Howard, John

at ‘The Talbot’, Long Lane, near West Smithfield, London; upholder, appraiser and dealer in tapestries and Oriental carpets (fl. 1710–d.1742)

Admitted a freeman of the Upholders’ Company on 3 August 1710 and served as master in 1734.

Apprentices: 

• Thomas Hathaway until 1726
• Thomas Roberts, 1716–27
• James Smith, 1721–29
• Thomas Denham, 1741–42 

Purchased a Hand in Hand Insurance policy on 20 March 1713, renewed on 3 April 1721, for £400 on his house [The London Archives (TLA), Hand in Hand MS vol. 12, p. 534].

Newspapers record him in partnership with Hambleton, 1724–30 [Heal].

He submitted a bill to Gilbert Heathcote on 22 November 1728 for ‘a fine Carpet’, costing £3 5s. An accompanying trade card states that Howard ‘Makes and Sells all manner of Household Furniture, viz. Damask, Mohair, Workt and Stuff Beds, & Bedding, with Chairs & Glasses, all sorts of Silk Worsted Damask Camblets & Water'd Cheneys, &c. by Wholesale or Retale. Where are also sold all Sorts of Persia Muskat and Turkey Carpets, fine and ordinary Tapestry Hangings, at reasonable Rates. NB. Fine Tapestry and Carpets are clean'd after the best manner’ [Lincoln Record Office, 2 ANC 12/D/18].

On 22 October 1729 Howard sent a bill to Paul Foley of the Temple and Little Ormond Street, London, and Newport House, Almeley, Hertfordshire, for a ‘Fine Large Turke Carp.t’ at £3 5s, and one at £3, receipted by Joseph Hitchcock for his master. A similar bill to Foley is dated 1 January 1730 Hertfordshire Record Office, Foley papers, F/A III/55].

Howard provided carpets costing £12 5s to Sir Richard Hoare on 3 November 1732 [Private accounts, Hoare's Bank, Fleet Street

John Howard's death on 9 September 1742 was reported in Gents Magazine. He left handsome fortunes to his son and daughter. The sale of his stock and household furniture was announced in the Daily Advertiser, 2 November 1742; catalogues to be had from Jos. Hamilton, upholder of Long Lane.

Howard's son, John, born at Enfield and bred a Presbyterian Dissenter (b.c.1724–d.1790) achieved fame as a philanthropist and prison reformer. His obituary in Gents Magazine, March 1790, noted that his father was allied to the families of Tatnall, Cholmley, Bernardiston, and Samuel Whitbread, Esq., MP for Bedford.

Source: DEFM