These two beautiful family Cabinet Cards I’ve had for a while and like many others in my to-do boxes, I’m only just getting around to researching. What a surprise then to find that the family TOSH was so well known in Cumberland.

So after working out the children of this lady above on the family tree I can now identify the children in this photo (see below). Seated on the left on the chair is Marion Cecily, standing behind her is Isabel. On Mum Grannie Annie (Sarah Ann) lap is Lilian Margaret. Oldest boy standing on the right is Edmund Logan, then laying on the rug is Walter George.

Sarah Ann Logan, Mum in the photo above had married in April 1874 in Cockermouth, Cumberland to Edmund George Tosh was born in July 1847 in Whitehaven, Cumberland. They had seven children during their marriage. Sarah Ann (Grannie Annie) died on 14 March 1940 at Ellenbank.

Family History

Isabel Tosh was born in Jul 1876 in Ulverston, Lancashire, England (TOSH, ISABEL LOGAN GRO Reference: 1876 S Quarter in ULVERSTON Volume 08E Page 768 ). She married Augustus Henry Graydon Johnston on 26 Jun 1899 in Parish Church of Ulverston, Lancashire, England. She died in 1928.
Edmund Logan Tosh was born in 1878 in Ulverston, Lancashire, England (TOSH, EDMUND LOGAN LOGAN GRO Reference: 1878 M Quarter in ULVERSTON Volume 08E Page 790 ).  He married Margaret Hodgson in Apr 1907 in Ulverston, Lancashire. He died on 18 Sep 1936 in Lancashire, England. (He managed the Limestone Quarry at Plumpton,  on behalf of his father EG Tosh, to produce limestone for the North Lonsdale ironworks)
Walter George Tosh was born in 1880 in Ulverston, Lancashire, England (TOSH, WALTER GEORGE LOGAN GRO Reference: 1880 M Quarter in ULVERSTON Volume 08E Page 777 ). He died in Jul 1897 in Ulverston, Lancashire. His death report in the newspaper: ‘Mr Tosh was only in his 18th year and having just entered upon his commercial career with every promise of success, his death is felt most keenly by his relatives‘.

Marion Cecily Tosh was born on 07 Oct 1881 in Ulverston, Lancashire, England. In 1911 census she is described as a Kindergarten Teacher (Never married). She died on 30 Mar 1963 in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.
Lillian Margaret Tosh was born on 05 Dec 1882 in Ulverston, Lancashire, England.She married Julius Henri Otto Bunge, a Mechanical Engineer from the Netherlands on 08 Sep 1906 in Buffalo (start New York). They lived in America and Canada then came back to the UK. They had two sons Fedor George who died in WW2 declared missing and Walter Alexander who died in 1993 in Scotland and a daughter Charlotte Cecily who lived in Totnes, Devon at the time of her death at aged 92. They both married and had families. Lilian died on 10 Mar 1974 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Hugh Maurice Tosh was born on 02 Oct 1884 in Ulverston, Lancashire, England (TOSH, HUGH MORRIS LOGAN GRO Reference: 1884 D Quarter in ULVERSTON Volume 08E Page 763 ). I’ve not found a marriage at all for him.

Here’s the 1911 census above of Sarah Ann and two children living at 76 Wymering Mansions, North Paddington, London. Daughter Marion Cecily is a Kindergarten Teacher and Hugh Maurice Tosh was an Actor and Singer (Baritone and very good by the accounts in the newspapers at the time, his stage name was Maurice Tosh) He died in Oct 1918 in Marylebone, London, England.

Humphrey John Tosh was born on 19 Feb 1886 in Ulverston, Lancashire, England (TOSH, HUMPHREY JOHN LOGAN GRO Reference: 1886 J Quarter in ULVERSTON Volume 08E Page 787 ). He died in Oct 1886 in Ulverston, Lancashire, England.

Here’s my Family Tree of the family TOSH on Ancestry: Tosh Family Lynns Waffles

Sadly Father of the children Edmund George had died many years earlier than Mum Sarah Ann on 22 April 1899 in Ulverston, Lancashire, at the age of 52.

His death was very widely reported as he was such a well known local man, it includes some great information about him and the family, here’s just one report:

Cumberland & Westmorland Newspaper Archives

DEATH OF MR. E.G. TOSH OF ULVERSTON. Reported on 27 April 1899.

‘We are deeply grieved to announce the death of Mr Edmund George TOSH,
manager of the North Lonsdale Iron and Steel Company’s work at South
Ulverston, which occurred on Saturday evening at his residence, The Lund, after a
painfully brief illness. The deceased gentleman had apparently been in failing health for a
year or more, but although he contracted a somewhat severe cold at Easter, he was
able to attend his busy official public duties almost to the last, and did
not find it necessary to have medical advice.

