Notes Thomas Davies was born 26th March 1900 in Union St Wolverhampton. He was the only son and youngest child of Albert & Elizabeth Davies. Albert Davies & Elizabeth Davies (nee Jones) wed 17th November 1889 at St Georges Church Wolverhampton. Elizabeth was a galvaniser & Alberts occupation was an ironworker.
Unfortunately Thomas Grew up not knowing his father as Albert died of cardiac disease at the young age of 36 on 15th January 1901. Elizabeth then moved in with her mother Sarah Jones who was a widow also. On 1901 Census they were living 25 Brunswick st Wolverhampton. Thomas was aged one and His sisters Ethel age 4, Lavinia Ada age 6, Rosabella age 10, and my grandmother Florence who was aged 8 at the time. Also living with the family at the time was Lucy Ellen Hartill age 16 who was the daughter of Margaret Hartill (nee Jones).
Elizabeth struggled after the death of her husband, she maintained her family by charing & washing and later by factory work. At some point however, maybe due to the death of her mother she drifted into an unsatisfactory mode of life. The household effects were sold off and eventually the home was broken up. From 1907 until 1912 Elizabeth and the children had no home of their own. They lodged in furnished rooms or with Margaret Hartill or Lucy Langley (Elizabeths sisters). At some point Florence was admitted to Birmingham City Mission Laundry due to the poverty they were living in. Apparently Elizabeth had been neglecting the children and been missing for days spending time with men. Thomas and Ethel the two youngest were left to manage the best they could.
At the begining of July 1911 Elizabeth went to her daughter Rosabella Fletcher and took Thomas & Ethel with her. A Barnardos agent visited there and discovered Elizabeth was not working and Rosabella & John Thomas Fletcher were providing her with food and shelter. After the visit Elizabeth disappeared taking Thomas with her. She returned 6 weeks later saying she had been hop picking. She had no regular employment or fixed abode. Application for admission to Barnardos was made by Rev E Morgan Rees a Welsh Presbyterian Minister of 4 Salop St Wolverhampton. He ran a girls shelter & Mission with his wife in Wolverhampton and had known the family for years they had been looking after Lavinia Ada & Ethel. Thomas had not been going to school regularly but was well behaved & intelligent, he had been neglected and the school provided him with free breakfasts. The school mistress reports state he had the makings of a good man in him.
Thomas was sent on the SS Corinithian on the 13th March 1913 and arrived in St John Brunswick Canada on 29th March 1913. On the Corinithian there was 994 Children 406 were girls 588 were boys 154 were eligable for WW1 59 enlisted and 5 were killed.
Thomas went on to work on various farms and all of the people who owned them said he was a good worker & regularly attended church. He sent donations from his money to Barnardos. He was lucky to be one of only 4 boys to be chosen to be watched over by the masonic order so he was not mistreated by any of his employers.
He was in touch with his sister Florence but correspondence waned and she tried to trace him via the salvation army but had no joy. Thomas wed a Muriel Ann Mcutcheon when he was in his 40's. He eventually worked for the railways and then in later life for marathon Realty as an elevator operator. Considering he had an awful start in life he turned out a well respected man.
Thomas died October 11th 1977 four years before his sister Florence who had been unable to trace him.
He is buried in Park Lawn Cemetery in an unmarked grave along with Muriel who died August 7th 1994.
Contributors Created : 2008-07-22 14:16:29 / From original database Last Updated : 2012-09-13 20:13:48 /
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