William Travers
Watchmaker
of Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell
William Travers 1753-1816
William was born in the Parish of St Helens, Lancashire on November 27, 1753 and was the fifth of six children of Matthew Travers and Anne (Chaddock) Travers. His father Matthew is noted as a shoemaker from Windle at the time of his birth. William was the first in a line of several generations of Travers watchmakers and chronometer makers. William apprenticed to John Barnes of Liverpool beginning in 1769. After his apprenticeship in Liverpool, William went to work on Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell where he married his first wife Frances Gibson and they had five children.
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1.Mary Ann Travers
Born 18 Feb 1779. Clerkenwell, Middlesex
Baptised 14 Mar 1779. St. James, Clerkenwell, Middlesex -
2.George Gibson Travers
Born 15 Aug 1780. Clerkenwell, Middlesex
Baptised 12 Sep 1780. St. James, Clerkenwell, Middlesex
Died 11 Jun 1812
Buried 18 Jul 1812. Parish Church of St Helens, Lancashire
George is mentioned on the same memorial inscription as his father and grandparents. -
3.William Hodgson Travers
Born 14 Aug 1781. Clerkenwell, Middlesex
Baptised 18 Sep 1781. St. John Baptist, Clerkenwell, Middlesex -
4.Frances Travers
Born 13 Aug 1782. Clerkenwell, Middlesex
Baptised 20 Sep 1782, St. James, Clerkenwell, Middlesex -
6.Thomas Travers
Born 6 Jan 1787. Clerkenwell, Middlesex
Baptised 7 Feb 1787. St. John Baptist, Clerkenwell, Middlesex
After William’s wife Frances died he returned to live on Edmund Street in Liverpool where he married his second wife Ellen Wilson at St. Anne’s, Liverpool on April 22, 1794. Their eldest son Thomas from this marriage was born in 1797 in Liverpool and then William and Ellen returned to Clerkenwell where their next five children were born. William retured to Prescot, Lancashire after the death of his wife Ellen (Wilson) Travers in 1809 in Clerkenwell. He died on August 23, 1816.
William Travers resided at 67 Red Lion Street and later at 26 Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell between 1780-1791. One of William's coach-clocks from 1787 has survived to this day and is held in the collection of the British Museum in London. Additionally, one of his watches is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In addition, one more pocket watch has been located and we are able to show some pictures of it courtesy of www.antique-watch.com. His will, PCC will, and death duty registry entry have also been located.
Index No. A8037 Very Rare Peto Cross Detent Chronometer
A very rare early 19th Century English Peto cross detent chronometer in a silver open face case. Full plate gilt keywind fusee movement with signed gilt dust cover. Harrison's maintaining power. Engraved bell shaped cock with diamond endstone, blue steel regulator with temperature compensation curb. Plain three arm gold balance, deep rim, three blue steel timing screws. Blue steel spiral hairspring. Lateral stop lever acting directly on the balance. Peto cross detent escapement, the foot with adjusting screw, long steel passing spring on the opposite side of the movement. Unusually large screwed in jewels, the escape pivots with endstones through which the arms of the wheel can be seen. Later white enamel dial with subsidiary seconds, Roman numerals, blue steel seconds hand, gilt hands. Purpose made mid 19th Century faded engine turned silver open face case.
