Thomas Gould (abt. 1660 - 1730)

Born about 1660 in Kent, England [uncertain]

Husband of Hannah (Freame) Gould — married 15 Jul 1697 in Devonshire House, London, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: John Machell [send private message]

Biography

Thomas Gould was born in England.

Thomas was a Friend (Quaker)

Thomas was the son of Thomas Gould, evidenced by Thomas's apprentice indenture document: "This indenture witnesseth that Thomas Gould son of Thomas Gould late of Erith? in the county of Kent, Merchant."

Apprenticeship Indenture

Apprenticeships long served as a means of training boys (and some girls) in crafts and trades as preparation for becoming an independent craftsman in adult life.^[1]

Thomas's apprentice indenture document shows that he was apprenticed to Master Nathaniel Brassey, (see research note "Master"). Citizen and Haberdasher of London, for seven years. Upon completion of his apprenticeship, John was made a Freeman of London, and gained the right to trade within the City of London on the 3rd March 1684. ^[2]

Thomas's friend, John Freame, completed his own apprenticeship under a Quaker goldsmith, based in Lombard Street. ^[3]

He gained his Freedom of the City, on 7th April 1690. This gave John the right to open a business within the City of London. He set up as a goldsmith, and went into partnership with Thomas.

Although Thomas was apprenticed as haberdasher, members of livery companies were, by that time, already practising a wide variety of trades. "The Worshipful Company of Grocers was originally known as the Guild of Pepperers, whose earliest records date back to 1180. The Pepperers were recognised as general traders, who bought and sold, or, according to the legal acceptation of the word, “engrossed” all kinds of merchandise, trading in spices, gold and other luxury goods from Byzantium and the Mediterranean.." ^{[4] [5]}

According to Quakers in the World, Quaker Bankers in Britain: "In 1690 when John Freame and his brother-in-law Thomas Gould, both Quakers, started to trade as goldsmiths in Lombard Street in London. Both of them were well respected by their professions, and were freemen of the City of London." ^[6]

"In 1728, Joseph Freame, is described as a citizen and goldsmith in partnership with Thou. Gould. In 1736 the latter died, and was succeeded by Jas. Barclay. In 1768 Silvanus Bevan joined the firm. Freame died in 1770, and in 1786 John Henton Tritton became a partner. The sign of the banking-house in 1728 was the "Black Spread Eagle". "^[7]

In those days, cash deposits were often placed with goldsmiths, and the receipts they issued began to be used as money. Freame and Gould gradually became bankers because of this. Their partnership predates the foundation of the Bank of England. ^[8]

Thomas married Hannah Freame, John's daughter, at Devonshire House, London, England, on the 15th July 1697, during the Quarterly Meeting of London and Middlesex Quakers. ^[9]

In this marriage record, Thomas is described as: "Thomas Gould of Lumbard Steet Citizen and Haberdasher of London, son of Thomas Gould late of London, Merch. deceased." confirming Thomas shared his father's name, was a haberdasher, and therefore had completed his apprenticeship and become a Freeman of the City of London.

Thomas and John Freame became even more connected, when John married Priscilla, Thomas’ sister, on the 19th August 1697. ^[10]

Thomas and Hannah had eight children:

• Sarah b. 19 May 1698 ^[11]
• Thomas Gould b. 14 Apr 1700 ^[12]
• Isaac Gould b. 31 Mar 1702 ^[13]
• Thomas Gould b. 1 May 1703 ^[14]
• James b 1704 ^[15]
• Isaac Gould b. 12 Jan 1705 ^[16]
• Nathaniel Gould b. 27 Apr 1710 ^[17]
• Robert Gould b. 18 Oct 1711 ^[18]

Thomas's will, dated 1729, showns he died in London, England, in 1730. His will shows that he was quite wealthy, and owned substantial property at Bush Hill, Edmonton, London, with gardens and stables. ^[19]

Transcript of The Will of Thomas Gould (1660 - 1730)

He bequests his estate in Bush Hill, Edmonton, London, to his "dear wife", Hannah, to be passed to his son Thomas on her deseace. Further bequests are given to his wife Hannah, his sister Anne Harris, his daughter Sarah Wooley, his sons Thomas, Isaac, Nathaniel, Robert, and his cousin Mary Sutton.

The will was witnessed by George Mason, John Fry, and Abraham Draper.

Thomas's will made a number of bequests which mention: "... for smelting down lead with pit coal and sea coal ...". This is undoubtely to do with Thomas's partnership with John Freame who John " ...had an interest in the Royal Mines Company of Wales (which later became the London Lead Company), and acted as a banker for them by arranging their financial dealings in London. He also received, and stored, the cakes of silver from their mines, and negotiated sales of the silver to the Mint for the manufacture of silver coins". ^[20]

Thomas was buried at St James, Piccadilly (St James, Westminster), London, Westminster, England, on the 25th June 1730. ^[21] (see research note - "Burial")

Research Notes

Birth

• Current birthdate is a guestimate Machell-121 11:04, 1 September 2023 (UTC)

Potential father

• Name Thomas Gould
• Father's Name Robert Gould
• Event Type Christening
• Event Date 7 Sep 1629
• Event Place Minster, Kent, England
• Thomas Gould's Parents and Siblings
• Robert Gould Father
  • "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NNGL-4BL : 4 February 2023), Thomas Gould, 1629.
  • Machell-121 13:01, 1 September 2023 (UTC)

Master

• The Ancestry record lists Nathaniell "Richley" as Thomas's Master for his apprenticeship. This is clearly wrong, because the first letter of Nathaniell's surname, seen in his signature on the indenture document, is a "B" and the next two letters are R A ... Concensus on Discord is "Nathaniell Brassey". Suggested correction submitted to Ancestry.
• Machell-121 11:25, 19 September 2023 (UTC)

Freemans Oath

• Members of the Society of Friends (Quakers) were legally permitted to make an affirmation on admission in place of the Freeman's oath from 1696, and their City Freedom admission papers were usually marked with a "Q".

