The third Thomas Grant

Born at Withcall and baptised there 26 September 1814, son of the second Thomas Grant, and committed suicide at Louth 8 December 1861, aged 47. Residing at Westgate in Louth in 1850 and 1851, and listed at Upgate in 1856 (White’s), but then moved to Jersey and was living there in 1861. Practised as a solicitor in Louth from 1841 (at the latest), listed at Goosepool (Pigot’s). Legatee of £3000 from his great-aunt Ann Grant in 1846.

Grant Thomas, jun. solicitor, & treasurer to the Louth Gas company, & to the Louth Turnpike trust; commissioner for taking acknowledgemets of married women, & agent to the Imperial fire & life assurance, & to the Globe fire & life assurance, West gate. Post Office Directory, 1849
A melancholy event was brought to light yesterday about two o’clock p.m., by the discovery that a gentleman who formerly resided at Louth, -Mr. Thomas Grant, and who was related to several families of the highest respectability in the town and neighbourhood, had committed suicide by drowning himself in Louth canal. The unfortunate gentleman had some time past resided with his family in Jersey, and about a week ago came over to Louth on a visit, but suddenly disappeared on Sunday evening last, leaving his father’s residence at about eight o’clock. On Wednesday, the most painful apprehensions were aroused at his prolonged and mysterious absence, and a bill was issued offering reward to any person who could give information where he might be found. Yesterday it was resolved to run off the water out of the canal, and at the same time drags were employed ; in a short time a hat was found which left no doubt on the minds of those engaged to the poor gentleman’s fate. Messrs. Phillipson and Sugden succeeded in recovering the body just outside the first lock, which they placed in shed at the River-head, and on examination it was found that the gold watch in possession of the deceased stood at 8-45, proving at what hour Sunday evening the painful event transpired. A young man named Easting, remembered seeing Mr. Grant, at about half-past eight the same evening, not many yards from the spot, and before he had got out of the neighbourhood heard a splash in the water, but he had no suspicion as to the cause. Evidence was adduced on the inquest, held yesterday at the Lock Tavern, which fully established the fact that the fatal act was committed when the deceased was in an unsound state of mind. Verdict temporary insanity. aLouth and North Lincolnshire Advertiser, 14 December 1861

Married at St James, Louth, 6 July 1843, to Mary Ann Pell. She was born at Alford in about 1819 and christened there 4 Jan 1820, and following her husband’s death was living in London in 1871 and 1881, though listed at 78 James Street, Louth, in 1863 (Morris’ directory), and ‘of Exeter’ when her son died in 1869. She died in London 2 September 1886, leaving £379 16s. 10d.

At St. James’s church, Louth, on Thursday the 6th inst., (by the Rev. E. R. Mantell, vicar,) Thomas Grant, Esq., solicitor, of Louth, to Mary Anne eldest surviving daughter of the late John Pell, Esq., of Alford.bLincolnshire Chronicle, 7 July 1843

Issue four sons and three daughters:

  1. Ellen Charlotte Grant. Born about 1845, and baptised at Louth 16 May 1845. Died unmarried at Louth in the fourth quarter of 1917. Recorded at 40 Westgate in Louth in the 1891, 1901 and 1911 censuses, each time living her brother Henry and sister Clara, but living in London with her mother and siblings in 1871 and 1881.
  2. John Richard Grant.
  3. William Grant, baptised 13 September 1847 at Louth St James. Recorded in the 1851 and 1861 censuses, then disappears.
  4. Henry Thomas Grant, baptised 28 April 1851 at Louth St James, and died unmarried at Louth 11 November 1936. Lived all his life with his sister Ellen. Estate proved at £3018.
  5. Herbert James Grant, born at Louth 23 June 1853 and baptised there 11 April 1854. In the 1861 and 1871 censuses (‘Pupil in Tea Trade’), then reappears in Australia (arrived on the Somersetshire on 1 June 1877), where he owned a failed business with a member of the Crump family (see John Richard Grant.) He want bankrupt again three years later.
    NEW INSOLVENTS. George Childe Crump and Herbert James Grant, of Bass River Steam Saw-mills, Queensferry, saw-mill proprietors. Causes of insolvency – Purchase of saw-mills at too high a price, paying heavy expenses on borrowed money, and pressure of creditors. Liabilities, £3,372 15s. 3d.; assets, £2,660 15s. 8d.; deficiency, £711 19s. 7d. Mr. Cohen, assignee. cThe Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), 5 May 1877, p. 7.
    Herbert James Grant, of Rosslyn-street, West Melbourne, clerk. Causes of insolvency—Want of employment, and having to pay heavy interest on borrowed money. Liabilities, £145 9s. 6d.; assets, £1 ; deficiency, £144 9s. 6d. Mr. Jacomb, assignee. dThe Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), 15 July 1880, p. 5.

    Lived at 42 Bell Street, Hawthorn, Melbourne, and died in 1913.

    Married in Victoria in 1878 to Caroline Tatham, who was apparently born in 1842 and died in 1922. Issue one daughter:

    1. Ellen Clara Grant, born in Victoria in 1878, and died there unmarried in 1968.
  6. Clara Matilda Grant, born 4 May 1857 at Louth, baptised there 16 September 1857, and died there 22 Oct 1929. Lived all her life with her brother Henry and sister Ellen. Estate proved at £2714.
  7. Dora Grant, born ca. 1860 at St. Helier, Jersey. Appears aged 1 in the 1861 census, but nowhere else.

References   [ + ]

a. ↑ Louth and North Lincolnshire Advertiser, 14 December 1861
b. ↑ Lincolnshire Chronicle, 7 July 1843
c. ↑ The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), 5 May 1877, p. 7.
d. ↑ The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 – 1957), 15 July 1880, p. 5.