James Rainsford Armourer to George II.. Extracts from The Rainsford Family by Emily A. Buckland.

 


 James Rainsford
Armourer / Gunmaker
Dublin
Trading dates:
1757-1761. Castle Lane.
1761-1782.  29 Dame Street.
1783-d.1790 102 Grafton Street.


Contractor to Government.

Son of Michael Rainsford, Gunmaker.
1730-1751. Castle Yard, Dame Street.
1752-d.1757. Dame Street.

Above details from   "A Directory of the Early Irish Gunmakers"
--------------
Additional material via "The Rainsford Family" published in 1932 by Emily A. Buckland.

James Rainsford is noted as being Armourer to George II and having made a will dated 1787, was the only son of Michael Rainsford (above)
James married Ann Ryland, daughter of Joseph Ryland of Park Gate, Great Weston, Cheshire. Her sister became the wife of Brian O'Connor, Usher of the Irish House of Lords.
James Rainsford spent his fortune at the Court of Louis XVI of France, his portrait in oils at the Palace of Versailles, represents him in his French robes, the miniature of which, in a frame of gold, was stolen from Rainsford Lodge, Dublin.

Will executed April 1790;
" Wife, Mrs Anne Rainsford otherwise Ryland. Lands, Houses and all left to her. Guns and all. Witness:- J.O. Ryland, Richard Morgan. 

We are always interested in any material related to the gunmakers of Ireland.

NB: We have been in contact with the Palace of Versailles with a view of seeing the portrait mentioned in this blog. 
David Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

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