SAMPSON’S MUCH RESPECTED GRANDFATHER

 Following the death⁽¹⁾ of his father William Duesbury on  the 30^th October  1786, and his burial on the 2nd of November in St.  Alkmund’s Churchyard, Derby , William Duesbury II had inherited  the finest porcelain company in England .

Wishing to maintain the Nottingham Road factory’s standing within the industry, which was to be achieved by using only the best  artists and modellers, it was to John Hancock, Sampson’s grandfather, that the young Duesbury II turned for assistance.                                       

Sampson’s grandfather John Hancock had been bound apprentice to William Duesbury I on the 29th September, 1769 ,⁽²⁾ “to learn the Art of Painting upon China or Porcelain or China Ware.” Had John had the ability to write, something which was later to be remedied, the Indenture would have revealed four signatures.  Instead it has three:  William Duesbury I, George Hancock, John’s father, and John Fleet (witness).  A simple cross occupies the space where John’s signature should have been assigned.  That John was to be taught how to paint when he was unable to master a pen was something  I found fascinating.  

Although Haslem stated that John Hancock was born in Nottingham ⁽³⁾  and frequently walked the distance from that town to Derby whilst learning the art of china painting, John’s Indenture to William Duesbury records his father was residing in the Borough of Derby in 1769.  That the Hancock family were of “old Derby extraction” was also confirmed in an interview given more than 100 years later by Sampson Hancock in 1894⁽⁴⁾.  At no time whilst researching my family’s history have I discovered anything which would substantiate the family’s connection with Nottinghamshire.  

Haslem reported that soon after completing his apprenticeship John Hancock left Derby ⁽⁵⁾, working at Swansea for a short period before finally settling in Staffordshire, where at some time before 1800 he worked for Messrs. Turner of  Lane End⁽⁶⁾;  and whilst there introduced the method of gilding with burnished gold. Although I have found no precise dates for this employment, later correspondence⁽⁷⁾ between John Hancock and William Duesbury II helps to establish John’s activities for the period 1789-95.  John Hancock had probably known young William Duesbury (who was 6 years John’s junior) whilst serving his apprenticeship.  Not only do the letters written by John Hancock confirm he was still associated with the town of Derby but also that he still remained in contact with the Duesbury family.

On the 17th of May 1789 ⁽⁸⁾, John Hancock wrote to William Duesbury informing him he had located a man who could both "Repare and Modle,  such as one you said you wanted when I was at Derby last.”  The subject of the letter was also described as a “very sober man.”  On another occassion 

an undated letter⁽⁹⁾ was given to John Brown, a painter, as an introduction and reference to be given to William Duesbury II on Brown’s arrival in Derby .  Again mention is made as to the bearer’s conduct.  Other letters⁽¹⁰⁾ also refer to artists and modellers whom John Hancock recommended as suitable for William Duesbury’s requirements at the Nottingham Road Factory.  As is clearly demonstrated from the correspondence, William Duesbury II relied on John Hancock’s judgment as to the suitability of any person recommended for employment at the Derby Manufactory.  Reference was always made as to the person’s character and as I discovered at the time of John Hancock’s second marriage to Ann Shenton⁽¹¹⁾, John was a member of the Wesleyan Chapel in Stoke upon Trent , which supports my theory that John was a tee-totaller.   

Not only did John help to recruit Duesbury’s staff, but he appears to have forgone the art of china painting in favour of being a chemist, again supplying William Duesbury, but this time with enamels.  A letter⁽¹²⁾ from Hanley dated 5 August, 1792, explained that “a good deal of time in the oven is required in order to make white glaze.” At 1/- a pound, John sent a bag containing 20 lbs. to await collection by William Duesbury at Messrs. Hirst, Grocers, Sadlers Gate, Derby .  Also  included in the parcel for Duesbury were 2 different sorts of yellow to try which as John stated, he had no doubt Mr. Smith at the Nottingham Road Works would be able to flux satisfactorily.  

Besides acting on behalf of William Duesbury to locate and recruit artists in Staffordshire to work at the Nottingham Road Manufactory, as well as supplying enamels and glazes to the same,  John at this time appears to have entered into a partnership with a Mr. Severne.  He was possibly a member of the Severne family^(13): of Derby who were connected with the jewellery trade which at the time when the Derby China Works was founded were employing between 80 or 90 hands in their establishment.  The principal branch of the trade which concerned the Severnes was the manufacture of paste jewellery, seals, rings etc.   On Saturday, 26th of January, 1793⁽¹⁴⁾,William Duesbury had written to Messrs. Hancock and Severne requesting a dozen trinket seals and keys for his friend Mr. Egan.(Mr. Richard Egan had married Ann Duesbury, sister of William Duesbury II).  Further correspondence suggests that Messrs. Hancock and Severne had an arrangement where possibly both partners lived in different locations.  A bill addressed toWilliam Duesbury on the 20th May, 1795 ⁽¹⁵⁾ sent from London by  William Arallex on behalf of Messrs. Hancock and Severne of your town ( Derby ) suggests that part of the Hancock business had remained in Derby , strengthening John’s association with the area.  Following the death of William Duesbury in 1796 no further correspondence was found between the parties and it is more than likely that the demise of Duesbury II affected the trade of Messrs. Hancock and Severne.