Thomas Tomkins

Thomas received his ticket of leave 13 December 1813 while working in the Parramatta lumberyard. The Reverend Samuel Marsden was one of the men who ran the yard and said Thomnas was honest and industrious and of a very good character.

On 21 August 1820, Thomas married Elizabeth Kentwell (nee Morris) (Convict; Mary Anne 1791) the widow of William Kentwell. They married at Parramatta, the bride aged 42 and Thomas only 24. The eldest daughter of the bride, Mrs Hannah Becket was a witness. Thomas and Elizabeth had two children, Henry and Sarah both born prior to the formal marriage.

He was 5'7" tall of fair ruddy complexion with brown hair and hazel eyes and when he arrived in Sydney in June 1813 on the Fortune 2 was sent to the lumberyard in Parramatta. He remained at this work until 13 December 1817 when he obtained a Ticket-of-Leave on the recommendation of William Jewell and Rev. Samuel Marsden. Jewell, who ran the yard, said Thomas was 'sober, honest and industrious' and Marsden judged him an 'honest and industrious man being of very good character'. On 21st August 1820, Thomas married Elizabeth Kentwell (nee Morris) (Convict; Mary Anne 1791) the widow of William Kentwell. They married at Parramatta, the bride aged 42 and Thomas only 24. The eldest daughter of the bride, Mrs Hannah Becket was a witness. Thomas and Elizabeth had two children, Henry and Sarah both born prior to the formal marriage. Citation details: No 749 year 1820 Thomas Thompkins, prisoner per Fortune 2 age 29 of the parish of Parramatta and Elizabeth Kentwell, free of ditto were married in this church by banns this 21 day of August 1820 by me George Middleton Thomas and Elizabeth both made their X marks in the register in the presence of Thomas Ashford who signed the register, and Hannah Becket who made her X mark Thomas had bought 50 acres originally granted to Patrick Silk at Castle Hill. He next bought the adjacent 40 acres from Thomas Ashford in 1823 and became a neighbour of John and Elizabeth Kentwell. The 1828 Census recorded him as being a landowner at Baulkam Hills with 90 acres. Twenty-six acres were cleared and cultivated and he owned 3 horses and 19 cows; he also had the services of two convict servants. Granted a Conditional pardon in November 1825. Thomas Tompkins became seriously ill and sold his farm. In July 1829 John Pye paid £200 for the 90 acres. Two days after Christmas of that year Thomas died aged 38 and was buried in St John's Churchyard. Old Bailey Trial transcription. Reference Number: t18120219-14 227. THOMAS TIMOTHY, alias EKINS BRITTEN , was indicted for feloniously stealing, on the 4th of February , a silver pint mug, value 3 l. a silver mustard spoon, value 2 s. two silver tea spoons, value 3 s. and three silver scollop shells, value 30 s. the property of William Strong , in his dwelling-house . ROBERT STRONG . My father's name is William Strong, he lives at No. 7, Montague Place, Russell Square, in the parish of St. George's, Bloomsbury . Q. Do you know the prisoner at the bar. - A. I do, he lived with my father as under-footman , my father is afflicted with a paralytic stroke, and cannot move. The prisoner came into my father's service on the evening of the 18th of November last. Q. On the same day had your father occasion to hire a person of the name of Greenaway. - A. Yes, he was upper footman, they both came the same evening into my father's service, I delivered to Greenaway my father's plate myself. Q. Was there a list provided Greenaway for the charge of that plate. - A. There was a list which I gave Greenaway, and he signed one part of it, it was to be under his charge. Q. Was the property in the indictment so entrusted to him. - A. Yes, the whole of it. Q. How long did the prisoner remain in your service before he gave warning to quit your service. - A. He gave warning I think the 27th of January. I understood from my father that it was on account of ill health. Q. How soon did Greenaway give warning. - A. Greenaway did not give warning, he was dicharged on account of being absent the 29th in the morning, he was absent a day and night. I was present when he was dismissed his service. Q. Upon his dismissal did you compare the list with the articles of the plate - A. I did, and there were missing all the articles in the indictment after calling er the list. Q. What with Greenaway. - A. It was. Q. Now what he said will not be evidence against the prisoner. Q. When was it that the prisoner left your service. - A. On the 4th of February, in the evening. We were provided with another. Q. After Greenaway was gone was there any butler to whom the plate was in charge. - A. Not particularly. Q. Had the prisoner access to the plate after Greenaway went away. - A. He had. Q. Had he before Greenaway went away - A. Only by permission of that butler Q. Was the plate that is charged in the indictment of being lost, was it the plate that you were in the habit of using at your father's table. - A. Part of it. Q. During the time and previous to Greenaway's going away, was the prisoner in the habit of bringing up that plate to furnish your father's table. - A. Part of it. I should persume he had. Q. After he was gone, and you had paid the wages, no suspicion fell upon the prisoner. - A. None in the least, he went away on the 4th of February in the evening. Q. How soon was it you received any information from Hatton Garden office. - A. On the 6th of February, two days after he went away, in consequence of information, I went to the office. I afterwards saw some plate produced at the office, which I knew to be that plate; I had no doubt about that plate when I saw it, none at all. Q. Where you shewn among other things the mug. - A. I was. Q. Whereabouts was the value of the mug. - A. About two pounds. WILLIAM PAGE . I am a pawnbroker. I live in Liquorpond Street. Q. Look at the prisoner at the bar and tell me whether you know his person. - A. I do On the 6th of February between two and three o'clock he came to my house, he offered to pledge these articles, a salt spoon, a tea spoon, and a mustard spoon, they were brought to me at one time. Q. What were the value of these that were brought to you at one time. Mr. Gurney. What is the value of one scollop shell. - A. About twenty shillings each, they were all brought to me together, the mustard spoon about four shillings, and the tea spoons about half a crown each. I asked the prisoner whose they were, he said they were his own, the scollop shells were both together at that time. I asked him how they came doubled together in that way, he said they were his father's, his father had given them to him, and he had brought them to me. I asked him who his father was, he said his name was Thomas Tomkins , that he lived with his father, No. 8, Blackfriers Road. I then asked him respecting the cornet upon them, he was not able to give me any satisfactory account; I said have you come honestly by them; he could give no account, therefore I gave him in charge of the officer. WILLIAM MATTHEWS . I am an officer. I was sent for to the last witness's on the 6th of this month, I went to Mr. Page's shop, I found the prisoner there. I searched the prisoner, going across the road I found him putting his hand into his side pocket. I found something against my own, and in searching him I found this silver mug. Q. (to Mr. Page.) What is the worth of the silver mug. - A. I should not hesitate to give three pounds for this mug to melt, it is very heavy indeed. MR. STRONG. I know the mug belongs to my father, I have no doubt of it. I can swear to the mustard spoon, and as to the rest, I am sure they are my father's property, I have seen them often, my father's crest is upon them. I know the mug by the initials upon it. Prisoner's Defence. I found these things laid out of the place. I found them in the wash-house against a tub. I found the things in the wash-house after the other servant was gone in the morning, and after I found them, the other servant came back into the house. I put them into another place of the wash-house, and the next day I was going away, and when I came at night I brought them away. Court. Q. (to Mr. Strong.) Do you know the wash-house in which the prisoner states he took them away. - A. I do, it is part of the dwelling house. The prisoner always behaved with the greatest deportment, we had a good character with him. GUILTY - DEATH , aged 21. First Middlesex jury, before Mr. Justice Bailey,

