Living
Sex: M
Parents
Father: Living Mother:
Spouses and Children
1. Living Children: 1. William Punton Munn 2. Living 3. Living 4. Living 5. Jessie Kelly MunnJohn Shannon Munn
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 6 Jun 1880 - Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 70,114 Christening: 20 Jun 1880 - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Death: 24 Feb 1918 - Cappahayden, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada ( at age 37) 114 Burial: Cause of Death: Drowned in sinking of the FLORIZELEvents
• Will: From NGB website, 7 Apr 1916, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Will of John Shannon Munn
from Newfoundland will books vol 11 pages 238 to 241 probate year 1918
In re John Shannon Munn deceased
This is the last will and testament of me John Shannon Munn of St. John's in the island of Newfoundland, merchant, and I hereby revoke all former wills made by me,
I bequeath to my wife Alice Mary Munn absolutely my wines, full (?) and other consumable household stores, linen, china and glass, wearing apparel, watches, jewels and personal ornaments.
I bequeath to my said wife so long as she shall remain my widow, the use and enjoyment of my plate, pictures and other articles of household use or moment not hereinbefore bequeathed, and after her decease or future marriage [which shall first happen] I bequeath the same to my daughter Elizabeth Shannon Munn.
I devise and bequeath all the residue of my real and personal estate onto the Honorable Sir Edgar R Bowring, Knight; and William R. Warren of St. John's aforesaid, one of his Majesty's Counsel, upon trust that they or the survivor of them or other of the trustees or trustee for the time being of this my Will [all of whom are herein called "my trustees"] shall hold and deal with the same pursuant to the directions and with the powers hereinafter declared.
My trustees shall as soon as practicable after my death, sell call-in and convert into money all such parts of my estate as shall not consist of money invested in or investments in the business of Bowring Brothers, Limited or C. G. Bowring and Company, Limited, or in any of the businesses allied or connected therewith, and shall out of the proceeds of such sale, calling ins and conversion pay my funeral and testamentaary expenses and debts and the pecuniary legacies hereby and by codicil hereto bequeathed and shall invest the clear residue thereof [which together with the money invested and investments in the businesses hereinbefore mentioned is hereinafter called "my residuary estate"] in any mode of investments in which trustees are allowed by law to invest.
Notwithstanding anything contained in the next preceding paragraph of this my will I hereby authorize and empower my trustees at their discretion to invest all or any part of my residuary estate in the business of Bowring Brothers, Limited or C. G. Bowring & Company, Limited, or in any of the businesses allied or connected therewith.
I direct my trustees to pay the following pecuniary legacies first from the bond hereinbefore mentioned, namely, five hundred dollars to my former nurse Rose Hewardine, five hundred dollars to my cousin and godchild Clifford Randall, one thousand dollars to my mother-in-law, Mrs. J. R. McGowan, five hundred dollars to my aunt Mrs. Herbert Randall.
My trustees shall collect the income arising from my residuary estate [hereinafter called "the income"] and shall pay and distribute the same as follows:-
. My trustees shall pay the income to my wife during her life
[b] Should my wife marry again my trustee shall pay to her the sum of two thousand dollars per year during her life instead of the income in full.
[c] After the death of my said wife, my trustees shall hold my residuary estate in trust for such of my children living at my death, and such of my grandchildren living at my death [and being children of any deceased child of mine], as being male attain the age of twenty-one years; or being female attain that age or marry, in equal shares per (?) stripes as tenants in common
[d] In the event of my said wife marrying again my trustees shall accumulate the balance of the income [after payment of two thousand dollars per annum to my wife] in trust for my children and grandchildren and shall invest the same with my residuary estate.
[e] My trustees may, at their discretion, apply the whole or such part as they shall think fit of the income of the share to which any minor shall for the time being be presumptively or contingently entitled under this my will in or towards his or her maintenance, education or advancement, or otherwise for his or her benefit; and my trustees shall accumulate the unapplied surplus of such income, and such accumulations shall be liable to be applied in like manner, but, subject to such liability, shall be added as capital to the share or shares from whence the same have arisen.
The directions hereinbefore given as regards the investment of my trust property shall not be construed to mean that my trustees shall not at any time sell or convert my investments in the business of Bowring Brothers, Limited, or C. G. Bowring Company, Limited, or any of the businesses connected therewith, but on the contrary, I direct my trustees to sell and convert such investments should they deem necessary, wise or businesslike so to do.
