Mary Chilcott with the Tolson Cup. Picture: Chilcott Auctioneers
- Credit: Archant
A recent house clearance by Honiton’s Chilcotts Auctioneers unearthed a cup which turned out to have a fascinating story behind it, as a tale of maritime history and heroism came to the fore.
It transpired the cup was awarded to Capt. Thomas Tolson Edwards of the British Steam Ship ‘Illyrian’, a huge ship that regularly transported people and goods from Britain to the United States in the late 1800s.
While commanding the SS Illyrian, Capt. Edwards had rescued the crew of US Clipper Isaac Webb after it got into trouble on a voyage across the Atlantic.