Stanley Spooner

Stanley was the youngest child of Frederick William Spooner, an accountant, and his wife Sarah Ann (formerly Janes).[1]

Frederick William Spooner was born in 1814, at 20, Henry Street, Pentonville, and baptised at Edenham, Lincolnshire, on the 28th of August of that same year.[7] Sarah Ann Janes was born on the 7th of June 1820 in Hoxton New Town, (now just named Hoxton), and baptised on the 30th of June 1820, at St Leonard's, Shoreditch.[8] They were married on the 20th of October 1841, at St Leonard's, Shoreditch. At the time of marriage, Frederick was an accountant, living at Cumming Street. Sarah Ann's address at the time of marriage, was Provost Street, in Hoxton.[9]Stanley had four sisters, three brothers, and one half-brother. His half-brother was born on the 9th of September 1837, at 113, Britannia Street, Hoxton New Town, and was given the same name as Stanley's father.[10]

His father was also a Freemason, and was elected as the Worshipful Master of Enoch Lodge (No.11), on the 13th of December 1854 at the Freemason's Tavern, Great Queen Street, London.[11] Stanley would also later become a Freemason.[12]

Stanley Spooner was born at Campbell-Lodge, in Rosherville, Northfleet, England, on the 20th of November 1856.[2][13][14] The birth was registered on the 1st of January 1857.[1]

On the 8th of May 1858, Frederick William Spooner was named with others, as one of the first auditors of The Railway Benevolent Society. This occurred during a meeting at the London Tavern. At the same meeting, a resolution was carried stating that the society should be called the Railway Benevolent Institution.[15] Frederick was an auditor and accountant of various different companies. Stanley himself would later become an accountant before he became a stockbroker.[12]

On the 7th of April 1861, he was living with his parents and siblings at Woodlands Villa, on Woodlands Road, in Isleworth.[16]

Frederick William Spooner had moved his family to Gravesend by October 1863. Catherine Sarah Spooner, his oldest daughter, was married to Thomas Toller Hurst Daniell.[17]Stanley would later work with Thomas.[18]And Harriet Spooner, Frederick's second oldest daughter, was married to Edward Watson. This double wedding took place at Gravesend on the 10th of October 1863.[19]The Lincolnshire Chronicle on the occasion of these marriages in an article, described Frederick as "F. W. Spooner, Esq., of Dashwood."[19] This is also the same address that was written in the register for his father, when Stanley was baptised on the 25th of July 1865 at St Ethelburga's Bishopsgate, London.[2][20]

On the 2nd of April 1871, Stanley was still living at Dashwood Cottage, Old Down Road, Gravesend with his family and listed as a "Scholar."[21]

He was educated at King's College London , and also in France and Germany.[22]

In 1876 Stanley was living at 55, Great Percy Street, London, and was a Clerk to an accountant named Robert William Hudswell. His offices were at 23, Martin's Lane, Cannon Street, London. The name of his business was Hudswell & Co. In 1875 Robert took up the position of accountant of the Co-operative Credit Bank, Queen Victoria Street, London. On the 5th of February 1876, Stanley was called as a witness at the Mansion House, London. This was in the trial of Richard Banner Oakley, manager of the Co-operative Credit Bank. Richard was accused of obtaining money and securities through false pretenses.[23]

He became a Freemason, and was initiated into the Chiltern Lodge (no. 1470), on the 21st of December 1880. Stanley's occupation was put down as "Accountant", on entering the lodge, and his address was Little Piazza Tavistock Chambers, Covent Garden, Strand, London.[12] In the 1881 Census taken on the 3rd of April, Stanley was still at this address, with his occupation being a "Newspaper Advertising Manager." When the Constitutional Club was formed in 1883, he was one of its original members.[24] Stanley was initiated into the Anglo-American Lodge (no. 2191), on the 21st of May 1889.Their regular meeting place was at the Criterion Restaurant, Piccadilly.[25] His occupation on joining was put down as "Accountant" and his address was 125, Strand, London W.C.[26]

He then applied to be a member of the Stock Exchange, and was posted as a member on the 24th of March 1890.[27] At first Stanley was a clerk, then a stockbroker and a junior partner of Thomas Toller Hurst Daniell, his brother in-law, from April 1891.[18][17] Thomas was also a member of the Anglo-American Lodge. On the 15th of May 1891, it was reported in the London Evening Standard that they were declared defaulters upon the stock exchange. This was due to the fact that George James, a stockbroker from Southport who Hurst, Daniell, Spooner & Co were acting as agents for, absconded and failed to pay losses he made on his account.[28] George James misappropriated £70,000. He was sentenced to five years in prison at Liverpool assizes on the 28th of July 1891.[29] Thomas Toller Hurst Daniell died in Hastings, on the 30th of September 1892. The value of his effects came to just £10.[30]

Stanley Spooner died of Thrombosis at University College Hospital , Gower Street, London, on the 3rd of April 1940. He was buried on the 6th of April 1940 at Brookwood Cemetery.[4][49] Probate was granted on the 10th of June 1940, with the value of his effects coming to £116,064, 6 shillings and 9 pence. Along with Stanley's property at 36, Great Queen Street, he was also of The Leys, little Clacton, Essex, at the time of death.[3] Among bequests in Stanley's Will was one of £5,000 to the Royal Aeronautical Society. This was to set up an aeronautical research scholarship in his name.[50]