OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

JOSEPH PILLMAN (1825-1905)

Joseph Pillman, the son of Mr John Pillman, farmer, and his wife, Mrs Ursula Pillman, was born in 1825 and baptized at Ancient Parish Church of Saint Nectan, Hartland, Devon, January 1st 1826.

At the time of the census on Sunday March 30th 1851 Mr Pillman was an assistant mercer and draper with Mr John Thomas Webber (1812-1879) at 19/20 Treville Street, Plymouth.  Mr Webber, who was born in Devonport in 1812, had seven male assistants, four female assistants, six male apprentices, as well as a male accountant, a male porter/warehouseman, a female housekeeper and a female housemaid, all living with him on the premises.  Only the housekeeper and one female assistant, Miss Ann Waldron, from Lamerton, Devon, were older than the boss. 

Mr Joseph Pillman, married Miss Sophia Lea Crossman Bulpin in the Kingsbridge Registration District (probably at the Ancient Parish Church of All Saints, West Alvington) in early 1852.  In the 1851 census she was a drapery assistant at Messrs Radford and Stather's, silk mercers, number 31 Bedford Street.  By then he was in business on his own account at number 35 Bedford Street, next door to Messrs Seaman and Lansdown, also drapers, and the Plymouth Stamp Office.

By the time of the census on April 2nd 1871, the business premises had been renumbered number 38 Bedford Street.  Mr and Mrs Pillman now also had a family: 18-years-old Miss Ellen Sophia Pillman, and 16-years-old Miss Emma Louisa Pillman, both born in Plymouth, were assistants in the shop.  Their youngest daughter, Alice Kate Pillman, was only ten-years of age.  There were three female assistants, two female apprentices and one male apprentice and two female servants living at the premises.  The eldest of their two sons, Mr John Charles Pillman, was not at home.  He became a corn merchant.  The youngest son, Master George Colman Pillman, died at the age only three years and was buried at West Alvington Parish Church, Devon, on July 9th 1862.

By 1878 Mr Pillman had moved out of the Borough to Fernleigh Villas, Compton Gifford, to make room for Mr John Yeo (1841-1918), his new business partner.

Mr Pillman, a deacon of the Sherwell Congregational Chapel, joined Plymouth Borough Council as a representative for Drake's Ward and served for many years as chairman of the Special Works Committee.  He soon became an Alderman and a Justice of the Peace for the Borough.  After thirty years' service he resigned.

Mrs Sophia Lea Crossman Pillman died in1892 and was buried at the Ancient Parish Church of West Alvington, near Kingsbridge, Devon, on January 30th 1892.

Mr Joseph Pillman JP had been ill with bronchitis was some time and Doctor Charles Albert Hingston (1843-1921) visited him on Thursday February 2nd 1905.  However, the following morning, Friday February 3rd 1905, the housekeeper at number 44 Whiteford Road, Plymouth, Miss Rosa Bella Dingle, found Mr Pillman had passed away in his sleep.

The funeral service was held on Monday February 6th 1905 at the Sherwell Congregational Chapel.  The mourners included Mr H Hurrell, former Mayor of Plymouth; Mr R W Winnicott, the current Mayor of Plymouth; and Mr J H Ellis, Town Clerk.  His body was interred at the Ancient Parish Church of All Saints, West Alvington, near Kingsbridge, Devon.  His estate was worth £18,824 five shillings and ten pence.