Transcript

of

George Wareing Ormerod, M.A., F.G.S. [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc., 1891, Vol XXIII, pp. 108-110.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1891 Tiverton meeting. Mr Ormerod’s potted biography also appears in the Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, submitted by Thomas George Bonney, and also, in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography and as well in the Cambridge University Geological Magazine Volume 8, Issue 3 March 1891, p. 144. The article, 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.

George Wareing Ormerod, M.A., F.G.S., was born at The Damhouse in Tyldesley, in the county of Lancaster, on October 12th, 1810, being the second son of George Ormerod, Esq., LL.D., F.R.S., F.G.S., the author of the History of Cheshire and other publications, and of Sarah his wife, the eldest daughter of John Latham, Esq., M.D., F.R.S., President of the Royal College of Physicians. He was a descendant of a younger branch of the ancient family of Ormerod of Ormerod, in North Lancashire.

Mr. Ormerod's early education was at private schools, and lastly with a private tutor at Harborne, near Birmingham, whence he matriculated, on January 31st, 1829, at Brazenose College, Oxford, and took his degree of B.A. in 1833, and M.A. in 1836. He was admitted a solicitor in 1836, and practised in Manchester until the year 1855, when he removed to Chagford, in Devonshire, and continued in practice there until he removed to Teignmouth, about 1869.

Whilst resident in Manchester he turned his attention much to the Geology of the Coal Measures, and the Cheshire Salt Field. On the last he explained his views in a long paper printed in the Transactions of the Geological Society, of which he was a Fellow. Whilst in Manchester he was an active member and official on the Committees of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester, the Geological Society of Manchester, and the Royal Manchester Institution for the advancement of Literature, Science, and Art, and many other societies. During recent years he acted as Honorary Local Secretary of the Teign Naturalists' Field Club.

Mr. Ormerod was one of the earliest members of this Association, having joined it at the first meeting in Exeter in 1862. He was a member of the Council. In 1872 he filled the office of Hon. Local Secretary, in conjunction with the late Rev. R Kirwan and Mr. E. Parfitt, and again in 1874 he was elected to the same office on the occasion of the Annual Meeting being held at Teignmouth, being one of the Vice-Presidents the same year. He was the author of several papers on a variety of subjects read to the Association. These are comprised in the following list: “On the Traces of Tin Streaming in the Vicinity of Chagford" (1866); "Notes on the Carboniferous Beds adjoining the Northern Edge of the Granite of Dartmoor" (1867); “0n the Pseudomorphous Crystals of Chloride of Sodium, and their occurrence in Devonshire "(1858); "Notice of Molars of Hippopotamus Major stated to have been found in Kent's Cavern, Torquay" (1869); "Notice of the Occurrence of Scapolite at Chagford, Devon" (1869); "Notice of the Firing at the Battle between the Alabama and the Kearsage off Cherbourg, June 18th, 1864, being heard in Devon" (1871); "The Fall and Restoration of the Cromlech at Drewsteignton” (1871); “What is Grimspound?" (1872); "Notice of Pre-historic Remains formerly existing near the Drewsteignton Cromlech, observed by the Rev. E. Polwhele prior to 1793, and mapped by the Rev. W. Grey in 1838" (1872); "Wayside Crosses, in the District bordering the East of Dartmoor" (1874); “The Trias at Dawlish" (1881); "Notice of the Head of an Iron Halberd found in an Excavation at Teignmouth, and of the Place in which it was Discovered" (1883); and a posthumous paper, printed below, entitled, "Sketch of the Postal Service in Devonshire from 1784 to 1890" (1891).

Mr. Ormerod was very skilled in arranging and indexing. The Index to the first volume of the Transactions of this Association was made by him; and he published in 1886 A Classified Index to the Refports and Transactions of {he Devon shire Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature, and Art, from the Commencement in 1862 to 1886 inclusive." This work is on the same lines as several similar works prepared by him for the volumes of the Geological Society. Mr. Ormerod continued in harness up to the last, and apparently in health and vigour. He was, however, taken suddenly ill after attending a meeting, and died on January 6th, 1891, at his residence, Woodway, Teignmouth, at the age of 80 years. He was a sterling and excellent man, and a most sincere friend, and will not soon be forgotten by many who knew him well.