Transcript

of

John Williams Matthews [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc., vol.  46, (1914). p. 90.

by

Maxwell Adams (Ed.)

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1914 Tavistock meeting. Copies of an Affidavit of Solicitor Mr J. W. Matthews, gent., as well as a Conveyance between Mr Matthews and Andrew Saunders Harris of Plymouth, merchant, for six messuages in Hill Park Crescent, Plymouth for a Consideration of £1,980 are both held by Plymouth Archive. The obituary, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Mr. Matthews, who joined the Association in 1896, was a native of Tavistock, and senior partner of the firm of Rooker, Matthews & Co. Solicitors, of Plymouth, which firm he joined in 1864. He held several public appointments in Plymouth, among others that of Clerk to the Board of Guardians and Superintendent Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. Of a generous disposition, he was a supporter of many charities. He also took an active part in promoting the two restorations of St. Andrew's Church, Plymouth, first under the direction of Mr. James Hine and again under Sir Gilbert Scott, and was one of the founders of St. Andrew's Elementary Schools. When the Western Morning News was launched on 3 January, 1860, Mr. Matthews became one of the shareholders and directors and for many years took an active part in the management of that, the first daily newspaper in Plymouth. He died on 4 April, 1914, at the age of eighty-six, leaving a widow (who was a Miss Coryndon), three sons and a daughter.