Personal Details of Francis Rathill Thomas
| Born: | |
| Died: | 04/07/1861 |
| Buried: | 08/07/1861 |
Listed below are all the details we have been able to find so far on Francis Rathill Thomas.
As far as we are aware, all the information is correct. However, sometimes transcriptions can lead to errors being made. If you find any errors or omissions, please let us know and we will endeavour to get them corrected as soon as possible.
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Birth
There is no information in our database regarding the birth of Francis Rathill Thomas.
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Death
There is no information in our database regarding the death of Francis Rathill Thomas.
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Burial Register
There is no burial register information available for Francis Rathill Thomas.
Only three of the five burial register books still exist as far as we know and these are held at the Berkshire Record Office.
Stillborn children were not recorded in the burial register, only in the cemetery accounts.
Memorial Details
| Headstone: In loving memory of / Francis Thomas / who died July 4th 1861 aged 44 years/ Also Caroline / wife of the above / who died May 23rd 1892 aged 71 years / "Thy will be done" | |
| Name on Memorial | Francis THOMAS |
| Date of death | 04/07/1861 |
| Age | 44 |
| Gender | Male |
| Memorial Type | Large headstone on plinth with kerbstones |
| Construction Material | Marble |
| Condition of memorial | Leaning, poor |
| Pattison Location Code | CH6 (E ) |
| Others named on memorial | |
| Caroline THOMAS |
Cemetery accounts
This information is taken from the accounts ledgers of the Newbury Cemetery Company that originally ran and maintained the cemetery.
The Ledgers are held at the Berkshire Records Office.
| Name at death | Francis Thomas |
| Date of burial | 08/07/1861 |
| Whence brought | Newbury |
| Where & how buried | Consecrated Ground - Common Interment |
| By whom buried | Rev'd. J.L. Randall |
| Account Entry | Book 1 - Page 57 |
Accounts Entry for Francis Rathill Thomas
© Newbury Town Council
Reproduced with kind permission
Accounts Entry for Francis Rathill Thomas
Newspaper Cuttings
The articles below have been transcribed from newspapers and magezines.
Francis Thomas
| Source: | Reading Mercury | |||
| Article date: | 13/07/1861 | |||
| Copyright: | Reading Mercury | |||
| Transciption: |
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| This obituary entry is awaiting verification. |
Francis TRhomas
| Source: | James H Lucas |
| Article date: | 09/07/1861 |
| Copyright: | as above |
| Transciption: | FRANCIS THOMAS REFUSAL of THE NEWBURY CEMETERY AUTHORITIES TO ALLOW BURIALS ON THE SABBATH.
To the EDITOR of the READING MERCURY.
Sir,?The public will no doubt be surprised to learn that the Newbury Cemetery is closed against funerals on the Sabbath day. I believe the object of the Cemetery Company was to provide a sufficient burial place for the town, in consequence of the crowded state of the church and chapel burial grounds. Burials on Sundays were never refused at either church or chapel; this proceeding of the Cemetery Company must therefore be regarded as an infringement of the privileges, if not the rights, of the inhabitants.
The death of Mr. Thomas having occurred last week, under circumstances which necessitated an early burial, application was made to the Cemetery Authorities to have the funeral on Sunday last, that being the latest period to which it should bo delayed. The reply to this application was " We have a Bye Law which prohibits funerals on the Sabbath." Recourse was then had to the directors and shareholders, not one of whom appeared to be aware of the existence of such a law, and many expressed their indignation of the refusal that had been given. This being a case of necessity, the directors were again applied to for their consent and authority to bury, which were readily granted, and the Rector kindly undertook to perform the burial service.
These facts were communicated to the Secretary but still without success, the answer being "The law is in existence, and cannot be altered except at a meeting of the Directors." The consequence was, the funeral was obliged to be delayed till Monday morning, at eight o'clock, at which hour it took place. I believe it would be difficult to find another place in the kingdom, where the Cemetery would be shut against such a case as this. And I also very much doubt whether the Company have the power to keep such a law, as will close the only graveyard against the inhabitants.
