John Fettes was born on 24 February 1871 at 5 Warner Street, Southwark, Surrey (now Greater London), the second of the seven children of James Thomson Fettes (1843-1916) and Elizabeth Morrison Fettes née David (1844-1902). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1871 in the St Saviour Registration District, Southwark.
He is shown as aged 1 month in the 1871 census, living at 5 Warner Street, Southwark, with his parents and sister, Isabella David Fettes (1869-1927). His father was described as a painter and decorator.
When the 1881 census was undertaken he was shown as aged 10 years and a scholar residing at 2 Bishops Terrace, Lambeth, with his parents and four siblings who were also listed as scholars: Isabella David Fettes; James David Fettes (b.1873); William Simpson Fettes (1875-1948) and Elizabeth Ann Fettes (1877-1944), together with two male lodgers. His father was listed as a house painter.
The 1891 census shows him as aged 20 years and a solicitor's clerk, living at 32 St Mary's Square, Lambeth, with his parents and his six siblings: Isabella David Fettes - a dress maker; James David Fettes - a pocket book maker; William Simpson Fettes - a glass embosser; Elizabeth Ann Fettes - a scholar; Albert George Fettes (1884-1967) - a scholar and Henry Adams Fettes (1889-1968).
He was described as aged 30 years and a solicitor's articled clerk in the 1901 census, living in 4J Oxford and Cambridge Mansions, Marylebone Road, London, with his two sisters.
Electoral registers in 1913 show him listed at 5M Hyde Park Mansions, Transept Street, Marylebone, London.
On 31 July 1915 he married Eveline Ruth Harris (1889-1941) in St Andrew's Church, Greyhound Road, Fulham, London, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 44 years, a bachelor and a solicitor residing at 5M Hyde Park Mansions, whilst his wife was described as aged 28 years and a spinster living at 22 Fairholme Road, Fulham, the daughter of Frederic Ernest Harris, a deceased accountant. They had two children: Jean Eveline Fettes (1916-1988) and David John Vivian Fettes (1919-1998).
From 1914 to 1917 he as the Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of St. Marylebone. The 1915 edition of Kelly's Directory of Marylebone lists him as John Fettes J.P., Mayor of St. Marylebone at both 5M Hyde Park Mansions and at 6 & 7 Portman Street.
The 1920 edition of the Post Office London Directory shows him at 29 Queen's Road, St. John' Wood, London, NW8.
When he completed his 1921 census return form he showed himself as aged 50 years, 4 months and a solicitor whose practice was at 6 & 7 Portman Street, London, W1. He was living in a 12 roomed property at 39 Queen's Road, London, NW8, with his wife, aged 39 years, 11 months and their two children, together with a cook, a house parlourmaid and a children's nurse.
On 24 October 1924 he was admitted into the Worshipful Company of Horners by redemption and on 20 January 1925 applied to be admitted into the Freedom of the City of London by redemption and claiming to be a solicitor occupying premises at 'Roughdown', Watford Road, Northwood, Middlesex (now Greater London).
He represented the borough on the Metropolitan Water Board from 1928 to 1940 and served a as Mayor of the Metropolitan Borough of St. Marylebone in 1933-1935.
In the 1939 England and Wales Register he is listed as a solicitor and a J.P., residing at 28 Abbey Lodge, Park Road, Regents Park, London, NW8 with his wife and children, together with a cook and a house parlourmaid.
His death, aged 73 years, was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1944 in the Watford Registration District, Hertfordshire. Probate records confirm that his address had been 119 North Gate, Regents Park, London and that he died on 16 July 1944 at the Metropolitan Railway Station, Watford, Hertfordshire. Probate was granted to his daughter Jean Eveline Montgomery-Campbell and his brother Albert George Fettes who was an accountant. His effects totalled £28,924-18s-7d.
He is shown as 'ALDERMAN JOHN FETTES Chairman of the Westminster Town Hall Committee' on the Westminster Council House foundation stone in Marylebone Road, London, NW1.
This image is a screen capture from a Pathe News film hosted at . This shows "Amy Johnson ... sitting up on the back of the Bentley with the then Mayor of St Marylebone, John Fettes ... leading the parade at a 1933 Motor Week event."
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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