Thomas

DESCRIPTION

NameThomasDescriptionWilliam Thomas was born in Kent, England in 1804 and married Sarah Waller in 1832.William and Sarah emigrated to Port Jackson in 1838 on the Ship City of Westminster. On board the same ship were the Denniss and Piper families. Henry Osborne was one of the colonists who met the ship and offered work to William Thomas, who was a carpenter.

Sarah and William Thomas had three children by the time they migrated to Australia: William, John and Clorinda. This in itself was an adventurous step – a strange unknown continent with a small town called Sydney, which was the only real outpost that was at all familiar.

They arrived at Wollongong Harbour in 1838 on a steamer nicknamed Puffing Billy and were immediately commenced work with Henry Osborne of Marshall Mount. The Thomas’ occupied the gardener’s cottage.

Many years after their arrival, Clorinda (Cloe) recalled when they landed at the harbour. She remembered the place where the convicts were housed a little back from the landing spot. As there was no wharf, their possessions were carried from the boat to dry land. Clorinda recalled it was very cold, and one of the sailors carried her ashore. Dan, the bullock driver met them and drove them up Crown Street, which was at that time just a dirt track.

William Thomas was employed as a carpenter and built the cedar staircase in 'Marshall Mount House'. He also planted an English Oak on the farm, which still stands today. Sarah was engaged with house duties for the Osborne’s.

The family later moved to 'Log Bridge Farm' at Yallah where their other seven children were born. In the early years, Sarah would have worked alongside her husband on the farm, tended her children as well as the normal house duties, which would have included making her own butter, grinding flour, washing by hand and making the family clothes.

Unlike so many others at the time who lasted only two or three years in the country, William and Sarah tackled the fear of the bush, the unknown, worked with the land, and made it their home until their death.

The Thomas family remained in Shellharbour and continued to prosper. John Thomas, who arrived with his parents in 1838, married Maria Haslam and lived at Shellharbour Village, owning a store and later a butchers business. John served briefly as an Alderman and was a member of the first Albion Park Show Committee. He was one of the founders of the Allowie Temperance Lodge, Church of England Shellharbour, where he served as Church Warden. His greatest work is considered to be his work with the Cooperative Shipping Company, assisting with its formation in 1856.

Henry (Harry), son of John, grandson of William, farmed at 'Clover Hill' Macquarie Pass in 1894. He married Mary James, daughter of pioneers William and Elizabeth James of Dunmore, and most of their children were born at the farm. In 1912 they moved to 'St Ives' at Dunmore, leaving their son Kenneth to carry on farm until the property was sold to Ben Turner in 1950.

Members of the Thomas family still live in Shellharbour and continue to be actively involved in the community.

Children of William and Sarah:

John bn 1828 died 1910 married Maria Haslem.
Clorinda bn 1833 died 1926 married William Watson then Samuel Atchison.
William bn 1835 died 1912 married Jane Pearson.
Ann bn 1839 died 1927 married Thomas Murphy then John Piper.
James bn 1843 died 1912 married Jane Piper.
Elizabeth bn 1846 died 1867 unmarried.
George bn 1849 died 1936 married Charlotte Sharp.
Charles bn 1851 died 1931 married Sarah Evens.
Henry bn 1853 died 1932 unmarried.
Maria bn 1855 died 1934. married Eldred Smith.

Sarah Thomas died at Log Bridge Farm in 1878, and William Snr in 1879.

Sources:
N.S.W. Birth, Death and Marriages.
Shipping Records.
Tongarra Heritage Files.
One Hundred and Thirty Years - Stan Thomas.

External LinkDeath Elizabeth Thomas 1867Death of Mr John Thomas 1910Death of a Very Old Marshall Mount Resident William Thomas Jnr 1912Mr William Thomas Jnr. 1912Obituary James Thomas 1912Reminiscences of Illawarra - Series No 43 Dapto 1924Reminiscences of Illawarra - Series No 44 Pioneers of Illawarra and Native Born 1924Reminiscences of Illawarra - Series No 58 The Thomas Family of Marshall Mount 1924Death of Mrs Atchison Shellharbour 1926Mrs Ann Piper 1927Obituary Mr Henry Thomas 1932Mr George Thomas Wollongong 1936Obituary Mr Charles Thomas 1938Obituary Alfred Thomas 1941Obituary Mr Edward Haslam Thomas 1947

Sarah Thomas and her youngest son, Henry.

Photo courtesy of Carol Foulger.

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Thomas