Henry Bales may have been the same person as Henry J Bales who was employed by Forsyth & Co from about 1808, and the same person as Henry Bales recorded in 1811 at 2 Upper James Street, London. He was probably the father of John Bales who appears to have taken over the London business, and almost certainly was the father of George William Bales. In about 1814 Henry Bales was recorded at Cornhill, Ipswich.
Henry Bales may have had a branch in Colchester from about 1825, a gun dated to about 1825 and engraved Henry Bales, Ipswich & Colchester has been seen, but no other record is known to exist.
Henry Bales retired in about 1830, he died in 1835 and G W Bales took over the business. He appears to have moved it to Tavern Street where he was recorded in 1838.
In 1845 the firm moved to 15 Cornhill (where he also traded as an archery warehouse), and they were recorded at 150 High Street, Colchester where he bought the business of Richard Howe. At some time, William J Matt acted as manager of the Colchester shop.
In about 1883 George William Bales retired or died and Frank A Bales took over the Ipswich shop changing the name to his own. In 1897 he sold the business to K D Radcliffe.
There were also Bales in Durban, South Africa, who may have been related.
Pete
