Custance, William

Norwich & Fakenham, Norfolk; upholder and cabinet maker (fl.1788-94)

Custance was apprenticed to the upholder, Henry Withers, and made free by servitude on 3 May 1788.  He was recorded in the parish of St Michael at Plea, Norwich, 1788–90 [Freemen register.; poll book].  

He was possibly the same William Custance listed as a cabinet maker in Fakenham, Norfolk, whose bankruptcy was announced in 1794 and sold his stock by auction from 6 October. It consisted of ‘several very handsome mahogany double and single chests of drawers, two mahogany bureaus, wardrobes, several mahogany voiders, set of dining tables with circular ends, handsome secretary and bookcase, with glazed gothic doors, staircase and other carpets, pier and dressing glasses in burnished gold and mahogany frames, tea caddies, very handsome bason stands, wardrobe bedstead, about 12 dozen mahogany chairs with hair and other seats and a great variety of other articles of useful furniture’. His stock of timber was also offered for sale consisting of ‘upwards of TEN THOUSAND FEET of FINE DRY MAHOGANY, in boards and planks, 6000 feet of wainscot in boards, a very large quantity of fine dry deals, dyed woods, veneers, walnuttree and elm planks, two fine cedar logs’ together with ‘a good timber drug, and two carts’ [Bury and Norwich Post, 24 September 1794].

Source: DEFM