 18 AT WELLINGTON Statute provided for that purpose ye 23'' of Hen^ ye 8*^ Chap 17 : Make and wind up Bad washd wooll — And in the fleece all the taile and Curse wooll — DeceitfuU Locks dirt dung, Pitch Tarr'd Wooll and other dross in order thereby that the fleece may be more weighty, to the deceit of ye Buyer — Therefore we Humbly Hope for ye Better Support of ye Woollen Manufacture and your petitioners that you will direct Such Amendments to ye aforesaid Act, as Shall in your Wisdom appear Necessary. We humbly Hope so as No fleece wooll shall be wind or made up but by men Sworn for that purpose And in Such manner as may be with out any of ye fore mentioned greiveances — And your petitioners Shall Ever Pray &c. Stamps on Goods (as used 1754). It was customary in those days to affix a stamp to the goods that were sent out. And the following is a description of the stamps that were used for this purpose. ' Clovey G O: Henry Blagdon Tho Were & Sons. 24. ' Clovey G O : Henry Blagdon. reverse Tho good ... 23. ' 1. Mermaid Geo. Osmond. reverse Tho Were & Sons . 22. one our Best yard wides called Royalls . Second Royalls or Narrow Best . WRE Best Sorts Stampt the same as ye WRE & are 19 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE Clovey G O: Henry Blagdon. Best Bastards. . • ^ reverse Tho Were & Sons . 22. 1 foot S F. Sam Burridg. Tiverton. reverse Tho Were & Sons . 22 G.O r 1 Tack G O: Theodore Wilson Little Bastards to Light \ reverse / Tho good Little Bastards. 22. Uytschot N. 45 also the f 1. Tack. Theodore Wilson, same as Light peces . \ 22. Thirds. 2 : Mermaids G. O. reverse 2U. FoBEiGN Addresses (about the year 1754). Names of Merchants — &, ye Circumfleoc of ye same house. Guglielmo Finzi, in Man- Sacrestani & Orioli toua. Donato Isaia Guastalla, Mantoua. Israel Bassano, Mantoua. Jacob Bassano, in Mantoua. Girolamo Fontana, in Velle- tri. Fran°° Antonio Gentilli in Viterbo, Sacrestani & uriou m Viterbo. StefFano Ciamaglia in Vi- terbo. Vincenzo DanieUi in Vi- terbo. Fran™ Ant" Gentili & Fra- telli in Viterbo. by Geo Fox Sig'' Gio Batta Rossi — Jan- 20 AT WELLINGTON uary of ye Late Sig" John Batta-Rossi, Merch' in Naples. Antonio & Pietro Lignola, in Naples. Gennaro Piarelli, in Naples. Gio: Batta Rossi, in Naples. Nicola Sorrentinol in Quondam MatteoJ Naples. by Geo. Fox direct to his friend in Naples. To — See' Gennara Batta Rossi, January: of the late Sig" John Batta Rossi Mer- chant in Naples. Lezy & Bechelti, in Foligno. Eredi de Ginuario Solari, Foligno. Giesuppe Barugi, in Foligno. Alexandre Serachi, in Fo- ligno. Fani & Lodovici, in Foligno. Cherubini & Piccinini, in Foligno Abel Mitz & Sons, in Bazle. Philip & Henry Stern, in Bazle. Jacob BrandmuUer, in Bazle. Frederick Euler, in Bazle. Jean Jacques Frey, in Bazle. Jean George Karper, Bazle. Charles Lombard©, Leg horn. m David de Pinto, Jew, Leg- horn. Cornelius Pierdei, Leghorn. Abraham De Costa, Leg- horn. To: Saint John at Tours in Tourain in france. See ye Map in 247 degree. Gio Ant° Bardi Rossaro, in Rome. Eredi di Defonda Zonca, in Rome. Angeli di Angelo, in Rome. Isaac Ascarelli, in Rome. Angello Morelli, in Rome. Antonio ManueUi, in Rome. Eredi di Francisco Caris- simo, Rome. Gio Batta Surchi, in Albano. Ambro Gaeto Bonaini, in Leghorn. Antonio Damiani, Venitian, in Leghorn. Pietro Petrucci, in Turin. Pulei & Moresti, in Turin. Trobalza & Lepri Seracchi, in Bevagna. Bartholomew Rota, in Be- vagna. Moscone & Perotti, in Ve- rone. Joseph Lamande, in Geneva. Jean Mallet & Naville, Geneva. 21 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE Chas. Lombard Neveux, Geneva. Boyer & Martin, Geneva. JeanBatta 1^, Venice. Mich^ Jager J Benoit Herman, in Venice. g. William Konig, in Leip- sick. By our Books we suppose Peter Langlois & Sons, Leghorne. g: Jacob Frid'' Sehultz Bre- men. AUexandra Sella, Leghorne. Bruch & Oldenburgh, Leg- horne. Ragueneau Marcha & Cham- ier, Leghorn. Gunter Ludwig Scuhlman, Altona. Matthias Matthei Sen', Hamburgh. Gustav Lutken, Hamburgh, freres Vieusseux Lagier & Comy Nice le. one Mercht Katenkamps bUl. Frider Wilhelm Strichl- mann in Antona. Postage (1754). The Rates of Postage for letters to London and the Continent are as follows : — By the : act : from Wellington to London Is 4d. p. ounce From London to Holland . . .3s 4d. p. ounce From Wellington to Bremen . .5s 4d. p. ounce or to any part of Germany or Itally ye same From Wellington to Hambro . . .4s 8d. p. ounce N.B. We paid with a Single Letter to bremen Is 4d. do to Hamborough Is 2d. In 1755 the Postmaster-General issued a notice of the inauguration of a service of Packets to carry the 22 AT WELLINGTON mails between Falmouth and the West Indies and also to the American Colonies, of which the following is a copy.^ Gennerall Post office, London, octob' 24, 1755. Where as a Number of pacquet Boats are provided and established at falmouth for Carrying one a regular monthly Correspondence between these Kingdoms and his Majesty s Illands in ye West Indies and also to and from the severall Colonies on the Continent of North America. Publick Notice is hereby given to all merchants and others whom it may Concern that Letters and Packets for ye said Illands, and Colonies on ye Continent of North america will be taken in and receved at this office from ye Date here of upon their being pd for after ye Rates Setled by act of parlament as undermentioned : — Viz. from London to the j for a Single Letter 1^ Qd. Islands of Barbadoes, An- | a double Letter Ss Od. tegoa, Montserrat, Nevis — St. Christophers — Jamaica. a treble Letter 4* 6d. ann ounce 6s Od. Ann ounce 4* Od. Foreign Postage to the West Indies. From London to New York, - ^^^ ^ gj ^^ j^^^^^^ ^^. ^^ New England, Virginia, ^ double Letter 2s Od. Maryland, and all the other j ^ ^^^^j^ better 3* Od. Colonies on the Continent of North America. The first maile of letters for the severall Islands in the west Indies will be made up and Dispatched from this office upon Satterday ye 8th day of November Next and 1 I well remember these packets in Falmouth Harbour in 1846 and 1849. They were full-rigged brigs.— J. H. P. 23 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE be Continued one the first Satterday of Every month following. The first maile of Letters by ye way of New york for ye Severall Colonies on the Continent of North america wiU be made up and Dispatched from this office upon the 15: of November Next and so to be Continued one the second Satterday of Every month threw out ye year. The full postage of the above Letters and packets must be paid at the time of their delivery into this office : or at the receveing houses in Town and all such as are putt into ye severall post houses in Brittain and Ireland Most over and above the sd Rates pay also the full Inland Postage to London — without which they Cannot be forworded from hence. By Command of ye Postmaster Gennerall. George Sheloocke Secretary. In 1756 the total assets of the firm were 9380/, and the partners' capital : — Thomas Were, senr. \ q^^^^^^^^ [ £3006 6 1 Robert Were | \ 1444 12 11 Thomas Were, jnr. . g^^^ ^^ 1502 18 2 Peter Were T. Were, senr. ^^0 Nicholas Were ' '^ 118 15 £6392 12 2 The Tucking Mill and Rack Close (Tone) were valued at 500/. This is the old tucking or fulling mill worked by the Weres for many years anterior to this date, and where at the present time, 1914, Fox Brothers & Co., Ltd., have their finishing mills and dye works. 24 AT WELLINGTON The following are the particulars of the route by which goods were carried from Wellington to London : — Carridge to London by Way of BristoU. Goods from London p" Barge Carridge to be Delivered to the Care of Mr. Benjamin Burnley, Near Gerrards Hall Inn in Bossing Lane Near Bread Street London, who hath the care of all goods to be forwarded by this Conveyance to BristoU, all goods is usually delivered there in about Twelve days, to the care of Richard Giles, at the Lamb without Lawfords Gate BristoU, the Carridge is at 3 shiUings p"^ Hundred, — the above is Carried by Land to Newberry, and from thence by water to Reading, so on to London if you should want any thing to be sent this way, must order the Carrier to Deliver the goods to said Richard Giles without Lawfords Gate, and he will give a Recept for the same, to be safely delivered at Benjamin Burnleys aforesaid, of Joe Were. NB. bath Stone Cost abt 7/6 a Tone Bath Stone : ruff at Bath — and 7/6 a Tonn freight from thence to Watchett. 1759. A Petition sent to two of the Wellington Justices on behalf of two labouring men who had been sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour for improper behaviour before the Justices. Coppy of a Petition — When Wilham Bennett & William Perry were committed by Justice Carew & Justice Camphn for 3 months absolute — as Drawn by Wm Prockter Thomas. 25 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE To ye Worshipful! Thomas Carew Esq' & The Rev"* Mr Thomas Camphn Docktor of Laws. Two of His Majesty's Justices of ye Peace for the County of Somersett. The humble Petition of William Bennett and William Perry Labourers & prisoners now confined in ye Costody of Geo Strong Keeper of his Majestys Goal in Taunton. Humbly shew, that your Petitioners are truly Sencible of Their great folly and offence in behaveing amiss and Irreverently before your Worships : one ye 17 day of this Ins' July, for which they most Justly stand committed to hard Labour for Three months. They most Humbly & heartily repent of their sd offence and with all Humility do Implore and Beg for forgiveness. and Humbly Pray that one their complying with your Worships orders to them one ye Day above men- tioned they may be released from their confinement and your Petitioners shall Ever Pray &c. Signed Will"" Perry Will" Bennet. Taunton Goall July 24—1759 one ye other Side ye Leif Somersett to witt to ye Worshipfull Tho' Carew Esq' & ye Rev'* Dockter Tho' Camphn Two of his majesties Justices of ye peace for ye sd County We the Parrishoners and inhabitants of Welhngton in ye County aforesd do hereby Certifie to your Worships: that Will" Bennett & Will" Perry Labourers : of our sd Parrish and now confined in Taunton Goale are Laborious honest Industrous people that they are sorry y* ye sd Bennett & perry should offend your Worships — and that if your sd Worships will comply 26 AT WELLINGTON with ye Petition of ye sd offenders you will oblige us & ye Rest of sd Parrishoners. Dated ye 24 of July 1759. W. J. W. A. T. H. L. In the year 1759 the total assets of the business amounted to 11,934Z,, and the partners' capital as under : — Thomas Were, senr. ] Robert Were J - Brothers r £3450 \ 1903 12 6 6 Thomas Were, jnr. 1882 1 2 Peter Were Sons of 663 9 9 Nicholas Were Thomas Were, senr . 471 4 10 William Were 310 1 4 £8689 15 8 The following loans are shown in the ledger : — Widdo Collier succeeds Benjamin Collier, deed. loan £620 Robert Were's daughter Betty Were £130 Thomas Were's daughter Betty Were £22 (Betty Were married her first cousin. The brothers Robert and Thomas Were were her father and father- in-law.) 1760. Sister Matravers (wife of Wilham Matravers and mother of Stephen Matravers) £105 Sister Anna Fox (wife of Edward Fox, of Wade- bridge, and mother of Thomas Fox) 101 Sister Mary Fox (wife of George Croker Fox, of Falmouth) 105 They were daughters of Thomas Were, the elder. 27 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE Stephen Matravers and Thomas Fox became partners in 1772. Taken out by the partners for their separate use : — Thomas Were, senr £111 221 8 101 Robert Were , , 201 19 5 Thomas Were, jnr 284 15 H Peter Were . , 23 11 n Nicholas Were , 29 16 WiUiam Were • 3 16 £868 6 H And in 1767 Thomas Were , £848 15 H Robert Were . . 152 9 oi Thomas Were, jnr 118 11 5 Peter Were . , , 72 8 Nicholas Were . . 76 18 11 William Were • . 17 19 6 £786 14 5 Thomas Were and Sons were agents for the Sun Fire Office. At this time there appears to have been a fire at Uffi3ulme, eight miles from Wellington. The two following affidavits made before Justices of the Peace show how in those days, when the expense of sending a valuer from London would have been very great, claims for loss by fire were made, and the kind of evidence the Fire Insurance Company required to prove the claim. 28 AT WELLINGTON 1762. Fire at Uffculme and Sun Fire Office. The Bond on a Common Stamp as Rec'd from ye office Jan^ 1763. Thomas Marsh of Uffculm in ye County of Devon Sergemaker maketh Oath and saith that on or about the Twenty sixth day of Novem* last past an accidental Fire happened in or near his Stables By which Fire he this Deponent sustained the Loss and Damage of Part of his Buildings and Household goods Utensills and stock therein as contained and specified in an Inventory of said goods and delivered unto the Sun Fire Office London. And this Deponent further saith that the said In- ventory to the best of this Deponents knowledge and Belief contains a true full and faithfuU account of his said Buildings and Household goods Utensills and Stock, as were this Deponents own proper goods and ChatteUs, and all which were Burned lost or damaged by said Fire. And lastly this Deponent further saith — that the said Building and goods were not insured in any other office at ye time the said Fire happened, and that his Loss occasioned thereby amounts to the sum of One Hundred and Thirty Four Pounds and Upwards. This Affisrdavit taken before us. Magistries, Justices of ye peace for ye County abovesd T. Markes, Esqr. C. Drewe, Esqr. to be wrote on ye Back of ye above Bond We the Minister Church Wardens and other Principal Inhabitants of the Town of Uffisulm in the County of Devon, do hereby Certifie, that on or about the Twenty sixth day of Novem"^ last past an accidental! 