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Thomas

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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 Sharpe.
Charles bn 1851 died 1931 married Sarah Evens.
Henry bn 1853 died 1932 unmarried.
Maria bn 1855 died 1934. married Eldred Smith.

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

External LinkDeath of a Very Old Marshall Mount ResidentMr William Thomas Jnr.Obituary Alfred ThomasObituary MR Henry ThomasDeath of Mrs Atchison ShellharbourObituary Mr Edward ThomasDeath of Mr John ThomasThomas , Piper and Denniss Families

Object

Victoria Automatic Sock Knitting Machine

Memorandum to Clorinda Atchison

Bookmark - William Thomas

Sympathy Letter From Alex Manson Of 'The Meadows' To Clorinda Atchison

A Tribute To Samuel Charles Atchison By Joyce Kretchmer (Nee Atchison)

Newspaper Articles Relating To Samuel Charles Atchison

Christmas Card from Samuel Charles Atchison to Sister, Lizzie

Letter From Samuel Charles Atchison To Mother Clorinda

Letter From Samuel Charles Atchison To Sister, Lizzie

Postcards - Ralph Thomas

Postcards & Cards - Thomas family

Enlistment Papers Walter John Thomas

Telegrams - Thomas Family

Souvenir Ticket 105 Moss Vale to Port Kembla Railway

Sarah Thomas Cot Quilt

Shellharbour School Of Arts Minute Book

Samuel, Clorinda and Thomas Atchison

Samuel Charles Atchison In Group (Contingent)

Walter John Thomas

Albert (Bert) Thomas

Tooting Military Hospital - Walter John Thomas

Glass Slides 'Clover Hill'- Thomas Family

Person

Thomas, Clorinda

Thomas, Henry

James, Thomas

Thomas, John

James, Jemima

Thomas, Walter

Thomas, Edward Haslam

Turner, Benjamin Horace

Atchison, Samuel Charles

Family

Thompson

Slusher

James

Denniss

Atchison

Place

The Sheiling

Rosemont

Thomas Bakery Scotch Oven, Bricks and Facade

St Ives

Boer War Memorial

Collection

Atchison, Samuel Charles Collection

Thomas, William and Jane Collection

Thomas Memorial Library Collection

Thomas, William and Sarah Collection

Document

An Ice Evening

Memorandum to Clorinda Atchison

A Tribute To Samuel Charles Atchison

Artwork

Bravella Painting (Copy Only)

Locality

Macquarie Pass

Military

Shellharbour War Memorial

Sarah Thomas and her youngest son, Henry.

Photo courtesy of Carol Foulger.

CONNECTIONS

CollectionFamiliesPlaceClover HillSt Ives Marshall Mount HouseLocalityShellharbourMarshall MountFamilyAtchisonJames

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Thomas