Transcript

of

Mr. Henry Drew Thomas [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc. vol. XXXIII, (1901), p. 37.

by

J. Brooking-Rowe (Ed.)

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1901 Exeter meeting. Henry Drew Thomas Esq of Staplake Mount, Starcross (c1830-1900), and of the Exeter firm of Harding, Richards and Thomas married Mary Jane Dewdney in Exeter, 1858. He was Mayor of the ancient city in 1877-8. The 1881 census reveals him living at 9 Dix's Field, Exeter, as a Brewer, Alderman, J.P. with his wife Mary Jane and four children. He died March 25th 1900 aged 70, at Staplake, Starcross. These few basic essentials about his life appear in Grace’s Guide to British Industrial History. He is today best remembered as founder of the Henry Drew Thomas Almshouse, still providing through his Will of 30th April 1900, “accommodation to the poor and needy in the parish of Starcross and its environs”. An abbreviated record of that charity’s current status is available at the Open Charities website. His brief obituary, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Mr. Henry Drew Thomas was an old member of the Association, having been elected in 1877. He was born in Exeter, and carried on business in it all his life. For a number of years he was a member of the firm of J. L. Thomas and Co., oil merchants. Afterwards he joined Messrs. Harding and Richards, wine merchants, was an active Director of the St. Anne's Brewery, and later was invited to become a partner in the City Bank, an invitation he accepted. The press of work in connection with his business engagements no doubt overtaxed his strength. He was an able and genial man, and played a useful and important part in the life of the city. He was Mayor in 1877, an alderman, and Justice of the Peace. He died on 25th March, 1901, after a long illness, at the age of seventy.