29 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE Fire happened in or Near the Stables of the within named Thomas Marsh— By which Fire he sustained the loss and Damage of part of his Buildings, Household goods Utensills and Stock, and we do know and verily believe that the said Thomas Marsh is an Honest man and that he really and by Misfortune without any Fraud or evil Practice hath sustained by the said Fire a loss to the amount of the sum mentioned in the within affidavit. Winsor. E. Manley. Butcher. WilUam Byrd of Ufculm in the County of Devon (being one of the people called Quakers) maketh solemn Affirmation that on the Second day of the month called July last an accidental Fire happened in his Buildings in the Parish of UfFculm aforesaid by which Fire he this Affirmant sustained a Loss and Damage in his said Buildings Household Goods and Stock in Trade to the amount of Six Hundred Ninety five Pounds three shillings and three Pence Specified in an Inventory which he this said Affirmant hath sent to the Sun Fire Office in London and Signed by this Affirmant And this Affirmant further saith that the said Estimate or Inventory contains a true and Faithful account of the Damage sustained in the said Buildings Household Goods and Stock in Trade Avere this Affirmants own proper Goods and Chattels and all which were burnt or Damaged by the said Fire, And this Affirmant further saith that the Damage done to the said Buildings Household Goods and Stock in Trade as contained and Specified in the said Estimate or Inventory is not rated or valued at more than what is necessary to put them in the like Con- dition of Repare they were in before the Fire happened. 30 AT WELLINGTON And lastly this Affirmant saith that the Buildings Household Goods and Stock in Trade were not insured in any other Office at the Time the said Fire happened and that his loss and Damage settled amount to the Sum of Five Hundred and Eight Pounds and 13 Shillings. Grange 26th August : 1762 the Above William Byrd solemnly affirmed before me (one of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the said County) the Truth of the Above. p pv One of his Majestys Justice of Peace. We the Minister Churchwardens and Other principal Inhabitants of Uffisulm do hereby Certifie that on the Second Day of the Month called July last past an Acci- dental Fire happened in William Byrds Buildings in the Parish of Uffisulm aforesaid by which Fire the above named William Byrd sustained a Loss and Damage in his Buildings Household Goods and Stock in Trade and we do know or verily Believe that the said William Byrd is an Honest Man and of Good Repute and that he really and by misfortune without any Fraud or evil Practice has sustained by the said Fire the Loss and Damage Five hundred eight pounds Thirteen Shillings. J. Winsor, Vicar. E M 1 '' \ Churchwardens. N. W. J G. Green. R. C. J. C. H. E. W. S. R. S. S. D. 31 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE a recept for removall of goods as over Leaf Wellington Febr 4 : 1763. rec'd of Tho^ Were & Sons agents for ye Sunfire Office London on five pounds and Nine Shillings for damages and Loss Sustained on or ab* 4 or 6 day of N"" — last in removing my goods & paying for assistance to save them from ye fire of T. M. house, Near or adjoyning, and it is my full demand for s"* Damages as witness my Hand. £5 9 0. 1 • % J. D. the Letter of Attorney to Impower T. Giles to Receive ye money of ye Insureers is in ye Sunfire office Book. The serge manufacturers of Somerset and Devon imported wool from Ireland ; that used in Somersetshire was mostly landed at Minehead, and Irish labourers also found their way into the district and obtained employment in the wool industry. Some of these men, having learned the business, returned to Ireland and introduced the manufacture into the South ; but the English Government, in order to destroy the competition with English manu- facturers, put on a prohibitive export duty on goods manufactured in Ireland, and killed the industry. Thomas Were & Sons appear, from time to time, to have imported wine from Oporto and Lisbon. Some of these wines were distributed among the households of the Were family, and some were sold to the neighbouring gentry. The following account of transactions with Messrs. Bovett and Bridge, surgeons, residing in Wellington, shows how some of the imported wine was disposed of. Dr. Franklin Bridge, a son of the Dr. Bridge here mentioned, had some old Port wine in his cellar of 32 AT WELLINGTON which he was very proud. I have often heard him speak of it, and it is quite possible that some of it may have been the very wine mentioned in this account. BOVBTT & BRIDGE. Debit. 1777 £ s d. Deer. To 1 pipe red Port Wine, Cost & Charges 34 14 5 34 14 5 Credit. 1777 £ s. d. July 2. By amount of Robt. Were's Bill 16 6 7 Dec. 25. By amount of Thos. Were's do 9 7 6 Entered Separate 25 14 1 1778 Apr. 14, By 185 lbs. Woall at S^d 6 11 By Cash received ... 32 5 1 2 9 4 34 14 5 1770. In an account with George Croker Fox, of Falmouth, it appears that Sister Mary, his wife, purchased a pillion at Wellington for 4/. 4*. And the account is credited For mahogany chairs for Father £2 7 and for lemon juice for Father 4 6 also sweet meats for Father 17 8 This reference to the purchase of a pillion indicates that George Croker and Mary Fox must have been travelUng on horseback from Falmouth— either on a visit to their relations at WeUington, or possibly on their way to London. The journey from Falmouth to London would have occupied at least eight days — more likely ten or twelve. It is probable that they were accompanied by a servant on horseback, who would also carry the luggage. WiUiam Cookworthy of Plymouth was the discoverer 33 D THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE of the material for the manufacture of porcelain or china, and the first English maker. He was a well-known minister in the Society of Friends and a brother-in-law of Thomas Were, senr., having married a daughter of Peter Berry, of Wellington. It appears from an account in one of the Were's ledgers that Thomas Were & Sons purchased a share in the Plymouth Porcelain Company for 140/., which they afterwards sold to the Bristol China Company for 75/. I am informed on good authority that this is the first authentic information that has yet been obtained of the date of the beginning of the manufacture of this china in Bristol, and also that it was not previously known that the work had been carried on at Truro as well as at Plymouth. There was living on a farm near Truro a family called Stephens ; one of them, of the name of WilUam, was an artist, employed by Cookworthy to paint his china. As Truro is rather nearer to the china clay than Plymouth, this circumstance may accovmt for the fact of the work having been carried on in both places. The china that has WilUam Stephens' mark on it is of enhanced value. Mrs. Stephens, of Falmouth, has a tea service of Plymouth or Bristol china painted by William Stephens, each piece having the monogram J. A. S. — John and Ann Stephens. This John Stephens was the brother of William, who gave him the set ; and was the grandfather of Mrs. Stephens' late husband John. The set is of very great value. A copy of the account with WiUiam Cookworthy in the Were ledger is here inserted. 34 AT WELLINGTON WILLIAM COOKWORTHY-on the China affair-or Plymouth Porcelain Company. Ih: To Bill Remitted on China aflfair at Bristol To ditto by order paid The. Noankes 1767. Nov. 11th. To Bill on China afPairs at Truro— or — plymouth to Wm. Cook worthy 1768. Febry. 27th. To Bill to Chas. Fox our agent — at— 30— days July 15th. To Bill to William Philips— at — 30— days 1767. July 8th. To Bill to James Fox on Hagues at 30 days 1769. Octr. 18th. To Bill to Chas. Fox, ditto 1770. Febry. 24th. To Bill to Chas. Fox, do. Sept. 29th. To Bill to Chas. Fox, do. £ s. d. 30 5 15 50 15 15 15 95 15 15 15 140 Creditor. £ s. d. 1770. Sept. 29. By Sale our Share to the pro- prietors of the New China manufacturors at Bristol — where the work is intended to be carried on, for 75 By Sufferings on Carrying on at Plymouth 30 By Sufferings at Bristol on first out set 35 140 Note. — Soon after the rise of the Society of Friends a meeting was established in London called the ' Meeting for Sufferings,' the object being to assist those friends who were suffering for the Truth, whether through imprisonment or through the seizure of their goods. This will explain the use of the word ' Sufferings ' in the above account — meaning pecuniary loss. When travelling was so dangerous, on account of the roads being infested by highwaymen, it was found necessary to devise means whereby the inhabitants should be stimulated to capture the thieves, and it was enacted by Parliament in the reigns of Queen Elizabeth and George II. that under certain conditions the loss would fall on the Hundred. 35 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE Particulars of the methods of procedure to be adopted by the victims of the robbery are here given, as extracted from one of the old books : — The following are the particulars, necessary to be observed in Case of a Robbery in order to recover upon the Hundred : as furnished to Council to Dan^ Hamilton Esq' : Receiver for Devonshr. By 27th Eliz. Ch. 13 : 5 : 1 •'•. The Person rob'd shall with as much convenient Speed, as may be, give Notice & Intelligence thereof unto some of the Inhabitants, of some Town, Village or Hamlet near unto the place where any such Robbery shall be committed : and By 8th Geo. 2nd. Ch. 16 : 5 : 1 • . No person shall recover against the Hundred unless he shall, besides the Notice already required (viz the above Notice to some of the Inhabitants) with as much convenient speed as may be after the Robbery, committed, give notice thereof to one of the Constables, of the Hundred, or to some Constable, House-holder, Head borough, or Tythingman, of some Town, Parish, at Tything, near the place, wherein such Robbery, shall happen, or shall leave Notice in writing, at the Dwelling House of such Constable &c : discribing in such Notice, so far as the Circumstances of the Case vdll admit, the Felons & the Time, and Place of the Robbery — And also, shall within Twenty Days, cause Notice to be given, in the London gazette, therein Mkewise describing the Felons, and the Time and Place of the Robbery, together with the Goods, and effects whereof he was Robb'd. By 27th Elizt. Ch. 13:5:1*.. And he shall before he brings any Action against the Hundred, within 36 AT WELLINGTON Twenty Days, before such Action brought, be examined upon Oath, before some Justice of the peace, of the County in or near the Hundred whither He or They know the Parties who committed the Robbery, or any of them. And if He doo, he shall before the Action, be bound-over by the Justice to prosecute the Robber. By 8th Geo. 2. Ch. 16. S. 1*. & 2^. He must also go before the Chief Clerk, or Secondary, or the Filazer of the County, or the Sheriff of the County, and enter into an Hundred Pound Bond, to the High Constable of the Hundred with two sufficient Sureties to pay him Costs, if he (the Prosecutor) shall be Cast, and Judgment be against him. The Bond shall be delivered to the High Constable. Sect. 3d. If any of the Felons be apprehended within 40 days next after Notice in the Gazette the Hundred shall not be chargeable. All this being done & 40 days expired from the day of Publication in the Gazette, and none of the offenders being apprehended, and a whole year not being expired from the time of the Robbery committed (for the Action can't be brought after a year from the Time of the Robbery) Then the Action may be brought against the Hundred : And By 8th Geo. 2nd. S. 4. The process shall be served on the High Constable only, who is to give public Notice, in one of the Principal Towns, on the next Market day, and if no Market Town, then in a Parish Church, on the next Sunday, and he shall enter an appearance, and defend the Action, and on the Tryal any Inhabitant, may be a Witness. The person travelling and Rob'd must be on the Highway, and 37 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE in a public Road. He must not be travelling on a Sunday, but if he is going to Church on a Sunday, the Hundred is Liable. It must be committed in the Day time, i.e. so much day light, that you may see a mans Face so as the Robber may be known. 22nd Geo. 2d. Ch. 24 : No Person shall recover against the Hundred more than the Valtie of Two Hundred pounds, unless two at least be in Company to attest the Truth of the Robbery. By the Land tax Acts, no Receiver shall recover against the Hundred unless the Persons, carrying the Money be three in Company. 1772. Were & Co. subscribed 4 guineas to the Exeter Hospital. We now come to the time when my grandfather, Thomas Fox, became connected with the business, and subjoined are the particulars of the first account he had in the ledgers of the firm. 1768. Dec. 25th. By a Legacy on Brother Peter's will £20 1769. To one years Interest 1769. Dec. 25th. To Cash put into Trade . 1770. Dec. 25. One years Interest .18 Paid I Lottery ticket 3 10 10^ Dec. 29. To Cash put into Trade We gave our joint note for this. 38 16 20 16 14 4 35 2 2 104 32 17 H 22 2 loi 55 4 18 3 50 6 100 9 £150 6 9 AT WELLINGTON 1771. Dec. 25th. One years interest .240 To I of blank lottery ticket 3 8 7i do. 3 8 7i 6 17 3 4 13 3 By Years Salary Particulars of the Trade accounts will be found in Appendix F. They purchased Spanish and Florida Indigo from London, and wool from Kent, Gloucestershire and Hampshire. Joseph Moore, of Salisbury, a Friend who married a daughter of Peter Berry, sold to the Weres serges and flannels, showing that serges were made at Salisbury at that time. This confirms the facts given in Miss Silberrad's novel, Sampson Rideout. The Weres had some business transactions with Fox, PhUlips, and Fox, merchants of Falmouth. On the first day of the year 1772, a new partnership was entered into, the new firm taking the name of Weres and Co., Thomas Were, senr, having retired from the business, leaving in it the sum of 3300/. on loan at five per cent. The names of the partners and their respective capitals are here given : — 39 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE Robert Were, brother of Thomas £4919 16 8^ Thomas Were, jnr. \ f T f ^^^^ ^ ^ Nicholas Were i ^°^° ^ " I 5755 8 8 WiUiam Were J ^^^ I 3158 15 6^ Stephen Matravers 1 Grandsons of | 1020 Thomas Fox j T. Were, senr. [ 150 £20,303 15 lOf 1774. This was the year of the revolt of the Ameri- can Colonies, and when Warren Hastings was appointed the first English Governor General of India. There was credited by hops at Worcester and Canter- bury 200/. ; this was probably a speculation. The Great Bell, as it was called, purchased for 2l. 10s.; it is probably the bell stiU in use. 1776. An account was opened with the Executors of Thomas Were, senr. 1777. in this year, Robert Were, one of Thomas Fox's uncles, died. He had long been a partner in the business. 