Pyner, Francis snr and jnr

Lombard Street, London, upholder and cabinet maker (fl. 1764–93)

Francis Pyner snr was apprenticed to William Powle, a freeman of the Clothworkers’ Company and made free of the Upholders’ Company under the terms of the 1750 Upholders’ Act on 1 November 1764. However, he began to bind apprentices as early as 1762 and may already have been trading at the time he was granted the freedom of the Upholders’ Company. This is further confirmed by his name being included in a directory of 1763.

He traded from 37 Lombard Street, near George Yard, but an early version of his trade card gives the address as ‘The Tent’ near George Yard, Lombard Street. He took over the business of his former master William Powle. This business had been conducted since the death of William Powle in 1753 by his widow. The business operated by Pyner was not in the same premises, however, as his trade card states ‘Successor to Mrs Powle from three King Court’.

Image

Copyright (Attribution/Credit)

British Museum

Trade card of FRANCIS PYNER; Upholder, Cabinet Maker, Undertaker, Sworn Broker, Appraiser & Auctioneer, near George Yard, Lombard Street, London. Makes all Sorts of Upholstery & Cabinet Work  - Pier Glasses & in the newest Taste & compleatest manner for Exportation or home Consumption on the most reasonable Terms. Venetian shades, Spring & also all sorts of Window Blinds with every Article in the Upholstery & Cabinet Branches. NB. Estates Furniture & all other GOODS BO. & Sold  by Commission, c. 1760 [Banks,28.124.+]. © The Trustees of the British Museum

From 1765–71 he took out licences to employ non-freemen which included permission to employ two to four throughout the year in 1766 and two for the entire year in 1766–69 [The London Archives (TLA), City Licence books, vols 4–6, 9]. 

By 1786 the business was being described as Pyner & Son. The son was Francis Pyner jnr who was apprenticed to his father, 1776–83, and admitted a freeman of the Upholders’ Company by servitude, 2 April 1783. Other apprentices of Francis Pyner snr were:

• William Burkmire (1762–79)
• Bartholomew Payne (free 1772) 
• John Loader (1774) 
• John Preston (1781–88)
• George Woolley (1783–86)

George Wooley was turned over to Francis Pyner jnr who completed his training in 1790. This would suggest that Francis Pyner snr either retired from the business or died in 1786.

The firm continued to be listed in London directories until 1793 when the son seems to have given up the trade also. In the following year he is listed in the Upholders’ Company records as F. Pyner Esq. of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.

Sources: DEFM; Guildhall Library, Upholders’ Company records.