www.925-1000.com

From evidence of the date of his apprenticeship in 1774 and his burial record (see below) he was born around 1760.
In 1783 he paid Duty as a goldsmith for the apprentice indentures of Thomas Goldney and Charles Hallsey Johnson.
Along with his partner James Sutton (Grimwade p.674) he was made bankrupt in 1784 although Grimwade records on page 674 that Heal noted the continuation of the partnership to 1793, presumably at 85 Cheapside from where James Sutton was assessed to Land Tax from 1784.
He married Sarah Francis Camm at St Andrew, Holborn in 1792; both were from that parish. She was christened in 1772 at St Lawrence, Jewry, the daughter of Stephen and Frances Camm.
Ten of their children were christened at St Mary, Colechurch between 1793 and 1805.This church is in the vicinity of Cheapside.
He is first mentioned in Land Tax registers in 1805-7 as Godbehere Wigan & Bult in respect of 86 Cheapside. In 1808 the assessment for Land Tax on the property was made in the name of Samuel Godbehere Wigan & Co.
Two of his daughters were christened at Christ Church, Southwark in 1809 and 1811.
He is mentioned in Land Tax assessments again in respect of 86 Cheapside in 1814-1818 as Godbehere Bult & Co or Godbehere & Bult, as Bult Co 1819-20, James Bult Co 1821-4, James Bult & Sons 1825-32 and Bult & Sons from 1833. Bult & Sons were first assessed to Land Tax on 85 Cheapside from 1835.
James Bult and Sons and Co were listed in the 1829 Post Office Directory as goldsmiths at 86 Cheapside.
For an image of his premises at Cheapside see the Forum’s “Views of Silversmith’s Premises”. Other websites suggest the image is dated around 1830 but could be any time from 1819. It is an image of number 86.
James Bult & Sons are mentioned in the Post Office Directory of 1845 at 85-6 Cheapside as bankers, money changers and dealers in bullion.
His burial aged 85 years was recorded at Norwood Cemetery, Lambeth in 1846. His last address was 88 Blackfriars Road.
The demise in 1852 of the banking business of Bult & Sons is detailed elsewhere in this Forum.

For ease of reference I've added the details of the bank failure below:

In 1852 the once wealthy bank, bullion and goldsmithing business of James Bult, Son & Co. of 85-86 Cheapside, London, closed it's doors for the last time, as a place of business dealing with gold and silver, the premises at Cheapside can be traced back until at least 1772 and the time of James Stamp, Bult's former Master.

Bult's bank, not James Bult himself, he died in 1846, had become overstretched in its dealing with the Staffordshire ironmaster and colliery owner Robert Williamson. Its last two partners were listed as James Philip Bult and George Frederic Bult.






The report of the meeting of creditors was as follows:

In explaining the above accounts, which show about 10s. in the pound, Mr. Maynard, the legal adviser of Messrs. Bult, detailed the causes which led to their suspension. These consisted solely in the large advances made, through a series of years, on behalf of collieries and iron works in North Staffordshire (the property of Messrs. Williamson), which, in addition to having absorbed all their available resources, had left them with a considerable amount of liability. The ultimate realization of the estate depended in a measure upon the proceeds to be gained from an arrangement effected in connection with those properties, and, therefore, mutual co-operation had been necessary to bring about a settlement. The assets of Messrs. Bult and Co. already in hand would pay a dividend of 5s. in the pound; and, if the terms with their chief debtors could be arranged, a further sum of 5s. would be secured. The creditors, under these circumstances, would be asked to accept a composition of 10s. in the pound, it being understood that one portion of the Staffordshire works would pay 2s. 3d. and the other 6s. 8d. in the pound. To effect this, Messrs. Williamson had gained assistance from their friends, and the funds requisite would, it was understood, be provided within a fortnight. The affairs of the collieries and iron works had been thoroughly investigated, and, encumbered as they were with mortgages and other liens, the arrangement proposed was regarded as the best that could be obtained. The feeling of the creditors was evidently favourable to the acceptance of the composition named, and after a short discussion, in the course of which Mr. L. Moseley and others expressed sympathy for the position of the firm, the annexed resolution was at once adopted :–

" At a meeting of the creditors of Messrs. James Bult, Son, and Co., held the 18th day of February, 1852, at the offices of Messrs. Crowder and Maynard, 57, Coleman Street, a proposition having been submitted to the meeting that, upon payment by Messrs. James Bult, Son, and Co., of a composition of 10s. in the pound upon the amount of all their debts above £20, they should be released from further liability; and further, that the holders of bills, bearing their names and drawn or endorsed by Mr. Robert Williamson, should receive, in addition, a composition of 2s. 3d. in the pound upon the amount thereof; and that the holders of bills drawn, accepted, or endorsed by the Goldendale Company and the Stonetrough Colliery should receive a compensation of 6s 8d. in the pound upon the amount, and that therenpon the bills should be cancelled and all parties released : it was resolved–That the above proposition be accepted, provided that the compositions be paid within one month from this date."

Source: The History of the Commercial Crisis, 1857-1858: and the Stock Exchange By David Morier Evans--Published in 1859.

The Will of James Bult, goldsmith late of Cheapside, was proved for probate on 11th June 1846 (National Archives reference PROB 11/2037/9).

James Bult, Son, & Co. - London - 1845

GEEDBEHERE
GOODBEHERE
GODBEHERE

Whatever next !

There is a very constructive article by Anthony Twist in "Silver Studies 25 - 2009 " entitled
"James Bult and his Partners 1774 - 1834 " which comprehensively covers the various twists and turns of the premises at 85/86 Cheapside. It gives considerable details on the various parties involved, including James and Frances Stamp , Samuel Godbehere , Edward Wigan etc and a host of others .
It sorts out many of the uncertainties , provides considerable new information. And adds a few more problems !

James Bult, Son & Co. assigned the lease of 85-86 Cheapside to the bullion dealers, Haggard & Pixley (Stewart Pixley, formerly a senior clerk in the Cashier’s Office at the Bank of England, and Henry Haggard, son of the principal of the Bullion Office, also of the Bank of England). The owners of 85-86 Cheapside being The Mercers' Company.

85-86 Cheapside was later to become the premises of the dressing-case manufacturers, Toulmin & Gale, prior to them moving into No. 84.