1778. A Frenchman appears to have kept a boarding- school at Clifton, to which two of the young Weres were sent. The following account shows the cost of the schooling. It is somewhat remarkable that in those days Friends should have sent their sons to a boarding-school belonging to a Frenchman. 40 AT WELLINGTON PIERRE GAUTIER {French Master). BRISTOL. Debit. £ s. d. 1778. March 4th. To our Df t. at 10 days on Were & Bush 19 19 Oct!-. 10. To our Dft. No. 2178 46 3 6 1779. April 7. To our Dft. No. 2344 41 16 6 Sept. 14. To our Dft. No. 2469 41 10 6 1780. Feb. 5th. To our Dft. No. 2560 35 2 6 Credit. 1778. Febry. 21. By Note of Robt. Were's Schooling and Board Exes, to this day for a half a year ... Aug. 28. (Bntd. to Trust Account) By Note of Robt. Were's Board, etc 22 9 By Note of T. Were jr. Board, etc 23 14 6 (Entered to J yr. Trust Account) 1779. Jan. 22nd. By Note of Thos. Were's J yr. Board, etc 20 19 3 Febry. 28. By ditto of Robt. Were 20 17 3 (Entered to Trust a/c) July 22nd. By Note of Thos. Were ^ yr. Board, etc 22 5 11 Aug. 29. By Note of Robt. Were ditto 19 4 gj (Bntd. to Trust Acct.) 1780. Jan. 22nd. By Note of Thos. Were, junr. J yr. Board etc 21 6 10 By Note of Robt. Were 4 months, do 13 15 8 £ s. d. 19 19 46 3 6 41 16 6 41 10 8J 35 2 6 1778. The first Fire Engine was purchased for 25/. 41 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE ACCOUNT OF LOTTERY TICKETS. Thomas Fox to Lottery Tickets, Debit. 1779. Nov. 24. To Lottery Tickets £ s. 14 d. 6 Per Contra. 1779. Nov. 24. By Cash received By a Prize of £20 sold for ... By 2 Irish Prizes £10 each sold for £ s. 14 20 14 18 d. 6 To 4 Irish Tickets cost To examining 5 Ticketts ... 1780. Oct. 19 2 2 6 To 1 State Ticket cost 13 1 6 To examining 6 1781. Pebr. 14. To 2 Irish Ticketts, No. 6144, 1781. Jan. 22. By 1 Prize of £20 sold for ... 19 14 6145 Octr. 25. 9 12 Dec. 11. By 1 Prize £20 sold for 19 12 To 1 State Lottery Ticket, 74 4 No. 14085 Dec. 11. 14 11 6 By Balance settled 2 2 To 1 Ditto, No. 16800 19 16 76 6 £76 6 " 1780. At the end of the year, in consequence of the retirement of Thomas Were the younger on account of ill health, a new partnership agreement was entered into for three years. The shares were allotted as follows : Nicholas Were . . .6s. 6d. in 20*. William Were . . .4*. Od. „ Stephen Matravers . 4*. 9d. „ Thomas Fox . . .4*. 9d. „ 20s. Od. In this year war was declared between England and Holland. We were also at war with America, France, and Spain. 42 AT WELLINGTON An account appears in the ledger with John Cadbury of Exeter, an ancestor of the Cadburys of Birmingham. 1781. It appears that Weres & Co. contributed 63/. or sixty guineas to a fund being raised at Falmouth for the aid of Dutch prisoners incarcerated there. ACCOUNT WITH GEO. CROKBR FOX OF FALMOUTH. 1781. June 19th. £ s. d. To Cash paid George Rey- nolds Commissary of the Dutch Prisoners 63 Contra. £ s. d. 1781. July 10th. By Bill No. 2822 63 It was no doubt in consequence of the long business connection between the Weres and the Dutch merchants that such a donation, so liberal for those days, was made towards the support of the Dutch prisoners.^ 1782. At this time the serge trade was in a very depressed state, and the manufacturers were losing money. In consequence of this state of things, a meeting of the serge-makers was arranged to be held at Maidendown near Wellington on the main road to the West, and a Combine was entered into. (For full particulars see Appendix E.) The reference in that Appendix to the delivery of the goods at Topsham for the Spring and Autumn Fleets is explained by the fact that the English Channel was unsafe, and that the fleets sailed under convoy. The Dutch Fleets, as they were called, were composed of English vessels, and bore that name because they sailed to Dutch ports, that country being the great emporium for goods for the Continent. 1 I have made various enquiries at Falmouth in regard to these Dutch prisoners, and as to any recollection of their having been interned there, but without any success, although it is well known that many French prisoners had been landed and kept at Falmouth. — J. H. F. 43 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE 1783. The manufacture of Long Ells was introduced about this time and for many years subsequently formed the principal output of the business, taking the place of the Continental trade, which had greatly fallen off. These serges were 24 yards in length, 31 inches in width, and weighed 12 lbs., and they were mostly dyed scarlet and orange. They were for the China market, and were made for the East India Company, who gave out an annual contract. Annexed is a copy of one of the forms of tender, and also the particulars of the quantity of pieces alloted to the various serge-makers of Somerset and Devon. East-India House, 28th May, 1818. Sir, I HAVE the orders of the Committee of Buying and Warehouses of the East-India Company to acquaint you, that they are ready to consider Tenders for supplying Grreefi Forrel Long Ells. 2. The quality of the Long Ells must be equal to the Company's standard sample A. Each Long Ell must be of the full length of 24 yards, and be full 31 inches wide ; and weigh 12 lbs. Intending Contractors will please to take especial notice, that these conditions will be strictly required to be fulfilled. Positive orders are given to the Company's Overlookers not to pass any Long EUs of inferior wool, or worse weaving, than the standard sample. 3. The deliveries are to commence on the 2d day of November, and end on the 31st December, 1818, in proportions, so that one half shall be delivered on or before the last day of November, and the remaining half 44 AT WELLINGTON on or before the last day of December 1818; but should it suit the Manufacturers to make an earlier delivery, the Warehouse will be open to receive the Long Ells upon and after the 1st day of October 1818, but none will be received before that day. 4. Payment will be made upon the last Thursday in January 1819, provided the whole number of Long Ells contracted for shall have been delivered according to Article 3. Rejected Long Ells must be immediately taken away from the Company's Warehouse, and be replaced without delay with Long Ells of standard quality ; but in case of delay in making good the full delivery of approved Long Ells, it shall be at the option of the Company, at any time after the last day of December 1818, to close the account, and to buy the deficient Long Ells elsewhere, debiting the Contractor with the extra price, if any, and deducting the same from any monies growing due. 5. Long Ells which may be found by the Dyer, at the time of washing, or in preparation, to be defective, shall be immediately replaced, and the Maker shall pay the amount of all charges incurred : and as it often happens that Long Ells prove unfit for consignment to China upon their final inspection in the Company's Warehouse, after being dyed, owing to some original defect in the Cloths not before discoverable, it is hereby made a condition, that the Maker shall repay to the Company the cost of such Long Ells with all charges, such defective Long Ells being after payment returned to the Maker. 6. The Forrel of the Fag-end must be put three inches within the extreme end of the Ell ; and the stripes must be dyed with Indigo and not with Log Wood. 7. The Cloth-Drawers having made complaint that 45 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE some of the Long Ells are foul, and full of straws and cotton or linen burls, which do not shew themselves until after the Goods are dyed ; the Committee give notice that such Long Ells will be returned to the Manufacturers, who wiU also be charged with the expenses occasioned by this neglect. 8. It is stipulated in article 5, that rejected Long Ells shall be immediately replaced ; but it is made a further condition, that in case of a large proportion being objectionable, it shall be at the option of the Company to reject the whole parcel. 9. Very material inconvenience having been experienced from the imperfect manner in which the Long Ells are marked, it is required that each Maker shall cause his Name to be worked into the Long Ell in a very distinct manner, with Linen or Cotton Thread. The Com- mittee wiU return to the Factors any Long Ells which may be found defective in this point. 10. Each Maker must name an Agent in London to deliver the Long Ells, to take back the rejected Goods, to make out bills of parcels, and to do all other needful business. 11. If the Maker should not find it convenient to receive the payments himself, he must give a regular power of attorney to some person to receive the same. 12. All Ijong Ells which may be delivered at the Company's Warehouse in consequence of the present circular, will lie at the Company's risk, in case of the calamity of fire. 13. No charge to be made for carriage to London, nor for cartage to the Warehouse. 14. AU Tenders must be delivered at the Office of the Committee of Buying and Warehouses in the India 46 AT WELLINGTON House, before Eleven of the Clock of Wednesday the 17th June 1818. Many persons not having been careful to send in their offers on or before the day appointed, it is positively ordered that no Tender be received after the above-mentioned day and hour. 15. It is indispensably necessary that all offers should be clear as to quantity and price ; and the accompanying Form must be adhered to, for which purpose you will please to copy the letter exactly, and sign the same ; and you will write on the outside of your letter " Tender for Long Ells." I am, SIR, Your humble servant. June 1818. Sir, In answer to your letter of the 28th May, 1818, I hereby offer to supply the East-India Company with Long Ells, on the terms therein mentioned, at the price of shillings and .... pence each, subject to the reduction of two shillings upon each Long Ell which may be classed to letter B. My residence is distinctly described above, and the rearest post-town is My factor in London is Mr. I am Sir, Your humble servant, To Mr. William Simons, at the East- India House, London. 47 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE List of Long Ell Orders for 1814. Adams Green Forrels 500 Supers 60 Glanville Green Forrels 400 Supers Bentalls 5600 1200 Heathfield 8000 200 R. Berry J. Brown 5300 1500 500 Haydon Hole 180 960 60 J. Brown 340 Hoare 80 Brooke 1200 Hornbracket 1000 Bury Bawden Bremridge Caunter Codd 760 400 500 3500 100 Jackson Honeywell Luxmore Langdon Laven 4300 700 100 2600 2400 10 600 Cornish Cook 470 700 Lange Lardner 1620 100 Dennis 360 Leach 240 Dunn Elworthy Fox 200 240 11,300 1500 Madge W. Maunder J. Maunder 5780 4300 2600 600 740 500 Fulford 4000 200 G. Pearse 2500 240 Fabyan 2500 400 W. Pearse 1600 240 Francis 300 100 T. Pearse 500 400 The above show the number of pieces ordered, each piece being 24 yards in length. 1783. Peace was made between England, France, and Spain, and the American Colonies, and the Inde- pendence of these Colonies was recognised. Thomas Fox was married this year to Sarah Smith of Stamford Hill, London, daughter of Thomas Smith, partner in the London Bank of Smith, Wright, & Gray. 48 'c7j ^^■-.- . :-.. A.> : . . am/c rf/u/d-///rraA' ^/y/.////^/;'///^w ////tr^//^; ///^v/v^//^^^A/^//y, /^//j-y,,, .'dj a/y,m^'ruf YlL/ ^f// Y^//^r/u, a/f// /u/fv'/u/ {ma^n/ f//ty^^ /. „ .iJ^.Y^wnyy/^y/ ^^ ' -'V ^ i/^/;'/ri ///fY/t ffYf////Y/, y^fof/^cmeoYTtt UMc w/:j, /// y/yy/yy/t Y/,t /y>//y>/yy/i^^, £>4^^<«i^, y^w^'ZYt fAiama^ ^.^pai^ya -<^^^Azy%}^^;?^^}2y^ tCf).,.., . . ymy/M, mey^^aYrop%( 1^^, a^mlmdreyj. ■2^~ '. \:/> V i/l/l //YYr/a/^/t/Y'U>7?tYt^ ^^ _ . , . Y^w/' t^YZ^nA^'/ml/^, ... Y/.< YY. /Y/r//YYT OY,Y/Y/yYYYY/YYW MY^YY'/aYYY/Y/Y ./YU/YyYYYmY/ //YmY/yyM ^//^Z //yrYY YYJYy/ //^YTY' /y> ///yUy' MYrlY'YY/,! ,tY'l //yYYr yi^YY/YY/.J . Cv''^^*^/'"-^,/^ Sam&i Y//V /Yi^rY-Y/yy/Y^t ^Y/wTY/Wy, /fYvmY^/Yy-Yifr/Y/Y/yY/Ym^ fWYY-y;/ a/ \ /Ay'^ /Y'/YyyYyYYJYyYY/ Yy/W/Y' (//'kwY/^t //YYYyrYYY/Y', YYYYy/, /YY/ikr^Y/Y/'Yt i YYY )//Y//YyYr/- - L YY^ilOYY/, YY./ '//Y/yYkiY:> //yY^yY'YYrY/Y^ /^Y/Y'Y- Yy/.'/y? /iy //yyUY- ^'/rY/Y'yY/^jYZ^Yr/'t:Y/Yym-9/Y/JYYY'J \ (Lyy4ii>^Y7za.^ :/...:^.- •75 ^ .^ • - - ■ ■ *?*^ W^ / t ~M:^„.. MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE OF THOMAS AND SARAH FOX, 1783. AT WELLINGTON William Were, one of the partners and an uncle of Thomas Fox, died this year. 1784. Peace was made between England and Holland. An indigo vat appears in the Stock Book for the first time, and indigo to the value of 736Z. This marks the beginning of indigo dyeing. There were also nineteen horses, that were used for trade purposes, which were valued at lS8l. ; horses must have been cheap in those days. 1787. A house in South Street, Wellington, was built by T. Fox, in which most of his children were born. There appear in the Stock Book the particulars of goods that had been consigned to European countries valued at 2483Z 10*., and to the American Colonies at 9996Z 10*. This was in consequence of a large accumula- tion brought about by a long period of depression in the trade. In one of the memorandum books particulars are given of the consumption of loaves of bread by a number of families residing in Wellington, and also of the cost of the same : 8th Mo. 1789: Wheat being sold at 8/- to 8/3 the Bushell, the Standard Weight of the Loaf is 4lb. 5ozs. 6 drams. The following families consume as follows : — Jas Thorne Wife & 8 Children . Nath Upham Wife & 5 Children Jno Thomas Wife & 2 Children Benj Winter Wife & 4 Children Peter Berry Wife & 3 Children Robt Shurferds family 49 WeeJck/. 