Here is what IGC have on your man:
Name William Parker
Other Names Field & Parker; Parker, Field & Sons
Address1 233 High Holborn
Address2 233 High Holborn (22 Chamber Street)
Address3 233 High Holborn (52 & 31-32 Chamber Street)
Address4 233 High Holborn (52 & 31-32 Chamber Street & Glasshouse Yard
Address5 233 High Holborn (10 Chamber Street)
City/Town London
Country United Kingdom
Trade Gun maker, goldsmith & sword cutler
Other Address
Dates 1793-1841
Notes
When John Field died in 1791, William Parker went into partnership with his widow (name not known), and they traded as Field & Parker. John Field had been a goldsmith, sword cutler and gun maker at 233 High Holborn from 1783 to 1791, trading under his own name and also as Field & Co and Field & Clarke (William Clarke of Duke Street, Portland Place). In 1793, William Parker bought John Field's widow's share of the partnership. From that date he ceased being a goldsmith. In 1803, on John Brown's bankruptcy, he appears to have bought the rights to Joseph Hall's "New Invented Hammer" patent (No. 2573 of 1802 - waterproof primer and steel)from John Brown, and he used George Dodd's 1805 patented lock. In 1803 he started to supply the London Police Offices with guns. In 1804 William Parker became a Contractor to Ordnance. In 1806 Parker opened additional workshops at 22 Chamber Street, these moved in 1808 to 52 & 31-32 Chamber Street.
In 1814 the firm rented additional production facilities at John Stinton's workshops in Glasshouse Yard. In about 1814 William Parker's daughter, Mary, married John Field Jnr. From 1820 to 1826 William was recorded at 60 Theobalds Road (workshop). In 1829 William Parker started to supply guns to the Metropolitan Police (London Police Offices re-named). At some time William Parker became gun maker to Prince Edward, then to King William IV (1830-1837) and the Duke of Kent. In 1833 William became a contractor to the East India Company, and in 1837 a contractor to the Hudson's Bay Company.
In 1838 Ordnance contract ended and the firm moved their workshops to 10 Chamber Street. In 1841 William Parker died, aged 68, and John Field Jnr and his sons trading as Parker, Field & Sons took over. Their main address was still 233 High Holborn. They were armourers to the Metropolitan Police and contractors to Ordnance in that year and contractors to the East India Company (as John Field & Sons until 1850 and as J W P Field & W S Field until 1858). John Field Jnr was recorded as a gun maker in the 1841 census living at East End, Finchley. In 1843 Parker, Field & Sons became Contractors to the Hudson's Bay Company. This contract ended in 1851. In 1847 the firm registered a design for a cartridge belt (No.928). In 1850 John Field (Jnr) died and the sons, John William Parker Field and William Shakespear Field took over. The 1851 census records John William Parker Field as a 34 year old (b.1815 in London, christened in Brighton, Sussex) master gun maker living at 233 High Holborn with his wife Frances (nee Sowerby b.1819, m.29 July 1847), and their children Amy (b.1849) and Horace (b.1850), and his sisters Mary Ann (b.1820), Emma (b.1828), Ellen (b.1832) and brother Charles (b.1836). J W P Field was an accomplished rifle shooter, he was Instructor to the Honourable Artillery Company from 1866 to 1879 and Captain of the English XX shooting team.
The 1851 census also records William Shakespear Field as a 35 year old gun maker staying on the night of the census with the Northcote family in Lewisham. He was Master of the Gunmakers Company in 1873. In 1851 the Hudson's Bay contracts finished The firm was recorded as having workshops at 58 Mansell Street. In 1852 the firm registered a design (No.3300) for a revolver rammer. The 1861 census does not appear to record William Shakespear Field but it does record John William Parker Field and Frances living at 234 High Holborn. Neither of the children previously recorded were recorded but there was another son, John W (b.1861). In 1870 the firm took on additional premises at 62 Tenter Street South, these closed in 1875.
The 1871 census records William Shakespear Field living at Montagu Villa Richmond Road, Kingsron-upon-Thames, Surrey. He was living with his sisters Mary A, Emma, and Helen. He died on 3 May 1875 never having married. He left effects valued at under 450. This 1871 census also records John William Parker Field as a 56 year old gun maker but not his wife Frances. He was living with a previously unrecorded daughter, Frances Mary (b.1849). In 1876 the firm moved from 233 High Holborn to 122 Leman Street, and in 1879 to 59 Leman Street. In 29 June 1879 John William Parker Field died at his home at Stratford House, Walpole Road, Wimbledon, Surrey. His personal estate was valued at under 12,000. Who bought the business is not known. In 1882 the firm moved to 22 Tavistock Street, but they were not recorded after 1886.
Tim
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