The said William R. Warren may be employed in his professional or business capacity by my executors and trustees and shall be paid all such remuneration for any business done by him in the course of such employment as he would have been entitled to receive in respect thereof if he had not been an executor or trustee.
I appoint the said Honorable Sir Edgar R. Bowring and the said William R. Warren executors of this my Will.
In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand at St. John's aforesaid this seventeenth day of April Anno Domini one thousand nine hundred and sixteen. -John S. Munn- Signed by the said testator as for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereto subscribed our names as witnesses Wm. Collins Robert H. Simms
Correct Charles H. Emerson
Registrar of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland.
(Listed in the margin next to this will the following)
Fiat
Nov. 19 1918
Kent J.
Probate
Nov. 20/18
granted to
Sir E.R.
Bowring and
W. R. Warren
Estate
sworn at
$99,463.55
.• Occupation: Director of Bowring Bros. Shipping, 1918, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Parents
Father: William Punton Munn 70,1870 Mother: Flora Le Messurier Clift 213,481,1870,2286
Spouses and Children
1. *Alice May McCowen 114 Marriage: 11 Jan 1908 - St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 543 Children: 1. Betty Munn
Notes
General:
191213:
John Shannon Munn and his daughter, Betty, were lost in the sinking of the Florizel. Edgar Bowring erected the statue of Peter Pan in Bowering Park in her memory.
This from a family tree on Ancestry.com:
William Punton Munn and his wife Flora (Clift) had a son named John Shannon, born in 1880 (d.1918) who married May McCowen. He inherited his father's share of John Munn and Co. when his father died 2 years after his birth. His mother remarried Edgar R. Bowering and then she herself died in 1898 while John Shannon was still a minor. The young man became heavily involved with Bowering Brothers Ltd. and in 1918 he was a Director when both he and his daughter Betty lost their lives in the wreck of the S.S. Florizel on February 23rd. As a tribute, Bowering Bros. donated property (known as the Shannon Munn Memorial) to the Church of England Orphanage in St. John's and erected the Peter Pan Statue in Bowering Park as a lasting memorial to Betty. The Munn family also donated Shannon Park to the citizens of Harbour Grace.
Collection Offers Glimpses of St. John's Society
From the files of The Gazette October 17, 1996.
A statue of Peter Pan stands in Bowring Park, in the west end of St. John's. It is a copy of the original statue in Kensington Gardens, London, by British sculptor Sir George Frampton. It was commissioned for the park by Sir Edgar Bowring "In memory of a little girl who loved the Park" and unveiled on Aug. 29, 1925. The little girl who loved the park was Betty Munn, daughter of John Shannon Munn and Alice May McCowen. Betty and her father were lost in the wreck of the Florizel, a Bowring Brothers ship which was destroyed on the rocks off Cappahayden during a winter's storm on the night of Feb. 23-24, 1918. They were on their way to New York to rendezvous with Betty's mother who was already there. Betty Munn was three and one-half years old.
Cassie Brown has eloquently told the story of the wreck of the Florizel in her book A Winter's Tale (1976). There is a picture of Betty Munn in Brown's papers in the Centre for Newfoundland Studies Archives. There is a also a picture of her parents wedding, an elaborate affair which united several prominent Newfoundland families: the Munns of Harbour Grace, the Bowrings (Sir Edgar Bowring married John Shannon Munn's mother, Flora Clift Munn, after her husband died), McCowens, Nettens (Mrs. McCowen), Clifts (Mrs. Munn) of St. John's and probably many more. That photograph is reproduced here; the description of the wedding is from the St. John's Daily News for Jan. 13, 1908.
<http://www.heritage.nf.ca/cns_archives/22_wedding.html>Munn Family Wedding.
A high society St. John's wedding in 1908.
Courtesy of the Centre for Newfoundland Studies Archives (Coll - 115, 16.05.115), Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland.
<http://www.heritage.nf.ca/cns_archives/22_wedding.html>(27 KB).
"At 2:30 Saturday afternoon, Miss Alice May McCowen, daughter of Inspector General McCowen [commanding officer of the Newfoundland Constabulary], and Mr. John Shannon Munn, one of the directors of Bowring Bros., Limited, of St. John's, were united in the holy bonds of matrimony. The ceremony was at the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the Lord Bishop of Newfoundland [Right Reverend Llewellyn Jones] officiating, assisted by Rev. T. G. Netten, uncle of the bride, and Rev. Canon Dunfield, Rector of St. Thomas's. The ceremony was performed in the presence of more than two hundred guests, and several hundred spectators, who helped fill the spacious Cathedral.
