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of

Edward Trapnell. [Obituary]

Trans. Devon Assoc., 1880, Vol XXXV, (1903), p. 41.

by

J. Brooking-Rowe (Ed.)

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1903 Sidmouth meeting. Mr Trapnell’s brief obituary asserts that he was, at the time of his death, head of a large drapery firm in Bideford. The Bideford and District Community Archive (BDCA) indicates that in 1902, the firm of Messrs Trapnell and Merefield of 69 High Street were entered under Trades and Professions as Outfitters.the ocal newspaper, the “Bideford Buzz” for March 2013 (available at the Bideford Archive) has published a lengthy list of “Lost Shops” for the general Bideford area. These were all businesses that had either closed or had moved out of the district in the past 60 years, and included Trapnell’s “Haberdashers” in High Street. Edward Trapnell who headed the firm was during his career, a JP who had also filled a number of relatively important public offices. He appears to have left few accessible personal memorials other than the Association’s sparse obituary. It, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Edward Trapnell. Mr. Edward Trapnell was the head of a large firm of drapers in Bideford. He had filled various public offices; was justice of the peace for the borough, and was greatly respected and esteemed by his fellow-towns- men and all who had any acquaintance with him. He was a member only a short time, having been elected in 1902. He died in January, 1903.