From the Bristol Times and Mirror - Saturday
7 April 1849 p.1:
"NOTICE is hereby Given that the Partnership lately subsisting between us,
the Undersigned THOMAS CLIFTON and FREDERICK VAUGHAN WEIR as Wine and
Spirit Merchants, carrying on Business at No. 16, Thomas Street, in the
parish of Saint Thomas, in the city of Bristol, under the Firm of "CLIFTON
and WEIR," was Dissolved on 25th day of March, now last past, by effluxion
of time. All Debts due to and owing from the said late Partnership will be
received and paid by Mr. WILLIAM JORDAN, Accountant, No. 1,
Albion-Chambers, Bristol. As witness our hands this 2nd day of April,
1849..."
Frederick Vaughan Weir was born in Carmarthen, South Wales around 1802, in 1841 he was residing in Lower Ashley Row with two older independent female relatives, Rebecca Vaughan aged 40, and Mary Weir, aged 60, whom he says is his sister-in-law in the 1851 census, Rebecca is his housekeeper and is still with him in 1871. In 1861 Fred is living at 16 Thomas Street, but by 1871 he has moved again to 104 Temple Street. After the break up of the partnership with Thomas Clifton in 1849, Fred continues the business on his own account at 16 Thomas Street. (In 1858 the Western Daily Press - Thursday 16 December announced the death "At 34, Broadmead, Bristol, on the 8th Inst., aged 5, Susan Kate, only daughter, and on the 14th Inst., Charles, aged 7, eldest son of Mr. Frederick Weir, Wine and Spirit Merchant, Broadmead, Bristol. This is Frederick Charles Weir, a different family.) On 16 February 1864 the Thomas Street business was for sale as a complete concern. The sale was unsuccessful, and Frederick had to make a deed of assignment for the benefit of his creditors.
From the London Gazette - 15 January
1864, page 243: NOTICE is hereby given, that the following is a copy of an
entry made in the books kept by the Chief Registrar of the Court of
Bankruptcy, for the Registration of Trust Deeds for the benefit of
Creditors, Composition and Inspectorship Deeds executed by a Debtor, as
required by the Bankruptcy Act, 1861, secs. 187, 192, 194, 196, and 198:—
Number—6572.
Title of Deed, whether Deed of Assignment, Composition, or
Inspectorship—Conveyance.
Date of Deed—19th December, 1863.
Date of execution by Debtor—19th December, 1863.
Name and description of the Debtor, as in the Deed—Frederick Vaughan.Weir,
of the city of Bristol, Wine and Spirit Merchant.
The names and descriptions of the Trustees or other parties to the Deed,
not including the Creditors—-George Nattriss, of the same city,
Confectioner, on behalf and with the assent of the creditors of the
debtor.
A short statement of the nature of the Deed—Conveyance by the debtor of
all bis estate and effects to the said George Nattriss, absolutely, for
the benefit of the creditors of the debtor, as in bankruptcy.
When left for Registration—15th January, 1864, at one o'clock.
RICHARD BETHELL, Registrar.
The company did not quit the premises until 20 July 1869, because the buildings were about to be pulled down for street improvements. They moved to 104 Temple Street in July that year, Frederick can be found at this address in the 1871 census with his housekeeper. Frederick had married late, in Bath in 1871, to Matilda Esther Jeffries, his housekeeper at Temple Street, age 27, and died shortly afterwards in 1874 in Clifton. George Nattriss, the confectioner unto whom the business was assigned, died on 18 December 1873. Matilda married George Alexander Biffin in Bristol in 1876. Meanwhile, the company which, after the assignment, was trading as Weir & Co., then Weir & Turner, finally lost the connection to Frederick V. Weir.
| 2 Gallon Stoneware Flagon |   |
| Impressed:
2 / T & J PLAYER / WINE MERCHANTS / 104 TEMPLE St. Potter: Price / Cx / Bristol. |
Thomas Clifton was born in Bideford, Devon, in 1802, baptised at Bideford on 25 Aug. 1802, son of James and Susanna. By June 1836 Thomas was in partnership with Frederick V. Weir at 16 Thomas Street, and the company was in receipt of 13 hogsheads of brandy arriving in the port from Charente, S.W. France. The imports increased considerably in subsequent years. Thomas married Mary, eldest daughter of George Playne Esq. of Forwood, on 1 July 1837 at the parish church in Minchinhampton, Gloucs. by license. He was a wine merchant by this time. In 1841 they were living at Carlton Place, off North Street, Bedminster, the remains of which currently stand behind 188-189 North Street. They had a son, Edward, born 23 March, baptised at Bedminster on 22 Apr.1841 and is 2 months old at the time of the census. They also had a daughter Anne in 1844. By 1851 the family were living at 3 Redcliff Parade West, Anne, Mary's younger sister was also with the family. By this time, as can be seen from the above, the partnership with Weir was terminated, and Thomas was in a new partnership with Richard Easby Rawle, trading as Thomas Clifton & Co. at 6 Bridge Parade. The partnership, however was in difficulty, and by May 1851 was insolvent.
