Thomas Jefferys - Sword-cutter

Biography

Listed in the trade directories of the time as toy man, toy making(m/s)
cutler, cutlery/surgical instrument making(m).¹ He went bankrupt in November, 1766, but this seemed to be a frequent occurence for many tradesmen at the time, and he featured in the directories both before and after this time, at least as late as 1777.² In 1778 he was even listed as a Director of the Hand in Hand Fire Office,³ a position to which he was re-elected at least as late as 1793.⁴ Boswell described him as sword-cutter to his majesty.

Thomas Jefferys' nephew, Nathaniel Jefferys (ca. 1758-1810), at some point served as an apprentice in the shop. He later became Goldsmith and Jeweller to the Prince of Wales (1789), and a Member of Parliament for Coventry (1796-1802/3).⁵

Life with James Boswell

Boswell describes how, on December 1, 1762, he managed to get store credit from Mr. Jefferys when he got a sword in Jefferys' shop, having forgotten most of his money at home.

Notes

Notes on identification: The Director of the Hand in Hand Fire Office, and the cutler/metal worker, is almost certainly the same. A Thomas Jefferys last appears as a metal worker (gold smith) on Cockspur Street in a directory from 1777, and in 1779 a Thomas Jefferys of Cockspur Street appears in the directories as director of the Fire Office, elected on November 15, 1778. He appears as a member of the Society of Arts from ca. 1791 until 1800.

Note 1: According to Baldwin's New Complete Guide to All Persons Who Have Any Trade or Concern With the City of London and Parts Adjacent. 12th edn., 1770

Note 2: According to Gentleman's Magazine, November, 1766 and Kent's Directory for the Year 1777. 45th. edn

Note 3: According to The London Directory for the Year 1779. Containing an Alphabetical List of Names and Places of Abode of the Merchants and Principal Traders of the City of London. 13th edn., 1779

Note 4: Link

Note 5: Christie, Ian. (1995). British 'Non-Elite' MPS, 1715-1820. Available for reading online at Questia Online Library.

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