Thomas Hillcoat
1744 Advert: 'THOMAS HILLCOATE, of Newcastle, Smith, Having many Years been employed in the making and finishing all Sorts of Smiths Work for Buildings, or any other Kind whatsoever; also all Sorts of Edge or other Work Tools and all Sorts of Screws, particularly for Dyers, having proper Engines for these Purposes, and for all Mill and Engine Work; As he is the Worker and Maker, and is compleatly provided with the best of Workmen, he hereby offers and propofes to finish all such Work in the compleatest and cheapest Manner, and wll punctually observe all Orders and Commissions sent him, with the utmost Care and Expedition.
THOMAS HILLCOATE.'[1]
1758 'Last Saturday died Mr Thomas Hillcoat, White-smith ; he had a Capacity equal to any Thing in his Business, and his Integrity gained him great Esteem.'[2]
1758 Advert: 'GRACE, Widow of Thomas Hillcoat, of the Town of Newcastle upon Tyne, Smith, lately deceased, takes this Opportunity of returning her grateful Thanks to the many Friends of her late Husband, for all former Favours. And as she intends (together with her Son) to continue the manufacturing of Smith Work in its various Branches, viz. Dyers Screws, Ship Worm and Rack Screws, Pallisade and Ballustrade Work, Air or Smoak, and Pulley Jacks, Stove Grates of all Sorts, Locks and Hinges of all Sorts, Scale Beams, Household Furniture, &c. &c. having a compleat Set of Engines, and other Utenfils and able Workmen for performing the same in the best and neatest Manner.- Hereby requests the Continuance of their Friendship, and all Orders, sent to her Houfe in the Long-stairs, shall be duly executed, and Favours gratefully acknowledged, by Their moft humble Servants, GRACE HILLCOAT and SON.
N. B. Gentlemen will be waited on in the Country to receive their Orders, if required. Also Bells hung in the neatest and best Manner.'[3]
1765 Advert: 'Newcastle, August 24, 1765
Whereas an ADVERTISEMENT appear'd in The NEWCASTLE CHRONICLE, that George Pickering has obtain’d a PATENT for Making and Vending IRON SCREWS, also setting forth that he was the sole Inventor thereof: This is therefore to acquaint the Public, that the said Screws are not a new Invention, but only an Alteration from Screws made several Years ago by my Father, which Alteration was also perform’d by me some Months before the Commencement his Patent. Any-Masters of Ships, shipbuilders, or others, that please to favour me with their Orders, for these, or any other Sorts of Screws, may depend on having them compleatly and expeditiously executed, by Their much obliged humble Servant, THO. HILLCOATE.'[4]
Thomas Hillcoat of the town and county of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, ironmonger : specification for a machine for disengaging of horses from coaches, chaises, and such like carriages on any emergency, by which persons riding in any of those carriages may in an instant, with the utmost ease, set the horses loose from the carriage when going at any pace or on any ground whatever, whereby misfortunes by horses running away with carriages may be prevented." A parchment schedule of drawings of the invention is attached. Jan. 28, 6 Geo. 3 ; May 2, 6 Geo. 3, 1766.[5]