James MATTHEWS, 1865 - 1924
James William Matthews was born on the 17th June 1865 at 3 West Redcliff Crescent, Bedminster, Bristol, England. His father, William Henry Matthews, was a Mariner in the Merchant Service. His mother was Jane Rogers.
He emigrated to Canada in 1890. He became a licentiate of the Royal
Academy and Royal College of Music / (Concert Organist's Diploma).
He married Amy McArthur Macgregor (born on the 29th January 1869 in Kirn, Dunoon to John Macgregor and Sarah Jane Hicks), on 27th of September 1895 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
They lived at 141 Spence Street Winnipeg, and were there at a wedding on 22nd of Feb. 1917, when Annie Edith Yorke married Phillip Henry Gerrish. They lived at 320 Colony Street.
James was a licentiate of the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music / (Concert Organist's Diploma) and worked as a music teacher and, as many music teachers did at the time, described himself as a Professor. He was the organist of the Central Congregational Church in Winnipeg. He was also an adjudicator at the first Edmonton Kiwanis Music Festival in 1908. In the 1901 census he claimed an income of $1,000.
James was a well knows teacher and was frequently mentioned in the Manitoba Free Press. In 1904 a former pupil, Eva M Gray, obtained 1st class distinction by first class honours in the four subjects entered for the Toronto College of Music. In 1907 he was described as "one of our most reliable organ teachers", he was reported as being very busy! In 1908 James was on the executive committee of the Winnipeg Orchestra.
In the 1906
census they were found at 320 Colony, Winnipeg with the three eldest children
one servant and Ellen Hicks, a "boarder" born in 1869 in England and having
emigrated in 1903.
Together they had four children:
· William McGregor Matthews: Born 24th August 1896 in Winnipeg.
· Harold Whitehouse Matthews: Born 18th August 1898 in Winnipeg.
· Joseph Leonard Matthews. Born 1906 in Winnipeg.
· James Hubert Matthews: Born about 1908 in Winnipeg.
Some time after 1907 they moved to 141 Spence Street Winnipeg, and were there at a wedding on 22nd of Feb. 1917, when Annie Edith Yorke married Phillip Henry Gerrish.
In 1915 Jemes's uncle James H Matthews died. He was 72, having been born in Bristol in 1844 and came to Canada in 1881 after living at 115 Dale Road, Birmingham. He moved to California in 1895 and was married to Pricilla with two sons J Lewis Matthews and W H Matthews (born in 1876) and daughter Lucy Mary (born in 1872).
James William Matthews died on the 26th September 1924 at St Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg. He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery.