Old, William

‘The Castle’, St Paul's Churchyard, London; turner and chairmaker (b.1672- d.1728)

William Old was borne in Holborn in 1672. His father was a weaver, but his uncle, cousin and brother were turners. He was apprenticed in 1686 through the Turners’ Company to his uncle, Henry Old and made free in 1695. Insurance records described him him as a wood turner. He married Elizabeth in 1696 and by 1700 they had two children, Mary and Henry. payment of £1 14s was made to Old by the 1st Duke of Leeds is recorded in 1703. 

By 1712 William Old was residing at ‘The Castle’ on the south side of St Paul’s Churchyard. In April 1717 his daughter Mary married the cabinet maker John Ody, and a partnership was probably established at that time. 

William died in 1728 but the business continued, probably with the widow Old or Henry Old in William’s place, until March 1733, when Ody also died. 

Elizabeth Old continued at the same address until 1738 when she advertised stock for sale. She subsequently remarried to Henry Howard, a cabinet maker. 

Source: DEFM; Lindey, ‘William Old and John Ody 'At the Castle in St Paul's Church-Yard'’, FHS Newsletter (February 2006).