John G, Mollekin, Annie & John Mollekin
My great grandfather, Johann Mölleken (known as John Mollekin) was born in 1866 in Hull, approximately four years after his parents, Johann Mölleken and Henrietta Muehlenweg, had arrived in England after emigrating from Prussia.
John married twice, issuing six children with his first wife, Jennie Slingsby (who died in 1905), who were called, Hilda Annie (1894 to 1974), Gwendoline Henrietta (1896 to 1896), John Gilbert (1897 to 1979), Dorothy (1899 to 1992), Jennie (1903 to 1993) and Enid May (1904 to 1904).
THE DAILY MAIL, MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 1905.
MOLLEKIN. – January 13th, at 112, Mersey-street, the dearly beloved wife of John Mollekin. Friends please accept this (the only) intimation. Interred Western Cemetery, Spring-bank, Tuesday, the 17th.
Saint George’s Church
John married again, to a widow called Annie Walters (nee Stacey), in 1907 in Saint George’s Church, Sheffield. John adopted Annie’s son, Samuel Leslie Walters.
John established his own construction company in Hull some time in the 1890s. In the 1895 Kelly’s Directory for Hull, John is trading as a Joiner under the name of, ‘Mollekin & Smith’. I’m not sure who the ‘Smith’ is, but I know that the family were friends with a Schmidt family. John’s first marriage was in fact witnessed by a Elise Schmidt and his niece married a George Andrew Schmidt.
John built a number of streets in Hull and named a couple after his children. Two of these were called, Dorothy Grove and Gilbert Avenue. Dorothy Grove and Gilbert Avenue were demolished circa 2011.
Les Mollekin
According to his daughter, Dorothy, John ‘fell to pieces’ upon the death of his wife, Jennie, in 1905. This event combined with the burden of looking after four children seemed to contribute to the demise of John’s business. Within one month of Jennie’s death in February 1905, John appears on the payroll of his brother in law’s firm, Slingsby Machinery Merchants.
By 1907, John had left Hull and was residing in Laughton en le Morthen near to Rotherham. Around this time, John’s brother, Hermann (known as Herbert) had been contracted to build houses in Laughton en le Morthen so it is probably safe to assume that it was around this time that John began working with/for his brother. It is not known when John stopped working with Herbert, but in the 1940s my father remembered him working for a joinery company in Rotherham.
John like my father took a keen interest in cricket and would play the game with my father even when he was in his 70s. John was also a keen a supporter of Rotherham United.
When my father was twelve, John gave to him a Belgian pin fire pistol and steel sword that had belonged to John’s parents, presumably to protect them on their voyage to England and potential threats in a foreign land.
John & Annie
It is stated in John’s obituary that he was the first President of Kingston Hull Rovers Football Club. There are numerous newspaper articles published in the late 19th century and early 20th century that make mention of a President called ‘Mr’ Mollekin, but usually no Christian names were given. A couple do state ‘H’ Mollekin and one published in 1898 (published below) states that Herbert was elected President whilst John was elected Vice-President. Herbert moved to Pontefract circa 1896 and became President of their football club. But it is not clear when and which brother held which responsibilities at Hull Kingston Rovers other than in the aforementioned 1898 article. It is worth noting that Herbert Mollekin wasn’t the first President either, so it may be that John was.
Between the 1910s and 1940s, John and his family resided at ‘Rossmoyne’, 81 Rotherham Road, Maltby. After the death of his second wife, John lived with his children and their families. John died at 13 St. John’s Road, Rotherham in 1948, five years after his second wife, Annie, had died. He’d just completed a game of dominoes with his son in law, climbed the stairs to his bedroom, sat on his bed and died.
John (top right hand corner)
THE LATE NURSE MOLLEKIN
The interment took place on Wednesday of Nurse Annie Mollekin, wife of Mr. J. Mollekin, of 81, Rotherham Road, Maltby. She was 81 years of age, and a native of Derbyshire, but had resided in Maltby over 30 years. She had been a nurse for 50 years, and did valuable work for St. Dunstan’s and other organisations. A service was held in the Parish Church, conducted by the Vicar. The mourners included Mr. J. Mollekin (widower), Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Mollekin (son and daughter-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. Webb, Mr. and Mrs. Shearing and Mr. and Mrs. J. Webster (sons-in-law and daughters), Miss Muriel Webb (grand-daughter), Mrs. G. Hardy (Bulwell), Mr. J. Whitaker, Mr. and Mrs. H. Mollekin, Mrs. A. Pearson, Mrs. G. Brown and friends. Floral tributes were sent by ‘Husband and Son,’ ‘Flossie and Walter,’ ‘Jack, Edith and children,’ ‘Fred, Dorothy and Hilda,’ ‘Jennie, Jack, Fred and Leslie,’ ‘Grandchildren, Rotherham,’ ‘Grandchildren, Wickersley,’ ‘Donald, Douglas and Dorothy,’ ‘Nieces and nephews (Merseyside),’ ‘Bert and Daisey,’ ‘Nieces and Nephews (Maltby),’ ‘Dot, George, Doreen and auntie (Bulwell),’ ‘Marion, Percy and children.’
Walliker Street, Hull
Below is a selection of newspaper articles that pertain to John including his obituary.
THE DAILY MAIL, FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 1897
ACCOUNTS, RECEIPTS & LITIGATION.