10 People 18 Loaves 7 „ 11 „ 4 „ 7 „ 6 „ 11 5 „ 7 „ 5 „ 10 „ THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE Jas Westcotts family Robt Pynes family . Th* Coopers family . Geo Gores family Jno Pjnies family Wm Shorlands family Jn° Jenkins family . Sam. Jenkins family Hannah Hurford Mich^ Stradling Wm Stradling Jno Pyne 105 People 176 Loaves 18 families consisting of 35 grown People & 70 Children consume 176 Loaves Weekly : the brown sort at 7^d. per Loaf, the best sort 8ic/. Each family on an Average consists of ab* 2 Grown People & 4 Children, & consumes near 10 Loaves or ab* 6/- worth of bread. 7 6 7 6 6 5 4 4 4 4 7 8 Weekly. 14 Loaves 10 ?J 12 ., 10 8 9 7 5 5 6 13 13 Thomas Fox purchased large quantities of wool from the farmers of the district, and for greater convenience in paying them he began in 1787 the issue of bank-notes, which has been continued to the present day. In later years this banking business was taken over and developed by Fox, Fowler, & Co., of WelHngton, with numerous branches in Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. 1789. The French Revolution began in this year, with disastrous results to trade. In 1790 an amount of 3458/. was written off the goods that had been consigned in 1788 to the American Colonies ; 50 .-/s(?a mi^-f8/6. AT WELLINGTON with the exception of one lot to Philadelphia, all these goods had been sent to the Southern Colonies. 1793. Louis XVI. was condemned to death and war was declared by France against England and Holland, and the first coalition formed against France, consisting of England, Russia, Sardinia, Naples, Prussia, Austria, and Tuscany. Stephen Matravers died in 1795, and in 1796 Nicholas Were also died and Thomas Fox was left sole partner. The close of the eighteenth century brought with it an important change in the woollen manufacture. The ancient method of hand-spinning, carried on in the homes of the people, was about to become a thing of the past. Carding engines, spinning jennies, and worsted spinning machinery were to take its place. Thomas Fox, who in 1796 had been left sole partner in the business, set to work with great energy to prepare for the change. He purchased the Town MiUs at Wel- lington (old flour mills), and an old mill at UfFculme, Devon, eight miles from Wellington ; improved the water-courses, and erected new miUs at both places. Those at Wellington were called the Tonedale Mills, and that at UfFculme, Coldharbour MiU. At both places he put in scribbling and carding engines, spinning jennies, and worsted spinning machinery. 1797. Cotford Mills and racks were purchased for 257/. 10*., a small fulling mill at some distance ; it was afterwards sold. 1798. Coldharbour Mill, UfFculme, appears in the Stock sheets for the first time it was valued at 1400/. This was the year of the Irish Rebellion. 51 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE 1799. Town Mills appear for the first time, they were valued at 1050/. The house and backlet in Millway, Wellington, now the Victoria Inn, was bought by Thomas Fox in the same year as the purchase of the Town Mills, and was sold in 1807, after the completion of the building of the mills, the dwelling-house at Tonedale, and the farm buildings. About twenty years ago, when some buildings were being erected at the back of the Victoria Inn, it was found that the soil was all made ground, and that evidently at some time there had been a large excavation there. It was at that time almost a necessity to get the bricks made in the neighbourhood on account of the difficulty and expense of carriage, and no doubt the object of buying this property was to obtain clay for making the bricks. The house at Werescote, three miles from Wellington, was built at the begiiming of the nineteenth century, and the bricks used for the house and the kitchen garden walls were probably supplied by Thomas Fox to his cousin, the owner of Werescote, from the same source. A contract was made in 1800 with George Oatway for supplying these bricks, of which the following are the particulars : — Bricks to be made at Is. 6d. p Thousand : Water Sand & Straw with Wood and Coals to be brought in place at the master's expence, the brick to be burnt in the same place where they are dried. And to be two hard bricks to one soft one in a workmanlike manner. And when the Kiln is examined if they are not so, we the undertakers do agree to low two ShiUings p Thousand for every such Thousand of brick as shall be found deficient in the manner above mentioned. 52 EDWARD FOX Born 1789. Died 1,S45, SYLVANUS FOX. Born 1791. Died 1851. AT WELLINGTON The head to be reeded at the master's expense, & Wheelbarrows for driving the bricks to the kiln. The money to be drawing in the manner following l.y. Od. per Thousand for turning the Clay. 4s. 6d. per Thousand making the brick. 2s. Od. per Thousand to be left in the master's hand till the bricks burnt. To turning back the kiln after is burnt six pence per thousand. To butting of the soft bricks into the Kiln one shilling thousand. It appears at this time that the wages paid to the girls feeding the scribblers were from 2*. 6d. to 3*. per week, with much longer hours than at the present time. 1800. Thomas Fox bought one moiety of the estate called Holways & Voiseys — being a considerable portion of the present farm : the other moiety was contracted for. Woods estate was also bought. In this year, 1800, the Act of Union between England and Ireland was passed by the Legislature. 1802. Previously to this time the machinery at Wel- lington belonging to the firm was located in the premises at Trade House, adjoining Bulford House, the old family residence of the Berrys and Weres. It was driven by four horses, working in a horse wheel. The following is an inventory of this machinery : — Horse wheel, drum and shafts . . £20 4 double carders . . . . 300 4 scribblers 200 53 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE 3 wool mills 30 15 billeys .... 45 jennies .... 15 spinning baskets 5 spooling machines . 6 stoves .... 60 120 10 40 12 2 machines in barn . 45 £837 Annexed is an inventory of the machinery at the Town MiUs, now called Tonedale, and also of the machinery at Coldharbour Mill : — 8 spinning frames, 576 spindles at 32* 4 drawing and 7 roving frames at £6. 1 spooling machine and 5 warping bars 4 double carders, 60 inches 1 single carder, not carded 5 scribblers 3 wool mills 15 billies . 49 jennies . Strainers and bobbins, baskets, &;c. Wheel, shaft, and going gear 7 drums, 644 spindles at 22s 4 drawing heads for roving do, at £7 Wheel, shaft, and going gear 1 gig mUl ..... 2 shearing frames 5 carding engines, single and double 4 scribbling engines . 1 wool mill and spooling engine . 54 £921 12 66 15 300 25 220 30 55 140 30 400 708 8 112 450 40 50 160 120 10 G.R. , V i- V Vt. 2'-C^yT///J 0^ /'///< ■i'-/o/. ana . y(t'r/^/r /^4r /ifttTi '/'j-\j)|i / 'i^-i'i/^ra/i-- c._^ir'*" ^ 'naet^^u/ Term f<:Jrn^/MmA/{^^Aa//j^r^AfirMHtcrrfy A^£/iffieir^iuYf^^<^^n'rna'n^mNyfyu'A4::Vit^^^ do. 'h.c«fAa//(A> naJJa^^n^tae to Az^^u^dM^ieV'^^hrja^e to /v. (/ofieo/'ot/it^;6uftoAu Ihtt^eri.jAa.llf^.or'foTiAM^^cuveWarrit^ At^x^€ti*^f^ ^'^ ^n??uC' Mn'nicalion.nM' oaniriiit^JUat'f'f^i&riy u't/A/H tA£,^H>u/A J^rn,^ful Gam^ ifAereAy Axdjo^z/AMa^^ f>^2ni/iy^iMt'-e any l^,Wt'/AM^f}'iHi>7hGoor f/t^*a/tt andni^treteted p^^ndlny antd tAe ^^ted^^^rr/r^/r^ JiSSfSiAor'tA^frtwI^o^omta'n^^i^j cra/Aetfidei/ery (Ae M^^tAAGrtffn^i^iit andAareenten £> eitAtr fdme tiaedJhfffe'.i ^'ntKfAAin^eA/'u'ftto /A^ ot/mr ^y-ZAe^teMr^de/t^ inl^tners awrfi^tAe ^rttf^aAm^ na^i^n/^ &> i/ir,af Inde/i. eur&* m/^rm^^OMeA^ A/r^ifeAMtAf^/'Tfanda and Sea^ fAe .^^ro-yjyi/ .^- lia^ o/^ ^ e/et^.e^^T^^.-^n/yn//:a/>d^ ttt fAiec^y4i^^.^xay^' jeo'ro/'cAeXef^n. ofmtTSot^rre'ernXord "-^^t^- ^-^^nf.r, -ty, ty tAe Grftre ffGodo/ lAe Gn^MJ(ynadornet/Gre€ftJirf'fa/n andIre/andA7nyJJ€^n^ro/fArJ^tAa^^id(^'t'eA^!t'JrM^ f^oiefl^rd .otteTAem^a/neietyAtJlti^idreda/id^t^y ^^- — ' JSI.J^e M^itmXbfmimljttuif.firC(inimet.t>utM dear date the dtfy it ar metsuied.^tvhae ^ Matt^ oroth^r^m/f it^fmn or Gmhnctrk ftir wiffi ihe Cted: orjififirf/intr,mn.Tt be ; visi^1ttimWorfyarl^fltIi,ofheri^rifeIhf^denh(rvvn7f6frmei,tAfMrwtfror * Wi*tr*feSr/ntKOyI1vtutdT,Jii!mofher7^aUy^»th4i/^ifirenftWbedisaMeeifo G^z/A^an4^'d o-^tr/- /r2d^^ ^^^^--T-X-^S^ INDENTUKF. OF APPRENTICFSHU' OF SYLVANUS FOX TO THOMAS ANI:) SARAH FOX, 1805. AT WELLINGTON 10 slubbing billies 25 jennies .... Strainers, bobbins, and baskets 6 warping bars, &e. . Shears, cloths, &c. Teazles .... 85 cans .... 50 70 20 12 20 15 11 £4051 In 1805 the battle of Trafalgar was fought. WilUam Pitt and Charles James Fox died in 1806. Harford Mills appear, valued at 850/., but the entry disappears after a year or two. These were fulling mills on the river Tone a short distance above the old Tone fulling mill. Thomas Fox's dwelling-house in South Street was sold for 2628/., and the family moved to Tonedale. He redeemed the land tax on his property for the sum of 412/. In the year 1808 the French Emperor prohibited all commerce with Great Britain, and the ports of Holland were closed against Britain. The dwelhng-house at Tonedale was valued at 3000/. ; and the farm buildings at 600/. In the years 1809-13 shares were taken up in the Grand Western Canal to the amount of 1044/. 5*. 6(/., and were valued at 722/. 2*. 9flf. A great part of the canal was subsequently closed and filled in. 1811. My uncle, Thomas Fox, was taken into part- nership with his father — he was the eldest son ; and soon after this the name of the firm was changed to Thos. Fox 55 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE & Sons. Annexed is the copy of an agreement made between Thomas Fox and John Perry : — ' John Perry agrees to serve T. Fox, as Indoor Ser- vant, at the Wages of Twenty pounds a Year, board, washing, & lodging, to have the Perquisites of Grains and Barm in brewing & T. Fox to pay the subscription to the Society for encouraging Servants. J. Perry to have the Barm only of the small Beer, & T. Fox to have the Grains.' In 1811 Thomas Fox and his four elder sons began to hold weekly meetings for the purpose of discussing business matters, and recorded the results in a minute- book. Unfortunately, for some unexplained reason, the entering of these minutes soon came to an end, but the practice of holding conferences between the partners has been kept up through aU succeeding years, until replaced by the Weekly Board Meetings of the Company. In 1815 the battle of Waterloo was fought, and peace was concluded with France. New Corn Laws were enacted, which greatly enhanced the cost of food, and were the cause of serious riots. Members of the Society of Friends suffered greatly in the old days on account of distraints made upon them in consequence of their conscientious refusal to pay tithes, and at this time a claim was made on Thomas Fox & Sons for 241/. 6^., with expenses 5l. \0s., and there was taken from their farm sixty sheep, thirty lambs, five cows, two steers, together of the value of 249/. 6*. In 1816 my uncle, Sylvanus Fox, and my father, Samuel Fox, were admitted as partners — my uncle, Edward Fox, having joined the firm a little while be- fore. 56 AT WELLINGTON 1 820. The Atlantic was crossed for the first time by a steamship. 1821. My grandfather, Thomas Fox, died, and the business was carried on by four of his sons. The mill at Tonedale was destroyed by fire, but was quickly rebuilt. 1822. My uncle, Henry Fox, became a partner, and my uncle, Charles Fox, soon after. 1826. The name of the firm was altered to Fox Brothers. 1 832. The Great Reform Bill was passed this year. 1833. My grandmother, Sarah Fox, died. 1834. The Liverpool and Manchester Railway opened. 1837. This was the last year in which the mail coaches ran the whole way from Wellington to London, for in the following year, 1838, the railway was opened from Paddington to Maidenhead.^ 1840. Penny Postage was introduced in this year. The first steam engine was purchased by the firm for 90^., with a boiler for 20/. 1842. In this year the Railway was opened from Bristol to Exeter, with a station at Wellington, which was within a very short distance of the Tonedale Factory. This made an enormous difference to the business, as goods had no longer to be sent by road at great expense ^ The writer was then four years old, and travelled with two of his parents' maid-servants inside the coach all the way to London. He will never forget the jovu?ney, which made a deep impression on his memory, especially two incidents. Passing through Bath in the evening, the gas-lights seemed to his childish mind a brilliant illumination. The second incident occurred at Marlboi'ough, where they changed horses. A kindly farmer on horseback saw the little boy in the coach and bought some cakes, which he gave him, an act of kindness that he has never forgotten. 57 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE and serious delay; but from that time forth they were carried by rail to all parts of the Island.