Mr Joseph Montague died at a Torquay nursery home on Wednesday 5th January 1944. He was aged 87.
Joseph Montague, the son of Francis Montague and Hannah Montague, was born at Mells, Somerset, in 1857. Francis Montague, born at Mells, was an edge tool maker. Hannah Montague, born at Mells, was a general shop keeper.
For many years Joseph Montague was a “coach wheeler,” held in esteem by his employer Mr James Wise, coach builder, at East Street, Warminster – “a trade which entailed the highest craftmanship.”
Joseph Montague married Ellen Cooper at the Parish Church of St. Denys, The Minster, Warminster, on 18th September 1882. The officiating clergyman was the Rev. Sir James Erasmus Philipps. The witnesses were Albert Cooper and Mary Wildeman.
Ellen was born at Boscombe, Wiltshire, in 1861. She was the daughter of labourer William Cooper.
Joseph and Ellen had one daughter, Ellen May Montague (born at Warminster). At the time of the 1911 census, Ellen May Montague, then aged 26, was working as a dressmaker, at home (on her own account) – something she had done for a living for at least 10 years.
The 1911 Census also records Joseph’s mother-in-law, Sarah Cooper, living with Joseph, Ellen, and Ellen May, at 28 Boreham Road, Warminster. Sarah Cooper, then aged 77 and a widow, was born at Deverill, near Warminster.
Ellen May Montague married William G.S. Brooking at the Parish Church of St. Denys, The Minster, Warminster, during the latter part of 1920.
Joseph and Ellen Montague resided at 28 Boreham Road, Warminster, for 53 years, before moving to Torquay, to live with their daughter Ellen May and son-in-law, at 72 Sherwell Hill, Chelston.
Joseph Montague’s obituary noted that he was “Universally liked by a large circle of friends in Warminster. Mr Montague was the type of a real old English gentleman. He had suffered a long and painful illness which he accepted most patiently.”