McManus 168

Thomas Watt Thoms was the younger son of Patrick Hunter Thoms, a banker and former Provost of Dundee (1847-1853),^[13] and his wife, Grace Watt.^[7]

Educated at the High School, Thomas Thoms, after embarking on a career in accountancy, spent several years employed in a bank in London, before returning to Dundee.^[9]

As a young man of 25 years, his first listing in the local Directory appeared in 1858-59.^[12] There, he was listed as a ‘merchant and district manager of the Northern Assurance Company,’^[12] operating from 14 St Andrew’s Place (next door to his father’s place of business at 16 St Andrew’s Place).^[12]

In 1869, Thomas Watt Thoms  married Rachel Jameson Duncan,^[2] daughter of James Duncan, a surgeon with the Honourable East India Company Services, and his wife, Rachel Ogilvie.^[2] Her mother was a member of a prominent Dundee family, whose brothers, John Ogilvie (writer) and Andrew Ogilvie (stockbroker)   were leading figures in Dundee society.

Thomas Thoms took a keen interest in education, particularly within his alma mater [High School] and was the school’s accountant for several years. He was also credited, along with Robert Bell, for the reorganisation of the curriculum offered by that establishment.^[9] A report in the local press told of  ‘the old anomalous and absurd system, under which it was left to the parents to select each year the classes their children should attend, was at last put aside and the curriculum introduced under which the School has of late years made such wonderful growth.’^[14]

Thomas Watt Thomas inherited his father’s estate at Craigsfolds/Craiksfolds and had previously administered this estate along with that at Aberlemno, which was inherited by his older brother. He gradually assumed many of his father’s responsibilities, including management of his estates.

Thomas Watt Thoms owned much property in the West End of Dundee and the effects of the Trust established in his will^[15] affected the development of the area up to the 1920s.

Having had many friends and acquaintances among the professional families in Dundee, many of whom had had connections with the Honourable East India Company,^[15][8] Thoms was reported to have been one of the most retiring of men, of a very philanthropic nature, who gave in an unassuming and quiet nature.^[13]