Bristol Pottery (Pountneys) Apprentices

Details are from W J Pountney and the Burgess Records (BRO).

Apprentice

Master

Date of Appr.

Note/Trade

John Thomas

William and Sarah Taylor

8 Mar 1790

 

William Howell

Elizabeth Ring

5 Aug 1791

 

Benjamin Radford

Elizabeth Ring

27 Oct 1791

Free 1 Oct 1812

William Distin

Robert Ring

28 Sep 1792

Free 11 Jun 1818

Benjamin Dungay

Robert Ring

28 Sep 1792

 

Thomas Page

Robert Ring

28 Sep 1792

 

James Rivers

Joseph and Sarah Ring

18 Oct 1802

Free 4 Jan 1812

Thomas Wallis

Joseph and Sarah Ring

22 Jun 1805

 

Joseph Bull

Joseph and Sarah Ring

8 Aug 1805

 

George Richmond

Joseph and Sarah Ring

28 Jul 1806

Free 18 Jun 1818

James Hankins

Joseph and Sarah Ring

28 Jul 1806

Free 18 Jun 1818

Thomas Williams

Joseph and Sarah Ring

27 Jul 1808

 

Robert Green

Joseph and Sarah Ring

30 Sep 1808

 

Thomas Lewis

Joseph and Sarah Ring

15 Aug 1810

 

John Lent

Joseph and Sarah Ring

27 Aug 1811

 Free 13 Jun 1826

William Naish

Joseph and Sarah Ring

27 Aug 1811

 

Charles Privett

Joseph and Sarah Ring

12 Jan 1812

 

Abraham Morgan

J D Pountney

29 Apr 1814

Thrower (7 years).

Benjamine Humphries

J D Pountney

29 Apr 1814

Turner

Joseph White

J D Pountney

26 Aug 1814

Turner

John Hales

J D Pountney

15 Dec 1814

 

John Francis

J D Pountney

18 Jan 1815

Turner

William Jabez Davies

J D Pountney

29 Mar 1815

Enameler

Abraham Grimes

J D Pountney

29 Mar 1815

Turner - Free 13 Jun 1826

William Hales

J D Pountney

29 Mar 1815

Turner

Frederick Chappel (probably Chapple)

J D Pountney

11 Oct 1815

Turner. - Free 12 Jun 1826

Thomas Davis

J D Pountney

11 Oct 1815

Presser

John Cross

J D Pountney

16 Nov 1815

Thrower - Free 12 Jun 1826

Samuel Cross

J D Pountney

16 Nov 1815

Brother of John - Free 12 Jun 1826

James Marsh

J D Pountney

16 Nov 1815

Handler and Presser

Joseph Slade

J D Pountney

17 Feb 1816

Turner - Free 29 Jul 1830

George Bye

J D Pountney

23 Sep 1816

 Free 12 Jun 1826

James Clark

J D Pountney

1 Oct 1816

 

George Overend

J D Pountney

25 Feb 1819

Thrower -  Free 12 Jun 1826

George Lamb

J D Pountney

25 Feb 1819

Thrower - Free 27 Jul 1830

Joseph Southerd

J D Pountney

25 Feb 1819

Thrower - Free 12 Jun 1826

Henry Morrish

J D and Susannah Pountney

7 Nov 1820

Enameler

Henry Clark

J D and S Pountney

14 Aug 1821

Enameler

Thomas Bullock

J D and S Pountney

23 Sep 1822

 

William Yandell

J D and S Pountney

23 Sep 1822

 

Thomas Harford

J D and S Pountney

23 Sep 1822

 

James Preston

J D and S Pountney

16 Apr 1823

 

Samuel Aldridge

J D and S Pountney

16 Apr 1823

 

Thomas Sweet

J D and S Pountney

16 Apr 1823

 

Francis Hollister

J D and S Pountney

16 Apr 1823

 

Edward Arbour

J D and S Pountney

16 Apr 1823

 

John Justice

J D and S Pountney

16 Apr 1823

 

Thomas Page

J D and S Pountney

16 Apr 1823

 

Samuel Stiles

J D and S Pountney

24 Oct 1825

  

William Stephens

J D and S Pountney

24 Oct 1825

Free 14 Aug 1830

William Malt

J D Pountney

 

Free 12 Jun 1826

George Chapple

J D Pountney

 

Free 13 Jun 1826

James Short

J D and S Pountney

11 Aug 1826

 

Samuel Shepston

J D and S Pountney

11 Aug 1826

 

Henry Allen

J D and S Pountney

6 Dec 1826

 

Francis Perry

J D and S Pountney

11 Dec 1826

 

Thomas Brion

J D and S Pountney

16 Jan 1828

 

William Mason

J D and S Pountney

16 Jan 1828

 

James Cooper

J D and S Pountney

28 Mar 1828

 

John Thomas

J D and S Pountney

28 Mar 1828

 

George Mackrell

J D and S Pountney

5 Sep 1831

 

Henry Harris

J D and S Pountney

5 Sep 1831

Squeezer - Free 31 Jul 1839

Richard Roberts

J D and S Pountney

5 Sep 1831

Squeezer

John Morgan

J D and S Pountney

7 Oct 1831

Squeezer

Richard Mitchell

J D and S Pountney

7 Oct 1831

Squeezer - Free 31 Jul 1839

William Thomas

J D and S Pountney

22 Oct 1833

 

