Rogers, Thomas   (1827 - 1901)

Extracted from: JOURNAL OF CONCHOLOGY, VOL. 10, NO. 4, OCTOBER, 1901. p.142-144

Born at St. Helens, Lancashire, UK, in 1827, died 30 May 1901, in the field, Lake District, UK.

Very early in life he migrated to Manchester, and among the earliest offices he held was one in the firm of Labrey & Sons, Tea Merchants.

Mr. B. Bowman Labrey was a devotee of natural history, more particularly, turning his attention to entomology, and he may be said to have been the first to implant in young Rogers' mind that love of biological science which became so important a factor in his career.

Subsequently he set up in business on his own account, first in Cookson Street, and finally in Oldham Road, Ancoats, quite in the heart of the busiest and smokiest district of Manchester.
(another account lists him as a 'pawnbroker')

Many interesting excursions to the Highlands of Scotland, the Irish Lakes, and the Welsh Mountains, accounts of many of which were published by him, were made in company with some of naturalist friends.

Later in life he took up keenly the study of the mollusca, especially non-marine.

Still later on he began to exchange largely, especially in shells, mosses, and ferns, with numerous botanical and geological friends in the Hawaiian Islands, Tasmania, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries, and consequently acquired in time very extensive and well-named series, mostly in very good condition.

He was a voluminous letter writer, and some of his communications are very characteristic.

I [J. COSMO MELVILL] may add that I have come into posession ot the whole of his botanical collections, especially rich in Cryptogamia, British and exotic, and it is believed his shells will be disposed of privately.

Years passed on, but Rogers never seemed to grow older, indeed, he seemed gifted with perennial vivacity and youth, always on the alert to study and determine a new shell, moss, or fern.

Death

"His last field-trip, to the Lake district, being the ascent of Helvellyn. Thursday, May 30th, proved fine, and in the best spirits he and they all started, but, suddenly, when at about 1,800 feet elevation, he complained of not feeling very well, and said he would sit down and rest by a large rock, until his friends should have completed their ascent and have returned his way. When they did so, it was to find their old friend was no more. It seemed truly an euthanasia, thus ending his life peacefully amongst scenes of mountain, lake, and valley he had always so much loved. His vasculum, half filled with plants, was found by his side."

Some of his UK collections are held in the National Herbarium in Melbourne, Aust.

Source: Extracted from:
J. COSMO MELVILL, M.A
JOURNAL OF CONCHOLOGY, VOL. 10, NO. 4, OCTOBER, 1901. p.142-144
Portrait Photo: https://www.theoldhamtimes.co.uk/news/19497363.pawnbroker-botanist-thomas-rogers-oldham/#gallery0
Oldham Times, NOSTALGIA 'Pawnbroker and botanist: Thomas Rogers of Oldham', 9th August 2021.