A doctor and the Medical Officer of Health of St Pancras Borough Council in 1902.
John Frederick Joseph Sykes was born on 5 January 1854, the third of the five children of John Sykes (1811-1879) and Mary Eflat Sykes née Haig (1818-1893). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1854 in the Marylebone Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London). On 29 January 1854 he was baptised in All Souls Church, Marylebone, where the baptismal register confirms his date of birth as 5 January 1854, that his family lived at 280 Regent Street, Marylebone and that his father was a tobacconist.
His four siblings were: George Henry Sykes (1847-1908); Elizabeth Deborah Sykes (1849-1853); Harry Tatton Sykes (1857-1912) and Frank James Sykes (1859-1933).
In the census that was compiled on 2 April 1871 he was shown as aged 17 years and a medical student living at 20 Fitzroy Square, St Pancras, Middlesex (now Greater London), with his parents, his brother George Henry Sykes - an outfitter, his maternal aunt Emma A. Haig, aged 37 years, together with two female domestic servants. His father was described as a sugar merchant.
On 30 April 1880, he was admitted by redemption and without the intervention of a livered company into the Freedom of the City of London. His address was recorded as 20 Fitzroy Square and his occupation was given as a physician.
On 9 November 1880 he was initiated as a freemason into the St James Union Lodge No.211 which met at Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, London. United Grand Lodge of England records show him living at 20 Fitzroy Square and that his occupation was 'M.D.'.
The census that was undertaken on 3 April 1881 shows him as John F. Sykes, M.B. & B.Sc. Edin., M.R.C.S. & L.R.C.P. London, aged 27 years and a medical practitioner, still residing at 20 Fitzroy Square, St Pancras, with his widowed mother - a ladies outfitter, two brothers: Harry Tatton Sykes - an outfitter and Frank James Sykes - a solicitor's articled clerk, together with a cook and a housemaid.
On 14 September 1881 he married Jane Reynolds (1860-1912) at The Parish Church of St Marylebone, Middlesex, where in the marriage register he is shown as of full age, a bachelor and a surgeon, living at 7 Thayer Street, St Marylebone, the son of John Sykes, a tobacconist, whilst his wife was described as of full age and a spinster, living at 21 Dorset Gardens, Brighton, Sussex, the daughter of the deceased John Reynolds, a gentleman.
On 18 January 1888 he was admitted into the Worshipful Company of Cutlers.
The census dated 5 April 1891 describes him as aged 37 years and the Medical Officer of St Pancras. He was residing at 171 Camden Road, St Pancras, London, with his wife and their two children: John Reynolds Sykes (1882-1926) and Frances Haig Sykes (1883-1962) - both listed as scholars, together with a cook and a housemaid.
On 31 March 1891 when the census was taken, he was shown as aged 47 years and a physician (Medical Officer of Health) and he was living at 40 Camden Square, St Pancras, with his wife and their two children: John Reynolds Sykes - a student architect and Frances Haig Sykes, together with a cook and a housemaid.
When he completed his census return form on 2 April 1911 he described himself as aged 57 years and the Borough Council's Medical Officer of Health. He was still residing in the 14 roomed property at 40 Camden Square, St Pancras, with his wife and their two children: John Reynolds Sykes - a pictorial artist and designer and Frances Haig Sykes - an actress and reciter, together with a housemaid and a under housemaid. He also noted that his cook had left his employment the previous week.
His death was registered as aged 59 years in the 1st quarter of 1913 in the Marylebone Registration District, London. Probate records confirm that his address remained as 40 Camden Square, St Pancras and that he died on 28 January 1913 at Weymouth House, Weymouth Street, Portland Place, London. Probate was granted on 7 June 1913 jointly to his children: John Reynolds Sykes - an artist and designer and Frances Haig Green, the wife of Wilfred Arnold Green. His effects were initially recorded as £5,699-2s-8d but were subsequently resworn as £6,055-7s-8d. His in the Camden area.
He is shown as 'John Frederick Joseph Sykes. M.D. D.Sc. Medical Officer of Health' on the foundation stone of Goldington Buildings, Pancras Road, London, NW1.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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