John Lombe's father, Henry Lombe, was a worsted weaver, and was
twice married. By his first wife he had two sons, Thomas and
Henry; and by his second, he had also two sons, Benjamin and
John. At his death in 1695, he left his two brothers his
"supervisors," or trustees, and directed them to educate his
children in due time to some useful trade. Thomas, the eldest
son, went to London. He was apprenticed to a trade, and
succeeded in business, as we find him Sheriff of London and
Middlesex in 1727, when in his forty-second year. He was also
knighted in the same year, most probably on the accession of
George II. to the throne.
John, the youngest son of the family, and half-brother of Thomas,
was put an apprentice to a trade. In 1702, we find him at Derby,
working as a mechanic with one Mr. Crotchet. This unfortunate
gentleman started a small silk-mill at Derby, with the object of
participating in the profits derived from the manufacture.
"The wear of silks," says Hutton, in his 'History of Derby,' "was
the taste of the ladies, and the British merchant was obliged to
apply to the Italian with ready money for the article at an
exorbitant price." Crotchet did not succeed in his undertaking.
"Three engines were found necessary for the process: he had but
one. An untoward trade is a dreadful sink for money; and an
imprudent tradesman is still more dreadfuL.
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