John Suckling (1846 - 1918)

Born 24 Jan 1846 in Clerkenwell Middlesex England

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Cornelia (Mills) Suckling — married 20 Mar 1871 in Christchurch New Zealand

Husband of Jane Greenhill (Best) Suckling — married 16 Feb 1904 (to 12 Sep 1917) in Auckland, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 28 Sep 1918 at age 72 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Christine Jones [send private message]

Biography

John was born in 1846. He was the son of Nathaniel Suckling and Nancy Wright. He came to NZ in 1865, joining his brother Nathaniel who came in 1861,; the rest of the family arrived on Xmas Eve 1870. John was one of three brothers that married three Mills sisters. He married Sarah Cornelia Mills in 1871^[1](Her older sister Maria had married John's brother Nathaniel in 1863). He and Nathaniel set up Suckling Bros in Christchurch in 1871

Suckling Bros. (Nathaniel Joseph, and John Suckling), Wholesale Boot and Shoe Manufacturers and Importers, Dundas Street, Christchurch South. Telephone, 354; P.O. Box, 358. Bankers, Union Bank of Australia. Private residences: Mr N. J. Suckling, “Dearsleyhurst,” New Brighton; Mr. J. Suckling, Stanmore Road, Linwood. The large business conducted by this well-known firm was established in 1871; it has been carried on by the present proprietors for over thirty years, and the firm is the oldest in this trade in Christchurch. The premises, which were built especially in brick for the firm, have a floor space of over 12,000 feet. With the exception of the front part of the building, they are on the ground floor, but the front portion is of two stories. The factory contains a valuable plant, comprising the latest machinery invented for the trade, and is driven by a twenty-one horse-power Otto gas engine. Messrs Suckling Bros, were the first to introduce into the colony of New Zealand the “Goodyear” welting and stitching machinery for making facsimiles of hand-sewn boots. The firm makes it a rule, where practicable, to use colonial manufactured leathers. However, it also imports all kinds of fancy leathers direct from Britain, France, Germany, Switzerland, and America. The firm's well-known brand of boots (S. B. in diamond) is a guarantee for the excellence of the quality and workmanship. About 150 hands are employed in connection with Messrs Suckling Bros.' works. Their business extends throughout the colony, and the partners periodically visit the firm's customers.^[2]

After Sarah passed away in 1901, he married 2nd Jane Greenhill Best in 1904 .^[3]

He passed away in 1918 age 72.^[4]

MR JOHN SUCKLING. Mr John Stickling, whoso death occurred on Thursday, was well-known throughout the Dominion to all engaged in the boot and leather trades, and was one of the founders of the local boot manufacturing firm now known as Suckling Bros., Limited. The late Mr Suckling was born in London in 1845, and in 1871, with his brother, started business as boot manufacturers under the style of Messrs N. and J. Suckling and Company; in 1884 the firm's style was altered to Suckling Bros., and in 1914 the firm was converted into a private limited liability company. The late Mr Suckling was of a retiring disposition, and took no active part in public affairs. He built up a business that is well and favourably known from one end of the Dominion to the other. He leaves a family of seven sons and three daughters. ^[5]

Sources

• "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGFB-HHL : 29 July 2017), John Suckling in household of Nathaniel Suckling, Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England; citing Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England, p. 20, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

1. ↑ http://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
   • NZ Marriage registration 1871/5796
2. ↑ The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc03Cycl-t1-body1-d3-d47-d10.html
3. ↑ http://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
   • NZ Marriage registration 1904/3394
4. ↑ http://bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/
   • NZ Death registration 1918/17761
5. ↑ OBITUARY. PRESS, VOLUME LIV, ISSUE 16329, 28 SEPTEMBER 1918, PAGE 4