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Record #13840
Name :
: Thomas CARTER (1882 - 1945)


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 24 May 1882

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 8 May 1945   Notes : Cardiac Arrest (heart attack)
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland, Berkshire, Watchfield
Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialCanada, Oxford, Burgessville
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 4 May 1895
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Labrador

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Fegan Homes for Boys
NotesThomas Carter was born in Worton Hamlet, Berkshire, England around 1882 to a "cowman" and agricultural labourer, John Carter, and his first wife Elizabeth Ann Thatcher.
John and Elizabeth lived around Longcott and then Goosey, Berkshire and had five children Elizabeth Annie(1873), Clara Ann(1875), Elizabeth Louisa( 1877-1878--who died in infancy), and Thomas (c.1882). They moved to Watchfield shortly after, to the place of John's birth, and had a final child together William Henry (circa.1884).

In 1887 tragedy struck the family! Elizabeth Ann died from a fall down stairs while heavily pregnant. Though found accidental a coroner's inquest had been performed and suspicion lay on John regarding his wife's sudden death. John remarried that very year to another Elizabeth, Elizabeth Ann Alder, who worked as a barmaid in a local Public House. In early 1888 the couple gave birth to a son (not 6 months after the marriage), John Nelson Carter (1888), whom they referred to as Nelson.

Mysteriously, in 1889 John's second wife, Elizabeth Ann Alder,disappeared. John claimed she had run away perhaps with another man and though the air laden with suspicion most believed him and some said they may have thought they had seen her in Swindon.

This time John waited to remarry. Perhaps he was required to considering everyone thought his second wife to be still living. But in 1893 John wed another barmaid, a Rhoda Ann Titcombe, who 3 months later was discovered murdered! John Carter had killed Rhoda, strangled her and tried to burn the body but failed in his attempt to hide his crime!

During the trial of 1993 his son,my great-grandfather, Thomas Carter testified against his father describing what he saw and heard the night of the murder and explaining how he had been sent the next day early for extra coal, later discovered to aid in burning the body. John was hanged for his crime but before he died also confessed to killing his second wife and told authorities where she was buried. The newpapers covered the story profusly and Thomas was thought to be younger than he was. Perhaps it made a better story, perhaps there was confusion. He was quite small and it may have been for this reason that he was mistaken for a younger child.

Thomas and his younger brother William were said to have been taken into custody by the Faringdon Union Workhouse Guardians. There was no mention of Nelson. The sisters were older, one married the other in service but neither appeared to take on their brothers.

I do not know how long they stayed in the workhouse but they were later taken in by the Fegan Home for what looks like approximately one year. Thomas and William were emmigrated to Canada in May 1895 by Fegan's. Nelson was sent later to Fegan's in 1899 by a Mr. Proctor, listed as a friend.

Thomas was said to be a sturdy, useful, affectionate, and honest boy. Thomas was first engaged to a C.E. Thompson of Burgessville,Ontario in May of 1895 as a farm labourer. The terms were 7 years--which was when Thomas was thought to turn 16. In reality thomas was several years older than they were aware. Thomas worked for Thompson for many years until 1900 when he became unhappy with his terms and wanted to make more money.

Thomas continued to work for farmers in the Burgessville/Holbrook, Ontario area. He worked for William Manson and appears in the 1901 Canadian census living with the manson family. He then worked for Mr. E. Gill, Mr. Andrew Frane, and later a Mr and Mrs. Thomas. All his employers were satisfied with his work and spoke very highly of him.

In December of 1905 Thomas was married to my great-grandmother Miss Margaret Isabell Sloane, daughter of James Sloane and Isabella Pike. Isabella Pike had remarried a James Thompson so perhaps they met through the Thompson family. Thomas continued to work as a farm labourer for a Mr Syple in Holbrook.

Thomas and Margaret had three sons. Merle Wilfred (1908-1980), my grandfather Harold Thomas (1909-1987) and Donald George(1917-1992). Prior to having Donald however Thomas Carter enlisted in 1916 as the First World War geared up. Thomas trained at Camp Borden but never made it overseas. He was discharged found medically unfit due to severe arthritis in the joints of his hands and in his legs. Labouring all his life had done it's damage!

Thomas died in 1945 of a heart attack while walking to work. He would have been in his year 60s (though he had years earlier lied about his date of birth or was unsure of it and was thought to be several years younger). Thomas is buried in the Burgessville Baptist Churchyard cemetery in Burgessville, Ontario. His wife Margaret was laid to rest with him in 1972.

It is my fond wish that my great-grandfather enjoyed his latter years happy ones after the tramatic childhood he endured! 
ContributorsCreated : 2011-03-15 11:11:02 / From original database

Last Updated : 2011-03-15 11:13:50 /

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Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  3 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
21694 CARTER, John Nelson1888ENG, BRK, Watchfield Apr 1900 : Dominion CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
13840 CARTER, Thomas1882ENG, BRK, Watchfield May 1895 : Labrador CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
21693 CARTER, William Henry1886ENG, BRK, Watchfield May 1895 : Labrador CAN Fegan Homes for Boys