^ 1846. Annexed is a list of some of the wages paid at this time, and it must be remembered that the hours worked were longer than at the present day. Hand mule slub- Sorters £0 10 bers £0 15 Mason labourers 10 Masons 14 Carters 10 Carpenters 15 Dyers 9 6 Fitters 15 Gas men 10 6 Smiths 14 Night watchman 12 3 Engine cleaners 11 Women. Sorters 4 Feeders 5 The year 1846 was an eventful one in the economic and financial history of England. It was the year of the Repeal of the Com Laws, when the long era of commercial prosperity had its beginning. This was accompanied by an extraordinary improve- ment in the conditions of the wage-earning class. The figures which I have been able to give of the rates of wages paid at that time, when compared with those of the present year 1914, show an increase of considerably more than 100 per cent., and the price of bread is also much less than it was at that period. ' The writer well remembers the first passenger train that reached Wellington from Bristol, the carriages being decorated with flags. His mother and he travelled as far as Beam Bridge, two miles west of Wellington, where a temporary terminus station had been erected. The White Ball Timnel was not then completed, and in consequence, for many months, passengers were conveyed in carriages over the Whitehall Hill to Burlescombe Station, where they resumed the journey to Exeter by rail. 58 AT WELLINGTON In 1850 I began my business life in the mills at Wellington, and have been connected with them ever since — a period of sixty-four years. Duirng that time I have witnessed many great changes. Hand-looms and hand-combing have been replaced by power-looms and combing machinery, and many other changes have taken place. The improvements in machinery have been very great, and many new methods and processes have been introduced. The premises have been much enlarged and extended, additional works have been erected at CuUompton, Wive- liscombe and Culmstock, and the volume of business has greatly increased. In 1863 a system of Profit Sharing was set on foot, which has been in operation ever since. The Annual Reports of the Board of Trade reveal the fact that the scheme has lasted for a longer period than any other in this country. In 1874 other means for the improvement of the conditions of those employed in the works were brought into operation. See Appendix L. Old Age Pensions. Half Wages in case of Accidents. Free Medical Attendance. Compulsory Insurance against Sickness. Maternity Benefits. Dining Rooms and Kitchen have existed for many years, and new Dining Rooms, Kitchen, and Recreation Rooms have recently been built. Thus (by nearly forty years) were anticipated the National Schemes of Compensation for Accidents, Old Age Pensions, and Insurance against Sickness. In 1849, some of the younger generation having been 59 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE admitted into partnership, the name of the firm was changed from Fox Brothers to Fox Brothers & Co., and in 1896 the business was converted into a private limited company with the title of Fox Brothers & Co., Ltd. In these pages I have endeavoured to trace the growth of this West of England business from its earliest begin- nings down to the present day, carried on by my ancestors for many generations, and still in the hands of the same family. 60 APPENDICES < I— I Q ^ o o Q -5 c 0) O s o o o OS K O cs Co !h -^-^ CO J o o c o s O o CO TJ eS -w- o 1-3 0) o c3 _ w. n o =2 «3 =1-1 O o =2 a cS CO o -«- n o -a aw It a) '^ 1-^ — !> c 2 0) rfl +3 a 1 oj rC 'Ti ;?; ?5 • tcj — - W O o ►-5 1-S 0) I— I ■ w — o < - o W H O 1 !Z -W O ■oi ^*v T3 1 'S a (/} as Vh y O TS 1^ o S & ^' ^4 (1) pq -u O W — § — o ^ SO -^ o o cPh P^ * OJ O -M 5 -5 Ph - o B H - P5 o P3 ,0Li^^^S35 Mce^^SOS. o w o O I— ( Q 43 u i^ ^ ^ -^ s •^ Qi w aj •s a =* s >* 1-11 Ji Z 0) 'T3 n3 D *^ 0) I— I X § s^ ^1 -H ? Ph S Uj o ' 6E a 'v Ht3 ■3 .a 3 I— I .^ Q S C'^Kicy'. .^ao^!yrz^ i^i950. -^i^ct^^c^ny^aie' ia^aMcauIti^ -Z&ffS . APPENDIX B WELLINGTON JUSTICES. Representations made to the Wellington Justices by Thomas Were, Robert Were, and Thomas Were,junr., in consequence of the circulation of reports injurious to the trade carried on by them. To all to whome these presents shall come greeting. Whereas Thomas Were Robert & Thomas Were ye younger Merchants of Good Creditt fame and reputation resideing at Wellington in ye County of Somersett and Carrieing one there a Joynt Trade in Manufactureing and Makeing diverse sortes and quallities of Serges and other goods & in Merchandizing Exporting & sending ye same in Holland, — Have represented unto us all his Majestys Justices of the peace for ye County of Somersett and Liveing Near Wellington aforesaid whose hands and Scales are hereunto set and affixed. That some Evil Disposed person or persons inventing and Contriveing how to Circomvent and Suppress their trade or Merchan- dizeing & ye Sales of their wares at Amsterdam & other places in Holland have or hath Lately falsly Scandalously & Malitiously rumored &; reported That Their goods are not of ye best & right Quallities according to the severall Stamps and Markes they putt on & affix to them, which are as folio weth (to witt) on the right \A/PF Make on ye face or upper part of ye Lead is Impressed a (Mermaid) & Geo Osmond Round it : and on ye Reverse is Impressed 65 F THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE 22 and Tho good Round it — on ye first sortes of 22 yards — on ye face or upper part of ye Lead is impressed a Clover grass G O — and Henry Blagdon round it, and on ye reverse there of is impressed 22 & Tho good round it — and on ye Next first Sortes on ye face or uper part of the Lead is impressed a (1. foot S F) under it Sam Burridge Tiverton Round it and on ye reverse there of is impressed (ff) &; Tho good round it. And whereas it appeares unto us Not only from the fame and report of ye Country here abt But also from our Knowledge of the said Thomas Were & Comp — that they are faithfuU Honest Industrous tradesmen & as we verily belive Every way skilled and well Quallified for ye carrie- ing one & Excercissing the trade and Merchandise aforesaid. That the said Thomas W ere is the father of ye said Robert and Thomas Were the younger, and that they have all been Educated and brott up in the branches of the Serge trade from their Infancy — that ye sd Thomas Were ye elder is ye Son of ye Next brother and Heir at Law of Peter Were Decessd the antient Maker of the X/V^E Marke and first sort of goods, & who as we have heard and do belive usually sould his peices to Robt Burridge & Geo Thorn Merchts in Tiverton in ye County of Devon : as Did also both before and after his Deceese the father of ye said Thos Were ye Elder — and Granfather of ye sd Robert & Thomas Were ye younger So that ye said Co partners are as it were become Entitled to ye Trade of their ancestors by Heridatary Right and Decent and that the said Thomas Were the Elder hath Dealt as Largely in ye Serge trade as any Maker in all this Country for between Thirty and fourtyyeares and sould Great Quantity's of Goods to ye said Geo Thorn Samuell Burridge John Newton Will" & Samuel Lewis & Geo Osmond all 66 AT WELLINGTON merchants in Tiverton aforesaid. — That we have heard and Do belive that ye sd Ro' & Tho' Were ye younger have been also very well Educated and brott up in ye Serge trade and in particular ye sd Thos Were ye younger receved his Education from ye aforesaid Geo Osmond Merchant and under ye Care & direction of Mr Wotherus Depsill Mercht at Rotterdam in Holland to whome ye sd Geo Osmond sent and Recomended him for the par- ticular Respect bee bore to ye sd Thos Were ye Elder and good likeing hee had to ye sd Thos Were ye younger and that since ye Death of ye sd Geo Osmond ye sd Thos Were ye younger is ye only Clarke of ye Late Geo Osmond Now (Liveing?) and Merchandizeing in ye Serge trade and that ye aforesd Copartners in perfecting their Mer- chandize Do Imploy one Thomas Hurford packer to assist them in ye Imployment of Measureing Inspecting Examining Waying & packing their said good and who is now aged 34 abt yeares and hath for ye Most part always been imployed in some or other of ye branches of ye Serge trade from his Infancy. NOW know yee — that in order ye better to Confirm ye truth of what has been Here asserted and Sett forth we do hereby Certifie that ye sd Thos Were Robt & Tho' Were ye younger being 3 of ye people Called Quakers — have this day solemnly sincerely & Truly declared <| affirmed before us that they do not allow of any Slight Scovey Light or damaged piecs to be Stamp with Either of ye aforesaid Stamps — or Impressions of ye Mermaid Clovey or foot stamps — but they on ye Conterary take all due Care to prevent bad or damaged pecies to be ever Stampt or pack with Either of ye said Last mentioned Stamps or Impressions and these affirmants do further depose & say that ye several! goods and Merchandizes Now Lately by them Exported and sent in ye Jufro 67 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE Jacoba Job Douwesz Master to MrAbm.Vanbrogel Mercht in Amsterdam in Holland are all of their own make and Manufacture and are all in Quallity and Goodness accord- ing to the aforesaid Mermaid Clovey & foot stamps— and Those afirmants do further depose & say That since their Merchandizeing Their own Wares and Manufactures They are considerably preferrable to ye goods formerly made by said Thos Were the Elder or any of their Company under the same Carrectors or markes and sould to ye Aforesaid Merchants in Tiverton before their Exporting their own goods and that ye sd Thos Were ye younger was Educated & Instructed in Maner aforesaid by ye sd Geo Osmond & Mr Wotherus Depsill — and we do also Certifie that ye sd Thos Hurford hath made oth befor us that hee hath for severall yeares Last past been Imployd by the aforesaid Thos Were & Co in ye Inspecting Examining Measureing Waying & packing of ye Goods and Merchandices by them from time to Time sent to Holland and hath been Examined Measured Wayed and Stampt or assisted in Examining Measureing Waying & Stamping all or ye Most part of such goods and peices as aforesaid and saith that they do Never allow of any Slight Scovey Light or bad peces to be Stampt packt or Markt with ye aforesd Markes of ye Mermaid Clovey or foot Stampts and that all such pecies as have those particular Impressions afix'd to them are in QuaUity and Goodness according to Their severall Stamps sett to them and saith that hee verily beHves that if any peces or goods have been sent to hoUand with out his Inspection — that they have been of Equale Goodness and Value with those hee hath so Inspected and this Inform further saith that hee hath had other Makers goods under his Notice made for Holland in ye Like Sortes of his present Masters and that he 68 AT WELLINGTON verily believes ye goods & Serges sent to hoUand by his said present masters are in generall preferable to what he hath so seen in the Like sorts of other makers by being wrought with Better wooU & Better manufactured and that his present masters do pay more money for Labour in makeing their Serges than any other makers he hath wrought for or been Employed by doe for ye Like Sorts of goods Although hee hath been Concerned in ye said manufacture for more than twenty yeares Last past and wrought for, & been Employed by Severall different makers T W: R W: T W: T H: The fifteenth day of July in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred &; fifty one, The above named Thos Were Robt Wei*e and Thomas Were ye younger & Thomas Hurford personally Came before us whose hands & Scales are hereunto Set & Subscribed four, of his majesty's Justices of the peace in & for ye County of Somersett abovesaid, and ye said Thos Were Robt Were & Thos Were ye younger being quakers did severally solemnly sincerely Ik truly declare & affirm and ye said Thorn' Hurford did make oath that the Contents of ye above written Certificate Affirmation Declaration & oath & of every part thereof are true to the Best of their know- ledge Judgement & Belief Witness our hands & Scales the day & year before written Jno Trevelyan. J Holladay Tho' Darch Baronet Esqr Esqr Jn° Gunston Esqr. THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE APPENDIX Money invested on loan in the business of Weres ^ Co.^ previously called Thomas Were &^ Sons, December Slst, 1771. John Were, 409/. 2s. Brother of Thomas Were, junr. Elizabeth Were, 156/. The wife of Thomas Were, senr. : she was the daughter of Peter Berry, who lived at Bulford House, WeUington. Her sister married William Cookworthy, the discoverer of China clay in Cornwall and the inventor of the celebrated Plymouth and Bristol porcelain and china. Elizabeth Matravers, 206/. One of the three daughters of Thomas Were, senr. — the other daughters married Edward Fox, of Wadebridge, and George Croker Fox, of Falmouth. Stephen Matravers, 724/. Son of Elizabeth Ma- travers and first cousin of Thomas Fox ; he became a partner in Thomas Were & Sons, December 31st, 1771. Thomas Were, jnr., 310/. Son of Thomas Were, senr., uncle of Thomas Fox, and a partner in the business. Money on loan outside his capital. Robert Were, 2500/. Another son of Thomas Were, senr., and also a partner in the business. Money on loan outside his capital. Ann Collier, 1457/. 10,y. Probably the eighth child of the first Joseph Collier (born 1718), who married Dorothy Fox, third daughter of Francis Fox, of St. Germans. Joseph Collier died in 1764. 70 AT WELLINGTON Alice Dicker, 1700/. There was a Friend family of the name of Dicker, Uving in or near Exeter. Dr. Michael Lee Dicker was a founder of and physician to the Exeter Hospital, where his portrait is to be seen. He was bom in 1693. His wife was Ahce Finnamore, of CuUompton. Elizabeth Elworthy, 400/. Joseph Collier, who died in 1773, married a Mary Elworthy, and Robert Were, jnr., married an Elworthy. Elizabeth Elworthy was no doubt connected with these Elworthys. Joseph Collier, 510/. No doubt the husband of Mary Elworthy. He died in 1773. In 1776 his name disappeared from the ledgers. Possibly Mary ColUer and Elizabeth Elworthy were sisters of Robert Were jnr.'s wife. Charles Fox, 510/. A banker of Plymouth, who died in 1801. A man in affluent circumstances. He was the son of John Fox, the youngest son of Francis Fox of St. Germans, and therefore first cousin of Thomas Fox's father. Elizabeth Were, 303/. ; Mary Were, 303/. Both of Uffculme. Daughters of Peter Were, the second (of Sampford ArundeU). They are described as cousins in one of the balance-sheets. Walter Berry, 182/. Probably a relation of Peter Berry, father-in-law of Thomas Were, senr. Elizabeth Haviland, 776/. She was the sister of Thomas Were, senr., and great-aunt of Thomas Fox. Thomas Bailey, 417/. Unknown. Nicholas Were, 2431/. One of the sons of Thomas Were and a partner. This was money on loan outside his capital. Thomas Culverwell, 500/. Unknown. 