Smily family of silver makers
William Smily (b 1792), apprenticed 1809 to Joseph Preston, spoon and fork maker, turned over to Thomas Wallis II to complete his apprenticeship. Free 1830. Worked in the factory of A.B. Savory & Sons at 15 Gee Street.
William Smily jnr, apprenticed to his father 1833, free 1840.
His brothers were also apprenticed to their father (Samuel Smily I i840 and Thomas Smily 1841). William Smily jnr entered his marks at Goldsmiths’ Hall 1855 and 1856 when he became works manager for A.B. Savory & Sons. His marks (SS into a rectangle) were used on silverware manufactured for the firm (from c. 1860 often accompanied by the stamp “A.B. Savory & Sons”).
William Robert Smily, William Smily jnr’s eldest son, apprenticed to his father 1833, free 1840, established his own business 1842 as W.R. Smily (spoon maker) at 7 Seaward Street, Goswell Street. In c. 1844 he moved to 9 Camomile Street, trading as manufacturing silversmith. In 1852 W.R. Smily moved to 65 Crown Street, Finsbury Square in the premises previously occupied by Charles Lias (1837-1847) and Judah Hart (1847-1852).
Thomas Smily, William Smily jnr’s youngest son, born 1827, apprenticed to his father 1841, free 1848, worked with his father for A.B. Savory & Sons. First mark entered in 1858, on the death of his brother William Robert Smily (aged 34), when he was called to manage the business. The firm continued as W.R. Smily until 1883, when the business was acquired by Edwin Charles Purdie. Thomas Smily emigrated to Canada, where he died in 1918.
Samuel Smily b 1825, the other son of William Smily, apprenticed to his father 1840, free 1847, continued to work with his father for A.B. Savory & Sons. After the death of William Smily (1865), Samuel Smily registered his own mark at the Goldsmith’ Hall (SS into a chamfered rectangle) and took over his father’s position of works manager of A.B. Savory & Sons. In 1866 A.B. Savory & Sons became a limited liability company and changed name to Goldsmiths’ Alliance Ltd. From this date the hallmark ‘SS’ was often accompanied by the stamp “Goldsmiths Alliance Limited”. Samuel Smily retired from Goldsmiths Alliance Ltd in 1880 and died in 1882.
Other members of Smily’s family obtained their freedom of the Goldsmiths’ Company but didn’t enter their own mark in the Goldsmiths’ Hall. They were:
William Robert Smily II b 1845 and his brother Alfred Smily (sons of William Robert Smily). Free in 1869 and 1871
Samuel Smily II b 1860, son of Samuel Smily, free 1882.