Transcript

Of

Obituary notices: Henry Tozer

Trans. Devon. Assoc. vol. 26, (1894) p. 50.

Provided by Michael Steer

Mr Henry Tozer of Ashburton, solicitor, was the youngest son of Solomon Tozer who in 1811 was appointed Master Extraordinary in the High Court of Chancery. The Tozers were considered an old established Ashburton family, with records extending back through surgeon Moses Tozer (born 1685), to the 1500's. Henry Tozer was credited with much of the success in arrangements for the Association's 1876 Ashburton meeting. Google with the Archive Organization has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. The Internet Archive makes available, in its Community Texts Collection (originally known as Open Source Books), books that have been digitised by Google from a number of libraries. These are books on which copyright has expired, and are available free for educational and research use. This rare book was produced from a copy held by University of Michigan Library, and is available from the Internet Archive.

Obituary Notice compiled by

The Rev W Harpley MA, Hon Secretary of the Association.

Henry Tozer was the youngest son of Solomon Tozer, a member of an old Ashburton family, long connected with the woollen manufacture. He was educated at the Ashburton Grammar School, and entered the legal profession about forty years since, having served his articles with the late Mr Edgar of Weston-super-mare. He took an active part in local matters, and his genial and generous nature made him a popular man. For many years he had the management of Spitchwick and Widecombe manors, then in Chancery.

For some Mr Tozer had withdrawn from public business, and his son, and survivor, Mr Solomon Tozer, having entered into partnership with him, he devoted himself to his garden and kindred pursuits.

Mr Tozer joined the Association in 1872, and the success of the meeting at Ashburton in 1876 was largely due to the interest he took in the arrangements, and to his liberal hospitality on the occasion. He was also one of the earliest members of the Teign Naturalists' Field Club, having been elected in 1865.

Early in life he married Harriet Goodhall, who died in 1884, leaving a son and daughter. Early in 1893 Mr Tozer moved to his country house at Priestaford, near Ashburton, where he died suddenly on 27th August, at the age of 64.