On Tuesday week, as usual, he attended the Manchester Exchange, and on
returning home in the evening complained of feeling somewhat unwell. Early
next morning he became alarmingly ill, and Dr Fox JACKSON and Dr COLLINS were
promptly summoned and found him to be suffering from internal haemorrhage. Dr.
JOHNSON of Morecombe, an intimate friend of the family’s, also arrived in
response to a telegram; and despite the best skill and closest attention of the
three medical gentlemen, it soon became evident that the patient was beyond human
aid, and that he was sinking rapidly. Save a brief interval of consciousness,
he remained in a comatose state during Friday and Saturday, passing quietly
away about 6.30 p.m.

Mr TOSH was in all relations of his life a gentleman in the truest
sense of the word, having by his uniform affability, uprightness and kindness of
heart gained the highest respect and esteem of all of whom he was brought
into close contact. Directly the sorrowful intelligence spread the flags at the
Liberal and Conservative Clubs and other public buildings were hoisted half-
mast. Mr TOSH whose very active and useful life has been cut off at the age
of 52 years, having been born at Maryport in 1847 was descended we believe
from Scottish parentage. His Father Mr George TOSH, who is still living in
quiet retirement at Scunthorpe, near Doncaster, was in his early days a chief
engineer of the Maryport and Carlisle Railway Co., and afterwards for many years
a manager of the North Lincolnshire Iron Works. Note: (See report after this article)

Mr TOSH, after serving a few years in the engineering sheds, had a distinguished course of training in Chemistry and other sciences at Glasgow, and
afterwards in Germany taking at the latter place his degree of PhD. He then
commenced practice as an analytical chemist in Whitehaven, being succeeded by
the late Mr J. W. MONTGOMERY, and from thence he went to Maryport to
undertake the management of Solway’s Co.’s Works at Maryport. Mr TOSH came to
Ulverston in the autumn of 1875, during the construction of the North Lonsdale Iron
and Steel Works, the furnaces of which were blown in the following May; and for
over 23 years he acted as the manager to the company, a position he has filled
with great ability and energy. He was generally acknowledged to be not only a
good servant but a good and honourable master. He was held in the highest
estimation by all the men under him for his fair, consistent and conscientious
treatment, and consequently, there has been none of the labour difficulties so
often arising in similar industrial concerns. In fact, no class will more
sincerely regret his loss than the staff and workmen of the North Lonsdale Ironworks.
As one of Ulverston’s most prominent public men, Mr TOSH will be greatly
missed, and his place will indeed be difficult to fill.

Mr TOSH was for many years a leading member of the Old Local Board,
of which body he was chairman in 1884. He also had the honour of being the
first chairman of the newly constituted Urban Council and he remained
a representative for the East Ward up to the time of his death. Besides being at one-time
chairman of the Finance Committee, he had for many years acted as chairman of
the Gas and Water Department, whilst his services on all the more important
special committees were highly valued. He was a frequent speaker, and indeed by
far, the most polished and finished debater in the Council Chamber and his
thoroughly broad intelligent grasp of every subject discussed or criticised by
him lent great weight to his opinions and statements.

Mr TOSH always took the keenest possible interest in the Volunteer
movement. Soon after coming to Ulverston he joined the local detachment and
captain-commandant on the retirement of the late Mr HANNAY, and proved one of
it’s most popular and efficient officers. He resigned some years ago but
continued to the last to manifest interest in the welfare of the corps.

Mr TOSH was a staunch churchman and served as vicar’s warden in the
time of the late Canon BARDSLEY, he especially identifying himself with the
concerns of St Jude’s Church, and had long looked forward to the substitution of
a more comfortable and substantial edifice for the existing “little tin
church” a consummation which he has unhappily not lived to see.

In politics, Mr TOSH was a Conservative and a chairman for the
Ulverston Polling district, and a vice-president and chairman of the Finance
Committee of the North Lonsdale Unionist Association, he was a veritable tower of
strength to his party. Not only on ordinary occasions but at each succeeding
Parliamentary election he threw himself with an amount of energy into the cause he
had at heart, and so stirred up the rank and file of the party that the two
fold victories of the late Mr W. G. AINSLIE and also the return of the present
member for the North Lonsdale, Mr R. F. CAVENDISH, were in a large measure
due to his exertions.

The deceased gentleman has left a widow and three daughters, and two
sons, the eldest of whom, Lieut. TOSH has had the management under his father
of the newly opened out limestone quarry in Plumpton. In connection with the
peculiarly sorrowful event it is an additional saddening thought that Mr. and
Mrs TOSH reached their silver wedding anniversary on Friday last, though the
former was not conscious enough to realise the fact or to be acquainted with
the exceedingly numerous kindly and sympathetic messages that were received.
Mrs TOSH is just recovering from a severe illness, and this has deeply
intensified the general feeling of genuine sympathy for the family in their heavy
domestic afflictions.

The mortal remains of the deceased were laid to rest on Tuesday
morning in the Ulverston Cemetery, amid general manifestations of sorrow, the
funeral being by far the largest, most representative, and most imposing seen in
Ulverston since that of the late Mr Myles KENNEDY. The mournful procession was
of great length, and the route to the cemetery was lined with sorrowing
spectators.

