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Wholesale Agents Daglish
& Ismay,
March 2 John Ismay,
miser, born 1747
The celebrated miser, John Ismay, was born at Burgh on Sands on March 1, 1747. His
father, the Rev Thomas Ismay, Was vicar of Burgh on
Sands from 1739 to his death on May 20 1786, when he was in his seventy seventh
year. John came to
He then went to Vauxhall as a cowkeeper, commencing with only one cow. By great
perseverance and penurious habits he in time increased his stock to two hundred
cows. He employed Scottish and Welsh servants, feeding them on black bread and
gruel, holding the opinion that one shilling a day was quite enough for anyone
to live well on.
After some years he removed to Redman's
Row, Mile End, where he was the first to use distiller's wash for feeding cows,
a by-product which previously had been thrown away as useless
He now also became a grazier
and cattle dealer, attending markets and fairs, where he was a large purchaser.
In business transactions he always paid ready money, and by way of inducing
people to take his price would say "Ready money, my little man, ready
money." Hence he obtained the name of "Ready money" Jack
His property consisted of upwards of two
hundred acres of land in Essex and Middlesex, besides bank and other shares,
yet he was always complaining of his poverty and wants of means.
He kept the best wines, to treat his
customers, butchers, and other persons, in order that, when not quite sober
they might bid him more than the real value of his cattle.
Notwithstanding his wealth, he was the most
unhappy of men. He lived in the meanest manner, seldom afforded a fire and used
to go to bed to ave the use of a candle. At his death
in 1837 he left 400,000 pounds."
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Nicholson Cuthbert Ismay,
Nursteed Lodge, Devizes
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Nicholson Cuthbert Ismay,
Nursteed Lodge, Devizes
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Nicholson Cuthbert Ismay, Nursteed Lodge, Devizes