Gideon Davies Owen was born 27th June 1857 in Edinburgh; but moved to London as a child with his family. In the 1871 census, aged 14, he is an errand boy working for wholesale chemist (I suspect in his father's workplace); but by 1881 (if I have identified him correctly -- first name rendered as 'Geo' rather than 'Gideon', but all other details fit) he is living as a boarder with a couple in Camberwell and is employed as a chemist. Perhaps he was then working as an assistant, gaining experience. But by 1891 he is living/working at 546 Harrow Road, Paddington: a retail unit with flat above; and he is a retail chemist.
The Pharmacy Act of 1868 made it compulsory for all chemists to register with The Royal Pharmaceutical Society to be allowed to practice -- which (if they were not in practice before 1868 -- when Gideon would have been 11 years old) involved passing an exam. Yet this Society has no record of Gideon's ever registering with them! So he appears to have been trading without the required registration. Does anyone know, was this commonly done at this time? Would it have been an easy thing to get away with?
Of course, upon learning of his lack of registration, I wondered if perhaps -- despite him living in the property exclusively with members of his family -- he was working at this address under the direction of another chemist. But the following newspaper entry negates this idea -- clearly, Gideon was 'the man in charge'.
KILBURN TIMES -- Friday 31 August 1900
"A CHEMIST'S ACCIDENT -- Gideon Davis Owen, chemist, of 546 Harrow Road, was summoned by the Paddington Vestry for selling to the prejudice of the purchaser [one unreadable word] tincture of quinine which contained 80% less than the proper proportion of quinine sulphate as prescribed by the British Pharmacopeia. He pleaded guilty, and explained that the deficiency was due to an accident. As the article was being prepared an assistant dropped some of the sulphate -- Mr Plowden said as there was no fraud the defendant would be fined 5s with 12s 6d costs."
To my mind, this verdict accepting Gideon's account of things as an accident seems very odd. If some quinine sulphate had been dropped, why did the assistant simply not re-make the prescription? To my mind, this does seem much more likely to have been a fraud. But I wasn't in court listening to the case, so -- who knows?!
Then, on the very next day, another newspaper carries this advertisement:
LONDON EVENING STANDARD -- Saturday 1 September
"HARROW ROAD, W. -- The fittings and stock of a chemist, comprising sets of store bottles, show carboys, mortars, scales, counter showcases, stock of drugs and chemicals, fancy goods, perfumes, soaps, brushes, patent medicines, counters, shelving, few lots of household furniture, and other effects. MESSRS H N NEWTON & CO will SELL by AUCTION on the Premises, No 546 Harrow-road, W., on Monday, September 3, 1900 at 12 o'clock.
So, on the very next day after his case is heard: here Gideon is, selling his shop fittings and stock! It is surely most unlikely that the two events were unconnected. But -- how are they?!
In 1901 census, Gideon is -- frustratingly -- visiting friends; so no indication from here of where he was living then. But the electoral roll suggests he was still at 546 Harrow Road; and the 1901 census lists his profession as 'chemist/drug own account'! So it looks as if nothing had changed!
After this, Gideon drops completely out of sight. I cannot find him in 1911 census, and can find no death certificate for him.
This whole thing is a confusing mess and I just don't know what to make of it all. I just wondered if anyone else could throw any light on, or has any ideas about, all of this. Or can anyone find any other records relating to him?
Many thanks for reading this far -- sorry about the long post!
CELTICANNIE
