[A couple of snippets on
Robert Fourness, who died in Leeds on 1 November 1806. At that time his children were just two and four years old. His road steamer is
very early: more information is surely called for. The patent (with
John Ashworth) was no 1674 of 1788: can anyone find the drawings?]
London Gazette (28 February 1809):
The Creditors who have proved their Debts under a Commission of Bankrupt awarded and issued against Robert Fourness, late of Gainsborough, in the County of Lincoln, lronfounder, Dealer and Chapman, are desired to meet the Assignees of the said Bankrupt's Estate and Effects, on Saturday the 25th Day of March 1809, at Eleven o'Clock in the Forenoon, at the House of Mr William Peech, the Angel Inn, in Chesterfield, in the County of Derby, in order to authorise and empower the said Assignees to execute a Conveyance of all the Bankrupt's Right and Equity of Redemption and Interest whatsoever of, in, and to a certain Messuage and Ironfoundry, and sundry other Hereditaments, situate at Gainsborough aforesaid, unto Daniel North, of Fulbeck, in the said County of Lincoln, Gentleman, the Mortgagee of the same Premises, in consequence of such mortgaged Premises being inadequate in Value to reimburse and pay the said Daniel North the whole of his Debt secured by the said Mortgage; and on other special Affairs.
L H Weeks.
Automobile Biographies. New York: The Monograph Press, [1904]:
Robert Fourness.
Born in Otley, Yorkshire, England. Died at an early age. Fourness became a practical engineer and invented several labour-saving machines. One of his first inventions was for a machine to split hides, that was set up and operated in the establishment of his father. Later in life he established works for himself in Sheffield, and afterwards in Gainsborough. In 1788, he was a resident of Elland, Halifax, and there made a steam carriage that was run by a three-cylinder inverted engine. Spur-gearing transmitted the driving power from the crank shaft to the axle. His patent was taken out in conjunction with James Ashworth. This vehicle was mounted on two driving wheels and had a smaller driving wheel in front.