John Sinton facts for kids
John Sinton was an important businessman and a kind person from Northern Ireland. He was born on November 1, 1835, in County Armagh. He passed away on September 13, 1890, in County Down. John was part of a group called the Ulster Scots. He was also a Quaker, which is a type of Christian faith known for peace and helping others.
John came from a big family. He was the seventh of nine children. In 1873, he bought a factory that made linen cloth in Ravarnet, County Down. He also started another factory nearby. His older brother, Thomas Sinton, also made linen and built a village called Laurelvale. John's cousin, David Sinton, was a very rich businessman in America.
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John Sinton's Family Life
John Sinton married Eleanor Hemington on May 21, 1857. Their wedding was at a Friends' Meeting House in Chatteris, England. They had six children together.
Famous Relatives
One of John's children was Walter Lyon Sinton. Walter was the father of John Alexander Sinton. John Alexander Sinton became very famous. He won the Victoria Cross medal in 1916 for being very brave.
Another of John's children was Caroline Sinton. Her grandson was Lawrence John Hobson. He was an important political advisor. He worked with the High Commissioner for Aden and the Protectorate of South Arabia.
Building a Business and Community
John Sinton likely worked with his brother Thomas for many years. In the 1870s, John started to focus on his own linen factory in Ravarnet. He worked very hard to make his business successful.
Helping His Workers
John Sinton cared about the people who worked for him. He built houses for his employees and their families. He also built a schoolroom in Ravarnet. This helped the children of his workers get an education.
The Ravarnette Weaving Company
John put all his energy into his company, the Ravarnette Weaving Company. When he passed away in 1890, his youngest son, Edwin, took over the business. Edwin worked with Benjamin Courtenay Hobson, who was Caroline Sinton's husband.
The company became very successful. They made a special type of linen cloth. This cloth was used to cover the bodies of the very first airplanes!
The End of the Company
Sadly, the Ravarnette Weaving Company closed down on October 10, 1927. This happened because an American company that owed them money went out of business. The Ravarnette company had too much cloth that they couldn't sell or get paid for.
