OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
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WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

JOHN DAWSON SPOONER (1868-1935)

John Dawson Spooner was born in 1868 in Plymouth to Mr John Dawson Spooner senior (1844-1900) and his wife, the former Miss Clara Elizabeth White.  They had married  at the Ancient Parish Church of Saint Mary Magdalene, South Molton, Devon, on Tuesday March 5th 1867.  Baby John was baptized at that Church on July 22nd 1868.  

At the time of the census on Sunday April 2nd 1871, Mr John Dawson Spooner senior was a master draper employing 47 women and 16 men and living at Halwell House, Plymouth, with his son Clarence Newby Spooner, born in 1869.  They were being looked after by a cook, Miss Mary J Tippett, and a child's maid, 18-years-old Miss Eliza J Pearse.  No doubt a relative who was visiting, Miss Jessie White, assisted when required.

Young John came from a large family.  After him came Clarence Newby Spooner, born 1869; Stanley Spooner, born 1871; Muriel Spooner, born 1875; Guy Leopold Spooner, born 1877 and Bruce Spooner, born 1879.

His father's business, Messrs Spooner and Company, was located at numbers 54, 55, and 56 Bedford Street and 4 Old Town Street.  In 1889 it was extended in to number 7 Old Town Street, next door to Chubb's Hotel.

When the census was taken on Sunday March 31st 1901 it revealed that Mr John Dawson Spooner was a "retired draper" at the age of 33 years.  He was also still unmarried and was living at Furze Cottage, Yelverton, with his mother, Mrs Clara Elizabeth Spooner, and brothers Mr Guy Leopold Spooner, a solicitor, and Mr Bruce Spooner, an auctioneer's clerk.

A further revelation comes from The London Gazette on March 7th 1902.  By then the Company, listed as linen and woollen drapers, haberdashers, house furnishers, and outfitters, had a branch at Falmouth, Cornwall.  The Gazette reveals that at some point a Mr James Edward Moon and a Mr John Sharp had become partners along with Mrs Clara Elizabeth Spooner and that Messrs Clarence Newby Spooner and Stanley Spooner were running the business as personal representatives of the late Mr John Dawson Spooner (1844-1900).  Mr James Edward Moon and Mr John Sharp retired from the business on February19th 1902, leaving it in the hands of Mrs Clara Elizabeth Spooner, Mr Clarence Newby Spooner and Mr Stanley Spooner.

However, he did make one further contribution to the story of Messrs Spooner and Company.  Following the disastrous fire in June 1902 he urged the public to continue to support the business in its temporary locations  in Market Avenue, East Street, and at 84 Old Town Street so that no staff need be put out of employment.  Beyond that he took no further part in the business.

Mr John Dawson Spooner, who was a bachelor, died at his home, Furzecroft, Yelverton, on Tuesday April 2nd 1935.  He had been a silent partner in the Tavistock Model Laundry business that had been founded by his brother, Mr Edwin Charles Spooner.  The funeral service was held at the Ancient Parish Church of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Buckland Monachorum, Devon, on Friday April 5th 1935.  Family mourners were Mr and Mrs Clarence Spooner; Mr and Mrs Guy Spooner, both brothers and sisters-in-law; Messrs Kenneth Spooner, Ian Spooner and Malcolm Spooner, nephews; Miss Sylvia Spooner, Miss Clara Spooner and Miss Edna Spooner, nieces; and Mrs Bruce Spooner, sister-in-law.