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Elizabeth Elvey

Pocket Book, Dressing Case and Desk Maker.
Her business premises were located at 9 New Bond Street, London. Her patrons included: the Royal Family, the King of Prussia, the Prince of Orange, and Prince Augustus Frederick (the Duke of Sussex).

The surviving documentary evidence suggests that the business was originally established by her husband, John Elvey, who traded in partnership with Thomas Green as Elvey and Green, [pocket book manufactory] at 93 Oxford Street, London, between 1797-1799. A separate business was established at 9 New Bond Street in the period 1801-1804, and was at that stage listed as John Elvey. Legal documents held in Prerogative Court of Canterbury indicate the death of John Elvey in c.1801/1802: Probate was granted on 7 April 1802. Thereafter the premises traded as Elizabeth Elvey during the period 1805- 1822.

Biographical details for Elizabeth are extremely scarce, but it seems likely that she was born Elizabeth (nee Lawrence) and married John Elvey on 19 July 1796 at Saint Mary-St Marylebone Rd., London. After the death of her husband c.1801 there are court records that provide some additional evidence relating to her widowhood.

In a trial at the Old Bailey on 12 September 1804 Elizabeth Elvey gave sworn evidence against James Morley who had been indicted for "feloniously stealing, on the 10th. of January, a silver thimble, value 2s. a silver pencil-case, value 10s. 6d. and a pair of scissars, [sic] value 6d. the property of Elizabeth Elvey." She described herself as "a jeweller and pocket book maker; I keep a shop at No. 9, New Bond-street." [Morley was found Not Guilty]. A decade later, in a case brought against George Lentz, aged 17 years, [on 12 January 1814 at the Old Bailey] for deception and forgery, Elizabeth Elvey described herself as "a widow; I live at No. 9, New Bond-street; I keep a shop; I sell writing desks, pocket-books, and dressing cases." [Lentz was subsequently found Guilty and sentenced to Death].

Elizabeth Elvey continued to trade at her Bond Street address until at least 1822; in 1823 there is a reference to the business trading as: John Elvey. A London Trade Directory [1829] lists 'G. Lawrence' as a 'Pocket-book-maker &c.' at 9 New Bond Street; while a billhead, dated 17 August 1831, states that Mrs. Elvey was succeeded by her nephew, George Lawrence (1801-1881), son of her brother, Joseph Lawrence.

Horwood's 1813 map of London, showing Elizabeth Elvey's shop at 9 New Bond St.
(Click on the map to see a wider area.)

Writing Desk home page

Sources:
The A to Z of Regency London. London: London Topographical Society, 1985 Publication No. 131. [R. Horwood's 1813 map of London].
Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840.(ed.) Geoffrey Beard and Christopher Gilbert. London: Furniture History Society, 1986 pp.277 and 530.
The London Book Trades 1775-1800: a checklist of members.
'Will of John Elvey, Pocket Book Manufacturer of New Bond Street, Middlesex', Probate granted: 7 April 1802. PROB11/1372. Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Kenyon Quire Numbers: 225-278.
Personal communication: Ross Kitchen (UK): February 2009.