GENUINE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL WINE AND SPIRIT
WAREHOUSE
6 BRIDGE - PARADE
THOMAS CLIFTON & CO. beg to return their sincere thanks for the
liberal support they have hitherto received, and respectfully inform their
Friends and the Public generally that, having obtained a Retail Licence,
they are now enabled to supply Small as well as Large Quantities of
FOREIGN and BRITISH WINES and SPIRITS, of the very best quality, at the
most moderate prices.
6 BRIDGE-PARADE, Bristol, Nov. 1, 1850.
By May 1851 the business was bankrupt and the partners made an assignation. The business was put on the market, from the Bristol Times and Mirror - Saturday 24 May 1851 p.1:
TO WINE AND SPIRIT MERCHANTS AND OTHERS,
ELIGIBLE OPPORTUNITY.
TO BE DISPOSED OF BY TENDER,
THE STOCK-IN-TRADE, GOODWILL, FIXTURES, and EFFECTS
of THOMAS CLIFTON and RICHARD EASBY RAWLE,
Bankrupts, wholesale and Retail Wine and Spirit Merchants.
This business has been carried on under the firm of Thomas
Clifton and Co., at No. 6, Bridge-parade, in the City of
Bristol. for some years past. The premises are central, and
admirably adapted for the trade, and an eligible opportunity
is presented to any person desirous of establishing a lucrative
and flourishing business.
The Stock, which is small, may be viewed, and further
particulars obtained, on application to Messrs. AVERY, WILLS,
EDWARDS, & CO., Wine Merchants, Bridge-street, Bristol,
or to ALFRED JOHN ACRAMAN, Esq., Official Assignee
Bristol, to whom, or to Messrs. ABBOT & LUCAS, Solicitors,
Albion Chambers, Bristol, Tenders must be delivered on or
before Monday, the 2nd June next.
Mary Clifton died on 13 March 1852, age 45, and was buried in Minchinhampton on 18 March. The register states her abode as Box, it was The Box, Minchinhampton. Daughter Anne moved back to Minchinhampton with uncle Peter, Playne-Smith and family. What happened to Thomas is a mystery. There must have been family connections between the Clifton family of Bideford and the Rawle family, given the naming of the chldren, Rawles adopting Clifton as a middle name.
Richard Easby Rawle was the son of a sea captain of the same name. he obtained his Articles of Clerkship at Bideford on 15 Nov. 1838, at this date his father was a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. When Richard set out in partnership with Thomas Clifton in 1849 as Thomas Clifton & Co., he had married Mary Boatfield, second daughter of the late Mr. William Brook of Bideford on 13 June 1849 at St. Mary's Bideford. Mary Boatfield Rawle died early in 1851 in Bedminster, Somerset. This must have put huge pressure upon Richard whilst the business was in trouble. After the bankruptcy in Bristol, Richard found his way to Everton, Liverpool, via the suburb of West Derby, Lancashire. where he is a licensed Porter employing 36 men and 3 boys, and living at Tweed Street west Derby. As a widower he married Ann Cole, daughter of Wadham Cole, on 16 April 1857, at St. Mary's Edge Hill, Liverpool, his occupation is stated as Broker and his address Woodbine Grove, West Derby Road. His father is by this time a Commander, R.N.. They had three daughters and a son, Eveline Clifton Rawle b. 1858, Anne Easby Rawle, b. 1860, James Clifton Rawle, b. 15 Sep. 1861, and Helen Clifton Rawle in 1864, James and Helen were both baptised at Liverpool St. Peter. Anne unfortunately died in 1861. He was a dealer in damaged wood for a while, but was bankrupt again in 1862. He was a licensed Master Porter, Stevedore, Lumper, and dealer in ballast and surplus ship's sundries. By the time Helen was born, Richard had resumed his original trade as a book-keeper. In 1871 Richard's widow Ann is living with her two surviving daughters at 40 Queen's Road, Everton.
Richard's death is recorded "On 14 March 1869, "at his residence, 57, Rydal Street, Liverpool, in his 47th year, Richard Easby Rawle, son of the late Captain R. Easby Rawle, R.N. of Bideford, Devon."
IDENTIFIED BY DAUGHTER—The body of a well-dressed man, taken from the canal at Newburgh, near Ormskirk, was identified to-day by his daughter as that of James Clifton Rawle, 52a Leigh Road, Leigh, a retired brewery traveller. The identification was traced by a left-luggage ticket, issued at Southport, where inquiries were made. ( Liverpool Echo - Thursday 10 May 1917 p.3.)
| 4 Gallon Saltglaze Brownware Flagon |   |
| Impressed:
Clifton & Weir / Bristol. Potter: Unmarked. |
| 4 Gallon early 2 tone Stoneware Flagon |   |
| Impressed:
4 (on lip) / Clifton & Weir / Bristol. Potter: Unmarked but early Powell style. |