Francis Parsons is one of the most well known of the Exeter makers.  He is particularly interesting as he went into partnership with a number of other makers.  Francis Parsons’ tongs are bright cut and will be either flared or straight.  The quality of engraving on these tongs is as good as London made tongs.

Francis Parsons also made sugar tongs in partnership with others:  In the Exeter Assay books, Francis Parsons' first record of any work sent for assay was on 13th December 1797 when among other items, he sent in 8 pairs of tongs for assay.  Then, just 9 days later on 22nd December 1797, he sent in 6 pairs of tongs under the name Francis Parsons & Stephen Crees.  Parsons & Crees continued to send in work for assay on a regular basis thereafter, including sugar tongs.  On 26th January 1798, their entry in the Assay book changes to "Parsons & Co."  We don't know whether this is still just Parsons & Crees or whether others have become part of the company.  It would seem likely that it is still just Parsons & Crees as the items they sent for assay after that switch variously between  "Parsons & Crees" and "Parsons & Co.".  The likely answer is that Parsons had registered his company name & was still, at that time, just working with Crees. 

The last entry for Parsons & Co. is on 25th March 1800, after that the entries revert to just Parsons.

It therefore means that Francis Parsons & Stephen Crees only worked together between 22nd December 1797 and 25th March 1800, a period of 2 years and 3 months, during which time they submitted 536 pairs of sugar tongs for assay (assuming that "Parsons & Co." were in fact "Parsons & Crees").

In 1797 & early 1798, they sent the following tongs for assay:

They also submitted gold rings for assay as both "Parsons & Co" on 12th May 1798 and as "Parsons & Crees" on 23rd July 1798.  Although there were some goldsmiths who did not work in silver and some silversmiths who did not work in gold, several silversmiths also sent in both gold and silver for assay at this time.

On 4th December 1802 Francis Parsons & John Bennett sent 8 pairs of tongs for assay (among other items).  Following this there were also other entries for "Parsons & Co." which by now presumably means Parsons & Bennett.  Parsons also sent in work in just his own name at the same time.  This could be errors in the recording of the register, but it does look deliberate.  The "& Co." is sometimes recorded and sometimes not.  This partnership only appeared to last until 24th March 1803, when the last entry for "Parsons & Co." is seen.  Thereafter it reverts exclusively to "Francis Parsons".  Parsons & Bennett therefore appeared to be in partnership for just 4 months with 25 pairs of tongs assayed.  Is there a pair of tongs with the "FP IB" mark?

Parsons sent his first work for assay in partnership with Joseph Goss on 8th June 1805.  The parcel happened to include some 9 pairs of sugar tongs.  The last entry specifically to state "Parsons & Goss" was on 9th October 1806, but there were entries for Parsons & Co after that, until on 8th January 1807 work was sent in for Assay under the name "Parsons & B Goss".  Following this the entries refer to "Parsons & Co." or "Parsons & Goss".  During this time there were still occasional entries for "F Parsons" - omitting the "& Co."  From August 8th 1808 the entries revert back to F Parsons, with no mention of the "& Co."  I would therefore assume that he had parted company with yet another of his partners which would mean he worked with "B" Goss from 8th January 1807 to 6th august 1808.

Entries remain as Francis Parsons alone until 30th November 1810.  On 4th December 1810 the name "Parsons & Goss" appears again.  Goss's first initial is not shown but it is assumed to be Joseph Goss, presumably this time with the maker's mark "JG FP".

Click to see some Francis Parsons & Joseph Goss tongs.

Click to see some Francis Parsons & Stephen Crees tongs.

Click here to see some tongs by Francis Parsons & B Goss