McCready, William senior

Bride Street, Dublin, Ireland; upholder and carpet maker (fl. 1755-99)

Made Freeman of the City of Dublin as an Upholder by Service, Michaelmas 1755. He was elected Master of the Upholders' Guild from 1767 to 1768 and 1768-9. And in 1767, 1770, 1773, 1776, 1778, 1781, 1784, 1787, 1790, 1793, 1796 and 1799 he was elected onto the Dublin Common Council for the Upholders' Guild.

Recorded ‘at the sign of the Sopha’ or 66 Bride Street, 1755-96 (in partnership with William McCready junior, and Thomas McCready, 1796-8).

Faulkner’s Dublin Journal for 21-25 April 1752 published this notice: ‘The Dublin Society, William McCready sewed a carpet of his own making in imitation of the Scotch carpet to encourage him to improve that kind of work, the society ordered him 2 pounds, 5 shillings, 6 pence. He left the carpet with the messenger in the Parliament house, to be seen by any that please and will sell it at 11 pounds, 16 shillings, 8 penc’.'

On 20 July 1754 in the Parish of St Bride, William McCready married Letitia Pritchard, spinster [Parish Records Society of Dublin, vol. XII, p. 155].

In December 1791 he did work for the Dublin Society houses in Grafton Street and Hawkins Street and was paid £13 1s. 4d.

Source: Glin & Peill, Irish Furniture (2007), p. 277.