1. Homepage
2. Life of Henry Cort
3. Cort's processes in iron manufacture
4. Cort's patents
5. Refutation of allegations of conspiracies against Cort
6. Adam Jellicoe's death
7. Henry Cort's birth
8. A navy agent's business
9. Early life of John Becher
10. Attwick & Burges families
11. "Cortship" of second wife
12. Thomas Morgan
13. Henry Cort's hoops contract
14. 1856 Accolade
15. Generosity of friends 1789-94
16. James Watson
17. Illness of Cort's son
18. Main sources of information
19. Contemporary sources
20. Navy sources
21. Chancery files
22. Publications about Cort
23. Assessment of Cort's character
24. Images of Henry Cort

25. Impeach-tranferred to 05

26. Parliamentary inquiry 1811-2
27. The furore of the 1850s
28. Society of Arts
29. Cort's first marriage
30. Henry Cort's children
31. Cort family pensions
32. Henry Cort's Hertfordshire property
33. 1791 signatories
34. Guiana and the Cort-Gladstone connection
35. Cort's twilight years
36. Memorials to Henry Cort


37. Smelting of iron
38. Fining before Cort
39. Shropshire & Staffordshire ironmasters
40. Cumbrians: Wilkinson etc
41. Early works at Merthyr Tydfil
42. The Crowley business
43. London ironmongers
44. Scottish iron
45. Cort's promotion efforts 1783-6
46. Later Merthyr connections
47. Puddling after Henry Cort


48. Gosport in Cort's day
49. Gosport administration
50. Gosport worthies
51. The Amherst-Porter network
52. James Hackman, murderer
53. Samuel Marshall
54. Samuel Jellicoe's legacy
55. Links with Titchfield
56. Links with Fareham


57. Fact, error and conjecture
58. 18th century politics
59. Law in the 18th century
60. 18th century finance
61. Religion and sexual mores
62. Calendar change of 1752
63. Shelburne, Parry and associates
64. John Becher's family
65. The Becher-Thackeray lineage
66. Thomas Lyttelton: a fantastic narrative
67. Eighteenth-century London
68. Abolition and the Corts
69. The Burges will tangle


70. Navy connections
71. Navy agent's business
72. Cort's clients
73. Ships' pursers
74. History of Adam Jellicoe
75. Dundas & Trotter
76. Cort's navy office associates
77. Toulmin & other agents
78. Sandwich & Middleton
79. The Arethusa
80. John Becher's war
81. Thomas Morgan's war
82. The 1782 Jamaica convoy
83. Sinking of the Royal George

84. Rickman & Scott: two contrasting naval careers-Missing



85. Visitors 2006-2009
86. Developement of the site 2006-2009

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87. Daniel Guion and family

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88. Other publications

GOSPORT WORTHIES

Bedford

An influential local family, possibly descended from Dukes of Bedford, who own much of the local land in the eighteenth century.

At a windmill on this land, the miller in the 1730s is James Bedford. Many Gosport Bedfords are his descendants.

Among his sons are Charles and William, both listed among the original Gosport trustees: this William is their clerk in the 1770s.

Charles's son, attorney James Bedford, is involved in administering Elizabeth Attwick's will and in the Delmé v Missing lawsuit. Clerk and treasurer to Fareham Turnpike's trustees at the time of the dispute with Peter Barfoot. Apparently living in Portsea when he makes his will in 1797.

This James's brother Charles, "brazier, Middle St", is also a Gosport trustee. Serves on inquisition into Cort's Gosport properties, 31 October 1789. By 1798, when he makes his will, he has moved to Droxford (some way north of Fareham).

William Buckland

The name occurs first as keeper of a public house, the Queens Head, rented from John Attwick in 1715. Also the name of an original Gosport trustee. A Sir William Buckland offers a mortgage in 1779 on a Middle Street property formerly owned by John Attwick.

John Cockram

Associate or employee of John Attwick. Appears first as witness to the 1742 deed by which Attwick buys a property in Middle Street. Is named in the wills of both Attwick (1744) and his widow (1754) as foreman of their works in Gosport.

James Collins

Several Gosport characters with this name, but no sign of any father-son relationship.

The most important one is an associate (clerk or partner) of William Hollis. Witnesses affidavits by Cort in defence against a complaint by James Waller, and by Henry Foxall about his stay at Ketley (claimed to be evidence that Reynolds is pirating Cort's process); also several wills. An original Gosport trustee, also a juror.

The James Collins who marries Joseph Hamer's daughter Susannah early in the nineteenth century is presumably from a younger generation. Their defence against the complaint of her sister Caroline is sworn at James's house in Middle Street, Gosport, where Hollis's house was also situated.

Thomas Curry: father and son

Father is one of the original Gosport trustees. Probably the one who participates in inquisitions into the affairs of Cort & Jellicoe in 1789.

Son dies first. His will, made in 1793, describes him as a ropemaker, in partnership with his father: it is proved in 1797.

His widow Mary Ann (née Holloway) becomes Samuel Jellicoe's second wife.

Eames

Another important Gosport family. The names John, William, James and Elizabeth all occur. James is one of John Attwick's executors.

