OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

©  Brian Moseley, Plymouth
Webpage created: September 12, 2021
Webpage updated: September 25, 2021

        

WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

Mrs CLARA ELIZABETH SPOONER (1846-1925)

John Dawson Spooner senior, (1844-1900), married Miss Clara Elizabeth White, daughter of Mr John White, draper, and Mrs Ellen  White, at the Ancient Parish Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, South Molton, Devon, on Tuesday March 5th 1867.  Miss White had been baptized at the same Church on Wednesday January 13th 1847, having been born the previous year.

Following a long illness, Mr John Dawson Spooner passed away on Wednesday June 13th 1900 at his home, "Furzecroft", Yelverton, Devon.  Probate was granted to his widow and two gentlemen, Mr James Edward Moon, a retired piano merchant, and Mr John Sharp.  His estate was valued at £55,904 15 shillings and 4 pence.  Initially responsibility for managing the business fell to his widow, Mrs Clara Elizabeth Spooner, and their eldest son, Mr John Dawson Spooner junior (1868-1935).

A further revelation comes from The London Gazette on March 7th 1902.  By then the Company, listed as linen and woollen drapers, haberdashers, house furnishers, and outfitters, had a branch at Falmouth, Cornwall.  The Gazette reveals that at some point a Mr James Edward Moon and a Mr John Sharp had become partners along with Mrs Clara Elizabeth Spooner and that Messrs Clarence Newby Spooner (1869-1951) and Stanley Spooner were running the business as personal representatives of the late Mr John Dawson Spooner (1844-1900).  Mr James Edward Moon and Mr John Sharp retired from the business on February19th 1902, leaving it in the hands of Mrs Clara Elizabeth Spooner, Mr Clarence Newby Spooner (1869-1951) and Mr Stanley Spooner.

On July 30th 1903, Messrs C H Nevill, Hovey and Company, of 1-2 Great Winchester Street, London EC, registered a new company, Messrs Spooner and Company Limited, with a capital of £60,000 in £1 shares, with the object 'to acquire the business carried on at Bedford-street, Plymouth, and at Falmouth, and elsewhere, under the style of Spooner and Company; and to adopt agreements with, 1, Clara E Spooner, C N Spooner, G L Spooner, and S Spooner; and 2, with C N Spooner; and 3, with S Spooner; and to carryon the business of drapers, furnishing and general warehousemen, silk mercers and weavers, cotton spinners, cloth manufacturers, haberdashers, manufacturers of and dealers in textile fabrics, milliners, dressmakers, tailors, hatters, outfitters, glovers, lace manufacturers, boot and shoe manufacturers and merchants, dealers in leather goods, etc.'

The signatories to this registration, each holding one share, were: Mrs C E Spooner,, of Saint Elmo, Mannamead, Plymouth; Mr J D Spooner, also of Saint Elmo; Mr C N Spooner, of Trematon Villa, Mutley, Plymouth; Mrs M Moon, of 2 Meadfoot-terrace, Plymouth; Mr S Spooner, of Evelyn-place, Plymouth; Mr O S Spooner, of 2 Athenaeum-terrace, Plymouth; and Mr B Spooner, of 10 Westwell-street, Plymouth.  Initially no shares were issued to the general public.  The number of directors was not to be less than two nor more than four.  The first directors were Mrs Clara E Spooner, and Messrs C N Spooner, S Spooner and G L Spooner.  There was a qualification that each director had to have shares to the value of £500 but that 'during the life or present widowhood of Mrs C E Spooner, the qualification of any of the beneficiaries of the Will of the late Mr J D Spooner shall be one ordinary share.'  Unsurprisingly the Company's Registered Office was in Bedford-Street, Plymouth.

It is not clear as to what part Mrs Spooner played in the management of the business.  Her eldest son, Mr John Dawson Spooner junior made one further contribution to the history of the Company when, following the disastrous fire in June 1902, he urged the public to continue to support the business in its temporary locations in Market Avenue, East Street, and at 84 Old Town Street so that no staff need be put out of employment.

Mrs Clara Elizabeth Spooner, of 5 Elliott Street, Plymouth, died on December 30th 1925 at the Chateau du Preville, Orthez, France.  Her body arrived home on Thursday January 7th 1926 and was placed in the Buckland Monachorum Parish Church.  The funeral service was held at the Ancient Parish Church of Saint Andrew, Buckland Monachorum, on Friday January 8th 1926.  The vicar, the Reverend C Streat, led the service and the Reverend T Wilkinson Riddle, pastor of the George Street Baptist Chapel, Plymouth, where Mrs Spooner worshipped during her time in the Town, read the lesson.  The organist was Miss Browning.  The family mourners were led by Messrs Clarence Newby Spooner, Kenneth Spooner, Guy Spooner and John Spooner.  The general manager, Mr Every, represented Messrs Spooner and Company along with the following heads of departments: Messrs Lane, Goodfellow, Addiscott, Brayley, Roseweare, Miller, Skentleberry, Curtis, Elderkin, Stouts, Lamerton. Martin, Eddolls, Levett, Baggs and Burley - all men it will be noted.