All that is currently listed by IGC:

Samuel Partridge
42 Market Place and Hampton Street
Warwick
Warwickshire
United Kingdom
Trade Gunmaker
Dates 1878?

There were a number of Partridge's in the Birmingham area. Perhaps Samuel made up guns for Williams & Powell amongst others.

Again from IGC:

Williams & Powell
10 Pool Lane
13 South Castle Street
29 South Castle Street
5 Thomas Street (25 South Castle Street )
25 South Castle Street (48 Oldhall Street)
27 South Castle Street
Phoenix Chambers. ?
Liverpool
Lancashire
United Kingdom
Gunmakers
Dates 1780-1905

In 1833 Thomas Williams & Samuel Powell bought the business of Mrs Ann Patrick (formerly Edward Patrick and before that Jeremiah Patrick) at 10 Pool Lane, Liverpool. The business was established in 1780.

Thomas was born in 1799 in Bangor, Carnarvon, Wales; Samuel was born in Lancashire, probably in Liverpool, in 1801. They were probably apprenticed to and worked for the Patrick family. In 1834 they moved the business to 13 South Castle Street, and in 1837 they moved to 29 South Castle Street.

Thomas Williams was recorded in the 1841 census as a gun maker living in Neptune Street, Birkenhead, with two daughters, Mary Jane (b.1829) and Elizabeth Ann (b.1830) but no wife was recorded. Samuel Powell was also recorded as a gun maker in the census. He was living in Upper Warwick Street, Liverpool, with two daughters, Mary (b.1819) and Elizabeth (b.1824), but no wife was recorded.

In 1846 the partnership ended. It appears that Samuel died because he has not been found in any subsequent censuses, but the firm continued to trade as Williams & Powell.

The 1851 census records Thomas Williams as a master gun maker living at Park View, Claughton, Cheshire, with two previously unrecorded sons, Thomas W (b.1843) and John (b.1845), both born in Claughton. Thomas' first wife obviously died between 1845 and 1850 because by 1851 he had married his second wife, Elizabeth (nee Hughes), a widow born in 1813 in Cumbermere, Cheshire, who had a daughter named Elizabeth (b.1830).

In 1860 the firm moved to 25 South Castle Street. In the 1861 census Thomas, who described himself as a gun manufacturer, and Elizabeth, were recorded in Claughton with Thomas W and John, both described as gun makers, and another son, Henry H (Horton) who had been born in 1852.

In about 1870 the firm were appointed Gunmakers to HRH the Duke of Gloucester. From 1870 to about 1874 the firm occupied additional premises at 5 Thomas Street. In the 1871 census Thomas and Elizabeth's address was 1 Shrewsbury Road, Claughton (Park View). Of their children, only Henry was living at home, he was described as an 18 year old gun maker. In this census Thomas described himself as a gun maker employing 6 men and 5 boys and clearly, they were a large firm of gunmakers.

In the 1881 census Thomas, Elizabeth and Henry were living at the same address. Thomas was an 85 year old gun maker (not retired gun maker!). Thomas W appears to have died at some time after 1861 but John was recorded living at Spring Bank, Long Lane, Aughton, Lancashire. He described himself as a gun manufacturer and was obviously in control of the firm. By this time he was married to Caroline (b.1851 in Meeson, Shropshire). They had a son named Thomas W (b.1872 in Claughton) and two daughters, Carrie M (b.1874 in Aughton) and Laura E (b.1878 in Aughton).

From about 1890 to about 1894 the firm had additional premises at 48 Oldhall Street where they operated as wholesale and retail merchants and exporters. In about 1897 the firm were recorded as gun and cartridge makers at 27 South Castle Street.

In 1905 the firm was sold Westley Richards of the firm of W Richards (not Westley Richards & Co) but continued to trade as Williams & Powell. In 1909 they were recorded as gun makers at Phoenix Chambers, as was W Richards, but an alternative address has been reported at 1 Exchange Street West; this may be the address of Phoenix Chambers.

Some early guns were proved in London, no London address found.
The firm sold Kynoch Patent Grouse Ejector cartridges under their own name, they also sold cartridges under the names the "Castle" and "Express Sixteen" (post 1900).

Tim