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The Ring Family |
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* Denotes pipemakers. |
Joseph Ring I Like other family members he was a quaker and was born at Bradford Abbas near Sherbourne in Dorset on 18 May 1712, he was the son of Robert and Mary. He married Sarah Kingsbury at Bristol on 6 Apr 1737. They had the following children: Mary (born 21 Apr 1738, buried 8 Feb 1786); Robert; Joseph II (born 17 Mar 1741, died 5 Apr 1788); John (born 15 Aug 1742); Dennis (born 19 Jul 1748) and Sarah (born 19 Feb 1746, died 25 Jun 1776). He is probably the Joseph Ring who recorded a neuter vote in St Thomas parish, in the 1739 election. His trade was given as a hooper (another name for a cooper). He was buried in Bristol on 15 Apr 1747. Joseph had a brother called Robert and a number of sisters. He may have had a relative called John, as a John Ring paid rates on a property in Thomas Street, St Thomas parish, in 1759. A John Ring is shown paying rates, as a tenant, on a single property in Thomas Street for 1739-48. By 1749 Sarah had taken over the property and paid rates until 1776, during this time she expanded the number of properties. A John Ring took over the rates in 1777, with Robert taking over in 1778. This is presumably the hooper's business. Joseph Ring II He was apprenticed to John Rogers, cabinet maker, gaining his freedom on 10th March 1765. He married Elizabeth Frank, the daughter of Richard Frank the potter.on 4 Jul 1765, when he was described as a cabinet maker. They had the following children: Hannah (born 20 Aug 1767, died 25 Feb 1789); Elizabeth (born 5 Jun 1769, buried 1847); Lydia (born 26 Dec 1770, died 12 Apr 1793); Joseph III (born 2 Sep 1172, died 28 May 1813); Richard Frank (born 8 Jul 1774, died 23 Apr 1885); John (born 20 Sep 1776); Sophia (born 17 Sep 1778, died 25 Jul 1853 at Worcester - see below); Rebecca (born 21 Mar 1781, died 25 Jul 1858 at Worcester - see below); William Frank (born 12 Jan 1783, died 14 Jan 1783) and Sarah (born 10 May 1776). Sarah married Frederick Cookworthy, a nephew of William Cookworthy, the Plymouth porcelain maker, on 11 Aug 1789. The Bristol Gazette carried the following announcement of the marriage "Tuesday was married at the Quakers' meeting-house at the Friars in this city, Mr Frederick Cookworthy, haberdasher in Union Street, to Miss Ring, daughter of the late Mr Joseph Ring, potter in Water Lane, Temple Street". He took an apprentice, Richard Masters of Thatcham in Berkshire, 9th January 1766. The cabinet making business was advertised in Felix Farley's Bristol Journal on 19th January 1765 as follows: "Joseph Ring, cabinet maker, begs leave to inform the public, that he has opened a shop, in Thomas Street, two doors below the Three Kings, Bristol, where he makes, in the neatest taste, chests of drawers, bureaux, desk and bookcases, library tables; Chinese tea tables, and tea trays; chairs and sofas; desk and settee bedsteads; pier, chimney, and drawing glasses, in plain, pile or carved frames; and all sorts of cabinet work; which he sells on the most reasonable terms. He Likewise sells mahogany, in plank or board". The cabinet making was unsuccessful as his stock in trade was advertised for sale on 23rd January 1768. In 1771 he took another apprentice, but by then his trade is shown as a distiller. Bailey's directory of 1783 describes him as a raisin wine maker in Thomas Street, Browne in 1785 lists him as a distiller also in Thomas Street. In the 1781 and 1784 elections he voted as a distiller from St Thomas parish. Both elections show that he held freehold property in Temple parish. Joseph Ring paid rates on a property in Thomas Street for 1764-68 (presumably the cabinet making business), and on another for 1769-84 (number 120, presumably the distillery). He also paid rates on a property in Temple Street for 1775-86, which was then taken over by Robert Ring. In 1784 he purchased the Temple Backs pottery from his father in law Richard Frank and two years later commenced the manufacture of Queen's Ware (creamware). On 7 May 1785 he advertised his move to the pottery, saying that the brown stone manufactory is carried on as usual. On 23 Dec 1786 and 13 Jan 1787 he advertised that he had established a manufactory of Queen's and other earthenwares. Bailey's directory of 1787 lists him as "The only Manufacturer of Queens Ware, Temple Back". It has been said that Joseph Ring enlarged the pottery, by at least double, with adjoining land of his own, after the purchase. This is not so, the poor rate books, for the pottery, for 1780-90 show the rateable value unchanged at 48 pounds per annum. In 1784 he paid rates on a property (his distillery), plus two adjoining dwelling houses in Thomas Street, and in the following year the rates were paid by William Parker. He also paid rates on warehouse in Temple Street, at the junction with Bear Lane, from 1775 to 1786. Due to his voting in 1781 and 1784 this property must have been freehold. His brother Robert paid the rates, on the warehouse, for 1787 to 1792. This property was nowhere near the pottery. However, he may have continued the distilling business at the site of the pottery, for the advertisement of 13th January 1787 says that the raisin wine and vinegar business, carried on by Joseph Ring, was to be disposed of, but would be continued on in the mean time. The advert also mentions the warehouse, but since this was taken over by his brother, it would appear that no buyer was found for the distilling business. Henry Carter did take over a house in Water Lane in 1808, which had formerly been is possession of Robert Ring, but it added little to the size of the premises (this is incorrectly referred to by W J Pountney). On 9 Jan 1788 he entered into partnership with Henry Carter, but died on 7 Apr 1788 when a beam which supported a weight of goods broke. Joseph Ring III He gained his freedom of the the city, as a potter, in 1796 as he was the son of Joseph Ring. It is quite likely that he was the manager of the Water Lane pottery, although he did not become a partner until 1813, shortly before his death. He was provided with a substantial house at 2 Water Lane, between 1798 and 1799, the poor rates being paid by Henry Carter. Trade directories show him at a different property (3 Water Lane) for 1803-7. He also ran the retail outlet at 14 Bath from May 1807 until his death. Trade directories for 1809-12 refer to his residence at the pottery, although giving his business address at 14 Bath Street. Rebecca and Sophia Ring Rebecca Ring became the accounts manager for Chamberlain's Worcester porcelain factory following on from Humphrey Chamberlain's wife Ann (nee Draycott). Rebecca also became Ann's companion. In a codicil to Humphrey's will, Rebecca was granted, at his wife's request, to be allowed to live at Park Cottages (the family home) for her lifetime, provided she did not marry. She outlived Humphrey and Ann, and so reamined in the family home until she died in 1858). Sometime after the death of Ann, Spohia joined her sister in Worcester. They are both on the 1851 census at Worcester, Sophia at Rose Hill and Rebecca at Park Cottage. |
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I am indebted to Marie Keenan, a descendent of John Young Ring, for extra information about the Ring Family. In addition Jean Hurley (descended from the three Joseph Rings) and Howard M Knight (descended from Robert Ring I) have provided valuable information. |
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