1900s: Benicek writes that:
[I have a photo which] depicts Captain Lossius and his wife aboard the SS Kinshan. [...] I have uploaded them here: http://flic.kr/p/cazYkj
I assume that JJ Lossius and his wife Agnes are the same couple listed (on your website) as a residents of St George House in 1920. They must also be the same Lossius and wife Agnes buried in Happy Valley, though the name on the headstone is IJ Lossius, not JJ. I suspect Jacob reverted to the Latin form of his name, as this is the form he used in an article he wrote for a 1907 Christian Scientist article.
A 1913 Jurors List shows him working as Assistant Superintendent of the P. M. S. S. Co, and living at St. George’s House.
In 1920 St George's House was leased to him & his wife for a further five years.
He died in 1942 and is buried in the Hong Kong Cemetery. The gravestone is inscribed:
In/ loving memory/ of/ Helen Maud Potter/ born in Liverpool, England/ died in Hongkong/ 14th February 1914/Agnes Mary Potter Lossius/ July 23rd 1938/Captain I. J. Lossius/ died 16 Feb. 1942#10064 #8004 #9767
Photos that show this Person
Comments
A Christian Science religious article written by Captain Lossius in 1907. Interesting description of the 1906 typhoon. About three quarters of the way down the page, entitled 'testimonies of healing':
http://scantech.co/aequus/lpext.dll/Infobase8/29486?fn=document-frame.h…
Born 17th September 1853 in Norway.
http://hemneslekt.net/getperson.php?personID=I73092&tree=Hemne
Agnes Mary LOSSIUS nee POTTER was the daughter of James and Marion POTTER. Born in 1855 in Woodchurch, Cheshire, she is shown on the 1881 census (www.ancestry.co.uk) living with her parents at 41 Jolliffe Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. She is described as married and a mate's wife. Her husband is not with her. Father James was a master builder and both he and her mother were born in Scotland
Andrews Newspaper Index Cards on www.ancestry.co.uk has a record of her birth -
Agnes Mary POTTER daughter of James POTTER, a plasterer (journeyman) and Marion POTTER formerly WILSON born 8.8.1855 at Oxton (S.D. Woodchurch).
(Updated 11 November 2025)
Events
1940 September - Captain Lossius celebrated his 87th birthday at No. 7 House, Cheung Chau, the country residence of Mr. D. O. Silver*. Lossius was born in Christiansund (Kristiansund), on the west coast of Norway. The island of Cheung Chau reminded him so much of his hometown. Hong Kong Telegraph 19 September 1940 refers.
1938 July - Mrs. Agnes Mary Potter Lossius passed away on 23 July. Born in August 1855 in Liverpool and was married to Captain Lossius in April 1877 and came to Hong Kong 21 years later. She left behind a sister, Marion Potter of House No. 15 Cheung Chau. Hong Kong Sunday Herald 24 July 1938 refers.
1937 April - Captain I. J. Lossius and his wife celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on the island of Cheung Chau. Lossius was educated in Norway and Germany and had intimate memories of the German Royal family. He came to Hong Kong in 1895 (his biography below mentioned the year was 1897) and was one of the two Captains who opened up the West River to steamer traffic. Mrs. Lossius was formerly the proprietress of St. George's House, a private hotel on Kennedy Road. Hong Kong Sunday Herald 18 April 1937 refers.
1936 February - Biography and sketch of Captain Lossius in the Hong Kong Sunday Herald on 23 February. In the article, Captain Lossius retired in 1932 and spent his time on Cheung Chau, where he was the owner of three houses.
1906 September - Great typhoon of 18 September. Captain Lossius was the master of the "Kinshan" that belonged to the Hong Kong, Canton and Macao Steamboat Company. The steamer was stranded near Pillar Point, Castle Peak during the height of the typhoon.
- He was previously known as Daniel Oswald Oliver de (or da) Silva, insurance agent with Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada. 1936-38 Jurors List refers. He changed his surname to Silver in May 1938.
www.findmypast.co.uk has a record of Jacob's White Star Line Officer service
Jacob J. Lossius
69 Keble Road, Bootle (crossed out)
c/o Occidental and Oriental SS Co. San Francisco
Nationality: Norwegian Christiansund
Date of Birth Sept 17 1853
Years at sea before entering O. S. N. Co. 16
Certificate : Masters
Commission in R.N.R None
Introduced by: Captain Fawcett
Apprenticeship served with : Parelius and Lossius
Antecedents 1 1/2 years A.B. , 2 1/2 years Mate (Norway), 2 1/2 years Master (Norway), 1 7/12 years 1st Mate (British Sailing Vessel), 1 10/12 years 4th, 3rd and 2nd Officer (Leyland Line), 10/12 year 3rd and 2nd Officer (Clan Line), 7/12 3rd Officer (Alfred Booth).
Date and Rank in first service of O.S.N. Co.
July 25 1885 4th Officer
Dec 21 1887 3rd Officer
June 27 1888 2nd Officer
July 3rd 1889 1st Officer
Aug 93 ordered to be discharged.