PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
||
 |
|||
|
JOHN SWEET DOIDGE and THOMAS SWEET DOIDGE
Thomas Sweet Doidge was born in Wolborough, Newton Abbot, Devon, on September 14th 1833, the son of Mr John Sweet and Mrs Sarah Doidge. He was baptised at the West Teignmouth Wesleyan Chapel on October 14th 1833. [1] Mr John Sweet Doidge was in business at number 30 Whimple Street, next door to the Naval Bank, by March 1859, where he was the successor to Messrs E Nettleton and G Simms. The prices of books were not fixed by the publishers in those days and he was offering new titles from London and American publishers at a quarter of their stated price. He even offered a discount of 15% off books ordered from London publishers if paid for in cash. [2] The business was taken over by Mr Thomas Sweet Doidge in 1864 and in 1867 he removed the business to 169-170 Union Street, where he commenced allowing discounts off the price of books and consequently built up the largest bookselling establishment in the West of England. [3] He founded Doidge's Western Counties Illustrated Annual in 1869 and continued to publish it until 1900, when it was taken over by Messrs Hoyten & Cole. [4] Mr Thomas Sweet Doidge was married twice, first to Miss Fanny Abbott Toms at Torrignton, Devon, in 1861. She died in 1870. He then married Caroline Crewes, from Camborne in Cornwall, at Mutley Methodist Chapel, Plymouth, on January 28th 1875. Caroline died in 1886. [5] During his lifetime he conducted the Plymouth Young Men's Sunday Afternoon Bible Class but was forced to resign by failing health. Likewise he sat on the Board of Guardians but was forced to stand down. [3] On Saturday May 5th he declared that he was feeling unwell and retired to his home at Brent in the hope that the change of air might relieve his symptoms. This might have been successful had he not been called to his business in Union Street upon some important matter. As this did not conclude until 9pm he stayed the night there and at 5.30am the following morning became unwell. Two doctors were sent for, who declared him to be suffering from congestion of the lungs and liver. He rallied shortly after 8am. [3] Thomas Sweet Doidge passed away peacefully at 5pm on the evening of Friday May 11th 1888. He was only 54 years of age. [3] He was survived by his son and four daughters. Miss Evelyn Fanny Grace Doidge and Miss Lily Toms Doidge, both in their early twenties, took over running the business as John Ellery Toms Doidge was only 8-years-old at the time. [6] Messrs Doidge & Company ceased to trade soon after 1914, in which year they were still at 170 Union Street, Plymouth. Sources (incomplete):
|
|||