Isaac (I) Solly who built up the Baltic timber trade on which his family's wealth was first based. Isaac lived in a large house in St Mary's Axe in London, close to/coincident with the site of the Baltic Exchange.

Isaac (I), married to Elizabeth Neal in 1763, had fourteen children. The eldest, Isaac (II) (1769-1852) inherited the house in St Mary Axe, and the Baltic timber business, together with his brother Edward. Another of their sons was named Samuel (II) (you can see how the opportunity for confusion mounts!)

Isaac's grandson Nathaniel Neal Solly wrote the following in 1870:
The Sollys who are a Kentish family and who resided at Ash and Sandwich in Kent up to the latter part of the 17th century entered into commerce in the City of London as merchants and cutlers in consequence of the marriage of Richard Solly with Ann Hollis 1717. The place of business of Hollis and Solly was in the Minories and Richard Solly at that time lived in Haydon Yard or Square Minories, he also had the Country House at Walthamstow which he purchased. The Sollys continued their business as merchants after leaving the Minories at Jefferies Square at St Mary Axe where Mr Isaac Solly (father of Hollis Solly) and his sons carried on a very extensive trade as Baltic and timber merchants under the firm of Isaac Solly and Sons. He died 4th February 1802 in his 78th year.

Isaac Solly, husband of Elizabeth Neal, and father of fourteen children.
Isaac Solly was born in 1724 and passed away in 1802.

29 Dec 1763: Marriage of Isaac Solly and Elizabeth Neal at Saint Martin Orgar and Saint Clement Eastcheap, London, London, England.



 

Arthur Grimwade, Rococo Silver, 1725-1765, 1974, Illustration no. 67c (one of set).
Exhibition: Royal Academy of Arts, Winter Exhibition, London, 1955, no. 482.

Son of Thomas Taylor Citizen and Weaver of London, apprenticed to John Newton 3 March 1737 on payment of £18.18s. Free, 3 April 1744. Livery, May 1751. First mark entered as largeworker, 3 May 1744. Address: Maiden Lane, Wood Street. Second mark, 27 January 1757. He appears as plateworker, at the same address, in the Parl. Report list 1773. Heal records the name as jeweller, corner of Lad Lane, Wood Street, 1744-57, jeweller, Bartholomew Close, 1762 (perhaps another); jeweller and clockmaker, Maiden Lane, Wood Street, 1773; and 10 Ball Alley, Lombard Street, 1807-10 (the latter undoubtedly another). Like his master, whose business he probably succeeded to, since Newton was finally in Maiden Lane, Taylor was a specialist in tea-caddies and sugar-bowls, and his mark is rarely, if ever, found on pieces outside this category. His work is competent, if somewhat monotonous in its constant used of floral chasing.