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Hutchin(s), Hassall (or Hassil) (1769-90)

Hutchin(s), Hassall (or Hassil), London, upholder, cm and auctioneer (1769–90). Recorded at King St, Covent Gdn, 1773–83; and no. 41, 1783–90. In 1777 Hassett Hutchins of Hart St, Covent Gdn, insured a house at 115 Strand, near Somerset House, for £60. [D; GL, Sun MS vol. 258, p. 438] He joined Abigail Hutchins, probably his mother, in or before October 1769, and together they served the Duke of Bedford as regular upholsterers, supplying, cleaning and repairing textiles at Bedford House, London, and Woburn Abbey, Beds. From 1771–81, Hassall Hutchins continued on his own to supply the 4th Duke and subsequently the 5th Duke and the Dowager Duchess. Some furniture was supplied over this period, mainly for the servants’ rooms, but also for the family bed-chambers. Funerals for the household servants were also arrayed by Hassall Hutchins who charged £10 5s 8d in September 1777 for funeral expences for Gaspard Schuman, including a coffin lined with crepe, covered with black baize and fitted with an inscription plate and flowered handles. For this occasion he hired out a velvet pall, crepe armbands, gloves, cloaks for men and hoods and scarves for the ladies. [Bedford Office, London]

The original entry from Dictionary of English Furniture Makers, 1660-1840 can be found at British History Online.