Davis, Jonas

From 3.2.1792 to 1.8.1797 there were 68 'call on Davis' entries, often next to a call on Robinson, and on 4.1.1793 'best book that ever was published'. These probably all referred to the printer Jonas Davis of Chancery Lane c.1756-1827, who had been an assistant to Archibald Hamilton (see John Nichols, Literary Anecdotes vol 3 p398-9) and who was mentioned as Davis, 91, Chancery Lane in a letter fron Godwin to Wollstonecraft. In the five and a half years of Godwin calling on Davis there were just 2 'Davis calls' entries, on 19.5.1792 and 18.11.1796; these may have also been Jonas Davis. According to DNB Richard Taylor 1781-1855 was apprenticed to the Unitarian printer Jonas Davis (Stationers Company Apprentices 7.3.1797); Godwin called on Davis, adv Taylors on 4.3.1797 and dined at Davis's w. Taylor, Barbaulds & Livie, adv. Skene on 7.3.1797 the day the bond was signed. These are currently coded in GD website to the wrong John Taylor and should be coded to Richard's father John Taylor of Norwich, the presence of the Barbaulds confirming this (see McCarthy, A L Barbauld, 2008, p.396 where Richard Taylor's diary is cited to show that Rochemont Barbauld introduced him to his master in January 1797). When Jonas Davis retired in 1800 his business in Chancery Lane was continued by Wilks and Taylor, who were named as printers of Godwin's Antonio (1800), though St Leon (1799) was printed by R Noble. Wilks' partner Taylor was Richard's father John, while his son was still serving his apprenticeship. The entry for 20.11.1796 where Godwin dined at Davis's with Holcroft, Marshall, Skenes & Edwards, can be identified as Jonas Davis as well, because of the reappearance of Skene on 7.3.1797. The entries for 22.3.1793 Davis sups, talk of innate, and 25.5.1796 dine at Davis's, seem likely to have been Jonas as well, though the latter one could have been Black Davis (see Davis, William). Then there were a number of entries where Davis was associated with William Nicholson; 2.5.1790 dine at Holcroft's w. Nicholson, Davis & miss G; 8.10.1799 sup at Nicholson's w. Davis & miss Scott (Jonas Davis' first wife 1784 was Margaret Scott and he mentioned a Charlotte Scott spinster in his will PCC 1827, miss Scott was also at Nicholson's 14.11.1800 without Davis & on 24.10,1802 Godwin met S Nicholson & E Scott); 19.11.1799 Nicholson's lecture; sup, adv. Sadlers, Davis & W Sheffd; and 14.1.1800 sup at Nicholson's w. Sadler, adv Davis. And there were two entries where Davis was associated with R Sharp; 12.11.1797 dine at Tooke's w. R Sharp, Davis, Clarke & Dyson; and 26.2.1806 breakfast, w. R Sharp and Davis. Along with two other entries, 30.11.1791 un peu de demele sur Davis, and 9.3.1798 (in Bath) Richardson's & Davis's at tea, these are all the Davis entries in the 1790s, and they may very well all (except the Bath one, see Davis of Bath?) be Jonas Davis, though some are possibly William 'Black' Davis (except for those before 1795) or another Davis. Another link with Jonas Davis is that Charles Mercier cousin of Louisa Holcroft was apprenticed to him in 1789