Last week I received an email from the Wife of the Grandson of George Hart II who was the grandson of John Thomas Hart.
We have been exchanging information and things are coming together nicely. Some of the mysteries are unfolding as well. It is noted that he (JT Hart) turned to selling Guns a few years after Gilkes died and possibly because he was not doing so well with Violins and needed money. I don't know about his monetary needs back then BUT I do know that it's a short sided slanderous description and possible furnished by the Hill's in later years to tarnish their main competitor and belittle the accomplishments of Hart and his Sons.
Here's what I have learned;
John (?) Hart (senior), born c.1780 - Marksman and Gunsmith. He was acquainted with the 'Prince Regent' (later King George IV) who used to place heavy wagers on him in pistol shooting contests against the Beaux and young bucks who formed the dissolute Regent's companions. These contests took place in the Haymarket (Leicester Square, London), the targets being gold sovereigns balanced atop of wooden posts. If John was successful the Regent would reward him with "Give Hart the broken gold", i.e. the damaged sovereigns. This would have amounted to a considerable sum and John used it to purchase premises at 14, Princes Street, Soho, London, where he set up his gunsmiths business.
His son was the maker and apprentice to Gilkes, John Thomas Hart, born 17 February 1805 and died 4 January 1874.
It was at this address used by his father for his Gunsmith business that his son came to with his Violins to sell. Guns were the family business and his father was known personally to the new
King, George IV whom I believe took the Crown in 1820 after his fathers death, George III.
Now, Gilkes was working prior to 1820 for about a decade for William Forster III aka Young Forster and son of Old Forster, William II who had made the Royal Basses and Cellos for King Geroge III. Forster III was also the Royal Maker succeeding his father in that position with Gilkes as one of his main Cello and Violin Makers in the shop. My Gilkes Bass was made I believe outside the Forster shop as Gilkes had opened his own shop the same year he left his relative and master Charles Harris Snr. and went to work for Young Forster in 1810.
I believe that the possibility exists of a Royal connection and in some way how John Thomas Hart would be introduced to Gilkes for an apprenticeship as his father was known to the King. The prior King and Royalty employed the services of the Forster Shop in where Gilkes was earlier employed.
So, the Forsters may have made and maintained instruments for the Kings but it was Hart Snr. that won the Gold from the King (then Prince Regent) in shooting matches which paid for the Gun Store in which young JT Hart would sell his first Violins. Also, Hart would go on to purchase some of the finest collections of old Violins from wealthy collectors. How did he make their acquaintance? A Royal connection between John Hart Snr, and King George IV?
Most of this 'connection' stuff is just speculation BUT the relationship between the Prince Regent (later King George IV) and John Hart Snr. is a part of the Hart Dynasty and not speculative in any way.
I must say that the Hart's I have talked to in present day are very proud of their heritage and rightly so.