Born c1722, the son of Joseph Flower of Bristol, cratemaker (A).
| 1736 | 14 Aug. He was apprenticed to Thomas Frank I. Friends to find apparel (A, Ao, Ar). |
| 1742 | 29 Jan. A potter of St Mary Redcliffe parish, he was granted a licence to marry Sarah Lamb of the same parish at St Mary Redcliffe or St James (M). |
| 1742 | 31 Jan. Joseph Flower married Sarah Lamb (RPR). |
| 1744 | 12 Mar. He became a free potter (F, G). |
| 1746 | 27 Feb. His son Joseph was baptised at St Mary Redcliffe church (Ancestry website). |
| 1754 | Potter, St Mary Redcliffe parish (P). |
| 1758 | 4 Feb. Sun Insurance Company policy no. 161092 taken out by: ‘Joseph Flower of … Bristol, Dealer in Earthenware. On his stock in trade in his warehouse only situate in the Grove in the parish of St Stephen. Brick, stone and tiles £600’ (Adams 1976, 38). |
| 1766 | 5 Feb. ‘Small Street and the Head of the Key [Quay] are becoming very great thoroughfares for persons and Carriages and frequent stoppages and accidents happen at Small Street Gate … Your Committee are of the opinion that the Gate should be taken down … and in order thereto it will be necessary to take down and set back a house in the occupation of Joseph Flower on the West side … of the Gate … together with a flight of steps belonging to the said Joseph Flower’ (CCP). |
| 1767 | 12 Mar. Noted as a potter when his son Thomas became a free woollen draper (G). |
| 1767 | 25 Apr. ‘Wednesday died Mrs Flower, wife of Joseph Flower, who keeps an earthenware-house at the side of the Quay’ (FFJ). |
| 1767 | 20 Jun. ‘ To be sold at Auction … All the Household Goods and Brewing utensils of Mr Joseph Flower, at his dwelling house at Small Street Gate (leaving off housekeeping). The trade will be continued as usual at the warehouse, there being a very good assortment of Fine and Course Earthen, Stone and Glass Wares, and Merchants, Shopkeepers and others may depend on being served in the best and cheapest manner by Their very humble servant Jos. Flower’ (FFJ). |
| 1770-75 | Potter, The Key; wife Mary (Wesleyan Membership Lists). |
| 1771 | 1 May. A potter of St Leonard’s parish he was granted a licence to marry Mary Phillips at St James’s church (M). |
| 1771 | 9 May. ‘Sunday was married at St James’ Church, Mr Joseph Flower, Potter, at the head of the Quay, to Mrs Phillips, widow of the late Mr Phillips, schoolmaster of this City’ (BG, FFJ). |
| 1771 | 30 Jul. A potter of St Leonard’s parish he was bondsman to a licence granted to Mathew Mayer of Stockport, yeoman (M). |
| 1771 | 3 Aug. ‘Thursday was married at St Nicholas Church, Mr Mayer to Miss Flower, daughter of Mr Joseph Flower, potter at the Head of the Quay’ (FFJ). |
| 1774 | Potter, St Leonard’s parish (P). |
| 1775 | Potter, 2 on the Key (SD). |
| 1775 | 27 Sep. He imported ‘200 Worp Jugs and Mugs’ from Rotterdam (PB-IMP). |
| 1776 | Potter, The Key, Corn Street; wife Mary (Wesleyan Membership Lists). |
| 1777 | 1 May. ‘Joseph Flower … is Remov’d from the Head of the Quay to No. 5 in Corn Street, next Door to the Post Office, where he continues to sell fine Cream-Colour – White Stone – and other Staffordshire Wares – Brown Nottingham – Delph – and Blue and White Dutch Stone Wares – Brown Stone Bottles and Pickling Jars – Common Yellow Platters, Porringers, etc. – also common Brown Quarts and Pints – Barnstaple Ovens, Salting Pans, Pitchers, Pots, etc – Bristol fine Glaz’d Pans, etc., and all other Sorts of Earthen and Stone ware; wholesale and retail on Reasonable Terms’ (BG). |
| 1777-85 | Potter, Corn Street; wife Mary (Wesleyan Membership Lists). |
| 1785 | 7 Dec. He was buried in Bedminster, aged 64 (Ancestry website). |
| Children: Joseph, bapt 27 Jan 1743 (RPR), Thomas, bapt 6 Apr 1745 (RPR), Joseph, bapt 27 Feb 1747, buried 3 Dec 1749 (RPR), Sarah, bapt 30 Oct 1748 (LPR), Joseph, bapt 29 Jun 1755 (LPR) |