Sylvanus Wear

[Wesley29]

Does anyone know anything about a man called Sylvanus Wear? I am aware that he came from Felton and there is an entry about him on Wikipedia.

Thank you!

[janwhin]

Blimey Wesley 29, you certainly come up with them

I've had a look on the 1861 census and it seems his father was the miller (probably owner) of Felton mills at Felton Park. I'll have a look see in the newspapers.

[Wesley29]

Thank you. I'll look forward to see what you can unearth.

[janwhin]

Son of Thomas and Phillis Wear, born at Felton in 1858. Thomas was a miller, born at Corsenside.

Sylvanus married Mary (Minnie) Cooke Duff on 7 November 1888 at Fisherwick Presbyterian Church, Belfast.

Sylvanus died on 13 November 1920 in Belfast. His home was 19 Hopefield Avenue and probate went to his wife, Mary Cooke Wear and Mary Kathleen Blair )presumably his daughter).

[janwhin]

Thomas was the son of another Sylvanus of West Woodburn Mill, Corsenside. It seems that this Sylvanus had been a miller and dyer along with his brother and nephew. They appear to have become bankrupt in 1840/1841. His nephew set up as a miller again but in Rothbury.
Sylvanus Senr. died in 1868 at West Woodburn. He had been married a couple of times and on the 1851 census had 12 children at home. These included Thomas and his brother Edward, both millers. By 1861 both of them were at Felton Park, Edward being a miller's clerk, unmarried.

[Al88c]

If a "miller and dyer" would that be fullers (cloth) miller?

[janwhin]

I believe so. Sylvanus Senior on the 1851 census is a "late manufacturer" which would imply that.
The Felton set up was flour milling.

[Wesley29]

Do you know if he came back to England after his marriage? According to my parents' house deeds there is a Sylvanus Wear (miller) living in the house in the early 1900s. Would this be the same one, a relative or a Lone Ranger with no connection at all?

[janwhin]

According to the 1911 Irish census, Sylvanus was a retired flour miller living in Belfast. His daughter, born about 1890 was born in England, so it looks likely that he was in England after his marriage. She was born in the West Derby, Lancashire registration district, which I think is round the Liverpool area. Maybe he owned the property but was not necessarily resident?

[Wesley29]

Thank you!