Signed Willm Travers London 2744
Circa 1810
Diameter 54 mm
Depth 14 mm
Although the Peto cross detent escapement in included in many books on horology it is one of the rarest forms of chronometers. This is only the second example we have had, the previous one having been sold over 20 years ago. Courtesy of www.antique-watch.com
Also found living in Clerkenwell at the same time as William is Adam Travers (between 1769-1799) and Matthew Travers (between 1808-1813). Adam's relationship to William is uncertain as he was twenty-two years older than William but he was originally a watchmaker from Liverpool. He is mentioned in the 1773 Gore Directory of Liverpool as being a watchmaker at St. Paul's Square before he also went to work in Clerkenwell. Adam was not likely William's brother but might be his uncle. William Travers' first wife was Frances Gibson, the sister of Adam Travers' wife Mary Gibson. They were both married at St. Bride’s Church on Fleet Street, London in 1776 and 1778, respectively. Adam lived at 9 Red Lion Street, Clerkenwell and his burial has been located for the City Road Wesleyan Chapel in London on 22 Aug 1802. Matthew Whitehead Travers (1784-1829) was William's son from his first marriage and was a watchcase maker in Clerkenwell. William's eldest son from his first marriage, George Gibson Travers (1780-1812) was a watchmaker in Prescot. According to his will, George Gibson Travers was living in Prescot at the time of his death and left his estate to his father William.
One of the most important sources of information about the family of William Travers is a transcript of monumental inscriptions from the burial grounds of the parish church in St Helens. (ST. HELENS (St. Mary) : MIs in the burial ground: in Lancashire monumental inscriptions, vol. 1). As this inscription appears to pre-date the opening of the burial ground in 1816 it is not clear whether or not these Travers were actually interred there. Perhaps there were some graves associated with the church prior to the opening of the burial ground. Unfortunately, this grave no longer exists as the graveyard associated with the Parish church was closed and the land redeveloped in the early 1970's. It is very fortunate that someone took the time to record these before they were lost.
Matthew Travers d. October 1786 aged 71 years. Anne Travers d. May 28, 1787 aged 73. George Gibson Travers grandson of the above departed this life 11th July 1812 aged 31 years. William of the above Matthew died 1816. Mary Travers dau of the above Matthew died May 28th 1819 aged 69 years. Ellen d. of the above William Travers departed this life 17th May 1842 aged 30.
In her will, Mary Travers left her estate to her brother William's children from his second marriage to Ellen Wilson (Thomas, Robert, Elizabeth, Ellen, Henry and Samuel).
William Travers and Ellen Wilson had seven children:
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1.John Wilson Travers
Born Apr 1795, Clerkenwell, Middlesex
Died 15 Jul 1795, Clerkenwell, Middlesex -
2.Thomas Wilson Travers
Born 16 Jan 1797, Liverpool, Lancashire
Baptised 30 Aug 1797, St Nicholas, Liverpool, Lancashire -
3.Robert Wilson Travers
Born 12 Feb 1799, Clerkenwell, Middlesex
Baptised 14 Mar 1799, St John Baptist, Clerkenwell, Middlesex
Died 25 Nov 1870, South Hackney, Middlesex
Robert’s occupation in the 1861 Census is described as Collector of Rents. -
4.Elizabeth Travers
Born 12 Jun 1800, Clerkenwell, Middlesex
Baptised 14 Jul 1800, St John Baptist, Clerkenwell, Middlesex -
5.Ellen Travers
Born 23 Jun 1802, Clerkenwell, Middlesex
Baptised 23 Mar 1803
Died 17 May 1842, Eccleston, Lancashire
Buried 20 May 1842, Parish Church of St Helens, Lancashire
In her will, Ellen who died a Spinster left some of her money to her niece Ellen Jackson (Elizabeth's daughter) to purchase furniture for her brother Samuel. Her estate was to be divided into four parts, and administered by her brothers Thomas and Robert Travers. -
6.Henry Travers
Born 29 Apr 1804, Clerkenwell, Middleex
Baptised 31 Oct 1804, St. John Baptist, Clerkenwell, Middlesex
Died 8 Jun 1841, Liverpool, Lancashire
In his will, Henry Travers left the interest earned by the property he had at the time of his death to his late sister Elizabeth's children until the youngest turned sixteen, then his estate was to be divided equally amongst his brothers and sisters. It was also to be administered by his brothers Thomas and Robert Travers.
If you have information that may assist in this research or any question or comments about the website please email: mike@traverslancashire.net.
