John Shakeshaft
John Shakeshaft, together with Hugh Stirrup, merchant, London, Willam Carr, of Scorton, Richard Salisbury from Chipping and William Barrow,of Lancaster, bought the water corn mill from Richard Dilworth on 2nd February, 1785 ‘for the purpose of erecting a cotton mill’
Within three and a half years, however, the business was up for sale and the owners had filed for bankruptcy. Hugh Stirrup, however, obviously continued in the same trade: he and John Shakeshaft are mentioned in The Public Advertiser, 25th October, 1790, as ‘Wholesale Linen Drapers and Partners’ – listed under the heading ‘Dividends to be made to the Creditors’.
Apparently, poor John Shakeshaft died in court of apoplexy – possibly dealing with all his debts??
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