Transcript

Of

James Ambrose Loram [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc. vol. 48, (1916), pp. 47-48.

by

Maxwell Adams (Ed.)

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1916 Plymouth meeting. Both Alfred Thomas Loram and James Ambrose Loram are listed in the London Gazette, 28 Dec 1906, as “Commissioners for executing the Acts granting a Land Tax and other Rates and Taxes” as these applied to Exeter. The Land Tax was the first and, for over 250 years, the only form of direct taxation to be imposed in Great Britain on a regular basis. It lasted from its inception in 1693 to its final abolition by the Finance Act of 1963. The tax was levied on land and property, including mines and quarries, but also on personal property and on salaries received from public offices. It was collected from wealthy individuals, for example, the owners of great estates, as well as tradesmen and shopkeepers. Commissioners were appointed to supervise the assessment and collection of the tax. Their names were put forward by MPs in each county and they had to have an income from land of at least £100 per annum to qualify. The 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.

James Ambrose Loram, who died at the age of 55 on the 1st January, 1916, became a member of the Association in 1912. He filled a large place in the public life of the City of Exeter, where he was City Councillor, a Justice of the Peace, Governor of the Royal Albert Memorial, Governor of St. John's Hospital, and a member of many other bodies in which he took a full share in the responsibilities of citizenship. Mr. Loram was also a well-known educationist, having held office as chairman of the old School Board and of the Education Committee, and also of the Shebbear Boys' College. 
Outside Exeter Mr. Loram was known throughout the county as a leading denominationalist of the United Methodist connexion, and took an active part in bringing about the union of the Churches, which took place in 1908.
A broad-minded man, a ready speaker, and an able debater, he will be greatly missed in the public life of Exeter.
He was buried on the 6th January, 1916, in the family vault in the Old Cemetery, Bartholomew Street, Exeter.