Crook, James

Portsmouth & Gosport, Hampshire; upholsterer, cabinet maker, appraiser, auctioneer and undertaker (fl.1793-1830)

Crook was recorded in High Street, Portsmouth, as cabinet maker and upholsterer in February 1793 when he took out insurance cover of £500 which included £170 in respect of utensils and stock. He also subscribed to Sheraton's Cabinet Dictionary, 1803 [Guildhall Library, Sun MS vol. 392, p. 400].   

In 1817 Henry Hicks, a cabinet maker in Gosport, announced he was leaving Gosport and moving to London. He recommended his clients to James Crook, possibly the same cabinet maker & upholsterer originally of Portsmouth, or perhaps his son. Crook sold Hicks remaining stock of cabinet furniture, upholstery furniture and materials, woods and implements [Hampshire Telegraph 5/5/1817].

In the same year Crook moved from his address in North Cross Street to 89 High Street (called at that time Middle Street), Hick’s previous address. He was polled at Petersfield, Hampshire, in 1830.

Sources: DEFM; Stabler, ‘English Newspaper Advertisements as a Source of Furniture History’, Regional Furniture (1991).