| The Goldsmiths of Banff, like their fellow-craftsmen of Aberdeen , were incorporated with other hammer-wielding trades under the general title of 'Hammermen'.
A number of Goldsmiths from Banff are also connected with Aberdeen with George Leith also appearing in the Inverness list.
The Scott family came to Banff from Aberdeen.The younger William also traded in Elgin to increase his business, but Banff remained his home town until his death in 1748.Patrick Scott II was his son;he died in 1729.
Alexander Shirreff (or Shirress) was probably active as early as 1750 judging from the style of his work.He was probably related to the goldsmiths' apprentice of the same surname in Aberdeen.
Alexander McKay is called variously watchmaker and jeweller.
William Byres was apprenticed to James Wildgoose of Aberdeen for seven years from August 3rd 1767.By 1774 he was in Banff and became deacon of the craft in 1781.He returned to Aberdeen in about 1792 and died in 1811.Most of his marks pertain to Aberdeen and not to Banff.
Peter Gill was admitted as a watchmaker in 1778,but he was also a silversmith;he moved to Aberdeen in 1783 where he had a long and prosperous career.
David Izat provides yet another link with Aberdeen; he was apprenticed there to James Gordon & Co.for seven years from the 3rd of June 1786.He set up business in Banff in 1794 but returned to Aberdeen in 1799 where he worked as a journeyman with George Roger. This ended with Roger's death in 1824.Izat died in 1836.
John Keith was a prolific worker who used many differant marks;so were George Elder & William Simpson I.
Below are a few examples of Banff silver Hallmarks:-
 John Kieth C1768
 William Byres C1780
Other information on Banff which is not connected to silver.
Dart Silver would like to express thanks to the Antique Collectors’ Club for their permission to reproduce here extracts and information from Jackson’s Silver & Gold Marks, edited by Ian Pickford.
( © Antique Collectors’ Club 2009)
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