Pennington, -

Lancaster, Lancs.; upholsterer (fl.1800)

An upholsterer called 'Pennington' (possibly John Pennington, related to Myles Pennington) was employed by Gillows in the early 19th century to set up furnishings and furniture and to hang wallpaper etc., often outside the town. In 1800 his expenses were the subject of a dispute between Gillows and a Manchester customer who objected to paying his expenses. The firm explained: 'We gave Pennington 3s per day for the time he was absent finishing your drawing room & paid 33s for his coach hire & travelling expenses amounting together to 57s’. Gillows charged the customer 60s. Gillows went on to explain: 'when a mechanic is taken to a distance from his family they always expect to have all their expenses born. Pennington says he was govern'd by your directions were to go and that he shew'd you the bill of charges which it cost during the time he was in your employ which you were kind enough to enable him to discharge. Pennington has a large family it would ruin him to have this 4 gns, to pay. We are no more than 3s. gainers by sending him & when it is considered that we are frequently obliged to keep him & others in the same line want them or not often when they don't earn 2/3 of their wages we are losers by sending them. Consequently Sir you cannot expect us to bear the charge'.

Source: Stuart, Gillows of Lancaster and London (2008), II, p.271