Iliffe, John (1753-1794)
Iliffe, John
London and Kettering, Northamptonshire; upholder (fl. 1753–1794)
The son of the farmer, William Iliffe of Desborough, Northamptonshire. Apprenticed to the London upholder, Elizabeth Hutt and also to Thomas Burn and made free of the Upholders’ Company by servitude under the terms of the 1750 Upholders’ Act on 6 December 1753 [Guildhall Library (GL), Upholders' Company records].
Soon after 1753 he took over the business of Elizabeth Hutt at the sign of ‘The Blew Curtain’, St Paul's Churchyard. During the period that he operated his business from this address it was numbered 5 St Paul's Churchyard. He bound William Shore as an apprentice from 1751–67 and Henry Broughton from 1759–63.
His trade card [Leverhulme Collection, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY] states that he made and sold ‘all sorts of Beds and Beding [sic], Mohair, Silk, worstead, and mix'd Damasks … Great Choice of English, French & Turkey Carpets; Screens of every kind, Rich Carved Sconces, Tables & Picture Frames. Brass Lanthorns and Arms with All manner of Glass, Cabinet & Chair Work’.
He also undertook funerals and acted as an appraiser. There are no further entries in London directories after 1768, and by 1778 he appears to have left London and returned to his home county. He is shown living in Kettering, 1778–94 [Guildhall Library, Upholders Company records].
Source: DEFM