PLYMOUTH |
The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History |
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William Burnell was born at Plymouth Dock (Devonport) in about 1786. On January 1st 1810 he married Miss Ann Hodge at Stoke Damerel Church. With his younger brother, Mr John Burnell, he ran a grocery business at number 4 Bilbury Street. It had been founded in 1797 but is not yet clear who started it. By the 1840s it had become Messrs Burnell, Brown and Nicholson, wholesale grocers. At the time of his death he was the chairman of the British and Irish Sugar Refining Comapny, a director of the South Devon Shipping Company and a director of the Plymouth and Stonehouse Gas and Coke Company. Mr Burnell was chosen to be Mayor of Plymouth in 1848-49. Mr William Burnell died at his home, Gilwell House, Plymouth, on Friday August 18th 1876. He was 89 years of age, in fact just one month off his 90th birthday. His remains were interred at the Catherine Street Baptist Chapel.
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