Mathew CHIPLING

The Western Times; Exeter
Friday, March 18, 1870

Page 8

BIRTHS

CHIPLING. — March 9, at Wellington, the wife of Mr. Matthew Chipling, of the Ship, of a son.

The Taunton Courier
Wednesday, March 23, 1870

Page 4

BIRTHS

March 9, the wife of Mr. Matthew Chipling, the Ship inn, Wellington, of a son.

The Taunton Courier
Wednesday, August 16, 1871

Page 4

BIRTHS

August 4, at the Ship Inn, Wellington, the wife of Mr Matthew Chipling, of a daughter.

The Taunton Courier
Wednesday, March 19, 1890

Page 3

WELLINGTON

The Squirrel Hotel was offered for sale by auction by Mr Mildon on Tuesday March 11th. The highest bidding was £3,150, and as this did not reach the reserve price the property was withdrawn. The property has since been sold by private treaty to Mr Matthew Chipling, of the Ship Inn, Wellington.

West Somerset Free Press
7 December 1912

Sensational Suicide at Wellington

Hotel-Keeper's Son Found With Throat Cut

Consternation was created in Wellington on Wednesday morning by the report of the suicide of Mr. Ernest A. Chipling, son of Mr. Matthew Chipling, of the Squirrel Hotel. For some time past, Mr. Chipling, who was a very steady young fellow and highly respected, had been lodging with Mr. Hawkings of Springfield-road.

On Tuesday morning he was busily engaged in the cattle market on business connected with the hotel, and he also attended the afternoon fat stock show dinner in the afternoon. He appeared to his friends to be in his usual state of health. In the evening he returned to hia lodgings, and retired to bed about midnight, when he wished Mt Hawkings goodnight, and said he would see him again in the morning, when he would rise early.

Nothing was heard of him during the night, but on Mr. Hawkings going downstairs between six and seven o'clock on Wednesday morning he was horrified to find Mr. Chipling sitting in the outside w.c. in his pyjamas with his throat cut from ear to ear. The wound had apparently ben inflicted a table - knife, which was lying on the floor. The body was warm, but death had taken place.

The inquest was held on Tuesday. Mr. Charles Hawkings, deceased's landlord, said he discovered a letter addressed to Chipling's brother Frank, which he delivered as quickly as possible. The letter which was written in pencil, stated that deceased had left his affairs in the hands of Mr. Booker, solicitor, of Wellington, to whom he requested his brother to apply.

Mr. Booker said Chipling went to his office the day before he committed suicide. He was in a most depressed state, and it was difficult to cheer him up at all. He was worried at being unable to obtain constant employment.

The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide during temporary insanity."

The Taunton Courier
Wednesday, May 10, 1916

Page 6

Wellington Rural District Claims.

Mr. Matthew Chipling, proprietor of the Squirrel Hotel, Wellington, appealed for his son, Frank Leonard Chipling (28), unmarried, who is managing the hotel.--Mr. Booker supported the appeal.—The local tribunal, in refusing the application, said that the management of the hotel had been largely conducted by Mrs. Chipling, and there was another son and a daughter in the business.—Mr. Frank Chipling, in reply to Mr. Booker, said the hotel was owned and occupied by his father, who had been there over 25 years. There 25 Bedrooms in the hotel, and commercial travellers and motorists regularly put ujp there. They also had a large paddock of three acres, also stabling and garage, They had a 'bus running daily to and from the station, also a motor-car which was let on hire. The business done by the hotel was very considerable and included a good bar trade, there being no licensing restrictions at Wellington. His father was 73 years of age and was bed-ridden, and his mother could not possibly carry on the manament of the business without him. It was owing to the death of his brother, Ernest, and the illness of his father that he came home from America to manage the hotel. His brother Walter (medically unfit), who went to America with him, had since come home to help with the work, as they could not possibly get a man.—Mr. Booker submitted that this was a case for conditional exemption as long as the circumstances remained as at present. — Six months' granted, and appellant advised to train Mr. Walter Chipling to take his place, the Chairman remarking that he was better qualified for a home job.

The Western Times
Friday, November 12, 1920

Page 11

DEATH OF "MATT" CHIPLING

Well-Known Wellington Sportsman and Hotel Proprietor

Large numbers of people, besides residents in Wellington and district, will learn with feelings of sorrow that Mr. Matthew Chipling, the much respected and well-known proprietor of the Squirrel Hotel, Wellington, Somerset, has died, at the age of 77 years, and will extend their sincere sympathy to the widow, sons and daughters of the deceased. "Matt," as he was jocularly named, was landlord of the Squirrel for 31 years, and before that he was at the Ship Inn for 19 years, making a total of fifty years as a licensed victualler in the town. Before that, he was connected with the Nynehead Estate, in the days of the late Mr. E. A. Sandford. When a young man, he took a keen interest in hunting and shooting, and he was regarded as an authority on horses, being often seen at the Exeter Repository, purchasing noting but the best animals. In recent years Mr. Chipling had not enjoyed good health, and he was confined to his bed for a good part of this time.

The funeral took place at Wellington Cemetery, and was conducted by Rev. W. H. Williams, of the Parish Church.

The Devon and Exeter Gazette
Friday, April 29, 1921

The Somerset Standard
Friday, May 13, 1921

Page 11

£7,000 FOR WELLINGTON HOTEL

Considerable interest was taken in the offer by auction by Messrs W. R. J. Greenslade and Co., of Taunton, of the Squirrel Hotel, Wellington, a well-known old established fully-licensed house, which has been under tbe management of the Chipling family, by whom it is at present owned, for upwards of 30 years. The sale was rendered necessary by the death few months ago of Mr. Mattbew Chipling. The hotel is situated in Fore Street, in the centre of the town, and on the main Exeter-Taunton road. Bidding commenced at £3,000, and the property was withdrawn, being afterwards sold privately to Caterers, Limited, of Bloomsbury, London. W.C. for £ 7,000.