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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 02 Aug 1905
Page 3 Column 4
DEATH OF MR. REGINALD BARNICOTT.
Very genuine regret has been caused by the death of Mr. Reginald BARNICOTT, one of Taunton's most prominent townsmen, which took place at his residence, Hill Rise, Wilton, on Tuesday evening, from Bright's disease, after an illness of considerable duration. The deceased gentleman, who was very highly respected, was born at Taunton on October 5th, 1844, and was, therefore, in his 61st year. He was educated at the Wesleyan Collegiate School, now Queen's College, at which his brother, Mr. Aldus BARNICOTT, who now resides in Surrey, was one of the first scholars. After leaving school he associated himself with the Temple and Victoria Wesleyan Chapels, and with his brother, the Rev. Alinthius BARNICOTT, who is now a Church of England clergyman at Worthing, and Mr. William FRENCH was largely instrumental in forming the Victoria Sunday School. He assisted his father in the printing and stationary business in Fore-street, and in 1871, when he married Miss Amelia Allen SLATER, daughter of the Rev. W. P. SLATER, a governor of Queen's College, he became a partner. On the death of his father in 1876 he took sole charge of the business and subsequently went into partnership with Mr. E. PEARCE, the title of the firm thereupon being changed to Messrs. Barnicott & Pearce. He took a very great interest in all that concerned his native town, and had a wonderful knowledge of the history thereof. He had been chairman of the Taunton Market Trustees, one of the governing bodies of the town, and was, up to the time of his death, the vice-chairman of the Taunton Gas Light and Coke Company. He was a staunch Conservative, and one of the leaders of the Wesleyan denomination in West Somerset. For many years he was superintendent of the Temple Wesleyan Sunday School. He possessed considerable musical abilities, as indicated by the fact that he was for years choirmaster of the Temple Chapel, and was the composer of several hymns and tunes, principally for the Sunday School anniversary. He also drew up the specifications for the Temple Chapel organ, which was opened by Mr. G. RISELEY, of Bristol. He was a member of the old Taunton Philharmonic Society, and had a large collection of old part songs and madrigals, and was responsible quite recently, in conjunction with Mr. Cecil SHARP, for the publication of a volume of Somersetshire folk songs. His connection with the Somersetshire Archæological Society extended over 33 years, and although he never held any office he was always keenly alive to, and interested in, the work and aims of the Society. He was, jointly with Mr. E. PEARCE, the publisher of the Society's proceedings, for many years. He was one of the leading members of the Taunton Field Club, of which, with Mr. C. TITE, he was hon. secretary.
Three of his brothers survive him, Mr. Aldus and the Rev. Alinthius BARICOTT, already referred to, and Mr. Adolphus BARNICOTT, now engaged as a farmer in California, and he also leaves a widow and three sons and three daughters to mourn their loss, with all of whom the deepest sympathy is felt.
THE FUNERAL.
