A-Z of Entries

7.4.1810 call on Biggs (not seen) / 9.4.1810 call, w. T(homas) T(urner) on Biggs / 17.11.1811 Burr, A Curran, Biggs & Graves dine / 16.1.1822 tea mrs. Morgan's, w. Biggs & Garland, M(ary) J(ane) & W(illiam)

An unusual set of entries that could be three different people called Biggs, a fairly common name. But I have a good candidate, Nathaniel Biggs printer who in partnership with Joseph Cottle DNB 1770-1853 published the early poems of Coleridge, Wordsworth and Southey in Bristol 1798 to 1800. He was next a printer at 10 Crane-court Fleet-st and by 1811 a wholesale…

Billings 2.9.1798 at Horne Tooke's

see Poland Street 1 to 9 & 49 to 62 in London Addresses dataset

James Billington ratebooks 53 Poland St 1789-95 / many ads from World 3.1.1788 to Morning Herald 19.5.1792 Mrs Billington 53 Poland St / Elizabeth Billington DNB 1765-1818 dau of Fredrica Weichsel (QV*) / British History Online says they lived at 54 Poland St / (SunFire 1792 James Billington 16 Michaels Place, Brompton)

see Poland Street 19 to 44 in London Addresses dataset

James Bine 37 Poland St ratebooks 1779-86 / James Bine = St Martin i t Fields 10.9.1781 Mary Pilton botp banns wit John Pilton / Harriott bapt 30.6.1782 Philadelphia Esther bapt 30.6.1782 daughters of James & Mary Bine St James / James Bine cabinetmaker of St James took apprentice 1790 Chas Page / James Bine adult bur St James 12.12.1792 and 19.6.1796

20.08.1810 Examination of sir R(ichard) P(hillips); Bingham, Hannam &c / 21.8.1810 Guildhall; Tabart, Hannam, Bingham &c / 1.6.1811 Bingham & Hannam's clerk calls

Next to attorney Hannam (qv) in all three entries so likely in the law. Could have been Peregrine Bingham DNB 1788-1864 getting some legal experience?

Bingley 11.1.1805 adv at dinner (& 3 Lauries) / 28.6.1807 Bingley adv at Philips'

The first entry above was quite likely Thomas Bingley of 9 Polygon (Oracle & Daily Advertiser 15.6.1799 & Holdens 1811). Thomas Bingley of St Paul Covent Garden bach married by lic at St George in the East 11.2.1797 Charlotte Hodgson otp sp, and on 4.9.1811 three children of John & Frances Laurie (see Laurie), two of William & Charlotte Jacob, and William Barker son of Thomas & Charlotte Bingley born 19.7.1804 were all baptised at St Pancras. William & Thomas Bingley linen…

5.9.1806 Binham calls / 8.9.1806 again / 9.12.1806 again / 11.12.1806 again / 12.12.1806 again / 13.12.1806 again / 14.12.1806 dines / 19.12.1806 calls / 28.12.1806 at tea / 31.12.1806 calls / 1.1.1807 dines / 7.1.1807 calls / 19.1.1807 at tea / 5.4.1807 again / 10.4.1807 calls / 3.5.1807 sups / 6.5.1807 calls, matin / 10.6.1807 calls / 30.9.1809 write to

The letter of 9.9.1806 John P Binham to Godwin from 1, Evesham Buildings (Bodl MS Abinger c.10 f.4) mentioned his temporary engagement with Mr Phillips (presumably the publisher Richard Phillips). John Pearson Binham son of Richard…

8.4.1795 at Gerrald's / 22.5.1807 call on / 23.5.1807 call on / 5.6. 1807 call on Capt Binney (deaf)

Possibles: Charles Binny esq 39 Howland-st (Holdens directory 1811 court). Morn Post 6.2.1822 Sat 21st inst (presumably meant 2ist ult i.e. January)  at Howland-st died C Binny Esq late secretary to H H the Nabob of the Carnatic age 75. His will PCC 23.2.1822 mentioned his friend Capt Thomas Binny of Mawlesden, Forfarshire. Capt Thomas Binny commanded a troop at the battle of Waterloo 1815. Capt Binny of Mawlesden was still alive in 1830. Hampshire Telegraph 5.7.1807 Success galley,…

24.12.1792 at Brand Hollis' / 21.4.1794 at Thelwall's. Not necessarily same person as the two hosts seldom kept the same company (Frend and Dyer the only exceptions)

John Birch surgeon DNB 174?-1815 will PCC 1815

James Birch Muggletonian DNB -1800

Samuel Birch dramatist DNB 1751-1841 loyalist sympathies

William Russell Birch enamel painter DNB 1755-1834 emigrated to USA 1794

Boyle's 1792 George B Esq 25 Essex St; B Esq 52 Dean St Soho

see Newman Street 1 to 9 in London Addresses dataset

William Birch Land Tax 1 Newman St 1783-4 / William son of John Birch yeoman of Chesham, Bucks deceased appr 17.4.1735 to Daniel Cogdell of Coachmakers Company / William son of William Birch citizen and coachmaker born 1752 after father's admission on 6.4.1749 / William Birch bach = St Gregory by St Paul 25.7.1749 Hester Butler sp both of St Andrew Holborn / William son of William & Esther Birch of Leather lane bapt 4.12.1752 Holborn / William Birch bach of St Marylebone = St Bride Fleet St 27.10.1774 Henrietta Roberts otp sp…

