OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

WILLIAM BRENDON (1818-1882)

William Brendon was born at Lezant, near Launceston, in Cornwall on January 30th 1818.  His father was a farmer and in the census taken on Sunday June6th 1841 William was still living at Timberlham Farm, Lezant, although in later years it was claimed that he started his printing business in Tavistock in 1837 or 38.

On June 28th 1844 Mr William Brendon married Miss Sarah Turner, daughter of an East Stonehouse cork manufacturer, at the Reverend John Hawker's Eldad Chapel, Plymouth.

The couple only had one child, William Turner Brendon, who was born on March 7th 1845 at Tavistock.

In 1849 Mr Brendon moved the printing business to Plymouth.

At this point the story becomes a little confused.  In the census taken on Sunday March 30th 1851 Mr William Brendon and his wife Sarah were living at number 2 Mulgrave Street, Plymouth, and William was shown as a printer employing three men.  Also living with them was William's younger brother, Mr Frederic Brendon (sic), who was declared to be an "Annuitant" at 28 years of age.  The puzzle is created by the fact that a Mr Frederick Brendon was a printer and bookseller at number 5 Cornwall Street and in 1852 he published "A Directory of Plymouth, Stonehouse, Devonport, Stoke and Morice Town" which only mentioned his business and listed Mr William Brendon as living at 2 Mulgrave Street but as having no occupation.  Was this William's younger brother or another member of an expanded Brendon family?  Was Mr Frederick Brendon (sic) the real founder of the business?  

When the census was taken on Sunday April 7th 1861 the family were living at number 42 Tavistock Place, Plymouth.  The business had clearly grown as Mr William Brendon was now employing nine men and eight boys.  His only son and heir, 16-years-old William Turner Brendon, was described as a "Stationer".  Living with the family was 16-years-old Mr George Allan Cole, originally from Bideford, Devon, who was a printer and stationer's apprentice; widow, Mrs Elizabeth Burgoyne, a nurse; and 26-years-old Mrs Jane Hookin, a general servant.

By 1866 the business had become Messrs W Brendon and Son - probably when Mr William Turner Brendon reached his twenty-first birthday - and their premises were at number 53 George Street, Plymouth.

In 1868 Mr William Turner Brendon married Miss Fanny Maria Adams, the eldest daughter of Mr Benjamin Adams, tailor, of Knackersknowle, Saint Budeaux.

At the time of the census on Sunday April 3rd 1881 Mr William Brendon and his wife, Sarah, were living at Castle Hayes Villa, Plympton Earl, Devon, with one domestic servant, 28-years-old local girl, Miss Elizabeth Amelia Andrews.  The business was then being run by his son, Mr William Turner Brendon (1845-1928), and employed 37 men, 28 boys and 13 girls.

Mr William Brendon passed away the on Saturday April 8th 1882 at the age of 64 years.  The funeral was held at the Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Cemetery, Plymouth.

His widow lived at 3 Bedford Park Villas, Tavistock Road, Plymouth, in 1891 and at 3 Saint James Place East, off Citadel road, Plymouth in 1901.  Mrs Sarah Brendon died on December 13th 1903 and was buried with her husband at the Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Cemetery.