71 THE WOOLLEN MANUEACTURE Anna Fox, the wife of Edward Fox, of Wadebridge, and Mary Fox, the wife of George Croker Fox, of Fahnouth, daughters of Thomas Were, senr., had legacies from their uncle, Robert Were, of 100^. each. Also similar legacies from their uncle, Peter Were. These amounts were loaned to Thomas Were & Son at four per cent. 72 AT WELLINGTON APPENDIX D. THE FIRM'S ASSETS. Assets. Price of Somerset Fleeces. Assets. Price of Somerset Fleeces. 1753 £9,816 6i 1778 44,819 n 1754 1779 43,115 H 1755 9,532 6 1780 46,979 H 1756 9,380 H 1781 49,000 H 1757 10,911 8 1782 52,076 H 1758 11,719 9 1783 50,001 7i 1759 11,964 84 1784 55,512 7i 1760 12,280 H 1785 52,252 7i 1761 12,581 — 1786 52,621 H 1762 12,353 — 1787 51,972 H 1763 13,327 — 1788 45,577 8| 1764 14,588 1789 48,056 8| 1765 19,180 — 1790 43,970 8| 1766 22,424 — 1791 37,544 8| 1767 25,805 — 1792 36,546 12 1768 29,579 1793 37,209 H 1769 32,954 — 1794 38,672 8L 1770 31,437 1795 8| 1771 39,984 1796 38,546 8f 1772 — n 1797 41,010 74 1773 1798 44,466 n 1774 34,433 n 1799 57,155 9 1775 36,257 H 1800 65,130 11 1776 39,598 8 1801 — 12 1777 — 1802 75,815 121 73 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE Assets. Price of Somerset Fleeces. Assets. Price of Somerset Fleeces. 1803 69,959 Hi 1811 9 1804 68,608 12 1812 9 1805 69,729 13 1813 13 1806 69,048 12 1814 18 1807 67,514 11 1815 — 18 1808 67,675 10 1816 18 1809 69,080 9 1817 — 16 1810 71,338 9 1818 — 12 I have not given the particulars of the assets subse- quently to 1810, as the accounts from that time were kept in a different way. 74 AT WELLINGTON APPENDIX E. SERGE-MAKERS' COMBINE. The following Agreement was entered into between the merchants met at Maidendown on the 2^ day of Sep' 1771. Lion Cap 51/6. Lion Serges 51/- Best Yard wides 47/- 2'* best Yard wides .... 44/6 a"* best Yard wides .... 43/- WRE 38/6 Best Cap 37/- Serges ditto 36/6 2* best Cap 35/6 Serges ditto 35/- 3"^ best Cap 34/- Serges ditto 33/6 4th best Cap 32/6 Serges ditto 32/- 214 yards Best Cap 29/6 Serges ditto 29/- 2* best Cap 28/- Serges ditto 27/6 3'* best Cap 26/6 Serges ditto 26/- Skips 25/6 Little Skips 24/6 Little Little Skips .... 23/6 In 22 yard Goods & Upwards. Green Shades "i . „, • ., „ , „, f at 2/- per piece more than Sad Blues > r^ /^> 1 j ^. ,. I Com: Colourds. Gmgerunes ; High Golds at 1/- per piece more than ditto. Blue Sh^^ Black shds \ ^ , , (at 1/- per piece Grass Green shds. > ^.u r- ^ _ , , , , \ more than Caps Lt Gold shds ; *^ 75 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE Light Blues & Light Grays at 1/6 per piece under Com: Colourds. In all 21| yard Goods. Grass Greens x ^^ j/_ ^^^ p.^^^ ^^^^ ^j^^^ Black Shades ( Common Colourds or Shades Sad Blues j -^ ^j^^j^. different sorts. Gingerhnes / Light Blues & Light Grays at 1/- per piece under Com: Colourds. Discount. Five per Cent on a Credit of Nine Months. The discount to be allowed on remittances sent one month after date of the Invoice & if remittances are not sent at Nine months after date of the Invoice, then to have Liberty to draw for the Amount. These prices to be charged on all Goods, carried into the united provinces or Germany or thro' the same. No Serges to be sent abroad after the limitted time say 11th inst, on any of our Acct or without orders. Nor any Serges to be sold to a Shipmaster, or any other persons, belonging to their Vessell Trading to Holland, Zealand or Germany. All 22 yard Hot Press'd Goods going to the united Provinces or Germany, or thro' the same, to be noted sixpence per piece higher than ruff dresst Serges. AU Gold Serges & Shades above half red, to be noted as light Golds at 1/- per piece advance. If any other sorts of Serges are omitted, To be settled at a future Meeting, before they are sent abroad. All orders under hand, that can be got ready, for the Autumn Voyage of the Dutch Ships, to be served at the old prices. But no new orders to be accepted after the 11th day of Sepr without the advance agreed on. Neither 76 AT WELLINGTON any orders that may be already received for the Spring Voyage of said Ships. No defective pieces of any kind to be sent abroad on any account whatsoever. All the letters relating to this advance to be -sent off Wednesday 11th Inst. The Whole Transactions of this Society to remain a profound Secret to every one but the members com- posing it. Letter agreed on to be sent abroad. 11th Sep' 1771. Gentlemen The Serge Trade which for several years past has been gradually declining, by the Continued and onnatural fall of the prices, is now reduced to so low an Ebb, That the several Houses, concerned in this Branch have found it unavoidably necessary, to unite their endeavours, for restoring it to a better footing, and for this purpose have unanimously agreed and firmly resolved, to advance the prices of the several sorts of Goods to the following Standard, which is to be inviolably adhered to, as the general rule of the Trade, flattering ourselves, that this will prove as agreable to you, as its needful for us. Wooll being advanced to such a pitch by the Extraordinary demands from America, Spain & other Countries, besides a great defect on the Growth of this year which has been much less than for many past — That for a considerable time neither Merchts nor Manufacturers, have enjoyed a profit any ways adequate to their Capitals & Trouble, which has occasioned many to quit the Business, & would in time doubtless prove the ruin of it, a reasonable profit 77 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE being the only Spur to Industry. For these reasons we thought it proper to give you the earliest Information of said advance, which is to take place, on all orders received after this date or that cannot be got ready, for this Autumn Voyage of the Dutch Ships. The old orders underhand which can be got ready for the Autumn Ships, will be compleated at the old prices, and you will receive the like advices, from other Houses you may deal with in this Branch. 78 AT WELLINGTON APPENDIX P. TRADE ACCOUNTS. THOMAS WERE & SONS. Dec. 1771. Money on loan — nearly- all from relatives . . . Sundries N. B. — A very small por- tion of this is Bank Debts — a mere frac- tion Partners' Capital £ s. d. 15,723 19 llj 63 16 11 15,787 16 10^ 19,757 9 35,545 5 10^ Credit, BvAldAnngs — Tone Mill and Backs Uffculme Mill ... . Utensils — Dye Vats, &c Packing Presses ... . Sundries Wool .'. Cliains or Warps ... . Goods Stores — Dyestuffs , Oil Soap Horses , Carts and Harness .. Hay Packing Materials .. Coal and Charcoal ., Wine Sundries Bank Debts Cash in House 1,060 200 277 23 90 7 9 1,522 6 4 327 1 1 143 8 133 22 111 11 6 103 9 4 30 10 . 167 16 2 2 17 s. d. 1,260 390 7 9 6,240 7 68 6 6 9,685 3 4 2,659 2 ... 14,329 18 10 912 8 8 35,545 5 10 79 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE Some of the amounts invested on loan. Dec. 1771. John Were .... . £409 2 Stephen Matravers 724 11 4 Elizabeth Were (Mother) . 156 Thomas Were, Jnr. 310 Joseph Penbridge 252 10 Robert Were . 2,500 Ann CoUier . 1,457 10 Alice Dicker . 1,742 2 6 Elizabeth Elworthy . 404 Joseph Collier 510 Charles Fox 510 Mary Fox .... 222 Elizabeth Matravers . 206 Elizabeth Were, Uffculme . 303 Mary Were, do. 303 Walter Berry 182 Elizabeth Haviland 776 Thomas Bailey . 417 Nicholas Were 2,431 4 Thomas Culverwell 500 Thomas Fox^ . . . . 100 Stephen Matravers^ 100 Thomas Fox . . . . 50 6 9 1 The amount of their salaries for the previous year. 80 AT WELLINGTON APPENDIX G. Opening of the first Banking Account with Messrs. Duntze, Praed & Co., Exeter. Partners: Duntze, Praed, Sanders & Hamilton. Direct to John Duntze Esqr., M.P., Bank, Exon. Copy of our Letter to them dated Wellington, 8th Aug., 1772. Duntze, Praed & Co. Exeter Bank. Gentn. — On reconsidering the Contents of your last Letter, we have some reason to think a Connection might be formed between us, so as to prove mutually advantageous. In case we find, the terms equally agreeable to both parties, to which purport request your answer to fol- lowing queries — On what terms would you undertake the transacting our whole banking Business, giving us a House in London on whom we might draw such Bills, as could not con- veniently be negotiated on Exon, as also for negotiating, such BiUs, as we occasionally draw, on our friends abroad, for which you to be our Security : (This would not be to any very great amount, as we pay chiefly Cash, & are remitted by our friends : which remittances might go through your hands, to be immediately forwarded to London, & not pass into other peoples' in the Country, which we could not admit of 81 Q THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE At what premium would you constantly supply us with Cash, or any part of what we might want against BUls of thirty days, or to be reckoned in that proportion, on the running Indorsements in your hands (we now allways pay 5/- per Cent.) And as we are obliged, by so seldom going to Market, to have a large warehouse of Goods on hand, & being Manufacturers, to pay almost every article with ready money, we are frequently obliged, to overdraw our Bankers, & particularly at the Spring and fall before the sailing of the Dutch Ships, to a pretty considerable amount, after which our remittances come in very regularly to discharge the same, & rest money on hand. We therefore request to know, what Credit you would furnish us with at such times, or any others when we may require it and what Interest we must pay you for such advance that is from the time our drafts become payable, untill our Indorsements are into Cash to repay them, or from 30 days after we receive Cash, untiU our said Indorsements are into Cash to repay it (which latter answers to Drafts of 30 days). We suppose ourselves too well known to you to leave any doubt of our Solidity, &; can with Truth assure you, that our Capital in Trade is very considerable & our landed property alone sufficient to secure us from the difficulties, to which people in Trade, even of large Capital's are sometimes exposed, by the failures of others. We have chose to be rather prolix, on this occasion to prevent any misunderstanding, hereafter arising, should we form the desired Connection, & request you wiU be as explicit as possible in your answer, which you'll be pleased to have ready by Monday Evening, when shall order a 82 AT WELLINGTON person to call for it, or the next morning, you will oblige us by the preceding, being held secret & with great respect we remain your assured friends. Thdr answer to above. Exeter Bank, Aug* 10th, 1772. Gentlemen, We duely rec'd the favr of your Letter, in answer to which we can assure you, that it will give us all a very particular pleasure, to do business for so respectable a House, as yours is, and in order to settle it upon a sure and lasting foundation, we wish to transact it, upon the most fair, and equitable terms, and will therefore if you please make a Tryall for a few months, if afterwards it should appear upon a candid Examination that our profits are inadequate to our trouble, or that on the Con- trary our Emoluments, should be greater than we ought reasonably to have expected, we make no doubt but such alterations, will readily be acquiesced in, on either Side, as shall be thought just. We mean to transact, all your Banking business for \ per Cent, that is all Bills, you may have occasion to draw on London, as well as abroad, the writer of this and his Father before him, paid Mr Price for many years J per Cent, on all Bills drawn on London & ^ per Cent for all foreign drafts exclusive of brokerage, which it is likewise understood Messrs. Were's must allow, but no more will be charged than what is paid, and usually allowed to the Brokers on those Occasions. With regard to Cash we have after the rate of 7* Qd 83 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE per lOOl. of every Merchant in Exeter, you will be welcome to what you please, but we apprehend you wiU have no occasion to take up any on Bills, for if we transact your whole Business, you wiU only draw on our House, Whatever Bills go through our hands, you may depend upon it will not pass to those of other people's, we allways send our Bills directly to London. All that you pay us, wiU be placed to your Credit when due, all the Cash we pay you must be placed to your debit, the Commission of 5 per Cent will be charged only on BiUs that are drawn, and foreign Drafts, whatever we are in advance for you we reckon 5 per Cent Intrest for, which you will not think too much, when you consider that it will be paid off by degrees, in such sums, and at such times only as suits your own Conveniency, you will be welcome to overdraw as much as you please, whenever the state of our Cash will admit of it, & we think you might allways depend upon three or four Thousand Pounds, or perhaps more, in short we shall in everything, make it our pleasure, and study to oblige and accomodate you. We have only to add, that it may be some little time before our House in London, wiU be in readiness, having met with some unforseen delays, and therefore we should be glad if for the present you could permit us to draw, the Bills you might have occasion for on London, and the foreign Drafts, we should wish you to draw to our order (Exchange as in London) and we would take care to negotiate them after our House is establish 'd in London, you will be able to draw from Wellington as you please, and your foreign bills can be drawn by our own House, on any of your friends, and negotiated on the Spot, we shall be glad to find our 84 AT WELLINGTON proposals, meet