At the Church, Dr. Rendell acted as master of ceremonies; the ushers were: Messrs. Herbert Rendell, E. F. Harvey, Norman Outerbridge and Gerald Harvey. The bride was attired in a beautiful gown of ivory duchesse satin, made in empire style, with a long train. The front panel of her skirt was veiled in real duchesse and point de gaze lace, falling to the edge of the skirt over a frill of chiffon. The corsage and sleeves of ruched chiffon and satin bertha over the shoulders, were also draped with real duchesse and point de gaze lace, and fastened with orange blossoms. The corselet belt was caught at the back by motifs and tassels of pearl and chenille. She wore a coronet of orange blossoms and veil. She wore a diamond and sapphire pendant, the gift of her brother and sister-in-law, Lieutenant J. Wallis and Mrs. McCowen.
The bridesmaids were Misses Mary Shea and Muriel Winter, who were dressed in white spot net over taffeta silk, beautifully trimmed. The train bearers were Master Arthur Gosling and Miss Jennie Job. Mr. Arthur Donnelly attended the groom. The bride, owing to the illness of her father, was given away by His Excellency, Sir William MacGregor [the Governor]. As the procession passed up the aisle, the choir sang 'The Voice that Breathed o'er Eden.' Organist [Alfred] Allen presided at the organ.
While the wedding party were signing the marriage register in the vestry, the band of the Church Lads' Brigade rendered a beautiful wedding march. After the ceremony, Mr. and Mrs. Munn drove to the residence of Inspector General McCowen, and later to Government House, which was placed at their disposal for the reception. The vice-regal residence was beautifully decorated for the occasion, and the newly wedded couple received the congratulations of their guests while standing under a floral wedding bell in the ball room. After the reception the happy couple drove to the Bungalow, Topsail, the summer residence of Hon. E. R. Bowring, where the honeymoon will be spent."
<http://www.heritage.nf.ca/cns_archives/22_girl.html>The "little girl who loved the park".
Courtesy of the Centre for Newfoundland Studies Archives
(Coll - 115, 16.05.039), Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland
The newspaper goes on to relate that in honor of the wedding, Bowring Brothers held a soiree for their employees and guests later that night at Donovans. The place was festively decorated; the food was unequalled in quality and quantity; toasts were given and responded to; there were speeches, songs, music and fireworks. The party lasted until midnight when a chartered train returned everyone to St. John's. And it was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.
The wedding picture was taken by photographer R. T. Parsons at Government House. The bride and groom are in the centre, with the train bearers directly in front of them. The gentleman between the bride and groom is Gov. MacGregor; the gentleman to the groom's left is his step-father, Edgar Bowring. The bridesmaids are seated far left and second from the right. Other family members, attendants and friends are present. The scene is typical of weddings involving the prominent families of St. John's and some of the larger outports during the early years of the 20th century.
November, 2000.
300114:
The spelling of his middle name as well as the forenames and middle names of others in the Clift and Le Messurier family are variously spelled Shannon and Shannan. This difference appears to have originated with the arrival of Jesse and Flora in Newfoundland from Greenock and the fact that Jesse seemed to go by the spelling Shannon while Flora went by Shannan. It is possible they were not literate despite coming from a merchant class family in Scotland.
200825:
This from the Newfoundland's Grand Banks Facebook page today, copied from the Conception Bay Museum, Harbour Grace, Facebook page:
Conception Bay Museum, Harbour Grace
Community museum
Conception Bay Museum, Harbour Grace
With the 2025 #canadasummergames being held in our beautiful province of Newfoundland and Labrador let's take a moment to recognize a once prominent athlete from Harbour Grace, John Shannon Munn.
John Shannon Munn was born on June 6, 1880 in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. He was the only son of William Punton Munn, son of the wealthy Harbour Grace merchant, John Munn, and Flora LeMessurier Clift (later Bowring). In his early years, John Shannon Munn lived at Bannerman House, a large and extravagant home on Bannerman Street in Harbour Grace. John had great Newfoundland business connections, as he was not only a Munn, but he also became the stepson of Sir Edgar Rennie Bowring when his mother remarried after the death of his father William.
John attended school in St. John's, and later continued his education in England in 1894. During his school years, he acquired an interest in the sport of cricket. Cricket, a British sport that was introduced to Newfoundland in the late nineteenth century, became very popular during John's lifetime. There were cricket clubs in both Harbour Grace and St. John's, and he likely picked up his interest from spending his childhood surrounded by the sport. John played recreationally, as well as throughout his time at Oxford University. His time as a cricketer boasted very high statistics. After he left Oxford, he returned home to Newfoundland in 1901. Today he is still remembered as one of few notable cricket players from Newfoundland.
