Francis Parsons recorded work with B Goss from 8^th January 1807 to 6^th August 1808.  We do not know what the “B” stood for but we do know his surname was Goss.  Given that they only worked together for 18 months it is hardly surprising that they did not have a great deal of work assayed.  As far as sugar tongs are concerned, there were a total of just 63 pairs of tongs assayed.  This maker is also interesting in that it allows us to date the combination of Lion & Duty mark quite well.  It means that we know that the combination of oval duty mark and oval Lion passant were in use during this period.  These tongs are fairly standard style Exeter tongs, with the expected crude bright cut engraving. 

Click here to see some tongs by Francis Parsons alone

Click here to see some tongs by Francis Parsons & Stephen Crees

Click here to see tongs by Francis Parsons & Joseph Goss