The solemn cortege left The Lund at eleven a.m., the following being
the order of procession: – Volunteers in uniform, commanded by Major HUTHWAITE;
Fire Brigade, members of the Liberal Club and Association, members of the
Conservative Club and North Lonsdale Unionist Association, headed by Mr. R. F.
CAVENDISH, M. P., members of Public bodies, Cottage Hospital Committee, members
of the Urban Council and officials, the men of North Lonsdale Ironworks
(numbering 215), the office staff of the North Lonsdale Ironworks. The coffin, the
magnificent wreaths was borne by relays of the foremen, followed by the
mourning coaches, directors in a carriage, and 20 private carriages; a large body of
general public bringing up the rear. The whole of the service, which was taken at the graveside, was of an exceedingly impressive character, the officiating clergymen being the Rev. J. U. N. BARDSLEY (the rector), the Rev. T. N. POSTLETHWAITE, and the Rev. Canon
AYRE‘.

Mr George Tosh was born in Scotland, he died the following year after his son Edmund George on 11 Oct 1900 at Glanford Brigg, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire. This is one of the many reports in the newspapers: ‘Mr George Tosh, who had been for over thirty years connected with the North Lincolnshire Iron Company, Frodingham, as managing director and consulting engineer died at Scunthorpe on Thursday, aged 89 years. He was one of the pioneers of the railway system in this country, being connected with the Stephensons and having to do with the Stockton and Darlington Railway in its infancy. He built the Maryport and Carlisle Railway, and before going to Frodingham was the engineer for that company. Mr Tosh died very suddenly from heart failure‘. After reading more about George Tosh, the children’s grandfather. I was amazed, he has several articles written about his career in the railways: 1. Tosh, George
According to Grace’s Guide Tosh was a Scot, born in 1811, and died in Scunthorpe in 1900. Locomotive Superintendent of Maryport & Carlisle Railway form 1854 to 1870. Lowe notes that “George Tosh was a progressive man and introduced coal firing at an early date. During his term the company’s locomotives were fitted with steel tyres and, equally as important, the first steel boiler supplied by Adamson of Hyde (Ahrons p. 166) was fitted to an M&C locomotive in 1862, a year before the LNWR fitted their first one.” Steel rails were also introduced as an experiment in 1867. This was a pioneering use of steel. Most Tosh locomotives had domeless boilers. He left Maryport to become the manager of the North Lincolnshire Iron Works.

2. A railway engineer born Scotland living Maryport in the 1851 census; in April 1856 he said he was superintendent of the rolling stock of the M&C and had been so for 6 years; certainly, he was already Locomotive Superintendent in November 1850, when a shareholder committee complained that his duties had never been specified. The M&C advertised for his replacement (at a salary of £800 a year) in January 1870. 3. George Tosh, c1850-1870: He pioneered the use of steel (instead of iron) in the construction of the company’s locomotives, notably the boiler/firebox and wheels. This was the first such use in Britain. Mr George Tosh died in 1900 and left £4,112 equivalent to about £508,745.00 in today’s money!

All the branches of this family seemed to have links to our industrial heritage. Another interesting link to transport was the man that Sarah Ann Logan’s sister Mary Jane Logan married into on 27 August 1885, he was John Ritson a Shipbuilder in Maryport, it could be said he was definitely a ‘good catch’ for Mary!

I found some great information on John Ritson in this super Blog ‘John Ritson, who was the founder of the Maryport shipbuilding firm of that name, though Ritson had been manager of the John Peat yard before launching his own business‘ including this great old photo of the Ritson Yard: Mole’s Genealogy Blog

The family lived at Ellen Bank, Maryport. These are a couple of links with information I found on the internet about the family.  1. Ellen Bank was built about 1852 by Mr Robert Ritson (1811-1887) (John’s father) the head of Messrs Ritson and Co, a long-established firm of shipbuilders, timber merchants and sailmakers of Maryport, Cumbria. Robert married Mary Anne Smith in 1842 and lived at 122 High Street, in Maryport. They had four sons, the oldest being John Ritson (1848-1897), and four daughters. Lots more information here: House and Heritage           2. Ellenbank is a hotel now, this found on trip Advisor: ‘Since 1980 a conference wing has been built but this has not detracted from the elegance of the reception hall and the 2 dining rooms with beautiful stain glass window panes and amazing fireplaces and ceiling decoration. The Bar has an interesting display of photographs and news articles about the Ritson, their ships and shipbuilding yard‘.

John Ritson left £36,486,00 in his will in 1897, that is in todays money 5 Million nearly!

While searching for more information about the family of Tosh I was really lucky to come across these two lovely portrait photos of Captain Fedor George Bunge, Sarah Ann and Edmund’s grandson, Lilian and Julius’s son Fedor George Bunge who died in WW2.

 Till next time then………