John Henry Silley OBE was a marine engineer and businessman. Born Monmouthshire. First came to London in 1892 to go to sea in a steamer.
Chairman and Managing Director of R. and H. Green and Silley Weir, Ltd., based in Blackwall, which primarily repaired ships on the Thames. Also instrumental in developing Falmouth as a ship repairing centre and was a director of Cox & Co. (Engineers), Limited, Falmouth, and of the Falmouth Docks and Engineering Company. President of the Institute of Marine Engineers.
describes Silley as "...an important benefactor of the Red Triangle Club."
1920 Treasurer of the .
: "In 1939 a society, financed by John H. Silley, was formed to provide homes for aged persons with incomes not exceeding 15s. a week. Eight houses for married couples and twelve single dwellings were built ... which are in Margaret Close and Margaret Road, off Lindsey Street {Epping}."
has a page on Jubilee Crescent E14: "Silley had already built some dwellings for his workers in Falmouth and chose the Isle of Dogs to build a series of dwellings {for his Blackwall workers} that would mark King George V’s Silver Jubilee. ... John Silley was a committed Christian who contributed toward the YMCA and numerous other charities... firm went into decline and in 1977 was sold to become part of the Government-owned River Thames Shiprepairers."
Other sources: and , who first put us on to the connection between Silley and the Red Triangle Club Plaistow.
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, states that John Henry Silley was born on 12 April 1872 in Chepstow, County of Monmouth, England (now Gwent, Wales). He was a son of Henry Silley (1842-1912) and Mary Jane Silley née Lewis (1844-1900). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1872 in the Chepstow Registration District.
In the 1881 census he is shown as John Henry Silley, aged 8 years and a scholar, living at Tutshill, Tidenham, Gloucestershire, with his parents and four of his siblings: Elizabeth Jane Silley (1866-1946); Caroline J. Silley (1875-1946); Johanna Silley (1878-1952) and George Frederick Silley (1881-1980). His father was described a bolt and nut smith.
When the 1891 census was undertaken, he was shown as John Silley, aged 18 years and an engine fitter, boarding in a cottage in Tutshill, Tidenham, the family home of George and Mary Robbins. A bicycle sales advertisement in the South Wales Echo newspaper dated 18 June 1891 shows him as J. H. Silley, Cycle Agent, Tutshill, Chepstow.
In the 3rd quarter of 1898 he married Margaret Susan Hawkesford (1871-1962) in St Matthew's Church, East Stonehouse, Devon. They had four children: Henry Arthur John Silley (1899-1972); Bernard Lawrence Silley (1902-1952); Kathleen Lois Silley (1903-1984) and Constance Margaret Silley (1904-1996).
The 1910 edition of Kelly's Directory of Leytonstone, Wanstead and Snaresbrook, lists him at 59 Cleveland Road, Snaresbrook, Essex (now Greater London). This address was shown as a nine roomed property on the 1911 census return form he completed in which described himself as aged 39 years and a marine engineer employing workers in engineering and ship repairing. He was living there with his wife and their three youngest children, together with a cook.
In the 1939 England and Wales register he is listed as a Director, Falmouth Dock and living at 'Elliskit', Kerrier, Cornwall, with his five, their daughter Constance and her husband Frederick Graham Carter (1892-1970), together with a butler, a cook and a nurse.
Probate records show his addresses as Theydon Grove, Epping, Essex and Elliskit, Port Navas, Cornwall and that he died, aged 68 years, at the latter address on 24 January 1941. His death was registered in 1st quarter of 1941 in the Falmouth Registration District, Cornwall and his body was in Epping Cemetery, Bury Lane, Epping, CM16 5HT. Probate was granted on 6 June 1941 to his widow and his two sons, who were both referred to as company directors. His effects totalled £98,350-14s-9d.
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