Thomas W. Crawhall-Wilson
Thomas W. Crawhall-Wilson (c1826-1892)
1892 Obituary [1]
THOMAS W. CRAWHALL-WILSON, who died at his residence, Alston House, on 25th April 1892, was the oldest son of the late Mr. Isaac Crawhall, of Nun Monkton, Yorkshire. The family from which he was descended was of old standing in the dales, and had been long connected with the lead mining industry.
Mr. Crawhall-Wilson for a time was managing partner of Hudgill Burn and also of Rodderup Fell, two of the most productive mines in the Alston Manor. He was also the managing partner in Coanwood Colliery, and Chairman of the Solway Iron Coy., Maryport. He qualified as a Cumberland County Magistrate in 1876. He adopted the additional surname of Wilson, and acceded to the Nenthall estate and other properties on the death of his uncle, Mr. Wilson of Shotley Hall, in 1880.
The deceased was for a number of years connected with the Alston Rifle Volunteers, and attained the rank of Captain. He was an ardent Conservative politician, and held at his death the offices of President of the Alston Union Club, and .of ruling councillor of the local Primrose League.
Although Mr. Crawhall-Wilson has rarely been in robust health, he was admittedly a shrewd and able business man. His relations with his workmen were generally of the best, and if we except the Coanwood colliery strike of 1890, the firms with which he was connected seldom had a dispute with their men. As a magistrate he was ever disposed to treat offenders with such leniency as was compatible with duty, and never pronounced a severe sentence unless in cases marked by the worst features. His consistent practice in this respect gave force to his remark on one occasion, that he "would well wish to see a spider web woven over the door of the district lock-up."
He was an enthusiastic politician, and an effective platform speaker. He had been a close student of political questions from his youth, and, having a most retentive memory, was an admitted authority on Parliamentary and party topics. He had travelled widely. About half-a-dozen years ago he wintered in the West Indies. In the autumn of 1890 he visited the United States and Canada, as a member of the Iron and Steel Institute. It is believed that this journey, with its long mileage of railway travel, its continuous sight-seeing, bustle, and unrest, told heavily on a constitution never very robust.
Mr. Crawhall-Wilson returned to England in delicate health, and he does not appear since to have acquired tone and stamina, though he was generally sufficiently well to meet his business engagements. Deceased was in his 67th year. Mrs. Crawhall-Wilson survives her husband, as well as five sons and two daughters.