MATTHEWS John Godfrey

Name	John Godfrey MATTHEWS
Country Of Origin	Ireland
Born	1857
Died	1931
Birth/ Baptism	Born approx. 1857, Kilkenny, Ireland
Parents	Godfrey (clockmaker) and Frances Matthews (formerly Dunne)
Apprenticeship	Most likely with his father
Skills	Clockmaker, Watchmaker, Jeweller
Work Locations	Latrobe, Queenstown
Street Address	Gilbert Street, Latrobe
Marriage/Spouse	30 January 1878, Wesleyan Church, Collingwood, Melbourne, Victoria, to Margaretta Seidel
Arrival	Approx. 1870s: Emigration
Other	1872: Opened business, Latrobe. (J G Matthews and later J G Matthews and Sons). 1878: Applied for his younger brother Richard Matthews to emigrate to Tasmania as a bounty immigrant. January 1881: Mr J G Matthews advertised for tenders to build new business premises and a brick dwelling house in Gilbert Street. Devon Herald, 24 August 1881: ‘TOWN TIME. We observe with pleasure that Mr J G Matthews of Gilbert Street, has fixed a large time piece over the door of his new business premises, the want of which at Latrobe, has caused great inconvenience to the public, and more especially to church goers.’ John’s five sons followed in their father’s trade. Godfrey Bernard Matthews John Alfred Matthews Joseph Maxwell Matthews Francis (Frank) Joseph Matthews Bernard Matthews 1919: Sold business to his son Francis (Frank) Joseph Matthews after Frank returned from the war. The business continued under the ownership of the Matthews family until 2012.
Death	11 December 1931, Queenstown Burial: Latrobe Cemetery, Latrobe
References
Tasmania Post Office Directory 1896-1901. TAHO: AD960/1/56 1932. Web: Ancestry: City & Country Guide and Directory, Kilkenny 1884 [Godfrey Matthews]; Ireland, Catholic Parish Register, St Mary’s Kilkenny City 1857; Australian Cemetery Index 1808-2007. The Age 4 February 1878; Devon Herald 8 January 1881, 24 August 1881; North Coast Standard 23 February 1894; Advocate 30 October 1920, 4 June 1924, 14 December 1931, 22 February 1972, 6 February 2012; The Examiner (Launceston) December 1931.