Found in "City of Coventry Vol 4 1882-3", compiled by Alfred Lowe. Coventry p 161.
"Obituary:-
December 28th 1882
The late Mr John Suddens
Our obituary this week contains the name of one of the veterans of the watchmaking industry, the oldest of our finishers. Mr Suddens was born in this city on the 26th. of December 1789, and died on the 28th inst., two days after attaining his 93rd year. He was apprenticed to the old firm of Howlette, Carr & Vale in 1803, & has continued to serve the same firm under it's different changes of proprietorship at the old factory, working at the board until a few years since, when a well-earned pension from his employers enabled him to discontinue labour, though his name has been retained on the list of workmen up to his death. During all this long period he has never lost a day from illness. He was much respected, not only by his employers, but by his fellow artisans; & on the occassion of the presentation of a testimonial by the workmen of the late Mr R K Rotherham, in commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of his being in business, Mr Suddens, as the oldest in the employ of the firm, was appropriately selected to make the presentation. He was out of his time as an apprentice in 1811, but was not sworn until 1822, he has therefore been a Freeman of the City for the long term of 60 years, which might have been 11 years longer, but for this delay. He was one of the recipients of the seniority fund. Mr Suddens has left three sons, the oldest, a dyer, about 70 years of age: the others follow their father's occupation; all of them strongly sensible of the consideration & generosity shown towards their father by the heads of the firm for which he has worked for nearly 80 years. An intelligent mechanic & self-educated man of kindly disposition, he will be greatly missed by his friends & associates."