with your approbation, in the meanwhile we remain with great regard. Gentlemen, y'^^ most ob* serv'^ »S%7l'or my Son and Joan his Wife All our Burgage with all its appurtenances lying in the South Street in the Borough of Wellynton between the land of John Yong on the North side and the land of John Wekes on the southern side and the Land of the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells called Bulfurlong on the western side and the Highway on the eastern side : To have and to hold the foresaid Burgage with all its appurtenances to the foresaid Richard Taylor and Joan his Wife their heirs and assigns for ever of the Chief Lords of that fee by the rent and services therefor due and of right accustomed : And we indeed the foresaid John Taylor and Anastasia and our heirs the foresaid Burgage with all its appurtenances will to the foresaid Richard Taylor and Joan his Wife their heirs and assigns against all people warrant acquit and for ever by these presents defend And 107 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE also know ye that we the foresaid John Taylor and Anastasia his Wife have ordained made and put in our place our beloved in Christ William Waryn and John Yonge our true lawful Attorneys jointly and separately to enter the said Burgage with all its appurtenances aforesaid and thereof full and peaceful possession and seisin to deliver to the foresaid Richard Taylor according to the tenor and effect of this our present Charter made to him. In witness whereof to these presents we have put our Seals. These being Witnesses, William Colwyll then Provost of the Borough of Wellynton, Thomas Trowe, Constable, Thomas Hussey, BailiflF, John Taylor, William Gooddere and Thomas Bud and many others. Dated at Wellynton the xxix*'' day of the Month of November in the 19"" Year of the Reign of King Henry VIII. [29 November 1527] 108 AT WELLINGTON APPENDIX L. The System of Profit Sharing referred to as instituted by the firm consisted in allowing within certain limits all those in their employ to deposit money, for which they received interest at a rate varying from 4|^ 7=, ^^ 10 "j^, in accordance with the profits made each year. This system has been in operation for fifty-one years, and considerable sums have thus been deposited. Old Age Pensions— begun in 1874. Annexed is a copy of the new rules relating to this matter, it having been found necessary to make some alteration in consequence of the Government Scheme having come into operation. Copy. — The following New Rules will come into force October 1st, 1908 :— 1. Fox Brothers & Co., Ltd., will give a pension to all persons who have left their employ, who at the time of leaving shall have attained the age of sixty- five years, and who shall have been in their employ uninterruptedly for twenty-five years previously, or to any person who shall have worked for the firm for forty years continuously, whatever their age at leaving. 2. The rate of Pensions will be as follows : 2/6 per week to those who are over 70 years of age, and who are in receipt of a State Pension. 109 THE WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE (The case of any person over this age who is not entitled to a State Pension will be con- sidered on its merits.) 7/6 per week to those from 65 to 70 years of age. 5/- per week to those under 65 years of age. 3. Any person entitled under Rule 1 to receive a Pension must make application for it in writing addressed to Fox Bros. & Co., Ltd. 4. The applications must state the age of the applicants, and the number of years they have worked for Fox Bros. & Co., Ltd., also how many years they have worked uninterruptedly for them previously to relinquishing work. 5. Fox Brothers & Co., Limited, reserve to themselves the right to make any alterations in these Rules necessitated by any future alteration or extension of the State Pension Scheme, or for any other reason, and to decline to grant or continue any pension should they deem it desirable on account of the character of the apphcant, or from any other cause. Any one under the age of 70 now in receipt of a Pension will have the option of accepting the New Rules. Fox Brothers & Co. Limited. Dated October 1st, 1908. 110 AT WELLINGTON APPENDIX M. Valuation of Real Property belonging to Thomas Fox in 1819. Tonedale estate, rented by trade Tone mill, racks, etc 5 cottages^ ...... 3 cottages, Coram's Lane 3 cottages, Winsbear .... Buildings and land at Westford ^ Farm at Spears Dwelling house, garden, orchard, coach-house and stable ...... Great millhouse and stream of water Little millhouse Warehouse and scouring house WooUofts and tending shop . Serge chamber and lodge Edward's house and garden * . Thomas' house and garden * . Trade premises ^ . . . . . Great mill and stream of water at Coldharbour Dwelling house, new house, garden, &c.*. Coldharbour meadows ° . . . . £12,000 2,700 300 250 100 650 650 3,500 3,500 1,500 300 2,000 1,200 1,100 1,200 1,400 2,700 300 1,700 Carried forward £37,050 1 Now called Five Houses. 2 Probably the old tannery which adjoined, or was a part of Landcox. ^ The dwelling house at Tonedale. * These were the houses in Wellington in which Thomas and Edward Fox lived. They were the two eldest sons of Thomas Fox. ^ Known as Trade House in South Street, adjoining Bulford House. ' Situated at UfEculme. Ill WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE, WELLINGTON Brought forward £37,050 Land and House, &c., Sweatlands\ . . 1,600 Old fuUing mill and orchard ^ . . . . 200 Schoolhouse and Garden .... 250 Cottages and about 3 acres of land . . 400 11 acres of land on UfFculm Down, planted . 180 150 acres of land on Blackdown, 120 planted . 1,600 £41,280 Personal Property. Wheal Chance mine .... £700 Bristol Tontine 150 2 houses, moiety of each at Falmouth^ . 1,000 Household goods, carriage and horses 1,000 800 3 7^ stock 550 Money at interest 8,529 Capital in trade 29,341 £41,270 ' Situated at Uflculme. ' This property came to him from his grandfather Thomas Were, one of whose daughters, Mary, married George Croker Fox of Falmouth. 112 INDEX Adams, Messrs., 48 Adkins, John, 16 Albano, 21 Alderson, John, 17 Alexander, Catherine, 63 Hannah, 63 Alloway, Nurse, 101 Altona, 10, 22, 94 America, 77 American Colonies, postage rates to, 23 ; revolt of, 40 ; independence recognised, 48 Amiens, 87 Amsterdam, 65, 68, 94 Angelo, Angeli di, 21 Antigua, 23 Antrobus, Edmund, 100 Antwerp, 94 Armada chests, at Tonedale, 11, 12. Arnheim, 94 AscareUi, Isaac, 21 Atlantic, first crossed by a steamer, 57 Augsbiu-g, 94 Austill, 18 Austria, 95 Bailey, Thomas, 71, 80 Baker, Robert, 100 Ball, Joseph, 101, 104 Baltic Provinces, 95 Barbadoes, 23 Barugi, Giuseppe, 21 Basle, 21, 95 Bassano, Israel, 20 Bath, 57 note ; first mail-coaches to, 9 Bath Theatre, 9 Batta, Jean, 22 Bavaria, 94 Bawden, Messrs., 48 Bealing, Mary, 63 ' Beam and Scales,' Honiton, 103 Beam Bridge, 58 note Beccles, 16 Bell, purchase of the great bell, 40 Bellamy, William, 106 Bennett, William, 25, 26 Bentalls, Messrs., 48 Bergamo, 95 Berlin, 88, 93 Berry, Amy, 105, Elizabeth, 6, 12 John, 96 Peter, of Wellington, 6, 10, 34, 39, 49, 62, 70, 71, 96, 101, 104, 106 Priscilla, 100 R., Messrs., 48 Sarah, 7 Walter, 71, 80 Besse's Sufferings of Friends, 3 Bevagna, 21 Bevington, Timothy, 16 Bidwell, William, 15 Birmingham, 43 Birt, Robert, 99 Blackdown, 112 Blagdon, Henry, 19, 20, 66 Bohemia, 89 Bologna, 95 Bonaini, Ambro Gaeto, 21 Bossing Lane, 25 Botzen, 10, 11, 95 Bovett, Dr., 32,33 Bovey, 17 Boyer & Martin, 22 BrandmuUer, Jacob, 21 Bread, consumption by families in Wellington, 49, SO Bread Street, 25 Breda, 94 Bremen, 22, 95 Bremridge, Messrs., 48 Brenner Pass, 10 Breslau, 89, 94 Bridge, Dr., 32, 33 Dr. Franklin, 32, 33 Bridge Town, 104 Bridgwater, 15, 104 Bristol, 4, 9, 15, 25 ; railway to Exeter opened, 57 China Co., 34, 35 Tontine, 112 Brooke, Messrs., 48 Brown, J., Messrs, 48 Thomazin, 106 WilUam, 101, 104 Bruch & Oldenburgh, 22 Bruges, 94 Brussels, 94 113 INDEX Bud, Thomas, 108 Bukewell, Robert, 16 Bulford, 99 House, 13, S3, 70, 111, note Land, 100-10+ Bulfurlong, lOT Bull, Robert, 106 Bulls Mead, 97-99 Burford, Mary, 14 Burke's ' Commoners \ 1 Burlescombe, 2 and note, 3, 58, note, 100, 103 Burnley, Benjamin, 25 Burridge, Robert, 66 Samuel, 20, 26 Bury, in Suffolk, 16 Messrs., 48 Butcher ( ), 30 Byrd, William, 30, 31 Cadbuhy, family, of Birmingham, 43 John, 43 Camphn, Rev. Thomas, 25, 26 Cape, Ame, 14 Carew, Thomas, 25, 26 Carissimo, Francisco, 31 Carsewells, 97, 100, 106 Caunter, Messrs., 48 Chamfoot Lane, 99 Champion, Sarah, 4 Channon Hannah, 104 Charleton, Elizabeth, 63 James, 63 Cherubini & Piccinini, 21 Chetwood, John, 99 China, export to, 44 China clay, discovery of, 7, 33, .34, 70 Chorley, Nurse, 101 Ciamaglia, Steffano, 20 Claram, 15 Clarke, Amice, 62 Ann, 104 Betty, 104 Mary, 96 William, 14 Cleves, duchy of, 90, 92 Clifton, boarding school at, 40, 41 Coaching, early days of, 9 Codd, Messrs., 48 Coldharbour, 111 Mill, 51 ; inventory of machinery at, 54 Coleman, William, 106 Colesworthy, family, 4 Elizabeth, 4 Mary, 4 Collier, Ann, 70, 80 Benjamin, 27 Joseph, 70, 71, 80, 101 Collier, Mary, 71, 103 Widow, 37 Cologne, 94 ColwyU, William, 108 Convulsions, recipe for cure, 16, 17 Cook, Messrs., 48 Cookworthy, Sarah, 7 William, first English porcelain maker, 7, 33, 34, 70; Weres' account with, 35 Cooper, Thomas, 50 Coram's Lane, 111 Corn Laws, riots follow, 56 ; repeal of, 58 Cornish, Messrs. , 48 CornwaU, 70 Cotford Mills, 51 Courtray, 94 Coventry, 16 Coxe, Richard Hippisley, M.P. for Somerset, 86 Crewdson, Rachel, 63 Sarah, 63 Croker, George, 63 Tabitha, 63 Cuff, Samuel, 98 Cullompton, 3, 15, 59, 71 Culm VaUey, 3 Culmstock, 2, 59, 101 Culverwell, Thomas, 71, 80 Damiani, Antonio, 21 Dammes, 94 DanieUi, Vicenzo, 20 Dantzig, 90, 94 Darch, Thomas, 69 Dare, Edward, 105 Sarah, 105, 106 Davis, Robert, of Minehead, 101, 104 Debell, Anna, 63 De Costa, Abraham, 21 Dennis, Messrs., 48 Dennis Meeting, 18 Depsill, Wotherus, 67, 68 Devon, Were family in, 2-4 ; woollen in- dustry in, 7; serge manufacturers of, 32 Dicker, Alice, 71, 80 Dr. Michael Lee, 71 Dorp, 94 Dort, 94 Douwesz, Jacoba Job, 68 Dover, 11 Drewe, C, 29 Dunkirk, 95 Dunn, Messrs., 48 Duntze, John, 81 Praed & Co., Exeter, 81 Durston, 4 Dusseldorf, 94 114 INDEX Dutch prisoners at Falmouth, 43 Dye Works, Fox Bros. & Co., 24 Dymond, Francis, on West of England Meeting Houses, 5 Bast Fbiesland, 90, 99 East India Co., form of tender for Long EUs, 44-47 Eggleshall, 101 Eight Acres Lane, 99 Elbe, river, 89, 92 Elberfeld, 94 Elizabeth, Queen, 2 ; enactment con- cerning highway robbery, 35, 36 Elworthy, Elizabeth, 71, 80 Mary, 71 Messrs., 48 Engelbert, 95 English Channel, unsafe for shipping, 43 Escotts, 4 Euler, Frederick, 21 Exe, river, 9 Exeter, 17 ; earliest coaches to, 9 Gaol, 3 Hospital, 38, 71 Museum, 11 Fabyan, Messrs., 48 Falmouth, 4, 9, 18, 23, 33, 70, 72 ; Dutch prisoners at, 43 Fani & Lodovici, 21 Farthings Pitt, 100, 103 Finnamore, Alice, 71 Finzi, Guglielmo, 20 Fire engine, purchased by Were & Co., 41 Flanders, 94 Foligno, 21, 95 Folkestone, 15 Fontana, Girolamo, 20 Foorts, 100 Fordan, 91 Fore Street, Wellington, 100 Fouracre or Fouraker, Robt., 96, 106 William, 104 Fourteen Down, 99, 103 Fox, Anna, wife of Edward Fox of Wadebridge, 12, 27, 63, 72, 96, 101, 105 Anna, dau. of Thos. Fox of Welling- ton, 63 Anna, wife of Geo. Fox, 63 Catherine, 63 Charles, 57, 63, 103 Charles, banker, of Plymouth, 71, 80 Charles, of Plymouth, 4, 35, 101, 104 Charles James, death of, 55 Charlotte, 63 Dorothy, 70 115 Fox, Edward, 17, 56, 63, 111 and note Edward, of Eggleshall, 101 Edward, of Wadebridge, 12, 13, 27, 63, 70, IS, 96, 105 Elizabeth, wife of Geo. Fox, 4 Elizabeth, dau. of Thos. Fox, of Wellington, 63 Francis, 63 Francis, of St. Germans, 63, 70, 71 George, 20, 21, 63 George, of Perran, 4 George Croker, 27, 33, 63, 70, 72, 96, 101, 105 Hannah, 63, 105 Henry, 57, 63 James, 35 John, 71 Joseph Hoyland, first associated with the firm, 59 ; incident at Bath recalled, 57, note Margaret, 103 Maria, 63 Mary, n4e Bealing, 63 Mary, n4e Sanderson, 63 Mary, wife of Geo. Croker Fox, 12, 27, 33, 63, 72, 80, 96, 101, 105, 112 Messrs., 48 Rachael, 63 Rebecca, 63 Samuel, 56, 63 Sarah, 4, 5, 48, 57, 63 Sylvanus, 56, 63 Tabitha, 63 Thomas, of Wellington, 12, 13, 27, 28, 40, 43, 52, 53, 56, 63, 63, 70, 71, 80, 96, 99, 101, 104, 105, 106 ; associated with Were & Co., 38 ; marriage, 48 ; builds a house in WeUington, 49 ; issues bank- notes, 50 ; his energy in dealing with new industrial conditions, 51 ; removes from South Street, 55 ; his death, 57 ; valuation of his property. 111, 112 Thomas, junior, 55, 63, 111, and note Brothers & Co., Ltd., firm com- menced by the Were family, 3 ; growth of the business, 8 ; large continental trade, 10 ; first bank- ing acconnt, 12; Thomas Fox joins the firm, 13 ; stamps for marking goods, 2, 19, 65, 66 ; list of foreign customers, 20-23 ; position in 1756, 24 ; and in 1759, 27; agents for the Sun Fire Office, 28 ; importation of wine, 32 ; financial arrangements, .39, 40 i position in 1780, 42 ; contri- INDEX Fox Brothers & Co., Ltd., eontinued — bution in aid of Dutch prisoners, 43 ; business with the Bast India Co., 44 ; list of Long Ell orders, 48 ; exports to Continent and America, 49 : introduction of machinery, 51 - 54 ; becomes Thos. Fox & Sons, 55 ; weekly- business meetings commenced, 56 ; purchase of first steam en- gine, 57 ; progress of the firm and improved conditions of workers, 59, 109, 110 ; attemptto disparage firm's goods, 65; money invested with the firm, 70-79 ; the firm's assets, 73, 74 ; speci- men of trade accounts, 79 ; bank- ing negotiations with Duntze, Praed & Co. , 81 -85 ; list of towns to which goods were sent, 94, 95 Fowler & Co., of Wellington, 50 Phillips & Fox, of Falmouth, 39 France, war with, 42, 51, peace con- cluded, 48 Francis, Messrs., 48 Frankfort, 10, 94 Frederick the Great, edict relating to duties on merchandise, 88-93 Freeman, Henry, 16 Joseph, 16 French Revolution, 50 Frey, Jean Jacques, 21 Friends, 35, 67, 99 ; persecution of, 3, 5, 6, 56 ; objects from Wellington Meeting, 14 ; Friends' visits to Wellington, 15, 16 ; Itinerary of Friends, 17; bequests to, 101, 104, 106 Society of, 3, 4, 35, note Fulford, Messrs., 48 FuUerns, an estate, 6 GAUTiEa, Pierre, boarding-school pro- prietor at Clifton, 40, 41 Geneva, 2), 22. 