Tag: The Mall

Frederick Augustus Powell – Draper and House Furnisher

Frederick Augustus Powell came from a large family of Primitive Methodists. Born in 1859 to Primitive Methodist Minister Edward Powell and his wife Martha, Frederick grew up first in Penzance and later in Llanguinder, Breconshire. By 1881 he was living with his uncle and aunt George and Mary Smith in Kennington, Lambeth where he describes himself as a Primitive Methodist Minister.

If Frederick served as a Primitive Methodist Minister he did so for a relatively short period. In 1882 he married Emma Ricks, a young draper’s assistant who lived in College Street, Swindon. By 1889 he had had a change of career and was living 25 Avenue Road where he worked as a commercial traveller. The 1891 census records that he and Emma had four children, Ethelwynne born in Devonport in about 1884, Garnet born in Teignmouth in about 1889 and Hilda 2 and Stanley 9 months old, both born in Swindon.

By 1901 they were living at 75 Hythe Road with two more children, Gladys and Morley, and Emma’s widowed mother Jemima Ricks. Frederick states that his occupation was Manager of a Music Shop and Secretary to a Property Company.

In 1911 the family were living at 8 The Mall. Frederick now worked as a Draper and House Furnisher. Emma states that they have been married 28 years and of their 7 children 4 were living and 3 had died.

Frederick Augustus Powell died aged 68 years at the Glenwood Nursing Home, Swindon on Tuesday November 6, 1928. He had survived four of his adult children. Edward Garnet died in 1900; Frederick Charles Stanley in 1901; Emma Ethelwynne in 1913 and Ernest Morley in 1914. The four siblings are buried together in Radnor Street Cemetery in grave plot C56.

Frederick was buried on November 8, in grave plot D262. Emma died in 1934 and was buried with her husband.

Death of Mr F.A. Powell – The death took place on Tuesday morning, at the Glenwood Nursing Home, of Mr. Frederick Augustus Powell, of 8, The Mall, at the age of 68 years. For some time Mr. Powell had not enjoyed the best of health, and on Thursday he underwent an operation. He was a native of Penzance, and came to Swindon when quite a youth. For a considerable time he was the musical instrument manager for Mr. L.L. Morse, of Regent Street. About 28 years ago he commenced business on his own account as a draper and furnisher in Commercial Road. He was a member of the Swindon Chamber of Commerce, and President of the Swindon branch of the Credit Traders’ Association. He leaves a widow and two daughters.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, November 9, 1928

Funeral of Mr F.A. Powell

The funeral of the late Mr F.A. Powell, who for many years carried on business as house furnishers, at 74 and 75 Commercial road, Swindon, took place at the Radnor street cemetery yesterday. Mr Powell, who was 68 years of age, only retired from business a short time ago. He is survived by his widow and two daughters. The service was conducted in the little chapel in the cemetery by the Rev. H. Baird Turner, Wesleyan Superintendent minister, who also officiated at the graveside.

The mourners were Miss Hilda Powell and Miss Gladys Powell (daughters), Mr A.S. Redwood (of Chippenham) Mr W.G. Selwood (who succeeds to the business) Mr H.G. Ford and Miss Woolford (representing the staff at Commercial road), Mrs W.H. Trowbridge, Messrs F. Winslow, L. Winslow, A.W. Hamilton, B. Adams, W.S. Wiltshire and H. Bristow. There were many beautiful wreaths sent, including one from the Swindon Chamber of Committee, [Commerce], of which deceased had been a member for many years.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, November 9, 1928.

Sadly, the two Powell family graves are unmarked.

Frederick and Emma Powell are buried in this area.

The four Powell siblings are buried in this area.

Mabel Maria Edith Summers Morris

On January 18, 1905 Mabel Plaister married William Summers Morris at St. Mark’s Church. William was the grandson of William Morris, founder of the Swindon Advertiser. Their son was born on March 22, 1906. Two months after the birth of their baby William Summers Morris was found drowned in the Thames at Molesey Lock near Hampton Court. He had been missing from his Swindon home for a week.

Mabel Maria Edith Catherine Harriett was the fourth child and eldest daughter of James Plaister and his wife Symper Rosa. The couple’s first three children were born in Wolverhampton. By the time of Mabel’s birth they were living in Swindon, although Mabel was baptised at St Barnabas’ Church, Bristol on June 1, 1879.

At the time of the 1881 census the family were living at 20 Read Street, alongside the canal. Ten years later James and Symper Rosa had moved to 1 Park Terrace with their nine children, Sarah Terry who was Symper Rosa’s niece and a boarder William Preston, a Steam Engine Fitter and Turner. James was employed as a railway clerk in the Works where five of his sons would follow him. Daughters Rosa and Lilian both became schoolteachers but the census returns make no record of Mabel’s occupation. Perhaps as the eldest daughter she was consigned to a domestic role helping her mother.

Following the discovery of his brother-in-law, Charles A. Plaister travelled to Surrey where he identified the body and appeared as a witness at the inquest. Here he read a very long statement written by William before his death in which he expressed sorrow and regret for the action he had taken. He referred to his financial difficulties and said he had been pressed by his creditors, which led him to take the step he did.

Mr F.A. Morris, William’s uncle, said his nephew had never spoken of any financial difficulties and that family members would have helped in any way they could had they known. William’s stationery, newsagents and book seller’s business appeared to be doing well.

The coroner suggested a verdict of “found drowned” which the jury duly returned.

But what happened to Mabel? Well, first she buried her husband. William’s funeral took place on June 2 at St. Mark’s, the church where they had been married less than 18 months previously. Two weeks later she had her three month old baby son baptised William James George Summers Morris at the same church. Then like other women in her position, she got on with the job of living and raising her young child.

In 1911 Mabel and her five year old son were living with the large Plaister family at 26 The Mall, Swindon. She never remarried and at the time of her death in 1936 she was still living at 26 The Mall with her two unmarried sisters, Lilian and Rosa. She was buried with her husband and her parents in a large double plot D105/6. Her sisters joined them when Rosa died in 1962 and Lilian in 1963.

Mabel’s will was proved at Winchester on May 4 with probate going to her brother Charles Anthony Plaister, a retired stores superintendent, who had served as Mayor of Swindon in 1918/1919. Her effects were valued at £274 5s 10d.