 Thomas Jr became the Mayor of Bolton in 1884 and remained in office until 1887.Thomas' brother Matthew kept out of direct control of the colliery but maintained the family links to politics by becoming the Chairman of the Little Lever Local Board (1893–1894) and then Chairman of the Little Lever Urban District Council in 1895.Thomas Sr died leaving £163,000, which was, in those days, a substantial sum of money.