Family connections for Thomas (Tomkins) are: TOMKINS Thomas/Timothy (Tomkins/Thompkins)/Ekin/Britten) was born in 1794 & became a servant. He was tried for stealing, on 4 2 1813, a silver pint mug etc of William (Strong) at Old Bailey, sentenced to death commuted to Life, held at Middlesex Gaol Delivery & arrived in NSW as a convict on 11 6 1813 after a voyage of 7months on FORTUNE; he was 5'7" fair ruddy complexion brown hair hazel eyes; he was assigned to Parramatta lumber yard. He perhaps was issued a Ticket of Leave on 13 12 1813. He had a relationship with Elizabeth (Morris her fourth relationship) & later married her. He left the lumberyard on 13 12 1817, with Ticket of Leave & description as honest & industrious. He married Elizabeth (Morris) (ages recorded as him29 & she68) on 15 8 1820 at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He bought 50acres at Castle Hill & later 40acres more becoming a neighbour of the (Kentwell)s. He sold the farm in July 1829 & died on 27 12 1829 age36 at Castle Hill; he was buried at St Johns CofE Parramatta. [Some details taken from this Website] Elizabeth (Morris) daughter of John (Morris) & Sarah (Collins) was born on 31 7 1775. In about 1785 she was acquitted of felony at Bristol Gloucestershire. She was tried for grand larceny w/2adults at Bristol Sessions Oyer & Terminer Commission on 5 4 1790 (one ref. shows her as age12), sentenced to 7years & arrived in NSW as a convict on 9 7 1791 after a voyage of 5months on Fleet ship MARY ANN/E. About 1792 she associated firstly (1of4) with John/Jhyn (Dalton age16) & produced 1child. She was Free by Servitude by 1799. When her second husband died she took over running of farm with children Hannah, William & John; & convict Murtagh/Murty (Shields) was apparantly assigned to her. She married secondly (2of4) William (Kentwell) on 4 1 1796 at St Johns CofE Parramatta & produced 5children. She had a third (3of4) relationship with Murtagh/Murty (Shields) & produced 1child. She died on 25 1 1852 age77 mother of 9children. [Some details taken from this Website] Thomas (Thompkins) & Elizabeth (Morris) produced 2children: 1.Henry Thomas (Thompkins) was born on 15 8 1815 at Parramatta & baptised on 21 8 1820 age4 w/Sarah at St Johns CofE Parramatta. He died on 16 6 1893 age77. 2.Sarah (Thompkins) was born on 29 10 1817 & baptised on 21 8 1820 age2 w/Henry Thomas at St Johns CofE Parramatta. She died in 1793 age about75. Reference: Craig James Smee 'Births and Baptisms Marriages and Defacto Relationships Deaths and Burials New South Wales 1788-1830' ..a complete listing from church & other records in the early colony.