The funeral took place at St. Mary's Cemetery on Thursday afternoon amid every evidence of general sympathy and mourning on the part of Mr. BARNICOTT's fellow townsmen and many friends. The cortege started from Hill Rise, Haines Hill, the residence of deceased, at 2.30 p.m. Immediately after the hearse walked the employees at Messrs. Barnicott & Pearce's establishment, while in addition to the long line of carriages a large number of tradesmen and others followed, these including former members of the Temple choir, with whom Mr. BARNICOTT was once associated as choirmaster. The chief mourners were Mr. R. S. BARNICOTT and Mr. P. J. BARNICOTT, sons, Mr. A. M. BARNICOTT, brother, Mr. J. A. BARNICOTT, nephew, Mr. A. S. WAY, brother-in-law, Mr. Alfred SLATER and Mr. Sidney SLATER, brothers-in-law, Mr. Edwin PEARCE, partner, and Mr. R. J. S. STENLAKE. There was a large number present at the Cemetery to pay the last tribute of sympathy and respect to one with whom many of them had been associated either in his public or private life, and they included the Mayor (Councillor Josiah LEWIS), Alderman J. G. VILE, W. POTTER, W. GOODLAND, and J. P. SIBLEY, the Rev. J. JENKIN (formerly minister at Temple Chapel), the Rev. W. P. SOUTHBY (curate of Wilton), the Rev. J. M. BROWNE, the Rev. Alfred TAYLOR, Mr. G. H. KITE (town clerk), Mr. Eland CLATWORTHY), (chairman of the Taunton Market Trust), Mr. Arthur STEEVENS(a former chairman of the market trust), Mr. C. J. GOODLAND, Mr. George SAUNDERS, Mr.Wm. POOLE, Mr. T. S. PENNY, Mr. Archibald CHANNING, Mr. F. W. BAKER, Mr. J. S. WINSOR, Mr. A. S. HASLAM, and Messrs. G. Manners HERD and H. C. SIMES, of Queen's College, Mr. Wm. WATERMAN, Mr. H. FRANKLIN, Mr. O. G. WALTER, of Wellington, Mr. W. A. STENLAKE, Mr. G. SALMON, Mr. W. H. WAKE (clerk to the market trust), Mr. E. SPRANKLIN, Mr. H. MITCHELL, Mr. Robert BRUFORD, of Nerrols, Mr. W. MIDELTON, Mr. J. E. MINS, Mr. Murray LEWIS, Mr. W. DRAYTON, Mr. E. J. HUDDY, Mr. F. J. PAYNE, Mr. A. EDWARDS (manager of the Taunton gas works), Mr. W. H. FISHER, Mr. G. HINTON, Mr. F. C. WICKENDEN, Mr. W. H. FISHER, Mr. G. CLARKE (headmaster of Temple School), Mr. Stanley BROWN, Mr. S. FISHER, Mr. W. C. FRENCH, Mr. S. P. HADDY, and others. The Somerset Archæological Society and the Taunton Field Club were represented by the Rev. D. P. ALFORD (president of the Taunton Field Club), Mr. Charles TITE (one of the hon. Secretaries of the S.A.S. and the T.F.C.), and Mr. H. St. George GRAY (assistant secretary and curator to the S.A.S.).
The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. S. J. P. DUNMAN and the Rev. R. A. ELLIS, of Temple Chapel, and the first portion was read in the Cemetary Chapel. After reading the lesson from I. Corinthians, xv., 20-58, the Rev. S. J. P. DUNMAN remarked that there were many things one would like to say in regard to the late Mr. BARNICOTT, and, God willing, such an opportunity would be afforded on Sunday week at the evening service at the Temple. All those present were met with a sense of personal loss, and desiring to show their deep sympathy and respect. They knew what Mr. BARNICOTT had been to the church in the various offices he had held as choirmaster and Sunday School superintendent. There were, he thought, many present who knew more than he did of Mr. BARNICOTT, and who knew what he had done for their town, in the welfare of which he was intensely interested. He (Mr. DUNMAN) must say that the victory was Mr. BARNICOTT's, and that during his last long trial of illness he was, to use his own words, at peace. They had no doubt as to where he had gone, and were not laying him in the grave, for he was with Jesus Christ, which was far better than being in that world. They had no doubt of that, and knew that he had no longer any of the trials, difficulties, and disadvantages of the human life, having entered now upon perfect happiness. He was sure their sympathies went out to those who had been so bereaved. A very appropriate prayer was then recited, followed by the Lord's Prayer, after which the coffin was borne to the graveside, where the concluding portion of the burial service was read.
The coffin was of plain oak, with heavy brass fittings, and the inscription engraved upon the breastplate was “Reginald Barnicott, born October 5th, 1844, died, July 25th, 1905.”
There were no flowers by request.
The arrangements for he funeral were entrusted to Messrs. Alfred Lewis & Son, of Fore-street, Taunton.