After his return to Newfoundland, John became a notable businessman himself, as he climbed the ranks of his stepfather's company, Bowring Brothers, and eventually became director. His appreciation for athletics continued, and in 1903 he created Shannon Park in his hometown of Harbour Grace.
John married Alice May McGowen in January of 1908, and their daughter Elizabeth (Betty) Shannon Munn was born four years later. When WWI began, John served as the treasurer for the Newfoundland Patriotic Association, a committee assigned to support the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. It was also the Bowring's ship, the S.S. Florizel, that carried the first five hundred men of the Newfoundland Regiment, the "Blue Puttees", to Plymouth, England.
Unfortunately, John Shannon Munn and his daughter Betty died on that same boat in 1918. At that time the Florizel served as a passenger service. John, as managing director, was to ensure that the voyage ran smoothly. The father and daughter were also anxious to visit Alice in New York, and spend time together as a family once they reached their destination. Departing from St. John's on February 23, the Florizel was heading to Halifax, then New York, when the ship crashed into the rocky coast of Newfoundland near Cape Race. While some on board the Florizel were able to remain safely on the ship until help arrived, others were not so lucky, including John Shannon Munn and little Betty Munn.
In memory of Betty Munn a memorial statue of Peter Pan was erected at Bowring Park in St. John's. It was commissioned by Sir Edgar Bowring for his granddaughter Betty who, like Peter, never got the chance to grow up.
To learn more about John, his family, and the sport of cricket in Harbour Grace, please visit us at the Conception Bay Museum and check out our temporary exhibit on Harbour Grace's sporting history!
Living
Sex: M
Spouses and Children
1. *Rachael Enid Kendall 97 Marriage:Robert Stewart Munn
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: Christening: Death: 17 Dec 1894 - Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada 7170 Burial: Cause of Death:
Parents
Father: Living Mother:Living
Sex: F
Parents
Father: Living Mother: LivingWilliam Punton Munn
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: Christening: Death: Cir 1882 - Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Burial: Cause of Death:Events
• Living: 10 Sep 1875.
• Will: Will of William P. Munn, 22 Jun 1880, Harbour Grace, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Will of William Punton Munn
from Newfoundland will books volume 4 pages 220-221 probate year 1882
In re
William P. Munn deceased.
This is the last will and testament of me William Punton Munn of Harbor Grace in the Island of Newfoundland Merchant, first I desire that all my just debts and testamentary expenses be paid out of estate
Secondly, I appoint my dearly beloved wife Flora LeMessurier Munn, Robert S. Munn of Harbor Grace and Robert H. Prowse of Saint John's executors of this my last will and testament and joint guardians of my infant son John Shannon Munn until he shall have attained the age of twenty five years.
Thirdly I will that after my decease the whole of my property consisting of monies, landed estate and life policies and all other property whatsoever both real and personal that I may be possessed of or entitled to at the time of my decease shall immediately vest in my said executors and be held by them in trust for my said son until he shall have arrived at the age of twenty five years (subject to the bequests hereinafter contained) when my said executors shall assign the same to my said son his executors administrators and assigns for ever.
I will and bequeath to my said wife Flora LeMessurier Munn the sum of one thousand pounds sterling per annum to be paid to her out of my estate during her natural life, but when my said son shall have attained the age of seventeen years my said wife shall be entitled to receive out of my estate the sum of one hundred pounds sterling per annum extra towards paying the increasing and necessary expenses of my said son until he shall have attained the age of twenty five years when such extra payment shall cease, and I further bequeath to my said wife all that land dwelling house and premises in Harbor Grace in which I now reside during the term of her natural life together with all my household furniture, silver plate and everything else contained in the said house, and also my carriages and horses. In the event of my said wife marrying again the said land dwelling house and premises together with furniture and silver plate shall immediately reinvest in my executors for the benefit of my said son and my said wife shall only be entitled to receive from my estate the sum of one hundred pounds sterling per annum during the remainder of her life instead of the sum of one thousand pounds hereinbefore bequeathed to her and such further sum besides the one hundred hereinbefore mentioned as may be deemed requisite and necessary for the education and maintenance of my said son until he shall attain the age of twenty five years when such extra payments shall cease- Should my said wife die before my said son shall have attained the age of twenty five years the surviving guardian or guardians shall exercise all powers and authority necessary for his guidance maintenance and education and for such purpose shall allocate such sum or sums out of my estate as they may deem necessary and needful.
