ELSE, William (1762?-1836) — London & Margate
Jeweller & toyman; gold & silversmith. Published The Margate fan. or guide to the Isle of Thanet 1805 — an illustrated decorative fan with A map of the Isle of Thanet on the reverse.
Born about 1762 and possibly the William Else baptised at Bethersden in Kent 3 Aug 1765, the son of William and Elizabeth Else. Married Margaret Saul (1764?-1845), with whom he had a number of children, at St. George Hanover Square 8 Jan 1785. His wife, thought to be the daughter of a printer, had been apprenticed to a Fleet Street milliner in 1781. His initial premises in Fleet Street in 1785 were on the north side between Crane Court and Red Lion Court, probably at No. 172. Listed as owning a purse warehouse and leather works in Fleet Street in 1790, with a trade-card in BM of about the same date advertising his “patent lace & purse manufactory”, words repeated on a 1793 receipt from a new address in Cheapside (also in BM), which offers in addition, “feathers, morocco purses, books, thread cases &c, garters, glove tops, beads, ear-rings, drops, steel clasps & buckles, artificial flowers, fans, painted shoe shapes, sandals &c”. Another trade-card in BM, also from the Cheapside address, additionally includes “worked gauze … hair cushions, galloons, and hair-ribbons”. Else was described as a warehouseman when declared bankrupt 20 Oct 1801 — the proceedings continued until at least 1806, when he was briefly imprisoned in the King’s Bench for debt. Recorded in a directory as operating a “British lace and fancy warehouse” in Fleet Street in 1802. He was in the King’s Bench Prison again for debt in June and July 1809, recorded as a jeweller formerly of 20 Fleet Street, and lately of Margate. Listed as running a toyshop in Margate in 1811. Joined the Deal masonic lodge in December 1812, then recorded as a jeweller in Deal. Recorded as a goldsmith and jeweller in 1823. A further BM trade card of about 1825, engraved by George Frederick Cruchley (see BME 2011) and giving an address of 35-38 Burlington Arcade, details the repair and exchange of ornaments, the purchase of diamonds and old gold, English and foreign toys, seal engraving, watch and jewellery repair and cleaning, mourning rings, etc. He was declared bankrupt once more in 1827. His servant, Elizabeth Grey, was charged with stealing rings, brooches, and “a large quantity of other articles” in 1830 (London Evening Standard, 1 May 1830). By 1833, his son William Saul Else (1786-1866) had taken over the Burlington Arcade premises, while Else was in the Lowther Arcade, both recorded as jewellers, with the younger Else also a toyman. Else died aged seventy-four and was buried at St. James Piccadilly 28 Feb 1836.
Fleet Street — 1785
Chancery Lane — 1786-1787
12 Fleet Street ¬— 1789-1790
5 Crown Court, Cheapside — 1793
20 Fleet Street — 1798-1802
Queen Street, Margate — 1805
Fleet Street — 1806
Queen Street, Margate — 1811
35 & 36 Burlington Arcade — 1819-1833
— 35, 36, 37 & 38 Burlington Arcade — ca. 1825
8 Lowther Arcade, Strand — 1833-1834
Brill Street, St. Pancras (home) — 1836
BM. BNA. LG.