Henry Cort

		Henry Cort Inventor - Creator of puddled iron - Father of iron trade
		This page is part of a website based on the life and achievements of eighteenth-century inventor Henry Cort. The creator and owner of the site was Eric Alexander who passed away. The site is now hosted by Geneagraphie.com Please contact us with any comments or queries.

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Toulmin and other agents

The Toulmin family

The #1790 memorandum explains how Cort's loan to Thomas Morgan makes it necessary to arrange the transfer of his navy agent's business to his neighbour Oliver Toulmin. Cort's business begins at 35 Crutched Friars, though he moves along the street to Gould Square after his second marriage. Toulmin's is at number 37.

Material recently discovered on the web reveals that Oliver Toulmin is born in Bolton-le-Sands, Lancashire, where he is baptised in 1721 (the IGI's record of a baptism on 8 July 1756 must refer to a different Oliver Toulmin). But his business takes him to London, where it evidently starts in partnership with Thomas Mohringh in Old Broad Street. Although they describe themselves as merchants, much of their business is as navy agents. Apparently they also have a contract to supply ballast to the navy.

According to a later lawsuit, Mohringh does not honour the agreement made when the partnership breaks up. He continues at Old Broad Street, while Toulmin moves to Crutched Friars. Three Toulmin children are baptised at St Olave's.

It has been suggested that Oliver's family in Lancashire is associated with the Stout family who live nearby. Since Ellen Stout marries Thomas Cort of Lancaster, there may be an early link with Cort's supposed relations there, even a possibility that Oliver procures Cort his first job as a navy agent.

Oliver Toulmin witnesses the wills of two of Cort's associates, Daniel Guion and Thomas Morgan. He also keeps an account for Coningsbury Norbury on Cort's behalf.

Administration granted to Oliver Toulmin a creditor of the said deceased.

From probate entry for will of Daniel Guion, 27 September 1788.

Cash paid Mr Cort's bill to Mr Jellicoe £236.17.9.

From Toulmin account for Coningsbury Norbury, 21 June 1782

Commercial activities besides navy agency include a £665 loan in 1771 to Earl Verney, who pledges his share in Ranelagh pleasure gardens as security. In 1773 Toulmin assigns the debt to Sarah Ireson of Lincolns Inn Fields.

By 1783 he has taken his son Richard and nephew Oliver into partnership (two sons named Oliver have both died in infancy). They move west to Lisle Street, where Oliver snr dies in July.

Toulmin, Oliver, Richard and Oliver. Merchants, 37 Crutched Friars

From London trade directory, 1782

Appeared personally James Oram Clarkson of Basinghall St London and Oliver Toulmin of Lisle Street St Ann in the City of Westminster.. well acquainted with John Becher late of Shutt End.

From probate entry for will of John Becher

In 1787, after the move of the Navy Office to Somerset Place, the business shifts to Essex Street, off The Strand.

An 1805 trade directory registers "Toulmin, R & A T, Army Agents, Surrey St, Strand". (This may be the source of later confusion: Webster's version of the Henry Cort story places Cort's 1765 business in Surrey Street.) Richard's new partner is probably his cousin Abraham, who is also registered as a Navy Agent at 2 Hart Street, Bloomsbury, and who becomes a trustee for the widow and children of James Watson.

Other agents

The area around the Navy Office in the 1760s is a centre for agents and for merchants involved in agency,

There is Albert Innes at 16 Gould Square, Crutched Friars. Early in the period we have Gathorne & Davidson at an unspecified address in Crutched Friars. After Henry Cort leaves, James Sykes takes up residence at number 31.

Ommanney & Marsh are round the corner, in Savage Gardens. Marsh is simultaneously a navy employee. The partnership lasts eleven years. When they split, new partnerships are formed: Ommanney & Page, Marsh (son of the original) & Creed.

There being no house to let suitable for it, we returned to London, and took one in Savage Gardens near Tower Hill; and we also agreed to transact business as Naval Agents.

From George Marsh's diary, 19 March 1750.

When the partnership expired I told Mr Ommaney I never more would have the least connection with him, and that I should ever despise his principles and ungrateful conduct. In the eleven years of our partnership we gained £22,000 the half of which he got entirely through my favour to him. My son and Mr Creed have continued in the business together very happy and successfully ever since, and I have reason to be thankful that my son was not connected with so avaricious bad principles a man, so contrary in respect to his turn of mind.

From George Marsh's diary, 18 October 1763.

Eustace Kentish, in Tower Hill, who has a disproportionate influence on Cort's life, is officially a merchant. Agency is only a small part of his business.

Then there is Daniel Hailes in Fenchurch Street

The move of the Navy Office in 1786 sees them all shifting west. By 1789 Sykes is the only one left: he moves to The Strand in 1793.

Related pages

Navy agent's business

Navy agent's finances

Cort's clients

Navy office associates

Ships' pursers

Life of Henry Cort

The pages on this site are copied from the original site of Eric Alexander (henrycort.net) with his allowance.
Eric passed away abt 2012
If you use/copy information from this site, please include a link to the page where you found the information.