On the termination of the present term of co-partnership in trade now existing between my cousin Robert S. Munn and myself under the firm of John Munn and Company I will and desire that a continuance of such trade and firm shall be made between my executors on behalf of my estate and the said Robert S. Munn should he wish it, upon such terms and conditions and for such period not to exceed ten years as my said executors and the said Robert S. Munn shall mutually agree on, but should they disagree about such terms and conditions then the decision of any two of my executors shall be final and binding should the said Robert S. Munn after such decision desire to continue such trade.
After payment of the yearly legacies and sums hereinbefore bequeathed and mentioned I order and direct that my said executors shall fund and keep funded in good and sufficient securities all monies not invested in trade and all interest accruing therefrom and all profits and interest arising from and accruing to me from the said firm of John Munn and Company until such time as my said son shall attain the age of twenty five years when my said executors shall assign the whole of my estate to him retaining however in their hands a sufficient amount to meet the legacy hereinbefore bequeathed to my beloved wife should she be then alive. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my hand this twenty second day of June A.D. one thousand eight hundred and eighty, declaring this to be my last true will and testament. Wm. P. Munn. Signed, published and declared by the said William Punton Munn as and for his last will and testament in our presence who in his presence, at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribe our names as witnesses, Jno. F. Apsey, Lewis W. Emerson.
Certified correct,
D. M. Browning
Registrar.
Parents
Father: Living Mother: Living
Spouses and Children
1. *Flora Le Messurier Clift 213,481,1870,2286 Marriage: Oct 1878 - Bromley, Kent, England 2289,3495,3496LivingMarriage Events
• Witnesses: William Pomfret Burra and Flora Rose Hore, Between Oct and Dec 1878, Bromley, Kent, England. Children: 1. John Shannon Munn
Sex: F
Spouses and Children
1. *John Minty 6702 Marriage:LivingMarriage Events
• Alt. Marriage: 30 Nov 1851, Boharm, Moray, Scotland. Scotland Marriages 1561-1910 Transcription
First name(s)John
Last nameMinty
Marriage year1851
Marriage date30 Nov 1851
Spouse's first name(s)Elspet
Spouse's last nameMunro
PlaceBoharm
CountyMoray
CountryScotland
Record setScotland, Parish Marriages & Banns 1561-1893
CategoryBirth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers)
SubcategoryParish Marriages
Collections fromUnited Kingdom, Scotland
Index (c) IRI. Used by permission of FamilySearch Intl.• Marriage Banns: 30 Nov 1851, Boharm, Moray, Scotland. Scotland, Parish Marriages & Banns 1561-1893 Transcription
Year Range1819-1854
Record setScotland, Parish Marriages & Banns 1561-1893
First name(s)John
Last nameMinty
Marriage year1851
Spouse's first nameElspet
Spouse's last nameMunro
ResidenceBoharm
CountyMoray
CountryScotland
PlaceBoharm
Page7
Banns Date30 Nov 1851
Year Of Banns1851
Marriage date07 Dec 1851
Spouse ResidenceDrumbeck
Witness-
Item3
Archive RefOPR 128a/3
CategoryBirth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers)
SubcategoryParish Marriages
Collections fromUnited Kingdom, Scotland
© Findmypast. Marriage Notes
Scotland, Parish Marriages & Banns 1561-1893 Transcription
Year Range1819-1854
Record setScotland, Parish Marriages & Banns 1561-1893
First name(s)John
Last nameMinty
Marriage year1851
Spouse's first nameElspet
Spouse's last nameMunro
ResidenceBoharm
CountyMoray
CountryScotland
PlaceBoharm
Page7
Banns Date30 Nov 1851
Year Of Banns1851
Marriage date07 Dec 1851
Spouse ResidenceDrumbeck
Witness-
Item3
Archive RefOPR 128a/3
CategoryBirth, Marriage & Death (Parish Registers)
SubcategoryParish Marriages
Collections fromUnited Kingdom, Scotland
© Findmypast
Note that another version of this transcript on FMP mistakenly gives the date of the banns as the date of marriage
Sex: F
Spouses and Children
1. Living Children: 1. William GrantLiving
Sex: M
Spouses and Children
1. LivingHoward Munroe
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: Christening: Death: Bef 2000 2070 Burial: Cause of Death:
Spouses and Children
1. *Ina Bishop 245 Marriage: Bef 2000 2070 Children: 1. Living 2. Living
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