SOCIETY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION: John Hurford gent of Albion Place proposed member 9.1.1784 by Henry Amory 2nded Joseph Towers
Lowndes directory 1782 listed William Hurford of Albion Place, Surrey, coal merchant. This was John Hurford's father William, coal merchant of Thames St who owned a wharf on the east side of Puddle Dock and was a member of the Barbers Company and a common councilman for Castle Baynard ward, generally a supporter of John Wilkes. He married firstly Ruth daughter of George and Hannah Cordwell, they had a son William born about 1741 who was drowned at Whitby Cliff (Middlesex Journal 7.11.1772). William Hurford's second wife was Sarah Mitchener, they married in 1749 and John Hurford was born in 1750. William Hurford had a brother Humphry whose partnership with William Stone as worsted and stocking manufacturers against St Giles' church was dissolved in 1752, he also had a sister Mary who married William Stone at Bickford, Devon in 1749 and was mother of William Stone, Henry Stone and John Hurford Stone (DNB 1763-1818), and he also had a nephew William Hurford whose will PCC 1797. John Hurford attended Rev Mr Noble's Academy at Lemon St, Goodmans Fields (see Public Adv 15.12.1775) and married Mary Tozer of Leicester on 25.4.1775 at which time he was described as coal merchant of Thames Street. They had children Louisa Ann born 8.7.1776, William Lewis born 2.11.1777, Maria born 15.6.1780, whose mother died 5.5.1783 (Morning Chhronicle 6.5.1783). John Hurford's father William died 19.5.1784 (see Gazetteer 20.5.1784 which also described his useful but inconsistent character). London Gazette 11.1.1785 partnership dissolved between John Hurford, John Marshall and William Stone, coal merchants of Thames St (Hurford and Stone continued and John Hurford Stone became a partner). This was William Stone junior, John Hurford's cousin, who was later tried for treason. He had married Ann Chance of Upton on Severn in 1782 and in 1785 John Hurford married Mary Chance of Upton on Severn. When William Stone gave evidence at Kings Bench (Sun 25.3.1796) shortly after his treason trial, he stated that John Hurford had retired to the country many years before 1794. John Hurford's will PCC 1811 gent of Ripple, Worcs.