Watkins, John

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Watkins, John

1789-1876

John Watkins, hardware merchant and philanthropist, was born at Wormsley, Hereford, England 1789 and died at Kingston, June 19, 1876. His wife Elizabeth Strange, was born at Albany, New York, June 14, 1813 and died at Kingston, June 7, 1864.

Watkins was in Kingston as early as 1819 when he leased property on King Street just south of Princess from Henry Cassady. In 1824, Watkins contracted to build a home on that location. Watkins developed other property on King Street but his commercial premises was at #71-73 Princess Street. Watkins did business there as John Watkins and Company, Importers of Hardware, Cutlery and Dealers in Ship Chandlery, Oils, etc. Watkins also had a partnership with Thomas Dennis Harris, a Toronto iron monger from 1832-1838, but in Kingston he was a partner and joint trader as iron monger with Samuel Muckleston from 1834-1853, at which point Muckleston took over the business.

When Watkins died he left part of his estate to family members, but he also left money to three Anglican parishes in Kingston, the poor of St. George's, his native parish in England, Queen's College - where he also established scholarships, Kingston General Hospital, the Orphan's Home, the House of Industry and his servants.

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