"John Ladyman was the son of John Ladyman, citizen
and Salter of London. He was apprenticed to George Watlins
for 9 years on 2nd September 1675. He was freed on 28th September
1687 and entered the Livery in 1698.
He only entered a single mark as a maker of large silver pieces between January and July 1699. During this period when silver was of a higher standard than normal sterling (to circumvent coin-clipping), silversmith's marks were based on the first 2 letters of the surname rather than the initials. Hence his mark is LA with coronet above and pellet beneath.
At that time and in the period 1692-1713, his address is given as Sherborn Lane. Later records in 1724 simply state 'London'.
The registers of St Mary Woolnoth contain baptismal entries for 4 sons and 2 daughters of John and Sarah Ladyman: Elisabeth, baptised 29 April 1692; John, baptised 5 November 1693 died 31 January 1694; Mary, baptised 19 November 1695; Thomas baptised 10th June 1697; John, baptised 10 November 1697, buried next day; and John, baptised 6 January 1699. [Information from Grimwade: London Goldsmiths 1697-1837]
That is all that is available; apart from the sad but revealing sequence of sons' names, an interesting point is that he did not enter a fresh mark in 1719 when the 'higher-standard' period ended and silversmiths who worked in sterling silver were supposed to register a fresh mark. Either no pieces have survived which could be traced to him, or he had ceased working by this time."
- Many thanks George