Introduction

John Willy Matraves was the son of Thomas Matraves, the village blacksmith. After training as a blacksmith, John left home in his mid-twenties and moved to Streatham, where he changed his occupation to coachman. In 1901, he married Emma Trask, a teacher at Hardington School. They had two children who both graduated from King’s College, London.

Early life at Hardington

John was born at Hardington on 26 April 1873, the second of seven children born to Thomas and Mary Matraves. His father was the village blacksmith. “Willy” was his mother’s maiden name.

His childhood was unsettled. When he was ten, his younger brother, Thomas, died from acute laryngitis.^[1] When he was fifteen, his mother died of tuberculosis at the age of 39.^[2] The following year, he had to adjust to life with a new stepmother when his father remarried.

The three oldest boys—John, George, and James—started their careers as blacksmiths. By April 1891, John and James were both working in his father’s forge while George was serving an apprenticeship with his uncle at South Petherton.

In about 1897, Thomas Matraves sold his blacksmithing business and moved to Moulton’s Farm, Haselbury. It was probably then that John and James left home, with John moving to Streatham and James to Farnham. The brothers maintained a close relationship, and on 19 February 1901, James was the best man at John’s wedding at Bournemouth.^[3]

Life at Streatham

On 19 February 1901, John married Emma Trask of Hardington at St Peter’s Church, Bournemouth. Emma was the daughter of George and Harriet Trask, who had lived at Hardington and Pendomer. Before their marriage, she was a teacher at Hardington School.

They established their home at 8 Cunliffe Street, Streatham. John’s occupation was a coachsmith, a trade he pursued for the rest of his life.

By April 1911, they lived at 78 Dahomey Road. By 1919, they were at 26 Corsehill Street and, by 1933, at 130 Ribblesdale Road.

The 1921 census recorded John as an employee of Fairey & Charles, Motor Body Builders of Hayes, Middlesex.

Death

John died on 7 March 1941, at the age of 67, leaving an estate valued at £766-19s-6d.

Emma died on 2 May 1952, at 51 Castallen Avenue, Romford, the home of their son, at the age of 81.

Children

John and Emma had a daughter, Gladys Olive, and a son, Victor John. Both children graduated from King’s College, London and became teachers.

References

[1] Death certificate of Thomas Matraves.

[2] Death certificate of Mary Matraves.

[3] Langport & Somerton Herald, 2 March 1901, p.5.