William Pearce.

[paulh]

This is an ordinary fiddle teaspoon, which appears to be by William Pearce of Plymouth, with an Exeter date letter for 1821. The records I have seen suggests that William Pearce worked until around 1796. Am I barking up the wrong tree here and can anyone explain this anomaly?

Paul.

[silvermakersmarks]

No explanation, but that definitely seems to be the mark of William Pearce - the notches are quite distinctive.

Phil

[Granmaa]

Very odd. William Pearce died in 1804, and that is his mark. In addition, I haven't come across anther WP maker in the West Country at the time that it could be.

A bit of a mystery!

Miles

[dognose]

A William Pearce, Silversmith of Plymouth, appears to have been part of syndicate who made an investment with the Bank of England in October 1817. A son perhaps, continuing his father's business?

Trev.

[Granmaa]

Correction: William Pearce died in 1806, not 1804.

I like the theory, Trev. There isn't a mention in the assay books of a Pearce entering anything in 1821, but rules were a bit lax, and it wasn't unknown for the manufacturer's name to be entered in the book, and the retailer's mark to be stamped on the object.

Miles