Yeovil people
Dr. ptolemy colmer
Physician & Surgeon of South Street
Ptolemy Samuel
Henry Colmer was
born in South
Petherton in
1841, the son of
herbalist
Robert
Slade Colmer and
his wife Jane
née Allen - who
were later both
to be found
guilty of
murder.
Ptolemy's father
Robert was a
medical
herbalist and in
1851 was living
in
Middle Street
with his wife
and five young
children. In the
1861 census Ptolemy was listed as a
boarder at 94 Dundas Street,
Glasgow, where he was a
medical student.
On 24 February 1865 in the
parish church of
St Giles Cripplegate in
London, Ptolemy married Susan
Jacob the
daughter of
Baltonsborough
farmer Robert
Jacob. On his
marriage
certificate
Ptolemy listed his
profession as
physician &
surgeon and his
residence as St
Giles Cripplegate.
Sadly Susan died
in the winter of
1870 and the
1871 census
shows Ptolemy listed as a
29-year-old
physician &
surgeon living
in
Princes
Street, Yeovil
with his son
Ptolemy Augustus aged
four, daughter
Frances Gertrude
aged two and son
Albert Ernest
aged one.
In the summer of
1871 however,
Ptolemy was to marry his
dead wife's
sister Frances
Louisa Jacob.
Ptolemy and
Frances had two
children, Ralph
Henry James born
in 1874, and
Arnold Hugh born
in 1878.
Unfortunately
Frances died
shortly
thereafter.
On 15 April 1880
Ptolemy married for the
third time at
Wood Green,
north London.
Ptolemy was now aged 38
and a widower,
his new wife was
22-year-old
spinster
Catherine Mary
Offin of Wood
Green, the
daughter of
William Offin a
leather
merchant. In the
1881 census
Ptolemy, aged
39, and
Catherine, aged
23, were living
at
South Street
House, 79
South
Street (the
former home of
glove
manufacturer
Richard Ewens) with six
children,
Ptolemy's sister
Bernice and his
assistant Robert
Gilbert,
together with a
housemaid, a
cook and a
nurse. Ptolemy
and Catherine
were to have two
children, Cecil
born in 1881 and Vyvian born in
1882.
Ptolemy was a Freemason and was initiated into Yeovil's Lodge of Brotherly Love on 21 March 1888.
Ptolemy entered local politics and was elected mayor of Yeovil twice, serving from 1887 to 1889 and again from 1890 to 1892. He remained on the council as an alderman after his service as mayor. In 1892 he was appointed as a Borough Magistrate. In 1892 he retired from public office and "at a great banquet to the council and prominent townsfolk, the doctor wore for the first time a striking addition to the civic regalia: the chain of office in silver gilt purchased by public subscription and now inscribed with the names and dates of office of the Mayors of the Borough."
The 1891 census saw Ptolemy and his family still resident at 79 South Street where he and Catherine together with six of their children and a cook, housemaid and children's made were all living. At this time Ptolemy gave his occupation as 'Doctor of Medicine, Surgeon etc in general practice' and Ptolemy Jnr, by now aged 24, gave his occupation as 'Medical Practitioner, assistant to father'.
Ptolemy Colmer died 8 April 1897 in Yeovil. His will was proven in Taunton on 19 July to his widow Catherine, son Ptolemy and John Michael Nicholls both physicians and surgeons. The total value of his effects were £1880 6s 3d (about £200,000 in 2017's value). His son Ptolemy Augustus took over the medical practice.
|
From the
diary of
Louisa
Harris .... "13 March 1897: Dear Dr Colmer was buried this afternoon - the funeral was very large and representative, Dr C having been widely connected and universally popular.
|
gallery
This photograph
features in my
book "A-Z
of Yeovil"
Dr Ptolemy Colmer's mayoral photograph, thought to have been taken during his first term of office in 1888.
Courtesy of
South Somerset
Heritage
Collection
Dr Ptolemy Colmer, photographed in 1890 during his second term as mayor of Yeovil, by John Chaffin & Sons of Hendford.
Courtesy of
South Somerset
Heritage
Collection
Dr Ptolemy Colmer's mayoral portrait, also photographed in 1890 during his second term as mayor of Yeovil, by John Chaffin & Sons of Hendford.
Courtesy of Jack
Sweet
Doctors and nurses of the Newnam Hall Red Cross Hospital photographed in 1915. The second man from the left is Dr Norman Flower and fourth from left is Dr Ptolemy Colmer.
Dr Ptolemy Colmer's house and surgery at 79 South Street. The site is now occupied by the entrance to Petters Way and the Petters Way car park adjoining South Street. The railings at left belong to the Baptist Church and at the time of this photograph a narrow lane ran between Dr Colmer's house and the church, leading originally to extensive orchards.
The sale
particulars of
South Street
House following
the death of Dr
Ptolemy Augustus
Colmer from the
Western Gazette
of 8 July 1932.
