Confused by date and maker

British Silver
1

I think this fork dates to 1810, London, with the maker’s mark “W.E”
I thought it might be William Eaton, but he didn’t register his “W.E” mark until 1813? Any ideas?

Thanks
fork

2

To me, it looks like a mark used by William Ellerby. The mark most commonly seen on Ellerby’s work appears in an oval, registered in mid-1810, but the mark he used prior to that, registered in 1802, was in a bevelled rectangular box, like the mark in your photograph. He also made cutlery - I have a spoon made by him dated 1812, though with the oval surround for his maker’s mark.

3

Thank you for that background information! Most helpful!