95 Genoa, 95 Gentilli, Francisco Antonio, 20 George II. enactments relating to high- way robbery, 35-38 Germany, 76, 89, 94 ; articles permitted to be imported, 91, 92 Gerrards Hall Inn, 25 Ghent, 94 Giffard, family of, 1 Manor of, 1, and note Giles, Richard, 25 T. 32 GUes's,' 101, 103 Glanville, Messrs., 48 116 Gloucestershire, 39 Godmanchester, 16 Good, Thomas, 66 Gooddere, William, 108 Gore, George, 50 Grammont, 94 Grand Western Canal, 55 Grange, 31 Great Sowden, 4 Green, G., 31 Greenslades, Wellington, 99, 103 Grinton, 15 Guastalla, Donato Isaia, 20 Gueldres, Duchy of, 90, 92 Gundry, Arthur, 101 Gunston, John, 69 Hague, The, 94 Edward, 86 Halberstadt, 89 Halberton Court, 1, 2 Hamburg, 10, 22, 95 Hamilton, Daniel, 36 Hampshire, 39 Handford, Thomas, 99 Hanover, 94 Hanseatic Towns, 95 Harford, family, 4 Bridge, fulling mills at, 3, 55 Harris's, 100 Harrison, Thomas, 100 Hasselt, 94 Hastings, Warren, 40 Haviland, Elizabeth, 71, 80, 106 Haydon, Messrs., 48 Heath, Joseph, 16 Heathfield, Messrs., 48 Hebbard, John, 15 Henleys, 99, 103 Herman, Benoit, 22 Hessen, 94 Hewlett, Elizabeth, 6 Hiiers, 95 Higginson, Edward, 16 Highwaymen, 9; enactments concerning highway robbery, 35-38 Hill, Robert, 106 Hillylands, 100 Hoare, Messrs., 48 Holberton, 17 Hole, Messrs., 48 HoUaday, J., 69 HoUand, 65, 67-69, 76, 94 ; war with, 42 ; peace signed, 49 Holways & Voiseys, 53 Holywell Lake, 99, 103 Honeywell, Messrs., 48 Honiton, 103 Hops, dealt in by Weare & Co., 40 INDEX Hopsten, 94 Hopwood, Samuel, IT Hombracket, Messrs., 48 Horses, cost of, 49 How, Samuel, 106 Hoys, Burgomaster of Ostend, 86 Hull, 8T Hurford, Ann, 106 Hannah, 50 Thomas, 67-69, 96, 97, 104, 106 Hurley, Elizabeth, 105, 106 Hussey, Thomas, 108 Ilmiksteb, 15 Indigo, 39 ; used by the firm for dyeing, 49 Ireland, import of wool from, 9, 32 ; attempt to establish the woollen industry in, 33 ; rebellion in, 51 ; Act of Union, 53 Italy, 95 Jackson, Messrs., 48 Jager, Michael, 23 Jamaica, 33 Jenkins, John, 50 Samuel, 50 Jufro, a ship, 67 Karpek, Jean George, 21 Katenkamps, Mercht., 22 Kekewich, Dorothy, 63, and note Kent, 39 Kerswells, 106 Key Meeting, 18 Kingston, James, 17 Konig, William, 22 Konigsberg, 94 Lamande, Joseph, 31 Lancocks Farm, 4, 100, 101, 106 Land's End, 17, 18 Lane, Joseph, 106 Langdon, Messrs., 48 Lange, Messrs., 48 Langlois, Peter, & Sons, 23 Lardner, Messrs., 48 Laven, Messrs., 48 Lawford's Gate, Bristol, 25 Leach, Messrs., 48 Leghorn, 21, 32, 95 Leipzig, 22, 94 Lewis, Samuel, 66 William, 66 Lezy & Bechelti, 21 Lignola, Antonio & Pietro, 21 LiUe, 87 Lingen, 90, 92 Lisbon, 33, 95 Liscard, 17 Little Sanford, 3 Sowden, 4 Liverpool & Manchester Railway, open- ing of, 57 Lombard Neveux, Charles, 22 Lombardo, Charles, 31 London, 9, 34, 25, 33, 35, 87 Gazette, 36 Long Ells, introduction of, 44-47; list of orders, 48 Looe, 17, 18 Lorraine, 95 Lotteries, 13, 14 ; account of lottery tickets, 42 Louis XVI. condemned to death, 51 Lubeck, 95 Lugg, Elizabeth, 104 Lutken, Gustav, 33 Luxemburg, 95 Luxmoore, Messrs., 48 Machinery, introduction, 51, 53-55 ; effect in Somerset and Devon, 7 Madge, Messrs., 48 Magdebourg, 89 Maidendown, 43 ; serge-makers' agree- ment made at, 75-78 Maidenhead, railway fi-om Paddington opened, 57 Mails, early transport of, 9 MaUet, Jean and Naville, 21 Mandrid, 95 Manley, E., 30 Mantle Street, 99, 100 Mantua, 20 ManueUi, Antonio, 21 Margate Hill, 16 Mark, county of, 90, 92 province of, 89 MarkeU Jew, 18 Markes, T., 29 Marks, on woollen goods, 3, 65, 66 Marlborough, 57 note Marsh, John, 100 Thomas, 29, 30, 99 Marsham, Margaret, 16 Maryland, 23 Marys, Anthony, 99 Matravers, Elizabeth, 13, 70, 80, 96, 101, 105 Sister 27 Stephen, 13, 13, 37, 28, 40, 42, 51, 62, 70, 80, 96, 99, 101, 103-105 William, 27, 62 Matthei, Matthias, 22 Maunder, J., 48 W., 48 ' Meeting for Sufferings,' 35 117 INDEX Menin, 94- Merry Zion, 18 Meurs, 90, 92, 94 Middleburg, 94 Middleton, Maria, 63 Milan, 95 MiUway, Wellington, 52 Milverton, IS, 18 Minden, 90, 92, 94 Minehead, 9, 15, 101, 104 ; wool landed at, 32 Mitz, Abel, & Sons, 21 Moggridge, John, 3 Moneron, 95 Montserrat, 23 Moore, Joseph, 39 Morelli, Angello, 21 Morgan, John, 106 Morley, Elizabeth, 16 Moscone & Perotti, 21 Mount Radford, 4 Mulheim, 94 Munich, 94 Munster, 95 Nancy, 95 Naples, 21, 95 Nevis, 23 New England, 23 New York, 23, 24 Newberry, 25 Newcastle, Duke of, 8T Newton, John, 66 Newtons, 100 Nice, 22 Nimwegen, 94 Noankes, Thomas, 35 Nodlands, 100, 106 Nonconformists, persecution of, 5 North Walsham, 16 Northam, Robert, 15 Norwich, 87 Nott, Roger, 15 Nottingham, 16 Novi, 95 Nurtons, 99, 103 Oatway, George, contract with, 52, 53 Oder, river, 92 Old Age Pensions, 59, 109, 110 ' Old Baums,' 4 Oporto, 32, 96 Osmond, George, 19, 65-68 Osmonds, 4, 100 Ostend, 10, 11 Paddington, railway to Maidenhead opened, 57 Padua, 95 118 Palmer, John, introduces the mail- coach, 9 Parr, 18 Parsons, John, 100 Robert, 106 Paytom, Catherine, 16 Pearse, G., 48 T.,48 ■W.,48 Penbridge, Joseph, 80 Penny Postage, introduction of, 57 Penryn, 18 Penslade, 4, 100, 101 Penzance, 18 Perran, 4 Perrots, 99, 103 Periy, John, 56 William, 25, 26 Perry Elm, 4 Petrucci, Pietro, 21 Philadelphia, 51 Philips, William, 35 PhiUipps, Sir Thomas, Bart., 1 Piarelli, Gennaro, 21 Pickover, Edmund, 17 Pierdei, Cornelius, 21 Pinksmoor Mills, 2 Pinto, David de, 21 Pitt, William, his death, 55 Plymouth, 4, 17, 71, 101, 104 Porcelain Co. , 34, 35 Poland, 89-91 Poraerania, 89 Pool, Ed., 14 Porcelain, first Enghsh maker, 7, 33, 34,70 Port Isaac, 17 Portishead, 15 Portugal, 95 Postage, rates, 10, 22-24 ; penny post introduced, 57 Potter, WiUiam, 105 Prescott, 2 Profit Sharing, adopted by Fox Bros., 59, 109 Prowse, Esq., 100 Prussia, 92, 94 Pulei & Moresti, 21 Pyne, John, SO, 100 Joseph, 97, 106 Robert, SO Quakers, see Friends Rack Close, 24 Ragueneau Marcha & Chamier, 22 Railways, introduction of, 57 Ransome, John, 16 Ravensberg, 90, 92 INDEX Rawlings, Joan, 3 Reading, 35 Refonn Bill, 57 Reynolds, George, 43 Rhine, river, 10 Provinces, 94 Richards, William, 106 Riga, 95 Roache, Caleb, 105, 106 Rockwell Green, 4 Rome, 31, 95 Rossaro, Glo. Ant. Bardi, 91 B^ssi, Gio. Batta, 30, 91 Rota, Bartholomew, 91 Rotterdam, 67, 94 Rowes Acre Lane, 109 Rowgreen, 100, 106 Runnington Manor, 4, 97, 98 Russia, 95 Rutter, George, 100 Sacrestani & Orioli, 90 Sadlers, 100 St. Christopher, 93 St. Germans, 17 St. John, at Tours, 31 St. Petersburg, 95 Salene, William de, 1 SaUsbury, serges made at, 39 Sampford Arundell, 4, 71 PevereU, 100 Sampson Rideout, a novel, 39 Sanderson, Mary, 63 Sanford, 7 Saxony, 89, 94 Schaffhausen, 95 Schleswig Holstein, 94 Schulman, Gunter Ludwig, 29 Schultz, Jacob Fridk., 99 Sella, Alexandra, 39 Sellwood, John, 97, 101, 104 Senegaglia, 95 Seraehi, Alexandro, 31 Serge-making, Were family engaged in, 2 ; the trade at Taunton, 6 ; petition of serge-makers, 18, 19 ; agreement as to prices, 75-78 Severn, River, 16 Sheldon, Archbishop, his Act against Nonconformists, 5 Sheloocke, George, Secretary of Post Office, 34 Shorland, Abraham, 103 William, 50 Shurferd, Robert, 49 Sidcott, 15 Silberrad, Miss, novel by, 39 Silesia, 89, 94 Simons, William, 47 Smith, Sarah, 48, 63, 63 Thomas, 48 Wright & Gray, bankers, 48 Soewis, 96 Solari, Eredi di Ginuario, 91 Somerset, estates in, held by the Weres, 4 ; woollen industry in, 7, 39 Sorrentino, Nicola, 31 South Street, WeUington, 49, 97, 99, 107, 111 note Southey, Thomas, 97, 99 Southey's, 103 Sowden, 97, 99, 103 Farm, 9 Spain, 77; war with, 49; peace made, 48 Spanish Armada, II Spavold, Samuel, 15 Speares, 111 Spiceland Meeting, 96, 101, 106 Meeting House, 2, 3, 104 Spiller, Jane, 100 Spitalflelds, 87 Splatt, Sara, 17 Stamford Hill, 48 Stamps, used for marking woollen goods, 3, 19, 90, 65, 66 Stark, Philip, 106 Stephens, John, 34 Mrs., of Falmouth, 34 Wilham, painter on china, 34 Stern, Henry, 21 Philip, 91 Stettin, 93 Stoke Bishop, 1 Stopstein, 94 Storer, John, 16 Stradling, Ann, 100 Michael, 50 Thomas, 100 WiUiam, 50 Stratford-on-Avon, 16 Strichlmann, Frider Wilhelm, 93 Strong, George, 96 Stuttgart, 94 Sun Fire Office, 30 ; its money chests, 11 : Thomas Were & Sons, agents, 28, 32 Surchi, Gio. Batta, 21 Swain, Joan, 106 Taunton, 26 ; serge trade in, 6 ; effect of election on woollen industry, 7, 8 Taylor, Anastasia, 107, 108 Joan, 107 John, 107, 108 Richard, 107, 108 Tecklenbourg, 90, 92 Thomas, John, 49 William Prockter, 95, 102, 105 119 INDEX Thompson, Jonah, 15 Thorn, George, 66 Thorne, James, 49 Three Cups Inn, 99 Thurmgia, 94 Times, first pubUshed, 9 Tiverton, 20, 66-68 Tobacco, import into Germany, 90 Toleration Act, 5 Toll-gates, 9 Tomes, Samuel, 97 Tone, River, 55 Tonedale, 107, 111 Mills, 3, 6, 51, 52, 106 ; money chests at, 11, 12; inventory of machinery, 54; destroyed by fire, 57 Topsham, 9, 11, 17, 43, 87 Torridge, River, 1 Toulrain, History of Taunton, 7 Town Mills, see Tonedale Mills. Trade House, Wellington, 53, 111 Trafalgar, battle of, 55 Transport, diflSculties of, 8-11 Trevelyan, Sir John, Bart., 69 Trobalza & Lepri Seracchi, 21 Truro, manufacture of china at, .34 Tucking Mill, 24 Tuckum, 95 Turin, 21, 95 Tyrol, 95 Uffculme, 2, and note, 3, 5, 51 ; fire at, 28-32 Down, 112 United Provinces, 76 Uphara, 49 Utrecht, 94 Vanbrogel, Abm., 68 Velletria, 20 Venice, 22 Verona, 10, 11, 95 Vickery, William, 105, 106 Victoria Inn, Wellington, 52 Vienna, 95 Vieusseux frferes, Lagier & Corny., 22 Virginia, 23 Vistula, River, 90 Viterbo, 20 Wadebhidge, 17, 70, 72 Wages, rates of, 53, 58 Wales, cloth from, 87 Warwick, 16 Waryn, William, 108 Watchett, 25 Waterloo, battle of, 56 Weare GifFard, 1, and note Weeks, John, 107 WeUington, 2, 3, 6, 97-100, 103, 105, 106; serge business at, 4 ; Friends' Meeting House at, 5, 101 ; burial ground, 6 ; business diverted from Taunton, 7, 8 ; communica- tion with London, 9, 10; con- dition of the poor, 14 ; Friends' visits to, 15, 16 ; petition of serge- makers, 18, 19 ; postage rates, 22-24; route for goods to London, 25 ; petition to the Wellington Justises,25, 26; meeting of serge- makers at Maidendown, 43; Thomas Fox's house in South Street, 49 ; changes on the intro- duction of machinery, 51 ; Thos. Fox's house sold, 55 ; railway to Exeter opened, 57 ; first train arrives at Wellington, 58, note ; Messrs. Were's appeal to the WeUington Justices, 65-69 ; be- quest to the poor of, 106 Meeting, 97, 104 Were, family history, 1-6 Agnes, 2 Anna, 12, 62, 63, 103 Berry, 4 Betty, 27 Catherine, 105 Edith, 2 Elizabeth, dan. of Nicholas Were, 105 Elizabeth, dau. of Peter Were, of Sampford Arundell, 71, 80 Elizabeth, sister of Thos. Were, 4 Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Were, 4, 101, 105 Elizabeth, wife of Robert Were, 101, 102, 104, 105 Elizabeth, wife of Thos. Weare, 6, 62, 70, 80, 96, 97 Ehzabeth, mar. W. Matravers, 12, 62, 103 F., of Stoke Bishop, 1 James, 62 Joan, 2 John, Col., 1, 2 John, of Pinksmoor MiUs, 2, 62 John, son of John of Pinksmoor, 2, 62 John, son of preceding, 62 John, of near Plymouth, 62 John, of Little Sanford, 62 John, son of preceding, 62 John, of Sampford Arundell, 4, 12, 70, 80, 97, 105 Joseph, of Bristol, 4, 12, 62, 97, 98, 101, 103, 105, 106 120 INDEX Were, Mary, dau. of Peter Were, 71, 80 Mary, mar. Geo. Croker Fox, 13, 62, 63, 103 Mary, wife of Nicholas Were, *, 5, 101, 105 Mary, wife of Thos. Were, junr., 101 Nicholas, of Sowden and Little Sanford, 2, 62 Nicholas, of Landcox, 4, 5, 10, 12, 24, 27, 28, 40, 42, 51, 62, 71, 80, 97, 98, 100-106 Peter, of Uffculme, 9, 3, 62 Peter, of Sampford Arundell, 4, 72 Peter, of WeUington, 4, 13, 24, 37, 28, 38, 62, 96 Robert, of Wellington, 4 Robert, of Sowden, 2, 3, 24, 27, 38, 33, 40, 62, 65, 72 Robert, of Sanford, 7 Robert, of Runnington Manor, 4, 6, 12, 41, 62, 66, 67, 69-71, 80, 96, 97-102, 105 Robert, son of preceding, 103-105 Samuel, 103-105 Sarah, dau. of Nicholas Were, 105 Sarah, dau. of Robert Were, 103, 105 Thomas, of Wellington, 3, 4, 6, 10, 13, 24, 27, 28, 33, 34, 39, 62, 63, 65-73, 96, 97, 112 Thomas, junr., 4, 12, 13, 24, 27, 28, 40-42, 62, 65-70, 80, 96, 98, 100- 104 Thomas, son of Robert Were, 103- 105 William, lord of Weare Giffard, 1 William, son of Thomas Were of Wellington, 4, 13, 37, 28, 40, 43, 49, 6^, 97, 98, 100-103, 105 William, son of Robt. Were, 103- 105 Were & Bush, 41 Were & Co., for the account of the firm me Fox Bros. & Co., Ltd. Werescote, 4, 52 West Indies, postage rates to, 23 Westcott, James, 50 Wescotts, Burlescombe, 100 Westford, 3, 111 Westleigh, 4, 100 WestphaUa, 90-92, 94 Wheal Chance Mine, 113 White Ball Hill and Tunnel, 58, note Wills, various wills of the Were family, 96-106 Wills's, 100, 106 Wilson, Theodore, 30, Wine, imported by Thos. Were & Sons, 33 Winsbear, 11] Winsor, J., Vicar of Uffculme, 30, 31 Winter, Benjamin, 49 John, 14 Winterthur, 95 Withimans, 106 Wiveliscombe, 59 Wood, Anne, 106 Woods estate, 53 Wool, scarcity of, 77 Woolcotts, 99, 100, 103 Woollen manufacture, first appearance of Were family in, 3 ; introduction of machinery, 7, 51, 53, 55 ; methods of transport, 8-10 ; wool imported from Ireland, 9, 33 ; Wellington serge-makers' petition, 18; stamping of goods, 19 ; foreign merchants, 20-22 ; the industry in Ireland, 32 ; wool fi'om Kent, Gloucestershire, and Hants, 39 ; depression in the trade, 7, 43 ; manufacture of Long Ells, 44-47; exports to Continent and America, 49 ; conditions altered by advent of machinery, 51 ; in- ventory of machinery, 53-55 ; agree- ment by serge-makers at Maiden- down, 75-78 ; letter and edict re- lating to goods imported into Germany, 86-93 Worcester, 16 WRE, mark on goods, 2, 65, 66 Wurtemburg, 94 Yarmouth, 87 Yeovil, 15 Yonge, John, 107, 108 Zkalajjd, 76 Zouca, Eredi di Defonda, 31 London : S'j'BANeEWAis, Printers, Tower Street, Cambridge Circus.