This week I am going to tell you about one of my 3 x great grandfathers on my adopted mother's side, William Haskins. William was born in about 1776 in London and had a younger brother, Joseph, who he went into partnership with. They were 'Glass and Enamel Bead Makers' based in Old Street Square until 1812 when the partnership was dissolved. Old Street Square is near Old Street station near where Moorfields Eye Hospital is today.
He married Rebecca Davies in 1815 and they went on to have two children, Rebecca Ann Jane Haskins (1818) and William Bradshaw Haskins (1827).
He married Rebecca Davies in 1815 and they went on to have two children, Rebecca Ann Jane Haskins (1818) and William Bradshaw Haskins (1827).
We know that by 1817 William had moved his business to St Martins Court, near Leicester Square, as someone stole a row of beads from his shop and subsequently appeared at The Old Bailey charged with the forgery of a promissory note. This was the first of three cases heard at that Court and I will elaborate on them on the "Genealogy Blog" tab at some point. (See #44 : A forgery ends in a hanging)
By 1826 he had expanded into a second shop in the Quadrant in the newly built Regent Street.
Whether this expanded business was the right way forward is difficult to tell but the advert below from 1827 looks like an attempt to sell stock at rock bottom prices - possibly a risky ploy to attract a larger market ?
By 1826 he had expanded into a second shop in the Quadrant in the newly built Regent Street.
Whether this expanded business was the right way forward is difficult to tell but the advert below from 1827 looks like an attempt to sell stock at rock bottom prices - possibly a risky ploy to attract a larger market ?
in 1830 he went bankrupt. In 1832 the assets of his bankrupt estate amounted to one shilling and five pence.
In 1835 he appears to be still at the same Regent Street address but now he is a brush maker and a salesman for the "Harvey's Vegetable Anti-Drastic Pill" !
Sadly, despite having access to this wonderful medicine which cured all known stomach complaints, in 1838 he died, aged 62, from gallstones. Maybe he should have taken two pills rather than one ?
In 1835 he appears to be still at the same Regent Street address but now he is a brush maker and a salesman for the "Harvey's Vegetable Anti-Drastic Pill" !
Sadly, despite having access to this wonderful medicine which cured all known stomach complaints, in 1838 he died, aged 62, from gallstones. Maybe he should have taken two pills rather than one ?