Nat Gould

John Philip Beardmore 1879-1960

John Philip Beardmore was born in 1879 at Perry Foot, Peak Forest in Derbyshire, the son of Ralph Beardmore 1833-1910 and his wife née Mary Elizabeth Waterhouse 1837-1915. He was baptised at Peak Forest on 4 January 1880.

When the 1881 Census was taken, his father Ralph Beardmore was farming 762 acres in Peak Forest and employing six men. By 1891 however the family had returned to Stanshope in Alstonefield parish in Staffordshire (1).

By 1901 John Philip Beardmore was a stationer's clerk, boarding at a lodging house with four other boarders in Colchester, Essex. Later he became an employer as a dealer in fancy goods.

In 1910 he married Florence Mottershead at Bridlington in Yorkshire. She was born at Stafford on 19 August 1883, the daughter of Alfred Leonder Mottershead and his wife Hannah Eliza (maiden surname unknown).

When the Census was taken in 1911 they were living in lodgings at 6 Claremont Road, Bishopstone in Bristol, and Florence Beardmore was assisting her husband in his fancy goods business. Afterwards they resided at 26 Elmsleigh Road, Weston-super-Mare in Somerset.

They had a daughter Vera Florence Beardmore, born on 21 January 1912 in Bristol. In 1937 she was married in Bristol to Eric Clarence Atwell, a quarry manager, and died in 1990 aged 78 years at Exeter in Devon.

Her mother Florence Beardmore née Mottershead died on 2 December 1955 at Weston-super-Mare.
Her Will was proved on 23 January 1956 (2).

John Philip Beardmore died a wealthy man on 13 May 1960 at Weston-super-Mare in Somerset.
His Will was proved on 11 July 1960 (3).

(1) The family had previously lived at Stanshope Hall, which with its estate had probably been bought in 1832 by Ralph Beardmore, grandfather of John Philip Beardmore. It had been advertised for sale in that year, then "in the several occupations of Mr. Thomas Buxton, Anthony Austin, and others." Derby Mercury 31 October 1832.
(2) "BEARDMORE Florence of 26 Elmsleigh-road Weston-super-Mare (wife of John Philip Beardmore) died 2 December 1955 Probate Bristol 23 January to the said John Philip Beardmore retired fancy goods dealer and Eric Clarence Atwell quarry manager. Effects £19120 0s 2d." England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1966 (1956) page 465.
(3) "BEARDMORE John Philip of 26 Elmsleigh-road Weston-super-Mare died 13 May 1960 Probate Bristol 11 July to Vera Florence Atwell (wife of Eric Clarence Atwell) and the said Eric Clarence Atwell retired quarry manager. Effects £54478 7s 9d." England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1966 (1960) page 272.