Also in 4 Gallon.
Potter: Powell / Bristol / 2
John White and George White were brothers, both sons of Isaac White, Baker, Pork Butcher, Curer and Provision Dealer of Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts. and his wife Sarah Fielding. They were a non-conformist family, Lady Huntingdon's Connexion Methodists. George was born 31 March 1832 and baptised 10 Nov. 1833 at Bearfield. John was born 5 August 1827 and baptised 7 Oct. at the same place. John married Elizabeth Luton on 24 July 1848 at St. Paul's, Bristol and George married Laura Elizabeth Backwell on 6 July 1857 at Stapleton Holy Trinity, George was a schoolmaster in Stapleton at the time of his marriage. John White branched out into the wine trade around 1870 when his son, Herbert John White, was old enough at 19 to take an active part in the business. Herbert had been born in 1851, baptised 9 Feb. at Temple, Bristol. His father John was a butcher at the time. They began in the wine trade at 66 Thomas Street but later moved to the corner of Temple Street and Mitchell Lane. Herbert soon took a more active role in the business than his father. There was another son, Alfred White, born 1864, baptised 22 Sept. at Temple. Alfred took on the Provision Merchant side of the business. He married Ethel Maud Warren at St. Mary's, Tyndall's Park, on 29 April 1890. Alfred had become a Colour Manufacturer by the time of his marriage, but had reverted to Provision Merchant by the time of his Father's death. By1901 he was at 72 Pembroke Road Clifton, a Wholesale Provision Merchant. In 1909 he presented a window to the Weaver's Chapel of Temple Church in memory of his parents. Ethel died at Ivor House, Durdham Park, on 18 July 1936. Alfred, late of Ivor House, died at 27 St. John's Road, Clifton on 3 Feb. 1948 age 84. His sons Donald and Eric were managing directors of the business at the time of Alfred's death. In his later life Alfred seems to have adopted the middle name "Vivian".
John White, of Victoria Street, Bristol and of the "Grange", Downfield Road, Clifton, Bristol, Provision Merchant, died 15 June 1899 at Grosvenor House, Clevedon, Somerset. He left an estate worth nearly £35,000. He was buried at Redland Green on 19 June.
By 1881 brother George White had given up teaching and had become a commercial clerk. He entered the wine and spirit trade on his own account by Sept. 1882, at 6 Wine Street selling wine from the wood, by the glass, in dock sample glasses in the "Bodega style". By December that year he had opened another branch at 22 Redcliff Hill and...
From the Western Daily Press - Saturday 12 July 1884 page 2: "TO LET. by Tender, the Old-established Wholesale and Retail WINE, SPIRIT, and BOTTLED BEER BUSINESS, carried on for 28 years past at 34, STOKES CROFT, Bristol, by Robert Tyler, who is retiring from the business. The stock, Fittings, furniture, and Plant will be required to be taken at a valuation. and will amount to about £200. Offers are invited for the Goodwill. The Tenders will be opened at Noon on MONDAY Next. July 14th, at the Offices of Edward Ernest Barnard, must be endorsed: "Tenders for Tyler's Business." The highest tender, subject to the party tendering being accepted as tenant by the owner of the freehold, will be accepted. Further particulars can be obtained from Mr TYLER, on the premises; or of Mr EDWARD ERNEST BARNARD, Foster's Chambers, Small Street, Bristol, where a draft of the 14 years lease can be seen." George White & Co. subsequently acquired this business and it became his main outlet, with the other two seeming to disappear after this date.
From the Western Daily Press - Wednesday 29 October 1884 page 4: "GEORGE WHITE & CO., WHOLESALE AND RETAIL WINE, SPIRIT, ALE, AND PORTER MERCHANTS, Have now opened their New Branch. 34, STOKES CROFT (Late Robert Tyler), With large and varied Stock, are prepared to supply Goods of the finest quality at co-operative prices for cash. Wines drawn from the Wood in Dock Sample Glasses on the Bodega principle. SEE DETAILED PRICE LIST, Post free on application. Note the Address: 34, STOKES CROFT, ALSO AT 22, REDCLIFF HILL AND 6, WINE STREET. Agents for J. WHITE & SON'S Celebrated " EMERALD ISLE " and "GLENTAKIT" WHISKIES."
Laura Elizabeth, George's wife, died in 1895, age 60.
George White died at his home, 11 King Square, Bristol, on 24 Jan. 1894. His eldest son, Frederick George White, born in Cardiff in 1860 and baptised at St. John, Canton on 14 Oct., who had trained as a clerk in the family provisions trade, was manager of his father's bar in 1891. He took over the company which became F. G. White & Co. He died in 1898 and the license was transferred on 14 June 1898 to his widow, Amy Lucy Sullivan, who he married in 1895 and by whom he had 2 daughters, Nora Frances, b.1896 and Marjorie Theresa b.1897. Amy was born in Bath about 1868, daughter of Walter and Lucy Sullivan. In 1911 the two daughters were living with 2 other young members of the family at Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middx.
From the Bristol Times and Mirror - Saturday 2 November 1872 page 2: "THURSDAY. (Before Messrs J. Hare and C. Godwin). John Rees, a respectable-looking middle-aged man, was charged under a warrant with embezzling various sums of money, the property of his employers, Messrs John White and Son, wine end spirit merchants, Thomas-street. Mr. Norris (instructed by Mr. G. L. King) appeared for the prosecution, sad Mr. Paine (from Mr. Clifton's office) for the prisoner. Mr. Norris said that the prosecutors, the Messrs. White, under an agreement, and his services were paid for by commission, and a salary of 30s. per week. The defendant was charged with embezzling certain sums of money. He (the learned counsel) only proposed to call on the present occasion, the Messrs. White, the prosecutors, and to put in the agreement and a receipt, which he should satisfy them was is the prisoner's handwriting. The prosecutors having been examined, and some other formal evidence taken, the magistrates remanded the case for a week. Bail was applied for, but refused, as there bad been considerable difficulty experienced in apprehending the prisoner."
