OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
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WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

JOHN WILLIAMS MATTHEWS (1827-1914)

John Williams Matthews was born at Tavistock, Devon, to mine agent Mr Joseph Matthews and his wife, the former Miss Elizabeth Williams.

Nothing is known about his early education but by the time of the census taken on Sunday March 30th 1851 he was living at home, 14 Taylor's Square, Tavistock, and was articled to an attorney.

Mr John Williams Matthews, solicitor, of 44 Torrington Place, North Road, Plymouth, married Miss Emma Coryndon at the Ancient Parish Church of Saint Andrew the Apostle on August 25th 1855.  She was the daughter of Mr Robert Coryndon, solicitor, of 9 Athenaeum Street, Plymouth.

When two gentlemen from London, Mr William Saunders (1823-1895) and Mr Edward Spender (1833-1878), were discussing the commencement of a daily newspaper in Plymouth, they consulted with Mr John Williams Matthews.  As a result, when the Western Morning News Company Limited was formed, he was one of the original shareholders and a director of the Company.

In about 1864 Mr Matthews became the junior partner of Messrs Rooker, Lavers and Matthews.  Mr Lavers died shortly afterwards and in 1866 the practice was composed of Messrs Rooker, Matthews and Shelley.  Their office was at number 6 Frankfort Street, Plymouth.

In the census taken on Sunday April 2nd 1871 Mr and Mrs Matthews were living at 7 Hoe Terrace, Plymouth, with four children: Coryndon Matthews, born 1856; Alfred Matthews, born 1858; Emma Lilian Matthews, born 1859; and John Williams Matthews junior, born 1867.  The family has three domestic servants at that time.

Mr Alfred Rooker (1814-1875), senior partner of the firm, died on Thursday May 27th 1875.

Mr Coryndon Matthews had qualified as a solicitor by the time of the census in 1881 and he and his parents and sister and younger brother were now living at number 9 West Hoe Terrace, where they maintained a cook, a housemaid and a parlourmaid.  Between then and 1890 Mr Matthews had "Ermwood" built in the parish of Harford, north of Ivybridge.  The legal practice was now Messrs Rooker, Matthews, Harrison and Matthews and both Mr John Williams Matthews - now the senior partner - and Mr William Harrison were listed as the Superintendent Registrar of Plymouth Registration District.

In 1911 a Mr Barnard Aubrey Clapham was a practicing solicitor with the firm but not apparently a partner.

During his lifetime Mr Matthews had been the Clerk to the Plymouth Board of Guardians and Honorary Secretary of the South Devon and Cornwall Blind Institution, for which he oversaw the move from the old premises in Cobourg Street to the wonderful new one on North Hill.

Mr John Williams Matthews died suddenly at "Ermwood" late on the evening of Friday April 3rd 1914, after a short illness. The private, family funeral was held on Tuesday April 7th 1914 at the Ancient Parish Church of Saint Petroc, Harford, while a larger memorial service took place on the same afternoon at the Ancient Parish Church of Saint Andrew the Apostle in Plymouth, at which the vicar, the Reverend A W T Perowne, presided.