REV. WILLIAM TIIORP. 
38.5 
If tliere are any special questions I can answer I shall be happy 
to do iny best in that way. Faithfully yours, 
A. W. Drayson. 
The following extract has been made from the BarmUy Times 
of December 23rd, 1860 We refer to the death of the Rev. William 
Thorp beyond the notice in our obituary. We feel justified because 
of his earliest years having their date from our neighbourhood, and 
because of his resemblance to the family generally in kindness of 
manner and amiability of disposition. It appears that Mr. Thorp had 
arranged to be at Doncaster on Saturday last for the purpose of 
having an interview with Mr. Sutcliffe, the manager of the North 
Gawber Colliery, near Barnsley, one of the most extensive pits of 
coal in South Yorkshire, of wdiich he was a partner, the name of the 
firm being Richard Thorp & Co. ^Ir. Sutcliffe met him at the Great 
Northern Railway Station at half-past twelve o'clock. At that time 
the Rev. William Thorp apparently enjoyed his wonted health. . . . 
They w^alked along the line towards the Great Northern Company's 
Mineral Yard, conversing on colliery topics. As they were walking 
Mr. Sutcliffe felt Mr. Thorp frequently press his arm ; at length Mr. 
Sutcliffe spoke and received no reply ; he then looked and observed 
a changed appearance in Mr. Thorp. When near the offices they 
w^ere met by Mr. Middlemiss "who spoke and moved, but again there 
was no reply, only a nod of the head. Mr. Middlemiss and Mr. 
Sutcliffe felt sure he w^as the subject of a paralytic stroke, and at 
once carried him into the private office of Mr. Middlemiss, who 
immediately sent a message for Dr. Scholefield, and a telegraphic 
message for Mrs. Thorp and family. Mr. Thorp was removed to the 
house of Mr. Middlemiss, and the rev. gentleman occupied a bed 
there until the time of his decease on Sunday night, the 16th of 
December. On the arrival of Mrs. Thorp, Dr. Thompson of Sheffield, 
was telegraphed for, who, in consultation with Dr. Scholefield, con- 
cluded recovery was hopeless. Mr. Middlemiss sat up with him all night 
and was most kind. The deceased was the second sou of the late 
Samuel Thorp, Esq., of Banks Hall, near Barnsley ; was in the 57th 
year of his age. He formerly resided at Doncaster as one of the curates 
of the parish church, and afterwards at Womersley. Through the in- 
GO 