From the Western Daily Press -
Friday 08 November 1872 page 2: "CHARGE OF EMBEZZLEMENT AGAINST COMMERCIAL
TRAVELLER. At the Bristol Police Court, yesterday, before C. Godwin, John
Rees, a middle-aged man, was charged on remand with embezzling certain
sums of money, the property of John White and another, wine merchants,
Thomas Street. Mr Norris prosecuted, and Mr. Carter appeared for the
defence. Mr Norris, in opening the case, said that the prisoner had been
the employ of Messrs White since the 15th July, 1870, when he entered
their service by an agreement, and afterwards a verbal arrangement was
entered into that he was to account for all moneys once a week. He went on
in their service for some time, and they ascertained that small amounts,
not accounted for, had been paid, and on 13th August one of the officers
this city, named Fletcher, went to Llanelly, but not having his warrant
backed by a magistrate for Carmarthen, he exercised a wise discretion, and
did not apprehend defendther officer, named Giles, went there on the 29th
October, and apprehended the prisoner the 30th. Mr Norris said that he
should that day produce proof of four cases of embezzlement, one of £3 4s.
paid by Maria Hughes, one £2 4s. paid by Elizabeth Morgans, one for £6
12s. paid by Reece Thomas, and one for £4 paid by William Jones. Alter
contending that the fact of the entries of the sums being made in the
prisoner's book did not make the cause other than embezzlement, Mr Norris
called Mr John White, who said he was a wine merchant carrying on the
business in Thomas Street, in partnership with his son, Herbert John
White. The prisoner had been in the employ of the firm since July, 1870,
as traveller, and entered their service under the agreement produced. The
prisoner was furnished with journey sheets, and he had never accounted to
witness personally for the various sums named in the charge.
By Mr Carter: The business was managed by relatives of witness who himself
had not been much in it. Prisoner had also carried on provision stores in
Park Street, Llanelly, on behalf of the witness. He had salary of 30s week
commencement, afterwards increased to 60s. He had sent account sheets at
various times. In July or August of this year witness went down to
Llanelly to examine the stores. Prisoner had had another business Llanelly
on behalf witness, and had paid over some moneys from that business. The
non-payment of sums was discovered after the prisoner had left the employ
of the firm.
Mr Herbert John White, the son of the last witness, confirmed his
evidence, and said that the verbal agreement entered into with the
prisoner as to the terms of his accounting for moneys received, was that
he was to render an account of all cash received at the end of the week,
and that the journey sheets should be forwarded so as to reach the firm on
Monday morning. The prisoner had not accounted to witness for either of
the accounts previously named.
Mr Carter: A book furnished by prisoner had been left at the office, but
no one bad examined it. It was not the proper way. Could not recollect the
date of the written agreement. In October, 1870, the prisoner had his
salary advanced 30s to 50s per week, and there was in November, 1870,
increase to £3 per week. He had sent cash sheets from time to time from
the commencement of his engagement, and continued to do so for nearly two
years. Mr Donoghue had been in the firm's employ, and previous to the
written agreement, prisoner had paid over moneys to him, and after Mr
Donoghue had left he had paid to the firm's account in the bank. To the
best of his recollection prisoner had paid into the bank between £2,000
and £3,000. Prisoner gave three months' notice that he would leave
somewhere about June, and after the term of the notice had expired witness
went to Llanelly. Prisoner may have said to witness then that he wished to
square up old accounts. Did not authorise him to detain what moneys be
required for the purpose carrying on the stores. The wife of prisoner came
up and waited upon witness the 19th July; she was not locked in a room
until she had told where her husband was. They had telegraphed for him on
that day. Mr Lasham came about Mr Rees's transactions, and was furnished
with information, but was not allowed to go through the books. Witness
went to Llanelly on the 14th August, and saw the defendant, but did not
consent to go through the accounts as prisoner requested. Re-examined by
Mr Norris: Could produce all the journey sheets supplied by prisoner the
firm.
By the Court: The wages were paid to the prisoner by cheque every three
months, not by his deducting it from his accounts. The commission was also
balanced every three months, and paid by cheque. The firm paid the rent
and taxes for the stores at Llanelly direct to the landlord, and the
prisoner paid outgoings whatever. At this stage of the inquiry the hearing
of the case was adjourned until to-day. The prisoner was liberated on
bail."
Rees was eventually discharged in August 1873 largely because the original jury could not agree on a verdict and the prosecution was eventually dropped.
Herbert John White ran his father's Wine
business until at least 1906 but died at his home of Kilvrough, Uphill
Road, Weston-super-Mare, on 29 Dec.1910.
| 2 Gallon Stoneware Flagon | |
| Impressed:
J WHITE & SON / Importers & Dealers / BRISTOL Also in 4 Gallon. Potter: Powell / Bristol / 2 |
| 4 Gallon Stoneware Flagon |   |
| Impressed:
C.2089 / J WHITE & SON / BRISTOL Potter: Powell / Bristol / 4 Images courtesy Richard Westacott Jones. |