William & Elizabeth Gaimes

William Gaimes, and later his widow Elizabeth, had a successful business as Jewellers and Portable Desk manufacturers, at the very beginning of the 19th century. The first record we have found for William is the trial of William Nash on the 5th of December 1798 for stealing from him. It is unclear if the items stolen: a silver fruit fork, silver pencil case, two pocket books, a mahogany shaving case and a clothes brush, were personal effects of Gaimes or his stock. They are certainly the type of items that Gaimes would have sold. Gaimes next appears as a juror on the 28th of May 1800 suggesting that he had property to qualify. A London Trade Directory of 1790 does not show Gaimes but both his appearances in court point to William Gaimes having established his business by at least 1798.

In February 1801 William married Elizabeth Wenman of Walbrook in London. He also advertised his business across several publications in this year pushing his much improved Letter Copying Machine. To the end of his advert he noted 'The Portable Machine is so small and light, when complete, that a Gentleman may carry one in his great coat pocket'. He gave his manufactory address as 23 Great Surrey Street, Blackfriars Road 'being the first Market for Foreign or Home Orders in this Country for all kinds of Mahogany Travelling Cases, and Portable Desks, fitted up in superior stile of London Manufacture for £4, and has been sold for £200. Wholesale ... show more

William Gaimes, and later his widow Elizabeth, had a successful business as Jewellers and Portable Desk manufacturers, at the very beginning of the 19th century. The first record we have found for William is the trial of William Nash on the 5th of December 1798 for stealing from him. It is unclear if the items stolen: a silver fruit fork, silver pencil case, two pocket books, a mahogany shaving case and a clothes brush, were personal effects of Gaimes or his stock. They are certainly the type of items that Gaimes would have sold. Gaimes next appears as a juror on the 28th of May 1800 suggesting that he had property to qualify. A London Trade Directory of 1790 does not show Gaimes but both his appearances in court point to William Gaimes having established his business by at least 1798.

In February 1801 William married Elizabeth Wenman of Walbrook in London. He also advertised his business across several publications in this year pushing his much improved Letter Copying Machine. To the end of his advert he noted 'The Portable Machine is so small and light, when complete, that a Gentleman may carry one in his great coat pocket'. He gave his manufactory address as 23 Great Surrey Street, Blackfriars Road 'being the first Market for Foreign or Home Orders in this Country for all kinds of Mahogany Travelling Cases, and Portable Desks, fitted up in superior stile of London Manufacture for £4, and has been sold for £200. Wholesale

and for Exportation at 51, Retail at 53, jewellery of all Kinds at 54, St. Paul's Church-yard, and 56, Cornhill - Diamonds, Pearls, and Gold and Silver bought, and full value paid to any amount.' The same advert appeared in the Times, the year before in 1800.

William Gaimes had established his business over several properties relatively quickly. It was also a little unusual in making and selling both jewellery and boxes. The question remains as to how he started in business. It would be logical to assume that he was either apprenticed as a jeweller or box maker. The Gaimes' main properties were in St. Paul's Church Yard, and evidence of who occupied the properties before William Gaimes might suggest a connection, if a jeweller or box maker. Thomas Liddiard was a jeweller at 54 St. Paul's Church Yard in 1789. If this is being read on a listing other than by Christopher Clarke Antiques, it has been copied without their permission. In 1792 he was Master to an apprentice sharing his name and by the following year had moved to Great Pulteney Street West, St. James. It is possible Gaimes had previously also been his apprentice. William Gaimes' manufactory was not too far away from St. Paul's Church Yard, on the south side of the river. Great Surrey Street is now called Blackfriars Road which approached from Blackfriars Bridge. Cornhill continues east from Cheapside at the north end of St. Paul's Church Yard.

In 1807, Gaimes ran two adverts showing the two sides of his business. Sometimes they were shown separately, sometimes one above the other. Both illustrate the range of items he was selling. The advert for his Jewellery business stated 'An elegant and extensive Assortment of Cornelian and Coral Ornaments, Necklaces, Bracelets, &c. with a variety of every fashionable article in Fancy Jewellery of the newest taste and superior workmanship, manufactured by Wm. Gaimes, Goldsmith and Jeweller to their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex, No. 53 and 54, St. Paul's Church-yard.'

The advert for his boxes noted 'A Large assortment of Writing Desks, with or without Letter-copying Machines, Ladies Toilet Cases, Work Boxes, Tea Caddies, Gentlemen's Shaving and Dressing Cases, &c. in beautiful mahogany, and a variety of other fancy woods, variously fitted up, plain and brass bound; also richly ornamented with curious inlaid brass work, which, for novelty of fashion, excellence of workmanship, and brilliancy of decoration, are not to be equalled at any other house in the kingdom, manufactured by William Gaimes, Nos. 53 and 54, St. Paul's Church-yard.'

At some point between 1802 and 1807, Gaimes received Royal Patronage. He first notes on his jewellery adverts, as above, but later he also added the names of the Prince of Wales (and later Prince Regent) and the Duke of Sussex to his adverts for boxes etc.

William Gaimes died in 1809 with a newspaper advert posted in September noting the sale of his jewellery and cabinet work stock. Offers were also being received for the lease on both 53 and 54 St. Paul's Church Yard. Despite the advert's suggestion that the business of the Gaimes was finished, it seems Elizabeth carried on in her own name. Previous labels for the business gave the name simply as Gaimes, W. Gaimes or William Gaimes. After William's death Elizabeth or E. Gaimes is given on the label dating any such items to after 1809.

The 1815 London Post Office Directory lists the business as 'Gaimes E. Jeweller & Portable Letter-copying machine & Writing desk Manuf. To their R.H. the Prince Regent and Duke of Sussex and his Majesty's Public Offices, 53. St. Paul's Church-yard'. In 1817 John Thredder & Co., a hatter is listed at 54 St. Paul's Church Yard.

Elizabeth died and was buried on the 30th of August 1816 aged 36. The business is still listed in the directory in 1817 but whether this was a clerical error or it continued for another year is not known. In April 1818, an advert for the auction in June of 'The First Part of the superb and extensive STOCK in TRADE of Mr. William Gaimes' was published in the press. It is interesting that although Elizabeth had been trading under her own name for several years, her long deceased husband's name was still used. The advert listed both various types of boxes and gold, silver, jewellery and gems. After the stock was sold, the lease for St. Paul's Church Yard was auctioned on the 5th of June with the auctioneer extolling its favourable location on the northside and 4 doors from Cheapside. On the 19th of June, the Gaimes household furniture was auctioned. The grand pianoforte, large pier and chimney glasses, four poster mahogany beds and various tables listed suggest that the Gaimes ran a very successful business which allowed them to buy fashionable furniture.

William and Elizabeth Gaimes' business probably lasted less than 20 years in total so to find items bearing their labels is not easy.