On behalf of the public, and also on behalf of the Society to which the deceased belonged, I deem it my duty to call public attention to this matter, hoping, as the half-yearly meeting of the shareholders is announced for the 23rd inst., that such an arbitrary and inconsistent law may be unanimously rescinded.
I am, Mr. Editor, yours respectfully, JAMES H. LUCAS. Newbury, July 9th, 1861. |
| This obituary entry is awaiting verification. |
Francis Thomas
| Source: | Berkshire Chronicle |
| Article date: | 06/07/1861 |
| Copyright: | Berkshire Chronicle |
| Transciption: | FRANCIS THOMAS July, 4, very suddenly, Mr F Thomas, aged 47, auctioneer, Market-place, Newbury |
| This obituary entry is awaiting verification. |
Francis Thomas
| Source: | Berkshire Chronicle |
| Article date: | 28/09/1861 |
| Copyright: | Berkshire Chronicle |
| Transciption: | FRANCIS THOMAS We are pleased to hear that at a summoned meeting of the members of the Jack of Newbury Lodge of Oddfellows, five guineas were awarded to the widow of the late Francis Thomas, auctioneer, of this town, in addition to the 12 shillings funeral donation allowed by the society. Mrs Thomas is left totally un-provided for with a family of six children, unable to obtain a livelihood, and expecting to be confined very shortly. We believe this case to be deserving of consideration of the benevolent, and we would impress the noble and charitable act of the Oddfellows upon the Freemasons, of which fraternity Mr Thomas was a member. Mr Newton, Northbrook-street, would be pleased to receive any contribution on her behalf. |
| This obituary entry is awaiting verification. |
Francis Thomas
| Source: | Reading Mercury |
| Article date: | 13/09/1856 |
| Copyright: | Reading Mercury |
| Transciption: | FRANCIS THOMAS SERIOUS ACCIDENT – On Friday night last, an accident of a serious nature occurred to Mr Francis Thomas, auctioneer, Newbury. He was returning towards home from Eastbury, and about twelve o’clock, when he reached the corner of the road by Donnington Grove, intending to get into the Speen road by the Hare and Hounds public-house, he was driven into by a four-wheel carriage, which came from the opposite direction. The effect of the collision was to throw him violently from his gig, severely fracture his head, and otherwise injure him. He lay insensible on the ground for more than an hour, and when consciousness returned, he raised himself, and with great difficultly contrived to reach his home, where he now lies in a very precarious state. Immediately after the accident, Mr Thomas’s horse proceeded into Newbury, and stopped at its master’s residence. Some of the family, of course, went to the door as usual, but great was their surprise to find no one in the gig. As the cushion was missing, they supposed that he had been robbed and ill-treated, and some of them at once drove back in the direction of Eastbury in search of him, but, owing to the darkness of the night, were unable to discover him, though from the distance they travelled, they must have passed him as he lay insensible on the ground. Mr Thomas was on the right side of the road when the collision occurred, and the driver of the carriage must have been conscious that injury was done to someone. It was therefore exceedingly strange and showed a want of feeling that he did not pull up to render assistance. Steps and being taken to endeavour to discover the party, and we hope they will be successful. |
| This obituary entry is awaiting verification. |
Pictures and photographs
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Francis Thomas
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Francis Thomas
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Francis and Caroline Thomas - grave
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Francis and Caroline Thomas - grave
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Biographical Information
The articles below contain information about Francis Rathill Thomas.
Francis Rathill Thomas
Francis Thomas
c1815-1861
Francis Rathill Thomas was born in Berkshire he was baptised on the 3rd December 1815 in Cholsey Berkshire the son of Jesse and Elizabeth Thomas (nee Rathill) who were married on the 23rd September 1815 in Cholsey.
Francis married Caroline Johnson (born c1821 in London) in 1840.
