John Sinclair (buried 1907)

At a glance

At a glance
Surname: 
Sinclair
First name: 
John
Other Christian names: 
Oswald
Gender: 
Male
Burial number: 
547
Born: 
0/0/1839
Died: 
03/11/1907
Buried: 
07/11/1907
Occupation: 
Warrant Officer, Royal Field Artillery; Licensed Victualler;
Heene Hallmark: 
No
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
Cemetery area: 
SWS
Cemetery row: 
6
Cemetery plot: 
26
what3words location: 
https://what3words.com/note.zest.depend
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Headstone inscription: 
In ever loving memory of John Oswald Sinclair late Royal Artillery called to rest Nov. 3rd 1907 aged 67

Life story

Life story

John Oswald Sinclair was born in 1839 in Irvinestown, County Fermanagh, Ireland. His father was Doctor Robert Sinclair, Surgeon. John joined the Royal Field Artillery early in life, and after completing foreign service, in Mauritius, Burma, and Bangalore, he retired as a Warrant Officer. Whilst in Bangalore, he met and married Charlotte Ann Boswell, at St. John's Church, on 1st March 1864; she was 18yrs of age and had been born in the East Indies. They returned to England and settled in Worthing, where John became a licensed victualler, managing the Montague Arms, an Inn in Sompting, and finally, the Downview Hotel. John and Charlotte had 3 children, Emily b.1874, Florence b. 1877, and John b. 1882.

John was a prominent Freemason in Worthing, Shoreham and Brighton, he was also involved in local affairs, standing twice, unsuccessfully, for election. He died at the Downview Hotel, on 3rd November 1907, aged 67yrs. Administration was granted to Charlotte Ann Sinclair, widow, effects £1513 12s 9d. Value 2021 - £186K.

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
00/00/1839
Marriage
Marriage 1
Spouse one first names: 
Charlotte Ann
Spouse one last name: 
Boswell
Marriage one date: 
01/03/1864
Marriage one address: 
Bangalore, India

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
03/11/1907
Age (at time of death): 
67
Cause of death: 
Unknown
Address at time of death: 
Downview Hotel, Downview Road, Worthing, Sussex, England
Usual address at death: 
Downview Hotel, Downview Road, Worthing, Sussex, England
Obituary

Worthing Gazette – Wednesday 6th November 1907. Obituary. An old and highly respected resident of the town has this week passed away in the person of Mr. John Oswald Sinclair, the licensee of the Downview Hotel, West Worthing. The deceased, who was sixty-seven years of age, had been ailing for some time past, but his death, early on Sunday morning. was sudden, and to a certain extent unexpected. At six o'clock, when he spoke to his wife, he appeared to be in his usual health, but an hour later, when a cup of coffee was taken to him, life was found to be extinct, his death, which is attributed to heart disease. having apparently occurred while he was asleep. Born at Irvinestown in County Fermanagh, Ireland, where his father was in practice as a surgeon, Mr. Sinclair. who was a man of fine physique, joined the Royal Field Artillery early in life, and after a good deal of foreign service, in Mauritius, Burma, and Bangalore, he eventually retired with the well earned pension of a Warrant Officer. Shortly after leaving the Army, he took his residence in Worthing, thirty years ago; and prior to the opening of the Downview Hotel, seventeen years since, he held the licence of the Montague Hotel. He also kept a licensed house at Sompting. Taking as he did a keen interest in local affairs, he stood as a candidate for the old Local Board on two occasions, namely, in 1886 and 1887, but on neither occasion was he successful in getting returned. A prominent Freemason, he was one of the founders of the St. Mary of the Harbour Lodge at Shoreham, and a member of the Yarborough Chapter and Burrell Lodge at Brighton, and of the Worthing Lodge of Friendship; and he was also a Life Governor of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys. A widow, one son, and two daughters (one of whom is married, and resides in India), are left to mourn his loss. The funeral has been fixed for tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon, at a quarter to three at Heene Church, the cortege leaving the house at half-past two. The internment will take place in Heene Cemetery.

 

Personal effects
Executors: 
Charlotte Ann Sinclair status: Widow
Probate pounds: 
£1,513

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1881 census: 

Living at the Montague Arms, 127, Montague St., Worthing. John Sinclair, 43yrs, Licensed Victualler, wife, Charlotte, 34yrs, 2 daughters, Emily 7, and Florence 4, plus 4 domestic staff.

1891 census: 

Living at the Montague Arms, 127, Montague St., Worthing. John Sinclair, 52yrs, Wine and Spirit Merchant, son, John 9, daughter, Emily 17, assisting at home, niece, Gertrude Heaysman, 19, Barmaid, plus 2 domestic servants.

1901 census: 

Living at Downview Hotel, Downview Road, Worthing. John O. Sinclair, 61yrs, Wine and Spirit Merchant, wife, Charlotte, 54yrs, Emily, 27yrs, Hospital Nurse, John O., 19yrs, Reg. Surgeons pupil, plus 4 domestic servants.