Surrey Archaeological Collections
Surrey Archaeological Society, 2003. (updated 2023) https://doi.org/10.5284/1000221. How to cite using this DOI
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- ADS Collection: 379
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1000221
- How to cite using this DOI
SURREY ARCHAEOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS
Thomas Coram: his brief period as a gunpowder producer
K R FAIRCLOUGH
A pocketbook in which Thomas Coram recorded the names of supporters of his scheme for the London Foundling Hospital also contains a record of his business receipts and expenses between 1 January and 23 May 1729. This paper discusses the evidence of the pocketbook for Coramâs involvement in two related fields: the gunpowder business and barge carriage on the Wey Navigation. This evidence uncovers a hitherto unknown episode in Coram's life, that as partner in the gunpowder producing firm of Messrs Grueber and Coram, with production facilities at Faversham in Kent and Chilworth in Surrey. The partnership lasted less than three years but it confirms other indications that Coram was not a wealthy business man who took up the idea of promoting a foundling hospital in his retirement but did so in his spare time. A complete transcript of Coram's manuscript entries in the pocketbook, and notes on persons and matters recorded in the document, are provided in microfiche and deposited in several locations.
