Chronicles of Blackwall Yard

64 Chronicles of Black^vall Yard.
the Brewer)', in partnership with his relations, John and Richard Green. In
the year 1760 the "Annual Register" in its "History of the London Brewery,"
gives an account of the cjuantity of beer which had been brewed at the
principal brew-houses from Midsummer, 1759, to Midsummer, 1760, by
which it appears that Green's Brewery had supplied 9,770 barrels. About
twelve years after this time, however, a change appears to ha\-e come over
the good fortunes of the business.
John Green, who is said to have been an extravagant man, and
fonder of driving his four-in-hand than of manaijinfr his business, could
hardly have found a much more practical partner in his nephew the
Lieutenant, who was chietly known as the possessor of a valuable library,
and as the author of several poetical works ;
it is by no means surprising,
therefore, to find that in 1772 the firm had become involved in serious
difficulties. On May 29th of the same year, John Green died rather sud-
denly, and before the year had closed, the estate was wound up in bankruptcy.
On the death of her husband Mrs. Green went with her two young children,
George and Mar)', to reside at Battersta, and in the year 1 78 2, George Green,
then fifteen years of age, was, througli the instrumentality of his aunt,
Mrs. Pritzler, introduced to Blackwall Yard, where he was apprenticed to
Mr. Perry. He is spoken of at this time as having been particularly active,
intelligent, and trustworthy, and he soon began to make himself useful in the
drawing-office and mould loft, where he was employed in designing and laying
of ships, A proof of his activity is given in the fact that for some time he
was in the habit of frequently walking from his mother's house, near
Battersea, to Blackwall Yard, arriving there at six o'clock in the morning
and walking back again after si.x o'clock in the evening. In the busy times
that were now coming on, George Green was frequently detained at the
Yard until late in the evening, working in the mould loft, and at such times
Mr. Terry and his family would often walk through from the adjoining
house to see how things were going on. Report sa)s, further, that Miss
Sarah Perry took a somewhat lively interest in these proceedings, and
would show her interest by rubbing out and otherwise disturbing the lines
w^hich young George Green had just completed. However this may be
an attachment soon sprang up between them, they became engaged, and
were married at St. Dunstan's, Stepney, on February i8th, 1796. In the
following year George Green was taken into partnership at the age of
thirty. Five children were born of this marriage, John, George, Joseph,
Mary, and Richard. Of these, Joseph and Mary died in infancy.