C. E. Torry, importer merchant, Great Grimsby bookmark 1890s.

An original bookmark. Gold lettering on bone. C. E. Torry was an importer of agricultural produce. (‘Sharps’ is a certain grade of bran offal. ‘Pollards’ is a mixture of bran and meal. ‘Kainit’ is a salt of potassium used in the manufacture of fertilisers.)

Charles Edward Torry (1841-1923) was born in New Holland, near Barrow upon Humber, Lincolnshire in 1841. He was the son of James, turnpike surveyor, and Anne Torry. He was baptised on 18th September 1841. Charles was an accountant in Wrawby in 1871. He married Isabella Hope Brown (born Aberdeen in 1843) in Messingham on 4th March 1876. Charles was a corn merchant and corn agent in Grimsby in 1881. They lived at 8 Macaulay Terrace.

By 1891, Charles and family were living at “Hope Villa”, Dudley Street. Charles and Isabella had four children; Isabella Margaret, Thomas B., Ernest N. and Edith Hope. Charles’ mother-in-law, Isabella Brown, from Argyllshire was living with them. Charles occupation was described as importer merchant and commission agent.

In 1901, Charles Edward Torry was again described as a corn merchant. He was living in Queens Parade, Grimsby. In 1911, aged 69, he was living at 10 Elm Road, Cleethorpes and was an agricultural merchant (sale of farm implements) in partnership with his son-in-law, George Butlin who lived at the same address. Charles was still at the same address in 1923.

Charles Edward Torry died on 31st October 1923. He is buried at Cleethorpes. His wife, Isabella Hope Torry, had died on 19th October 1916.

The grandfather/grandson company, Torry & Butlin (corn cake and seed merchants), was above 6 Victoria St., Grimsby in 1922 and 1958.

George Butlin and Edith Hope Butlin (née Torry) lived at 14 Isaac’s Hill, Cleethorpes in 1925. George died on 10th August 1951. Edith had already died in 1949. His address was given as 6 Westlands Avenue, Grimsby. After George’s death, probate was granted to Walter Hope Butlin (1908-1977), solicitor, and Leslie Wingate Butlin (1910-1994), agricultural merchant. Leslie must have carried on the family business. (His occupation was agricultural merchant and representative wheat buyer in 1939.)

(Walter Hope Butlin lived at 37 Lansdowne Avenue and 27 Pelham Avenue. Leslie Wingate Butlin lived in an apartment in Field House, Pelham Road, Grimsby.)

Note: Torry & Butlin Ltd. eventually became part of Brown Butlin Ltd. The Brown Butlin Group was purchased by Hutchinsons in 2007. Torry & Butlin Ltd. is listed as one of the previous company names of Hutchinsons.

Research by Grimsby & Cleethorpes Museum.