OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

WHO WAS WHO IN OLD PLYMOUTH

BERTIE GEORGE SWEET (1875-1935)

Bertie George Sweet was born in 1875 to Mr William Sweet (1842-1904), tailor and outfitter, and his wife, the former Miss Salome Ann Webber.  He was their fifth child and fourth boy.

At the time of the 1881 census Bertie, then a scholar, was living with his parents and three brothers and one sister over the shop at 56 Union Street, Plymouth.  By the time of the next census in 1891 Frederick John Sweet had become a tailor, Willie James Sweet had become an accountant and 16-years-old Bertie George Sweet was an outfitter's apprentice.  The three remaining brothers, Albert Thomas Sweet, Cecil Ira George Sweet and Harold Albert Sweet were now living with them.  The family had a 16-years-old domestic servant by the name of Miss Henrietta Adams.

Evidently young Bertie attended The Tailors Systematic Cutting Class in Herbert Street, Plymouth, where, on February 7th 1896 he was awarded a Diploma for having successfully acquired 'the art of scientific and systematic cutting necessary  for the Cutting Room'.  Mr William Pedlar, practical systematist, signed the Diploma.  In January 1899 the business run by his father was advertised as being Messrs William Sweet and Sons.

On June 4th 1900 Mr Bertie George Sweet, tailor's cutter, married Miss Miss Minnie Benoy Kemp at the Ancient Parish Church of Saint Andrew the Apostle.  Both lived nearby at number 22 Whimple Street.

Mr William Sweet died on September 27th 1904.  It is not clear who took charge of the business but the 1911 census reveals that Mr Bertie George Sweet had moved in to number 5y6 Union Street with his wife Mrs Minnie Benoy Sweet, and their three sons: Reginald Kemp Sweet, born April 23rd 1902; Herbert George Sweet, born October 16th 1904; and Frank Kemp Sweet, born June 24th 1907.  Naturally they had a domestic servant, Miss Rose Gertrude Carter, originally from Bristol.  His older brother Mr Frederick John Sweet was running the shop in Paignton and lived at "Sunnydale", Polsham Park, Paignton, with wife, Mrs Henrietta Amelia Sweet, known as "Hetty".  Mr Willie James Sweet had become a cashier but it is not known if that was at the shop in Union Street or that of another trader.  He and his wife, Mrs Emily Sweet, were living at 11 Torrington Place, Plymouth, with his 67-years-old widowed mother, Mrs Salome Ann Sweet, his brother-in-law, Mr Ernest Alfred Tout, a clerk, and a domestic servant, 16-years-old Miss Emily Beatrice Glanfield.  Finally, his brother, Mr Albert Thomas Sweet, was a tailor and outfitter running the shop at 83 West Street, Tavistock.  He and his wife, Mrs Edith Sweet, had two young children, 7-years -old William Thomas Sweet and 4-years-old Eustace Sweet.

In addition to the shops in Plymouth and Paignton the business in Tavistock had expanded by 1914 to include a drapery at number 7 West Street.

By the time of the census on June 19th 1921 the business name had been changed to Messrs B G Sweet.  Bertie and his family were living at number 54 Union Street, Plymouth.  There were three sons: 19-years-old Reginald Kemp Sweet, born April 23rd 1902; Herbert George Sweet. born October 16th 1904; and Frank Kemp Sweet, born June 24th 1907.  Reginald and Herbert were both outfitting and tailoring apprentices in their father's business while Frank was presumably still at school.

In 1926 the business had finally become Messrs  B G Sweet and Sons and it occupied numbers 54, 55, and 56 Union Street, Plymouth.

Mr Bertie George Sweet passed away at the Wingfield Nursing Home, Molesworth Road, Stoke, Devonport, on June 7th 1935.  The funeral was held at Efford Cemetery on June 11th 1935.

His widow, Mrs Minnie Benoy Sweet, became the managing director, assisted by their youngest son, Mr Frank Kemp Sweet (1907-1987).

Mrs Minnie Benoy Sweet died on May 18th 1956 and was cremated at Efford Crematorium.