Name/Title
Essex, WilliamDescription
1. 1806, Charless' Almanac, for Lexington Kentucky. Essex is the only
bookbinder listed. Joseph Charles is the only Bookseller (also listed on Main
street.)
2. b. England, Came to Lexington on or before 1800. William Levy, Memoir of
Lexington and its Vicinity Kentucky State Historical Society vol. 41, no. 137
Oct. 1943.
3. Essex & Adrian (Robert Adrian) cir. 1811,12 or 1813 at the stand formerly
use by Worsley. ibid
4. Essex & Son (William) S/W cor. Main & Upper Street. ibid. pg. 134.
5. Adrian & Essex (Robert Adrian), s. side . ibid. pg 134
6. (1805-1812) Journal of Early Southern Decorative Arts, vol. 25 no. 1. 1999.
Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts identification number: 10744
7. Bookbinder, Bookseller, and Blank Book Manufacturer. Issued a 40 page
catalog of books in 1804. Was the areas largest Blank Book Manufacturer until
Lexington business was overtaken by the Ohio River Cities. "William Essex was
a substantial businessman, a founder and vestryman of Christ Episcopal Church,
and very highly regarded, until about 1817. Essex at that time converted all
of his business assets into cash, "absconded with his wife's housekeeper," and
took off for New York or Canada. His creditors hired a "stout Irishman" to
pursue him, and they managed to collect some of the money due them, but they
must have been amazed by Essex's explanation that it was all right that he had
left his wife because he was never married to her in the first place." Burton
Milward, The Kentucky Press, The Kentucky Review, vol. XI, no.3 Autumn 1992.
William Essex
Bookbinder apprentice ( to: William Essex)
Lexington Kentucky 1.
1. (1812) Journal of Early Southern Decorative Arts, vol. 25 no. 1. 1999.
Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts identification number: 53699Also Known As
William Essex