The Cahusacs were an English family of music publishers and instrument makers. The surname hints at possible French origins yet to be proven. The number of family members was huge. There were several wives, many children and of course, quite a few Thomases. Referring to each Thomas as senior or junior doesn’t work either, as when one died, the junior would become senior. We’ll stick with the Roman numerals.

Thomas I

The literature tells the story of the first Thomas CAHUSAC I (1714-1798), who was born in London to Isaac and Ann Cahusac. It is suggested that Thomas Cahusac could have been a young apprentice of John (Johan) Just SCHUCHART or SCHUCHARDT (ca. 1695-1758), who was employed by Peter BRESSAN (1663-1732). Thomas Cahusac I used the same Lancaster rose on his instruments as Bressan.

Thomas I made instruments at Stationers Alley in London in the 1740s before moving to the sign of Two Flutes and Violin on The Strand, nearby St. Clement’s church. Alongside flutes, he made other woodwind instruments and reeds for oboes and bassoons. He published music and sold violins. The address would later be 196 The Strand, where he would remain until his death.

Thomas I married four times and had over thirty children!!! He died in 1798 (exhausted?) at the age of 84 as the oldest musical instrument maker in London. His tools and materials for making musical instruments, as well as existing trade stock were left to two of his sons.

One half-brother was Thomas II, born in 1756 to Thomas I’s second wife Elizabeth JONES.  The other was William Maurice, born to Thomas I’s third wife, Deborah COX, in 1770.

Thomas II

Thomas II was obviously trained by his father. He married Ann BANKS, the daughter of the stringed instrument maker, Benjamin BANKS in 1780. He then set up his own music warehouse at 4 Great Newport Street, in central London. This business ran until 1786 when Thomas II moved to Reading, around 80 kilometres west of London. He sold music and musical instruments, while his wife Ann, offered harpsichord, piano forte and singing lessons to ladies.

Around 1794, the family moved back to London and Thomas II joined his father and brother William Maurice in the company, now named Cahusac & Sons. Following the death of their father, the two half-brothers operated as T. & W.M. Cahusac until around 1800, when they split up.

Thomas II opened a workshop and worked at 41 Haymarket until 1805. He then moved to 114 New Bond Street and then was located at 42 Wigmore Street. Thomas II had several children, about whom very little information is available. It seems that Thomas II may have died in 1843 at the age of 86.

William Maurice

William Maurice continued working out of 196 The Strand after the split with Thomas II. But had to move out in around 1810 when the row of buildings where he was located was demolished. He married Mary BIRD. He moved to 79 High Holborn where he continued to publish music, especially Country Dance collections. In 1814, he published the ‘German Flute Preceptor’. Unfortunately, he went bankrupt in 1816, but managed to continue operations from various locations in and around London.  He died at the age of 73 in 1844.

The Cahusacs were a successful family in the musical instrument and publishing sector in Georgian London. They were famed for their instruments as well as their Country Dancing publications. In 1988, the late Maurice Byrne published a great paper for the Galpin Society entitled ‘The Cahusacs and Hallet’. It’s a great resource for further reading!