At the Hull County-court this morning, before Judge Bedwell, John Mollekin, joiner, Walliker-street, brought an action against William Neman for £2 12s 6d for goods supplied. Mr Fieldman was for the plaintiff, and Mr Locking for the defendant. The plaintiff supplied the defendant with timber, worked up into doors, &c., amounting to £20 12s 6d. The defendant paid £13 on account, and there was a dispute as to the balance, the plaintiff making admissions as to the payment of the £13, while the defendant contended that he had paid the plaintiff £15. A number of informal receipts were produced. Mr Holdich suggested that the plaintiff, on one visit to the defendant, said there had been a mistake, and he gave a receipt for £10 instead of £5. He suggested the plaintiff stole this receipt and destroyed it, and that the books had been altered to agree with the new account. His Honour gave judgment for the defendant, beyond the sum paid into Court (£2 12s 6d and costs). Costs to defendant.
Rossmoyne, Maltby
THE DAILY MAIL, TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1899
“ROVERS’ LIMITED?”
SUGGESTIONS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.
A “breeze” was threatened at the onset of last night’s annual meeting of the Kingston Rovers F. C., which was well attended at the Forester’s Hall, by the ex-president, Mr Ward, suggesting that certain matters mentioned in the secretary’s report were a reflection upon the late officials. It was impossible for a former treasurer to make out a detailed report, because at that time they were simply professional footballers working under the amateur cloak. He also desired to know why he and his partner had not received copies of the report. Perhaps it was that they were not wanted.
President H. Mollekin denied that there was truth in Mr Ward’s views, and mentioned that the report under notice was the secretary’s, not that of the treasurer.
John’s Belgian pin fire pistol
The secretary’s report was unanimously adopted, and the treasurer, Mr G. Whitaker, reported that the income had been £1,845 18s 0½d, and the expenditure £1,861 19s 5d being a balance of £16 1s 4½d on the wrong side. The income from gates etc., was £1,743 8s 6½d. Two years ago the subscriptions were £24 11s 6d; now they stood at £102 9s 6d (applause). As to the expenditure, the players’ wages were £602 4s, and other expenses including guarantees, £719 2s 9½d. It was the first time, said the Treasurer, they had been able to publish a true sheet.
On the motion of Mr R. T. Hudson, seconded by Mr H. Walker, it was decided that in future the annual subscriptions to the club be 10s 6d, 7s 6d, and 5s, to admit to the North Stand, the South Stand, and the field only, respectively.
The meeting agreed, on the proposal of Mr H. Walker, seconded by Mr S. Hill, that the club be managed by the president, four vice-presidents, hon. secretary , hon. assistant secretary, hon. treasurer, and a committee of seven members, the captain and vice-captain to be members of the same.
John with grandson Doug
Mr C. H. Savage moved that a second team be run by the club. He believed they could get good men in the city, and would find such a team beneficial to the club.
The President thought it would be advisable to leave the matter to the committee, as the ground would not last for double the number of matches. The ground was not fit.
Chorus of Voices: Let’s have a new ground (hear, hear).
A Voice: Turn the club into a limited liability company.
The President: The committee are alive to your interests.
Mr Cotes seconded the Secretary’s proposal, which was adopted.
The officers appointed were: – President, Mr H. Mollekin; vice-presidents. Messrs R. T. Hudson, W. Roadhouse, J. Mollekin, and J. Newton; hon. secretary, Mr. E. Brinham; hon. treasurer, Mr. G. Whitaker; captain, Mr. A. Kemp; vice-captain, Mr A. Starks; and committee, Messrs B. R. Wilson, H. Walker, G. Gibbs, G. Batty, J. Lovell, C. Bell, and C. T. Savage.
THE DAILY MAIL, FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1901
HULL NEW STREET WORKS.
AND BUILDING OPERATIONS.
A meeting of the Hull Corporation Works Committee was held this afternoon, Alderman Lararard presiding.
13 St. John’s Road, Rotherham (demolished)
It was stated that a Local Government Board inquiry would be held shortly into an application for power to borrow £17,000 for Hedon-road paving, £900 for lavatories in the Market-place, and £6,094 for land at Stepney-lane.
The Medical Officer and City Architect were instructed to report as to whether the City Land Syndicate, Limited, could build on the football field adjoining the Cottingham drain, which it was now proposed to law out as a street.
The following plans were passed: – J. Mollekin (Amended), eight houses, Haltemprice-street and Hawthorn-avenue.
Other plans were also passed for other builders but this article was abridged by Craig Mollekin.
THE DAILY MAIL, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1902
PLANS PASSED: BUILDING TRADE.
The following list of plans approved by the Hull Works’ Committee gives an indication of the position of affairs in the building trade of Hull: –
J. Mollekin, six houses, Liverpool-street.
Other plans were also passed for other builders but this article was abridged by Craig Mollekin.
THE ADVERTISER, SAT., APRIL 10th, 1948
Maltby Cemetery
The death occurred suddenly yesterday week of Mr. John Mollekin, aged 81, late of Maltby, at 13, St. John’s Road, Rotherham, the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. Webster.
In his younger days Mr. Mollekin was a builder at Hull. He was the first president of Hull Kingston Rovers Rugby Football Club, and was also a keen cricketer. He came to reside at Maltby 36 years ago and his wife died there in 1943.
The interment took place on Tuesday in Maltby Cemetery following a service at Wickersley Parish Church conducted by the Rev. W. Sorby Briggs.
The family thank Mrs. P. Grounds for her kindness and generous help; also relatives, friends and neighbours for kindness, sympathy and floral tributes.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Elmore, Doncaster Road, Rotherham.
WEEK 42 