I have taken the following list of musicians from the 1763 Universal Directory. Many of the names featured here were active and performing within the same circle as Abraham Adcock in the 1750s and 1760s; individuals such as Baildon, Baumgarten, Jenkins, Pinto and Willes appeared several times with Adcock either at the Foundling Hospital concerts, or at the Three Choirs Festival.
Joseph Abington, Snr One of His Majesty’s band of music
Joseph Baildon Composer and organist, Rolls Buildings, Chancery Lane
Samuel Baumgarten Bassoon, Cursiter’s Street, Chancery Lane
William Boyce Master of His Majesty’s band and composer, organist of the Chapel Royal, Quality Court, Chancery Lane
Charles Burney Organist, Enquire at Grig’s Coffee House, York Street, Covent Garden
Samuel Champness Vocal performer, Little Tothill Street, Westminster
Signor Felice di Giardini Composer, teaches singing and the harpsichord, Greek Street, Soho
William Jenkins Trumpet, Duke’s Court, Bow-Street, Covent Garden
Thomas Pinto 1st Violin at the Opera House, and at Vauxhall Gardens, Chapel Street, Westminster
Valentine Snow, Esq. Sergeant trumpeter, Old Palace Yard
Justice Willes aka Willis
(abt 1714 – 1772)
Parents: probably Juctice Willis and Elizabeth Ogle
Married Mary Foot 13 Apr 1738
Saint James Westminster
Child:
Justice Willis
Residence: Bennet Street, Westminster
Instruments: Trumpet and Kettledrum
Willis performed with Abraham Adcock at the Foundling Hospital performance of the Messiah in May 1754, for which he was paid 8s; he continued to perform the oratorio throughout the 1750s and 1760s, receiving a fee of 10s 6d in 1758. He appeared regularly in the Lord Chamberlain’s accounts until 1759, having long been associated with the royal musical establishment from as early as 1735-36. From 21 October to 13 November Willis was paid a total of £1 5s by the Covent Garden Theatre for a kettledrum used in Tancred and Sigismunda, The Jovial Crew, and Tamerlane, for serving as an extra in Comus; and for trumpets used in The Coronation.
On 12 April 1765 he was appointed Solicitor to the Coldstream Guards, having served as a drum major, and continued in the position until his death on 19th March 1772. He left a Will (PCC 1772) leaving his entire estate to his widow Mary and appointing his son Justice as his executor.
Sources:
Familysearch.org
Ancestry.co.uk
A Biographical Dictionary of Actors
Origin and services of the Coldstream guards, Volume 2
Handel: a documentary biography, Deutsch
