OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

©  Brian Moseley, Plymouth
Webpage created: March 08, 2022
Webpage updated: March 08, 2022

        

WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

EDWIN CHARLES SPOONER (1849-1910)

Edwin Charles Spooner was the fourth son of Mr Joseph James Spooner (1815-1859) and his wife, the former Miss Anne Elizabeth Snell.  Mr Spooner senior was the founder of what became Messrs J Spooner and Company Limited, drapers, milliners, cabinet makers and house furnishers.  He died on Monday November 14th 1859 at the very young age of 44 years, leaving his widow in charge of the business supported by their two teenage sons, John Dawson Spooner (1844-1900) and John Snell Spooner (0000-0000).

Mr Edwin Charles Spooner, mercer, married Miss Alice Mary Tucker, the daughter of Mr William Tucker, printer, at the Ancient Parish Church of South Molton, Devon, on February 22nd 1877.

At that time the business occupied numbers 54, 55 and 56 Bedford Street and, from 1878 onwards, number 4 Old Town Street.  Soon number 7 Old Town Street, formerly the White Hart Public House, was added.

The first of Mr and Mrs Spooner's two sons, Charles Norman Spooner, was born on April 30th 1878 and baptized at the Anglican Church of Saint Luke the Evangelist on May 24th 1878.   Their second son, Howard Spooner, was born on September 1st 1880 and baptized at Charles' Church, Plymouth, on September 29th 1880.  They also had two daughters: Elsie Spooner was born at 7 Portland Square, Plymouth, on June 14th 1879 and baptized at Charles' Church on July 2nd 1879; Marian Spooner was born at the same address on December 31st 1881 and baptized at Charles' Church on February 1st 1882.

Sadly Mrs Alice Mary Spooner passed away on March 20th 1883 at the very young age of 24 years.

The census taken on April 5th 1891 shows Mr Spooner and the children living at number 9 Queen's Gate, Plymouth.

On February 17th 1897 Mr Edwin Charles Spooner left the business and went to live at "Raventor" in the parish of Brentor near Lydford, which he proceeded to renovate.  Once that was completed he moved to "Heatherleigh" in Whitchurch Road, Tavistock.  As a widower, Mr Spooner occupied himself with the Tavistock District Agricultural Society, the Tavistock Urban District Council and the Yelverton Show.  In his spare time he founded the Tavistock District Laundry in 1899 in Parkwood Road.  While the manager was Mr Charles Norman Spooner, there was also a manageress, Miss Laura Biddell (1857-1943), and an assistant manageress, Miss Urania E Clark, who both originated from Essex and were living on the laundry premises in the 1901 census.

Mr Edwin Charles Spooner died on June 8th 1910.  His body was transported by the London and South Western Railway Company to North Road Plymouth Station and was buried at the Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Cemetery on Saturday June 11th 1910.

Acting Major Charles Norman Spooner, of the 5th (Prince of Wales's) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, Territorial Force, was killed in action in Palestine on April 10th 1918.  He was buried in the Ramleh War Cemetery.

On March 27th 1972 the very last link with the Spooner family was broken by the death in London of Miss Elsie Spooner, daughter of Mr Edwin Charles Spooner, who was a son of the founder of Messrs J Spooner and Company Limited, Mr Joseph James Spooner (1815-1859).  She was 92 years of age.