William Harris

J D and S Pountney

4 Mar 1834

 

William Porter

J D and S Pountney

4 Mar 1834

 

John Sweet

J D and S Pountney

4 Mar 1834

 

George Hallett

J D and S Pountney

10 Mar 1835

 

Charles Bowden

J D and S Pountney

10 Mar 1835

 

Henry Hunt

J D and S Pountney

29 Feb 1836

 

Robert Goodyer

J D and S Pountney

29 Feb 1836

 

James Johns

J D and S Pountney

29 Feb 1836

 

William Pring

J D and S Pountney

29 Feb 1836

 

Charles Smith

J D and S Pountney

1 Jun 1836

 Free 19 Jun 1852

Edward Marsh

J D and S Pountney

1 Jun 1836

 Free 26 Aug 1854

William Marks

J D and S Pountney

10 Oct 1836

 Free 1 Sep 1859

John Thomas

J D and S Pountney

10 Oct 1836

 

Henry Porter

J D and S Pountney

10 Oct 1836

 

John Charles

J D and S Pountney

9 Jan 1837

 

William Fifoot

J D and S Pountney

9 Jan 1837

 

Charles Fenton

J D and S Pountney

10 Oct 1837

 

James Ford

J D and S Pountney

10 Oct 1837

 

Edwin Joseph

J D and S Pountney

10 Oct 1837

 

William Poole

J D and S Pountney

29 Jan 1838

 

Thomas Gibbs

J D and S Pountney

29 Jan 1838

 

Thomas Harris

J D and S Pountney

2 Jun 1838

 

Frederick Powell

J D and S Pountney

6 Jun 1838

 

John Emdin

J D and S Pountney

12 Jun 1838

 

Henry Rowney

J D and S Pountney

16 Sep 1839

 

George Coggins

J D and S Pountney

16 Sep 1939

 

Henry Price

J D Pountney

12 Mar 1844

 

Daniel Palmer

J D Pountney

12 Mar 1844

 

George Marsh

J D Pountney

12 Mar 1844

 

John Hodgson

J D Pountney

12 Mar 1844

 

William Webster

J D Pountney

12 Mar 1844

 

Henry Smith

J D Pountney

12 Mar 1844

 

William Richmond

J D and Charlotte Pountney

31 Aug 1846

 

Likely Workmen

The land tax rate books show the following people residing in the house owned by the pottery at 2 Water Lane: Harris (1800), J Williams (1809-20), Bullock (1829-34), Chapple (1835-39), Samuel Marsh (1845-48) and Joseph Mawley (1849 which is the last book).  It is likely that the pottery ceased to own the pottery by then

John Williams voted from Temple Backs in 1820 and is probably the J Williams shown in the rate books.

Matthews directory for 1830 lists Thomas Bullock at 4 Water Lane, but does not show a trade.  For 1831-2 he is listed as an earthenware potter at 95 St Thomas Street.  Thomas Bullock voted from Water Lane in 1830 and 1832.  Bullock was apprenticed on 23 Sep 1822.

Frederick Chapple is listed at 2 Water Lane for 1836-40.  Frederick and George Chapple voted from Water Lane in 1830. 1832 and 1835.  In 1837 Frederick voted from Temple Back and George from Temple Street.  A Frederick Chappel was apprenticed as a turner on 11 Oct 1815, becoming free 12 Jun 1826.  George also became free in 1826.

George the son of Samuel Marsh, potter, was apprenticed on 12 Mar 1844.

James George Hawley is shown in the Matthews directoriy as residing at 2 Water Lane for 1851-5.  The 1851 census describes him a pottery foreman at 4 Water Lane (this is probably correct and the trade directory wrong).  It is possible the land tax entry for Joseph Mawley may be a mistake for J G Hawley.  The consolidated rates show J G Hawley at Water Lane for 1850-56 (1851 also shows a house in Temple Backs).  Find out more.

Isaac Edwards paid consolidated rates on a property in Water Lane for 1858.

The Marks Family.  William Marks was apprenticed to the pottery on 10th October 1836, although he does not appear to gained his freedom until 1st September 1859.  The 1841 census describes him as a potter's apprentice residing at Church Street (near the pottery), Temple, Bristol.  He was still there in 1861 and in 1871 at Stone's Court, Temple Street.  Between 1871 and 1881 he moved to Bedminster with the younger members of his family, this move may have coincided with the closure of the Water Lane side in 1886.  In 1871 and 1881 he was a "handler at pottery".

William had a younger brother called Joel (born 1824).  Joel was described as a potter when he died on 18th May 1860, William Marks of Church Street was present at the death. 

William's various sons were in the same trade, but may not have been at Pountneys.  William junior (born in 1845) was a "handler at pottery",  James Joel (born in 1847) and Thomas (born 1863) both  "potter's printers".  James Joel and Thomas both left Bristol for Hanley, Staffordshire after 1881.

William's younger son Joseph (born in 1865) was also a "handler at pottery" in 1881 and in 1891 and 1901 an "earthenware potter".  Later he was a foreman at Fishponds.  It is possible that he came out of retirement to help with production during the second world war. 

Many thanks to a descendent of Joseph, Jackie James, for the information (see has also helped with J G Hawley in the stoneware section and the Pardoe family).  To contact Jackie use the email address marksfamilytree + at + googlemail.com, replacing the word "at" with the appropriate symbol.