William Matthews
Born 1809 (Presumed)
Died 3 March 1881
Active: 1837 - 1881
Country of birth and death: England
Wood carver
Born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, possibly on 12 September 1809 (if baptism record is correctly attributed). He was the son of Thomas Matthews, clothier. Little is known of William's early career, except that he was presumably already established as a carver and gilder by 1837 because he married Elizabeth Mason that year. Among Matthews' commissions was executing the wood carving for St. Michael & All Angels' church, Barton-le-Street, Ryedale, North Yorkshire. This church was completely rebuilt in 1869-71, incorporating nearly 300 pieces of 12th century sculpture, by the architect William Perkin (1808-74) of Perkin and Son, a Leeds based practice. The stone carving was carried out by Charles Mawer (see separate entry).
The information about St. Michael & All Angels' church was submitted by Dav Smith and is based on an article in The York Herald, 24 June 1871, p.9.
Wealth at death: £300 0s. 0d.
Probate date: 23 March 1881
Works
Dates are usually the year a work was exhibited so may differ from date of production.
New entries have been made each time a work was exhibited. Click here for more information.
Carved The Last Supper - After Leonardo da Vinci
1880 (Presumed)
Locations
Address St Alban Place Leeds | View on map
1837 (Circa)
Address 14 Calder Street Leeds | View on map
1851 (Circa)
Address 1 Willow Grove Cottages Blundell Street Leeds | View on map
1861 (Circa)
Address St. Ann's Street Leeds | View on map
1866 (Circa) - 1881
Died at this address
Address 16 Crawford Street Leeds | View on map
1871 (Circa) - 1881
Conducted a business at St. Ann's Street Leeds | View on map
Descriptions of Practice
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851
'Wood Carver'
Occupation given in West Yorkshire, England, Marriages and Banns, 1813-1921
'Carver & Gilder'
Occupation given in England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
'Wood carver'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
'Wood Carver - employing 1 Man & 1 Boy'
Occupation given in Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
'Master Wood Carver'
Sources
Catalogue of the Autumn Exhibition (Yorkshire Fine Art Society, Leeds) 1880
1880
Cat. No. 517, pp. 55, xii
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1851
2004
Class: HO107; Piece: 2321; Folio: 822; Page: 20; GSU roll: 87549-87552
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861
2004
RG09 piece 3393 folio 77 page 42
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1871
2004
RG10 piece 4560 folio 80 page 25
Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1840-1940
2008
http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=205898 (accessed 27 November 2012) for information about Perkin and Sons, architects
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966
2010
Name: William Matthews
Probate Date: 23 Mar 1881
Death Date: 3 Mar 1881
Death Place: Yorkshire, England
Registry: Wakefield
Kelly's Directory of Leeds and Neighbourhood, 1881
1881
p. 363
West Yorkshire, England, Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1512-1812
2011
Name: William Matthews
Event Date: 4 Oct 1809
Event Type: Baptism
Parish: Wakefield, All Saints
Father's Name: Thomas Matthews
Mother's Name: Mary Matthews
West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; Old Reference Number: D3/9; New Reference Number: WDP3/1/9. [NB this is assumed to be the correct William Matthews but requires additional confirmation.]
West Yorkshire, England, Marriages and Banns, 1813-1921
2011
Name: William Matthews
Age: Full Age
Marriage or Bann Date: 10 Dec 1837
Parish: Leeds, St Peter
Father's Name: Thomas Matthews
Spouse's Name: Elizabeth Mason
Spouse's Father's Name: Jonathan Mason
Citing this record
'William Matthews', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib5_1206304591, accessed 25 May 2022]
