OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
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WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

JAMES HENRY FURGUSON (1855-1934)

James Henry Furguson was the eldest son of Mr James Furguson, master mariner, and his wife, the former Miss Mary Yeoman, whom he married at Charles Church, Plymouth, on April 23rd 1849.  James was baptised at Charles Church on August 8th 1855, almost 21 months after his older sister, Elizabeth Ann Furguson.

In 1878 he married Miss Michaeline Welman Symons and by the time of the 1881 census, they were living at 8 Beaumont Place, Plymouth, and James had become a printing compositor.  They already had three daughters: twins Eva Michaeline Welman Furguson and Alice Jane Welman Furguson, born November 6th 1879; and Laura Amy Furguson, born February 4th 1881.

What sparked his change of occupation is not known but in 1882 he founded the mineral water business at number 7 North Street.  It must have found instant success because in 1889 he and the business moved to number 38 King Gardens.  At the time of the 1891 census there was not only a fourth daughter, Elsie Maud Furguson, born November 28th 1886, but there were now two sons, Charles Henry Furguson, born October 2nd 1882, and Archibald James Furguson, born January 27th 1885.  Another son, Roy Symons Furguson, was born on August 14th 1892 and another daughter, Irene Dorothy Furguson, was born on July 6th 1895.

Charles and Archibald were helping their father in the factory by 1901.  Both went to live close by, Charles at 1 Sydney Terrace, Oxford Street, and Archibald at 14 Kingsley Road, Mutley.

Tragedy struck the family in 1934.  James was a widower by now, having lost his wife on April 26th 1932, but he was used to having the company of an evening of his daughter, Mrs Irene Symons, and his 6-years-old grand-daughter, Miss Esme Thelma Symons, who lived next door.  On the evening of Wednesday April 25th 1934 they, along with his other daughter, Miss Eva Michaeline Welman Furguson, and his son-in-law, Mr Albert S Symons, and grandson, Master Ivor Symons, had a small party, after which they all retired to their beds at number 85 King Gardens.  This turned out to be an ill-fated decision.

Neighbours were awakened by cries of "Fire!" at around 1.30am the next morning.  Several of them, including Mr J W Oats, and engine driver just returning home after his duty, and Mr Charles Henry Furguson, the son, who lived around the corner, tried to get into the house but were forced back by the heat and extent of the flames.  The fire brigade were called at 2.10am and turned out promptly, as did the Police and the Plymouth Ambulance Brigade, but the house was well alight.  Mr Symons managed to get his on out with him but Mrs Symons went through to the front bedroom to try to wake her father and sister, who were sleeping in the two front bedrooms.  Sadly, Miss Eva M W Furguson was overcome by fumes in her sleep, and Mrs Irene Symons and her daughter, Miss Esme Thelma Symons, were found slumped up against her bed, also overcome.

Police Inspector E Lee made an attempt to rescue Mr Furguson from outside the building but he, too, was overcome by the fumes and had to be rescued by Police Constable Norman Croft.  Mr James Henry Furguson thus died on the morning of Thursday April 26th 1934, exactly two years after his wife had died.  During his life Mr Furguson had been the first president of the Plymouth Mineral Water Bottling Exchange and a Freemason.  Before the Great War he had been as member of the Devon Volunteers and gained many prizes for his rifle shooting expertise.

In charge of the fire brigade team was Superintendent R J Smith; the Police operation was under the command of the Chief Constable, Mr W G Johnson; and Superintendent H V Miller attended with the Saint John Ambulance Brigade.

It was thought that the blaze was caused by a discarded cigarette.  While the house was totally destroyed the mineral water factory at the rear in Cambridge Lane West was untouched, probably thanks to being separated from the house by a stone-paved courtyard, and business continued uninterrupted, just as Mr Furguson would have wished, it was said, managed by Messrs A J Furguson, C H Furguson, and R S Furguson.  Thus the senior partner was Mr Charles Henry Furguson (1882-1960).