Townley's collection 28.3.1797

Charles Townley DNB 1737-1805. Fully covered in the event tag on GD website, so Townley should have a person record or not be highlighted and underlined

call on Dr Parson 27.3.1797

There was a medical doctor, Dr John Parson of St James Clerkenwell, perhaps alive in 1797, mentioned in his son's entry in Alum Ox, but this is more likely the son Samuel of Doctors Commons, who got his doctorate of Law in 1792, his will PCC 1819. Two days before Godwin and Mary Wolstonecraft were married, this visit was probably connected with obtaining the marriage licence 

Platts 23.3.1797 at John King's / 30.9.1798 mrs Platt adv at mrs Foulkes / 2.3.1804 call on Platt / 17.7.1810 again / 4.3.1811 Platt at Aldis's / 2.9.1811 (Isle of Wight) Carisbrooke Castle adv L Bucks, F Grenville & Platt / 2.11.1824 adv at theatre / 1.3.1827 meet Platt

Spiring 26.3.1797 at Holcroft's / 18.2.1798 again / 1.4.1798 again / 13.5.1798 again / 25.2.1804 adv at White Horse, Brighton / 27.2.1804 again / 1.4.1820 calls (& Mergez) / 7.4.1820 again

Clearly connected to William Cole merchant who married Thomas Holcroft's daughter Sophia in 1794, he appeared twice with Cole and Gilchrists at Holcroft's in 1797-8, and twice with Mergez (Sophie Holcroft's 2nd husband) in 1820. The most prominent Spirings were Bristol nurserymen and brewers. There was also a John Spiring carpenter of Holborn from 1773 who went bankrupt im 1786

Cutting 19.3.1797 at (Thomas) Knight's

Godfrey 18.3.1797 at Debrett's

Fuller 15.3.1797 at Robert Knight's

Porteus 15.3.1797 at Robert Knight's / 14.5.1809 Porteus dies

For the 1797 entry GD website transcript has Portens, original looks more like Portens than Porteus but I cannot trace any instances of that surname. The 1809 entry was certainly Beilby Porteus DNB 1731-1809 Bishop of London.

Harry 15.3.1797 at Robert Knight's

Although Harry can be a surname ( 1790 H Harry bookseller and dealer in curiosities 379 Strand / 1784 Dr John Harry Bodmin Cornwall) in this case it may refer to Robert Knight's younger brother Henry Raleigh Knight his will PCC 1836 Lt Genl of Portman St Portman Sq. He married at St Geo Han Sq 1.12.1808 Juliana Botti who d 1859 age 79 their son Charles Raleigh Knight married in 1856, their eldest dau Juliana born 1811 married 1840 died at Rome 1854, their youngest dau Caroline Emily married in 1850.

Carters 9.3.1797 at John King's / 28.5.1798 again / 8.2.1799 Carter at King's / 19.2.1806 mrs Carter dies / 16.9.1808 call on Carter / 14.8.1813 Carter at S(arah) E(lwes) / 11.10.1813 call on Carter / 8.11.1813 again / 24.11.1813 again / 1.12.1813 again / 6.12.1813 again

The mrs Carter who died 19.2.1806 was Elizabeth Carter DNB 1717-1806 and perhaps too respectable a "bluestocking" to have been a guest at John King's