Hester Bateman
( 1708 - 1794 )
Daughter of John Neden, baptised 7 October 1708 at St. Michael's, Paternoster Royal. Married 20 May 1732 John Bateman (c. 1704-60) of St. Bartholomew the Less at St. Botolph's Aldersgate, of which parish she then was. John Bateman, a chainmaker, died 1760 leaving all his property to his wife. First mark entered as smallwork, 16 April 1761, the entry signed by her with crude initials H B. Address: Bunhill row. Second mark, 9 January 1771, no address. Appears as goldsmith, Bunhill Row, in Parl. Report list 1773. Third to sixth marks as spoonmaker, 17 June 1774, 5 June 1776, 21 February 1778, 25 November 1781, all at 107 Bunhill Row. Others as plateworker, 3 December 1774, 28 June 1787 (no. 955, her only mark using Roman in lieu of script letters, presumably by size intended for gold), and final mark 3 August 1787. Retired in 1790 on entry of Peter and Jonathan' mark, died 16 September 1794 and buried at St. Luke's, Old Street, 26 September, then living in parish of St. Andrew's, Holborn. Her five children were Letitia born 1733, Ann 1736, Peter 1740 (q.v.), John (? date) and Jonathan (q.v.) 1747.