Barclays history

• The international bank Barclays can trace its origins back to 1690 when John Freame and his brother-in-law Thomas Gould, both Quakers, started to trade as goldsmiths in Lombard Street in London. Both of them were well respected by their professions, and were freemen of the City of London.

[https://foxlinks.com/freame-john-1665-1745-founder-of-barclays-bank/

Children

• Profiles need creating
• As there are two Thomas's and two Isaac's, the first of these probably died young

Machell-121 14:27, 19 September 2023 (UTC)

Burial

• The burial record cited seems the most appropriate, but is not proven.
• Machell-121 11:25, 19 September 2023 (UTC)

Banking

• In an age when few people could read, signs were used to identify buildings. The Barclays business moved to the sign of the "Black Spread Eagle" in 1728. The Black Spread Eagle later became numbered as 54, Lombard Street.
• Also in 1728, "Joseph Freame, is described as a citizen and goldsmith in partnership with Thou. Gould.
• In 1736 the latter died, and was succeeded by Jas. Barclay. In 1768 Silvanus Bevan joined the firm. Freame died in 1770, and in 1786 John Henton Tritton became a partner. The sign of the banking-house in 1728 was the "Black Spread Eagle". ^[22]
• The 'Barclay' names entered the business in 1736, when James Barclay, who had married John Freame's daughter, Sarah, joined the partnership and his name took precedence.

Sources

1. ↑ London Lives 1690-1800.
2. ↑ London, England, Freedom of the City Admission Papers, 1681-1930, database on-line, Apprenticeship - Ancestry London Metropolitan Archive; Reference Number: COL/CHD/FR/02/0040-0046 : (accessed 19 Sep 2023)
3. ↑ Master Job Bolton,
4. ↑ History of The Grocers Company
5. ↑ Margaret.Ackrill. (2001). Barclays : The Business of Banking, 1690-1996. Cambridge University Press. Pg. 3. [1] : (accessed 18 Sep 2023).
6. ↑ Quaker Bankers in Britain.
7. ↑ W. Chaffers. Gilda Aurifabrorum. A history of English goldsmiths and plate workers. 1883. London: W. H. Allen & co., 13 Waterloo Place. Pg.85 : (accessed 18 Sep 2023).
8. ↑ Barclays bank and its Quaker history.
9. ↑ The National Archives; Kew, England; General Register Office: Society of Friends' Registers, Notes and Certificates of Births, Marriages and Burials; Class: RG 6; Piece: 497. Ancestry - Marriage.
10. ↑ England & Wales, Quaker Birth, Marriage, and Death Registers, 1578-1837, database on-line, Ancestry - Marriage, citing The National Archives; Kew, England; General Register Office: Society of Friends' Registers, Notes and Certificates of Births, Marriages and Burials; Class: RG 6; Piece: 974 : (accessed 1 Sep 2023).
11. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch : (accessed 01 Sep2023), Thomas Gould in entry for Sarah Gould, 1698.
12. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch : (accessed 1 Sep 2023), Thos. Gould in entry for Thomas Gould, 1700.
13. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch : (accessed 1 Sep 2023), Thomas Gould in entry for Isaac Gould, 1702.
14. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch : (accessed 1 Sep 2023), Thomas Gould in entry for Thomas Gould, 1703.
15. ↑ "England and Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes (RG4-8), 1588-1977," database, FamilySearch : (accessed 22 Sep 2023), James Gould, 23 Nov 1704, Birth; citing p. 488, Middlesex & Surrey, record group RG6, Public Record Office, London.
16. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch : (accessed 1 Sep 2023), Thomas Gould in entry for Isaac Gould, 1705.
17. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch : (accessed 1 Sep 2023), Thomas Gould in entry for Nathaniel Gould, 1710.
18. ↑ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch : (accessed 1 Sep 2023), Thomas Gould in entry for Robert Gould, 1711.
19. ↑ Will of Thomas Gould, Citizen and Haberdasher of London, Will. The National Archives' reference PROB 11/640/201, Date: 29 June 1729, (accessed 19 September 2023). Will Image Available.
20. ↑ Quaker Bankers in Britain.
21. ↑ City of Westminster Archives Centre; London, England; Westminster Church of England Parish Registers, database online; Reference: STJ/PR/6/3. Imaged: Burial - Ancestry : (accessed 19 Sep 2023).
22. ↑ W. Chaffers. Gilda Aurifabrorum. A history of English goldsmiths and plate workers. 1883. London: W. H. Allen & co., 13 Waterloo Place. Pg.85 : (accessed 18 Sep 2023).

Also

• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Goold_Family_Information
• Barclays Bank and its Quaker Roots
• Archives Hub
• Records of Lombard Street Branch