John Deacon

John Deacon, banker and partner in Williams, Deacon & Co., of Birchin Lane. Awarded compensation with Alexander Gillespie (q.v.) as the two surviving trustees of John Inglis (q.v.).

1. Born 19/05/1772 and baptised 24/06/1772 at St Alban, Wood Street, City of London, son of John and Bassano Deacon. His parents John Deacon of St Alban, Wood Street and Benzenno Schooling Gowlett of Low Leighton, Essex, had married at the same church 27/03/1772. Permission for the wedding was given by Bessano/Benzenno's father William Gowlett as she was described as over the age of 18 but under the age of 21 at the time.

2. John Deacon was one of three trustees for John Inglis who died in 1822, the senior partner in Inglis Ellice of Mark Lane. This John Inglis is not to be confused with John Inglis of East India House (whose will is PROB 11/1661).

3. John Inglis' will (dated 28/08/1822, proved 10/10/1851, PROB 11/1660) appears to make no mention of Deacon, Campbell or Gillespie, identified as Trustees for John Inglis in the Slave Compensation Records. It is a trust will but the executors and trustees are identical, viz. Inglis two sons John Bellingham and James, and two sons-in-law. Administration was granted to Robert Ellice in July 1834.  

4. Inglis Ellice had failed in 1823, and assignees were appointed. The assignees announced the intention to appoint trustees. It is not clear whether these were the same trustees as those appearing in the Slave Compensation records as trustees for John Inglis.

5. Among other transactions for which the assignees of Inglis Ellice subsequently sought approval was an elaborate arrangement with Rev. William John Joliffe for him to retain benefit of mortgages over property in St Lucia which had been transferred to him by Inglis Ellice.

6. John Deacon was a banker (19/05/1772- 24/08/1850 [sic., see below]), partner in Williams, Deacon & Co., of Birchin Lane. He was son of John Deacon (of Amsterdam) and was described as of Mabledon Park Tonbridge, Kent and of Portman Square, marrying twice, first to name unknown and secondly to Sophia (1788-1869) daughter of Rev. William Collett (one son, four daughters). He left £120,000.

7. John Deacon of Bishopsgate Street, London, married Sophia, eldest daughter of the Rev. Wm. Collett, of Swanton Morley, Norfolk, 12/10/1816. He was listed at Bishopsgate Street for the baptisms of Anna (1817), Sophia (1820) and Sophia (1822), then at Battersea Rise for the baptisms of Frances Elizabeth (1824), John (1826), Ellen Bassano (1827), William Samuel (1828), Harriet (1829) and Lucy Sophia (1831).

8. John Deacon, age 65, banker, born in Middlesex, was living at 4 Portman Square, London, in the census of 1841 with Sophia age 20, Mary age 20, Sarah age 20, Helen age 14, Harriett age 10, Lucy age 9 and Catherine age 8. In the same property were 11 female servants and 7 male servants. Next door, at no. 5, was Russell Ellice (q.v.). Note that his eldest daughter, Anna, married George Campion Courthope Esquire of Whiligh, Sussex, in Tonbridge 15/01/1841.

9. John Deacon, age 78, banker, born London, and his wife Sophia, age 60, born in Swanton, Norfolk, were living at 4 Portman Square in the census of 1851 with a son John age 25, also a banker, born in Battersea and 7 unmarried daughters: Mary (29, born London), Sophia (27, born London), Honora (26, born Battersea), Ellen (23, born Battersea), Harriet (20, born Battersea) and Catherine (18, born Tunbridge, Kent). In the same property were 11 female servants and 7 male servants.

10. He was probably the John Deacon whose death was registered Q3 1851 in Tonbridge. 'It is our painful duty this day to record the death of John Deacon, Esq., of the firm of Messrs. Williams, Deacon, Labouchere and Co., the eminent bankers of London, and sole proprietor of the extensive banking and brewery establishment carried on in this town, under the style and title of Nevile Reid and Co. Mr Deacon had attained the patriarchal age of 79 year, and expired, rather suddenly, on Sunday last.' Death 24/08/1851 at Mabledon, John Deacon, Esquire, aged 70 [sic] years.

T71/860 Manchester claim no. 441 (Farenough); T71/852 St Catherine claim no. 671; T71/854 St John claim no. 206 (Mount Pleasant); T71/855 St Thomas-in-the-East claim no. 41 (Mount Pleasant); T71/884 St Lucia claim no. 754 (Sophir); Trinidad claim no. 1345 (Resource).

1. Ancestry.com, London, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 [database online]. Ancestry.com, [database online].

2. TNA T71/860 Manchester claim no. 441 for the status of the trustees. The East India Company called a meeting in August 1822 to elect a director in room of the other John Inglis Esq., deceased [London Gazette, Issue 17847, 27/08/1822, p. 1414].

3. PROB 11/1660 proved 28/08/1822.

4. Commission of bankruptcy awarded 1823 against John Bellingham Inglis and James Inglis, late of Mark Lane, surviving partners of John Inglis, late of Mark Lane deceased. Assignees proposed (1) to assign the estate and effects of Inglis Ellice & Co., to Trustees for the benefit of the creditors of Inglis & Co., (2) to allow Robert, Rev. James, Alexander and Russell Ellice to rank as creditors upon estate of Inglis Ellice for certain sums of 3% annuities, (3) to release Edward Ellice, late a partner in Inglis Ellice, and (4) to review a proposal from James Inglis to pay his separate debts (5) to decide whether to give up to John Bellingham Inglis his household furniture and other effects in his dwelling house in Mark Lane etc [London Gazette, Issue 17954, 02/09/1823, p. 1458].

5. London Gazette, Issue 18192, 08/11/1825, p. 18192.

6. William D. Rubinstein, Who were the rich? A biographical dictionary of British wealth-holders Volume Two 1840-1859 (MS) reference 1851/28.

7. Cambridge Chronicle and Journal, 18/10/1816. Ancestry.com, London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906 [database online].

8. 1841 census online. Gentleman's Magazine vol. 169 p. 200 (February 1841).

9. 1851 census online.

10. Ancestry.com, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915 [database online].Windsor and Eton Espress 30/08/1851. Sourth Eastern Gazette 02/09/1851.

We are grateful to William Norton for his assistance with compiling this entry.