The most successful is John, who pursues a career in law in London. Signs the 1791 petition to William Pitt on behalf of Cort.

Forbes

Another notable Gosport name.

John Forbes is a "sailmaker & ship chandler" in 1783.

"Merchant" Robert Forbes signs a bail bond for Henry Cort in a dispute with David Parry: possibly the same Robert Forbes responsible for building the toll bridge connecting the town with Haslar Hospital in 1795.

Benjamin Gay

A colourful local character. One of original Gosport trustees, is nevertheless reprimanded by the board for non-payment of dues in December 1769. In 1771 turns down an offer to become their treasurer, and in 1779 leaves the board. Then becomes involved in deals concerning Middle Street property previously owned by John Attwick.

Hackman: see separate page

William Hollis, lawyer

Acts for both William Attwick and Henry Cort. Nominated as a Gosport trustee in 1775.

According to the web-posted record of burials at St Mary Alverstoke (not always reliable), he lives to the age of 81, being buried on 11 December 1806; so it is probably he, rather than a younger namesake, who becomes clerk to the trustees in 1796.

His son, Aiskew Paffard Hollis, becomes an admiral and enjoys a commemorative plaque in St Marys. (Paffard is his mother's maiden name, Aiskew the surname of her brother-in-law.)

John Huish

Another lawyer, like Hollis in Middle Street: more likely a rival than a partner. Original Gosport trustee. Witness to several wills, including those of James Lind and his brother John.

Thomas Jordan

Gosport juror and trustee. Listed as a draper in 1783 trade directory, a mercer in 1784. Brother-in-law and executor to William Buckland, 1784.

Knell

Family with navy connections, starting with siblings William, Ann and Jane.

William becomes a ship's carpenter. His son William becomes a ship's captain in 1779.

Ann marries James Hackman, becomes grandmother of murderer James. Jane witnesses a will by Ann's son William.

Dr James Lind

Best known for his work on prevention of scurvy. Physician at Royal Haslar Hospital 1758-83. Brother John and son James (later Sir James) both officers in navy. Son John continued his work at Haslar.

There are some horrific errors about Lind on other we
bsites, most common being to call him "Sir James".

Marshall: see separate page

Mathis: see Hackman page

Thomas Andrew Minchin

Information on the Web suggest his second name is actually Andrews consequent on the marriage of one Jane Andrews to an ancestor.

Said to be an attorney, presumably the role in which he witnesses the Foxall affidavit. Becomes a Gosport trustee. Also Secretary to a body set up by The Dissenters of Gosport in August 1787, suggesting a possible link with James Watson.

William Morgan

Possibly son of Thomas. Gosport juror, becomes Gosport court overseer by 1767, trustee in 1774.

Listed as grocer in Middle Street in 1783 and 1784 directories.

Participates in inquisition into Cort property, 31 October 1789.

Witness at marriage of Samuel Jellicoe to Mary Ann Curry. 8 December 1800.

Paffard

Children of John and Mary Paffard include:

· Elizabeth who marries John Aiskew

· Hannah who marries William Hollis

· Ann who sells a property to James Lind

There is also juror Peter Paffard, listed as a painter in 1784 and 1792.

Peachey

John and William (at least two) are important names. The relationship between them has not been established.

John is named as executor by John Attwick.

William the elder is a bailiff, juror and original Gosport trustee. Elizabeth Attwick names him as an executor, but he declines to act.

A Lieutenant General William Peachey is reported to have donated a house in Cross Street to the trustees.

A younger William Peachey is named as an executor in Hyde Mathis's original will.

Richard Porter

Richard Porter and his family play a significant part in Gosport affairs, although Richard dies less than two years after Cort's arrival. There are also significant links with the Navy.

John Burton Timmings

Clerk to Cort's Gosport works circa 1779-85. Writes to Cramond on behalf of the business. Becomes Gosport trustee in 1790.

Joseph Villain

Constable at Gosport court 1760. Original trustee. Treasurer to trustees 1775-95. Participates in 1789 inquisitions.

Waller

Several dissenting families in Gosport area.

Robert Waller, surgeon: original Gosport trustee

Dr T Waller, physician of Portsmouth Common, pens two letters to Annals of Agriculture about Cort's achievements, 1786-7.

Daniel Waller supplies description of Gosport in Annals of Agriculture, 1789 (Vol 8 p217)

Ward

At least two named James, probably related.

One James Ward (wife Jane) chairs first trustees' meeting. William Attwick is trustee to marriage settlement of his daughter Elizabeth.

Another James Ward marries Ann Hackman at Gosport, 3 March 1734.

A James Ward "of Forton" sells land for a hospital in 1736.

A Rev Dr Ward, in service with the East India Company, visits Henry Cort's son in hospital in Calcutta, claiming to be a distant relative.

Thomas Whitcomb

Possibly more than one.

"Carpenter" (Middle St) 1760. Buys land from William Attwick, 1763. Juror from 1779. "Brewer and Coal Merchant" 1783. At inquisition into Cort's properties 31 October 1789. "Brandy merchant" 1796.

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.