John Amos, Grantham, Windsor chair maker WS 148

Stamp of Amos Grantham WS 148 

Those familiar with Lincolnshire Windsor chairs will probably be well acquainted with the name of John Amos, the chairmaker from Little Gonerby. Many pictures of his chairs appear in Dr B D Cotton's The English Regional Chair (1990) and other books on vernacular furniture. However, new research has revealed that he only changed to making chairs later in his life. His baptism has not been traced though he is recorded in the 1841 census as being aged 75 which suggests that he was born in about 1766. The marriage of John to Millicent Everitt took place at Wellingore on the 23rd December 1794.

The earliest mention of him can be found in an advertisement in the Stamford Mercury of October 1794 when he is seeking two journeymen wheelwrights and signs himself as JOHN AMOS wheelwright of Little Gonerby. Two years later in September 1796 a similar advertisement is placed in the same paper looking for two journeymen "and if they can make ploughs the more agreeable". An apprentice is also wanted "with which a Premium will be expected". This would mean that he was a Freeman of the Borough and by time served, probably as a wheelwright, was able to take on an apprentice .

At the start of the following year - 3rd Jan 1797 there is a baptism of John Amos, son of John and Melicent of Little Gonerby .

On the 1st March 1799 he again advertises for three journeymen wheelwrights followed in August 1800, when he is seeking two journeymen wheelwrights and another apprentice, signing himself both times as JOHN AMOS wheelwright of Little Gonerby. His next appearance in the paper is in May 1804 when he seeks the return of his apprentice John Branston and warning that anyone harbouring or employing him will be dealt with as the law directs but should he decide to return without any further trouble then he will be received; once again signing himself as a wheelwright of Little Gonerby.

These advertisements clearly show him and his business as dedicated to manufacturing wheels and ploughs, employing several people and apprentices. At the age of about 30 he has a wife and two children (daughter Melicent was baptised on 28th July 1800) and there is no mention of chairmaking. However, as Little Gonerby is such a small place and part of Grantham township he must have known Roger Taylor, John Wilson and Richard Hubbard who all had established Windsor chair making businesses. It seems very likely that he realised the demand for these chairs was greater than the supply as after the baptism of his second son Everitt in August 1806, he proceeds to call himself a Windsor chair maker. Once again with the help of the Stamford Mercury, an advertisement by him in June 1809, seeks two journeymen immediately, one who understands the Turnery and Fancy business, the other needs to be a plain Windsor chair maker. This is just signed JOHN AMOS with no indication of his trade. His change of direction in his business is re-inforced by another advertisement which appears in November 1823 when two journeymen are sought, one Windsor and one Turnpin chairmaker who can bottom, again just signed JOHN AMOS Grantham. In the meantime he and his wife have two more daughters - Mary baptised March 1810 and Louisa Ann in February 1814.

The only other time the word chairmaker appears after his name is in the announcement of the death of his wife in the paper in May 1837 aged 68. Ironically he probably would have known John Wilson, chairmaker of Little Gonerby who died the same week aged 58. Later that same year there is recorded the burial of his son Everitt aged 31.

In his will, made in 1838, he gives his occupation as chairmaker and mentions his son John, who is a butcher in Grantham; his son-in-law John Long who married his daughter Cassandra and his other daughter Louisa. He also mentions his two messuages or tenements in Little Gonerby along with their shops, sheds and yards which fronted on to North Parade and extended all the way back to New Street. These were built by him upon land formerly belonging to Peter Vere Esq. and his wife Elizabeth.

The majority of the houses facing out on to North Parade are fine four storey late Georgian terrace houses and the distance back to New Street is simiply huge, but recently built on. John Amos must have been very successful in his business to afford to build two houses here. Further investigation is needed to establish which ones were built and belonged to him.

© William Sergeant 2014 and 2020