Taylor, Hynmers (or Henmers)

London, later Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; cabinet maker and upholsterer (fl. 1746–94)

Recorded at ‘The Crown & Cushion’, over against Lord Monson's, Piccadilly (1758–72); 5 Piccadilly (1768–73); in America (1775–76) and 1787, but also recorded at Portland Street, Oxford Road (1778–81), and Oxford Road, 1786 and 1794. Probably two related tradesmen of the same name are concerned here.

A Taylor, upholder ‘opposite Lord Monson's, Piccadilly’, is named in Public Advertiser, 25 January 1759. Billhead gives address at ‘The Crown & Cushion’ by St James's Church. [Heal]

Son of Randolph Taylor of London, apprenticed to Samuel Severn on 7 August 1746 and admitted freeman of the Upholders’ Company by servitude on 9 May 1754.

Named in the accounts for Croome Court, Worcestershire. in 1760 receiving £7 7s for ‘A very fine mahogany desk’ [V&A archives].

Declared bankrupt, Gents Magazine, August 1772.

Recorded as working in America by 31 May 1775 when he advertised in Penn'a Journal, as ‘HYNS TAYLOR, Upholder, Late of St. James, London, Takes this method of informing his friends, and the public, that he had engaged a House in Front-street, between Market and Arch streets, the right hand corner of the passage leading to the Old Ferry, where he proposes to make up all kind of Household Furniture, after the most fashionable taste, and upon reasonable terms. To be Sold, a genteel four post Bed with very fine flowered cotton furniture, fringes and ornamented with a cornice.’

Advertised again in Penn'a Evening Post, 26 March 1776 and as H. & Amelia Taylor in Penn'a Packet, 17 April 1787 [Guildhall Library, Upholders’ Co. records].

Source: DEFM