Saturday 7 July 2012

Henry Tyldesley 1790


(click image for a larger version)

Following Henry Tyldesley's release from bankruptcy in 1777 no trace has yet been found of him until the following notice appears in the London Gazette of 25 April 1786:
Whereas a Commission of Bankrupt is awarded and issued forth against Daniel Eccofay and Henry Tyldesley, of Gray's-inn in the County of Middlesex, Coal-merchants, Dealers, Chapmen and Partners, and they being declared Bankrupts ard hereby required to surrender themselves to the Commissioners in the said Commission named, or the major Part of them, on the 1st Day of May next, at Ten in the Forenoon, on the 10th of the same Month, at Six o'Clock in the Afternoon, and on the 10th Day of June following, at Ten in the Forenoon, at Guildhall, London, and make a full Discovery and Disclosure of their Estate and Effects; when and where the Creditors are to come prepared to prove their Debts, and at the Second Sitting to chuse Assignees, and at the last Sitting the said Bankrupts are required to finish their Examination, and the Creditors are to assent to or dissent from the Allowance of their Certificate. All Persons indebted to the said Bankrupts, or that have any of their Effects, are not to pay or deliver the same but to whom the Commissioners shall appoint, but give Notice to Mess. Marshal and Nicholls, Staple-inn, London.
It is interesting to note that by this time Henry Tyldesley was based at Gray's Inn, the Inn of Court where many of the Tyldesleys had been educated and where two of the family—Thomas Tyldesley who was appointed sergeant at law to Henry IV and Sir Thomas Tyldesley 1557-1635 whose chambers were in Holborn Court (now South Square)—had enjoyed so much success in the law. The map above, which shows Gray's Inn, was published by John Cary in 1795 and sourced from David Hale's excellent Map And Plan Collection Online (MAPCO).

On 20 January 1787 a further notice appeared in the London Gazette:
The Creditors who have proved their Debts under a Commission of Bankrupt awarded and issued forth against Daniel Eccofay and Henry Tildesley, of Gray's-inn, in the County of Middlesex, Coal-merchants, Dealers, Chapmen, and Partners, are desired to meet the Assignees of the said Bankrupt's Estate and Effects, on Friday next, the 26th Instant, at Six of the Clock in the Afternoon, at the Baptist Head Coffeehouse, Chancery-lane, London, to assent to or dissent from the said Assignees commencing, prosecuting or defending any Suitor Suits at Law or in Equity concerning the Estate and Effects of the said Bankrupts; and also to their compounding, submitting to Arbitration, or otherwise agreeing any Matter or Thing relating thereto; and on other special Affairs. 
And a final notice was published on 13 April 1790: 
Whereas the acting Commissioners in the Commission of Bankrupt awarded and issued forth against Daniel Eccofay and Henry Tyldesley, of Gray's Inn in the County of Middlesex, Coal-merchants, Dealers, Chapmen and Partners, have certified to the Right Honourable Edward Lord Thurlow, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, that the said Daniel Eccofay and Henry Tyldesley have in all Things conformed themselves according to the Directions of the several Acts of Parliament made concerning Bankrupts; This is to give Notice, that, by virtue of an Act passed in the Fifth Year of His late Majesty's Reign, their Certificate will be allowed and confirmed as the said Act directs, unless Cause be shewn to the contrary on or before the 5th Day of April next. 
It is surely no coincidence that the case of Kennet v Greenwollers (FN1) was heard the following month on 26 May 1790. The strong indication is that "Tyldesley the bankrupt" was indeed Henry Tyldesley.  It may be possible to prove this through the case papers held at the National Archives, but given that the cost is an eye-watering £52 for four sheets of A2 it is likely to be some time before I do so!

1. Kennet and another, assignees etc v Greenwollers, one, etc (1790) Peake 3, 170 E.R. 58