1901 U.K. Census:
Age given: 67 years
Birthplace given: Camborne, Cornwall
Dwelling place: Cliff Villa, Uny Lelant, Camborne
Occupation: Mining Engineer
Status: widowed
Present was son Richard A. (34) of Camborne, mining engineer
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FUNERAL OF CAPTAIN JOSIAH THOMAS.
THOUSANDS JOIN IN A MARK OF RESPECT.
AN IMPRESSIVE SCENE AT CAMBORNE.
The body had been moved from Carbis-bay to Camborne on Friday evening, the hearse being followed by six of deceased's sons, the only other son, Mr. Ernest Thomas, being in Australia. A shell of cedar enclosed the body, and the coffin was of panelled oak with dark mouldings and heavy brass furniture. A plate bore the inscription, "JOSIAH THOMAS. Died 22nd October, 1901. Aged 67."
The funeral took place at Camborne on Saturday, and was an eloquent proof of the esteem in which the deceased was held by all classes with whom he was brought into association. From various parts of the county men of position came to pay the last tribute of respect, beautiful wreaths arrived from far and near, while in Camborne itself every house and every person appeared to join in mourning the loss of the famous miner and local preacher.
Quite early in the afternoon there began a traffic towards the deceased's residence in Basset-road, and the Wesleyan chapel, where the first part of the service was to be conducted, and when the long cortege started the intermediate route was lined by thousands of respectful spectators whilst blinds were drawn in all the houses. There were in the procession, in addition to the chief mourners, about 1,500 men of different ranks in life, including ministers of the Wesleyan Church, men connected with county and local government, mining men and miners.
It was an impressive sight, and no part of the long procession was more significant of appreciation of Captain Josiah Thomas than the 800 Dolcoath miners, many carrying floral tributes, who walked, four deep, toward the sanctuary, where not a few of them had heard the deceased preach.
The total number of people who assembled to witness the last obsequies and pay their final tributes of respect was estimated at 10,000.
The funeral procession formed at a quarter to three o'clock, but long before that time the whole route was lined with a dense crowd of people most of whom had known the deceased all their lives, and who had frequently listened to his ministrations.
Not since the funeral of Mrs. Thomas about two years before, have so many assembled at a funeral in Camborne, and it is doubtful whether there has ever before been such a large attendance at a local funeral. At the head of the procession was the Rev. Richard Roberts, a venerable ex-President of the Wesleyan conference, and a great friend of Capt. Thomas for over 40 years. It was the Rev. Mr. Roberts who officiated and preached the funeral sermon of Mrs. Thomas. He was accompanied by the Rev. E. J. Brailsford, of Truro, the chairman of the district, Dr. Gardiner, and the Revs. E. B. Keeling, T. Little, and W. G. Allen (circuit ministers).
There was a large representative body from the Camborne school-of-mines (of which Capt. Thomas had been the chairman of directors) among those present being Mr. J. J. Berringer, the principal of the schools ; Mr. J. Negus, the secretary ; as well as the staff, committee, and a large number of students.
Representing Dolcoath mine were Mr. F. Harvey (chairman,) Messrs. G. B. Pearce and J. M. Holman (directors)—other directors were prevented from attending through illness—Messrs. Champion and Davis (clerks) and J. Negus (store-clerk,) J. Rickard and A. Davey (timekeepers,) and about 800 miners.
The coffin was borne from the house to the hearse and from the hearse to Wesley chapel by the agents of Dolcoath mine. These were Captains Tamlyn, James, Prideaux, J. Trevarthen, G. Davey, W. Mill, Mr. John Row (engineer), and Mr. Charles Davis (sampler.) They were followed by eight members of the police force, who subsequently acted as bearers from Wesley chapel to the cemetery.
Whilst the funeral was in progress the business of the town was practically suspended, the parish church bells rang out a muffled peal, flags on public buildings were at half-mast, and the route the procession was to follow was a teeming mass of men, women and children of all classes, whose sympathetic and respectful conduct throughout was the subject of much comment.
The chief mourners were: Messrs. C. V., F. W., Dr. Telfer, Captain R. Arthur, J. Vivian, and Leslie Thomas, sons (the seventh son, Mr. A. E. Thomas, M.J.L., being at present in Coolgardie, Australia) Mr. G. B. Nancarrow (son-in-law) Mr. J. P. Dunstan, St. Columb (brother-in-law) J. Nancarrow, Clifford, Donald and Cyril Thomas (grand-sons) Messrs. J. Thomas, Roskear ; W. Thomas, Redruth ; W. Thomas, Beacon-hill ; T. Simms, Wm. Thomas, C. Thomas, Tywardreath ; W. Rowe, John Rowe, Joseph Rowe, James Rowe, and A. Rowe (cousins) ; Messrs. C. Bath, Gear farm ; T. L. Rogers, Plymouth ; J. H. Bennetts, C. E. Whitford, St. Columb ; and T. Fiddick (nephews).....
The Cornishman, Thursday, 31 Oct 1901, p. 5
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Josiah Thomas of Basset-road-villas Camborne and of Cliff-villa Carbis Bay, both in Cornwall, mine-manager, died 22 October 1901 at Cliff-villa. Probate Bodmin 28 April 1902 to Charles Vivian Thomas, solicitor, Richard Arthur Thomas, mining-engineer, and Joseph Vivian Thomas, solicitor. Effects £23,267 3s. 10d. 3
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