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based on the life and achievements of eighteenth-century inventor Henry Cort. Please email site controller Eric Alexander
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Toulmin and other agents
The Toulmin family
The
#1790 memorandum explains how Cort's loan to
Thomas Morgan makes it necessary to arrange the transfer of his navy agent's
business to his neighbour Oliver Toulmin. Cort's business
begins at 35 Crutched Friars, though he moves along the street to Gould Square
after his second marriage. Toulmin's is at number 37.
Material recently discovered on the web reveals that
Oliver Toulmin is born in Bolton-le-Sands,
Lancashire, where he is baptised in 1721 (the IGI’s
record of a baptism on 8 July 1756 must refer to a different Oliver Toulmin). But his
business takes him to London, where it evidently starts in partnership with
Thomas Mohringh in Old Broad Street. Although they describe themselves as
merchants, much of their business is as navy agents. Apparently they also have a contract to supply
ballast to the navy.
According to a later lawsuit, Mohringh
does not honour the agreement made when the partnership breaks up. He continues at Old Broad Street, while Toulmin moves to Crutched Friars. Three Toulmin
children are baptised at St Olave's.
It has been suggested that Oliver’s family in
Lancashire is associated with the Stout family who live nearby. Since Ellen Stout marries Thomas Cort of Lancaster,
there may be an early link with Cort’s supposed
relations there, even a possibility that Oliver procures Cort
his first job as a navy agent.
Oliver Toulmin witnesses the
wills of two of Cort's associates, Daniel Guion and Thomas Morgan.
He also keeps an account for Coningsbury
Norbury on Cort’s
behalf.
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Administration granted to Oliver Toulmin a creditor of the said deceased. From probate
entry for will of Daniel Guion,
27 September 1780. |
Cash paid Mr Cort’s bill to Mr Jellicoe £236.17.9. From Toulmin account for Coningsbury Norbury, 21
June 1782 |
Commercial activities besides navy agency include a
£665 loan in 1771 to Earl Verney, who pledges his
share in Ranelagh pleasure gardens as security. In 1773 Toulmin
assigns the debt to Sarah Ireson of Lincolns Inn
Fields.
By 1783 he has taken his son Richard and nephew Oliver
into partnership (two sons named Oliver have both died in infancy). They move west to Lisle Street, where Oliver snr dies in July.
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Toulmin, Oliver,
Richard and Oliver. Merchants, 37
Crutched Friars From London
trade directory, 1782 |
Appeared personally James Oram Clarkson of Basinghall St London and Oliver Toulmin of Lisle Street St Ann in the City of Westminster.. well acquainted with John Becher late of Shutt End. From probate
entry for will of John Becher |
In 1787, after the move of the
Navy Office to Somerset Place, the business shifts to Essex Street, off The
Strand.
An 1805 trade directory registers "Toulmin, R & A T, Army Agents, Surrey St, Strand". (This
may be the source of later confusion: Webster's
version of the Henry Cort story places Cort's 1765 business in
Surrey Street.) Richard’s new partner is
probably his cousin Abraham, who is also registered as a Navy Agent at 2 Hart
Street, Bloomsbury, and who becomes a trustee for
the widow and children of James Watson.
Other agents
The area around the Navy Office in the 1760s is a
centre for agents and for merchants involved in agency,
There is Albert Innes at 16 Gould Square, Crutched
Friars. Early in the period we have Gathorne & Davidson at an unspecified address in
Crutched Friars. After Henry Cort leaves, James Sykes takes up residence at number 31.
Ommanney & Marsh are round the
corner, in Savage Gardens. Marsh is
simultaneously a navy employee. The partnership lasts eleven years. When they split, new partnerships are formed:
Ommanney & Page, Marsh (son of the original)
& Creed.
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There being no house to let
suitable for it, we returned to London, and took one in Savage Gardens near Tower
Hill; and we also agreed to transact business as Naval Agents. From George
Marsh’s diary, 19 March 1750. |
When the partnership expired I
told Mr Ommaney I never more would have the least connection with him, and
that I should ever despise his principles and ungrateful conduct. In the eleven years of our partnership we
gained £22,000 the half of which he got entirely through my favour to
him. My son and Mr Creed have continued
in the business together very happy and successfully ever since, and I have
reason to be thankful that my son was not connected with so avaricious bad
principles a man, so contrary in respect to his turn of mind. From George
Marsh’s diary, 18 October 1763. |
Eustace Kentish, in Tower
Hill, who has a disproportionate influence on Cort's
life, is officially a merchant. Agency
is only a small part of his business.
Then there is Daniel Hailes
in Fenchurch Street
The move of the Navy Office in
1786 sees them all shifting west. By
1789 Sykes is the only one left: he moves to The Strand in 1793.
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Related pages |
henrycort.net
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