Marriage details:
Place: St Mary Cholsey Berkshire
Date: 23rd May 1840 in Cholsey
Groom: Francis Thomas, aged 25, bachelor, abode: Cholsey, occupation: Baker
Bride: Caroline Johnson, aged 19, spinster, abode: Cholsey
Groom’s Father: Jesse Thomas (no bride’s father recorded)
Witnesses: James Goodchild, Eliza Mills and Ann Thomas
Francis and Caroline had the following children:
Francis Coles born 1841 in Cholsey
George Alexander born 1842 in Cholsey
Caroline born c1843 in Cholsey
Julia born 1844 in Cholsey
Emily Ellen born 1846 in Cholsey
Eliza Jane born 1848 in Newbury (died aged 3 in 1851 buried on the 22nd November in the NRC)
Alice born c1850 in Newbury (died in 1856 buried in the NRC on the 25th August)
William Henry born 1851 in Newbury
Edwin born 1852 in Newbury (died aged 60 in 1913 buried in the NRC on the 5th February)
Louisa Jane born c1856 in Newbury
Alice Matilda born 1857 in Newbury
Clara Henrietta born 1860 in Newbury
Rosa born c1862 in Newbury (died aged 4 in 1866 buried on the 2nd October in the NRC)
In 1841 Francis (25) was working as a Baker, living at Forty, Cholsey with Caroline (20) and their son Francis Coles aged 2 months.
By 1848 the family had moved to Newbury. The 1851 census records them living at 6 Montague Place. Francis (36) was recorded as a Sheriff’s Officer. Caroline’s mother Susan Johnson (63), an Annuitant, was also recorded in the household.
Caroline’s mother died aged 72 in 1859 she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 2nd April (as Susannah)
In 1856 Francis was involved in a serious accident. The following newspaper report appeared in the Reading Mercury dated 13th September 1856:
SERIOUS ACCIDENT – On Friday night last, an accident of a serious nature occurred to Mr Francis Thomas, auctioneer, Newbury. He was returning towards home from Eastbury, and about twelve o’clock, when he reached the corner of the road by Donnington Grove, intending to get into the Speen road by the Hare and Hounds public-house, he was driven into by a four-wheel carriage, which came from the opposite direction. The effect of the collision was to throw him violently from his gig, severely fracture his head, and otherwise injure him. He lay insensible on the ground for more than an hour, and when consciousness returned, he raised himself, and with great difficultly contrived to reach his home, where he now lies in a very precarious state. Immediately after the accident, Mr Thomas’s horse proceeded into Newbury, and stopped at its master’s residence. Some of the family, of course, went to the door as usual, but great was their surprise to find no one in the gig. As the cushion was missing, they supposed that he had been robbed and ill-treated, and some of them at once drove back in the direction of Eastbury in search of him, but, owing to the darkness of the night, were unable to discover him, though from the distance they travelled, they must have passed him as he lay insensible on the ground. Mr Thomas was on the right side of the road when the collision occurred, and the driver of the carriage must have been conscious that injury was done to someone. It was therefore exceedingly strange and showed a want of feeling that he did not pull up to render assistance. Steps and being taken to endeavour to discover the party, and we hope they will be successful.
In the 1861 census Francis (47), was recorded as an Auctioneer, living in Cheap Street Newbury with Caroline (40) and their children, Emily (14), William (9), Edwin (7), Louisa Jane (5), Alice Matilda (3) and Clara Henrietta (11 months)
Francis died 46 on the 4th July 1861 he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 8th July (MI has his age recorded as 44, GRO records aged at death as 46 and Berkshire Chronicle records his age as 47)
Caroline was pregnant when Francis died she gave birth to a daughter, registering the birth in the March Q 1862). She worked as a Furniture Dealer and continued to live in Cheap Street until at least 1881 but by 1891 she was living in West Field Newbury.
She died aged 71 on the 23rd May 1892 she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 26th May.
Probate: 1861 Thomas Francis Effects: under £100 5th August Letters of Administration of the Personal estate and effects of Francis Thomas late of Newbury in the County of Berks Auctioneer and Upholsterer deceased who died 4th July 1861 at Newbury aforesaid were granted at Oxford to Caroline Thomas of Newbury aforesaid Widow the Relict of the said Deceased she having been first sworn
Author: Christine Gambles
© FNRC
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