8.10.1794 dine at Bird's  / 15.1.1795 call on Wilb Bird / (and perhaps) 26.2.1799 Bird at Mary Robinson's. In Godwin's 1796 list for 1794 as W Bird, and in 1794 version as Wilberforce Bird.

Wilberforce Bird 1758-1836 (History of Parliamnent) silk merchant of Little Park St Coventry & The Spring, Kenilworth, MP for Coventry 1796-1802, bankrupt 1804. Parr reminded Godwin of Bird's having paid part of his coach hire back to London in a letter dated 9th Jan (Abinger c.15 f.60 - year must be 1795) and Godwin called on him at Wood St Cheapside a few days later.

see Francis Place's Autobiography ed. Mary Thale p 42. (rival school to Place's schoolmaster John Bowis)

John Rule will PCC 22.11.1775 Stepney

William Bird schoolmaster 59 Fetter Lane & James Fergusson & Thomas Swanson Tower St, Wapping, executors of John Rule, SunFire 1779, 1780, 1786

William Bird Fetter Lane broker Wakefields directory 1790
William Bird 3 Bond Stables, Fetter Lane, academy Holdens directory 1790

John Birdekin of Isleworth

Land Tax Isleworth 1791-1804, in 1802 £10 pa prop Mrs Nettlefold / Mary d of John Birdekin & Jane bapt 15.5.1791 Isleworth / Jane Birdekin bur 8.5.1803 Isleworth (not infant)

6.1.1808 write to Birket

This the only mention of this name in Godwin's diary. A common enough name in London 1808 and apparently in Cumberland and the north west of England. It's clutching at straws to note Godwin wrote a letter to his by then estranged sister Hannah (see my entry for Godwin, Hannah) directly after Birket, but there was a Richard Birkett corn factor, partner with Fothergill at Fen Court (very near to Hannah Godwin at Cullum Street) in 1788 and 1794, and a bit further away at Great Tower Hill in 1808 and 1811. Richard Birkett was from Westmorland, his will PCC 1829…

Birminghams 8.8.1800 at Grattan's

HCR diary 11.5.1826 (called on) "Bischoff who acquits Hatton Stansfeld of dishonesty but attributes to him monstrous fatuity"

Probably James Bischoff (DNB 1775-1845). Hatton Hamer Stansfeld stuff manufacturer of King St, Cheapside was declared bankrupt in the London Gazette of 6.5.1826. Bischoff was, like Hatton Stansfeld, a Leeds merchant living in London, and had married Stansfeld's older sister Margaret. Stansfeld's older brother Thomas had been declared bankrupt earlier in 1826.

Bish's 5.7.1801 at Perry's, Merton / 13.12.1809 call on [R Sharp] [Bish] Chater / 16.12.1809 call on R Sharp, Bish

Thomas Bish stockbroker & lottery office keeper 4 Cornhill & 9 Charing Cross (Holdens 1811) will PCC 1815. Two of his daughters married Mr Hughes of Finsbury Sq 1807 and Geo Webb of Ludgate St 1812 (Irish marriages). Will PCC 1823 Elizabeth Bish widow of Brunswick Square

13.12.1809 call on [R Sharp] [Bish} / 16.12.1809 call on R Sharp, Bish

Thomas Bish stockbroker & lottery office, 4 Cornhill & 9 Charing-cross. The only Bish in Holdens directory 1811. His will PCC 1815

2.1.1790 hear Bishop at Holcroft's / 7.7.1791 again. Given Holcroft's many musical guests and the phrase 'hear Bishop' this may have been Henry Bishop, dancing master and violinist (see below) rather than listening to a bishop's sermon as suggested by the event tag (although Godwin earlier noted 'see bishop Newton' and 'hear bishop Horsley' both times he used a small b). Aickin the actor and Otley who was often at Holcroft's musical gatherings were perhaps less likely to go hear a sermon - and the second 'hear Bishop' was with Clementi, Shield & Bossy, all musicians. There was also a…

call on E Bishop 5.7.1800 / 9.7.1800 call on E B / 11.7.1800 call on E B; adv EB & Everina at Delane's / 15.7.1800 call on EB / 19.7.1800 E B & Everina at Lefanu's / 23.7.1800 EB & Everina dine / 24.7.1800 sup at E B's / 31.7.1800 call on E B / 9.8.1800 again (all in Ireland)

The GD website has only coded the first entry above to Eliza Bishop, but all the E B entries in Dublin were quite clearly her