Thomas was born around 1857, in Ashreigney, Devon, to William Vernon (about 28), an agricultural labourer, and Martha Vernon (nee Dyment) (about 24), a housewife.
Thomas' birth doesn't seem to have been registered by his parents; nor can I find record of any baptism.
Thomas was the second of twelve children (five daughters and seven sons):
- Susan 1854 - 1930 (75 years old)
- Thomas 1857 - 1916 (about 59 years old)
- William Robert 1859 -
- Sarah Ann 1860 -
- Silas 1862 -
- Mary 'Jane' Jane 1864 -
- Arthur John 1865 -
- Isaac 'Harry' Harwood 1869 - 1934 (65 years old)
- Martha 1871 -
- Louisa 1872 - 1874 (16 months old)
- Samuel 'Sam' Reuben 1875 -
- Ernest 1878 - 1903 (25 years old)
1861 Census:
By a teenager, Thomas had left his family home to work as a farm servant for the Shillson family, headed by farmer William Hill Shillson, at Barton [Farm], Spreyton.
1871 Census:
By 1880, in his early twenties, Thomas had moved from his native Devon to Swansea in Wales. Though he returned Okehampton in Devon to marry.
On 16th November 1880, Thomas (about 23), a farm labourer, married Sarah Ann Chammings (about 19), in Okehampton, Devon. Though Sarah Ann signed their record of marriage, Thomas left only his mark, implying he could not write - even his own name. Sarah Ann's father Thomas acted as witness.
Thomas and Sarah Ann would settle in Wales. There, Thomas would change occupation from a farm labour to a copper smelter.
1881 Census:
Thomas and Sarah Ann had ten children (seven sons and three daughters):
- William Thomas 1882 -
- Sydney 1883 - 1884 (7 - 9 months old)
- Alice Hannah 1885 - 1892 (6 years old)
- Samuel James 1887 -
- Richard 'Frank' Francis 1889 -
- Albert 1892 - 1893 (9 - 15 months old)
- Ivor 1893 - 1893 (0 - 6 months old)
- Emily Areta 1895 - 1897 (17 - 23 months old)
- Bertie Caleb 1898 - 1898 (0 - 6 months old)
- Gladys May 1901 - 1901 (0 - 6 months old)
Sadly seven of Thomas and Sarah Ann's ten children passed away young, including their second and all of their youngest five children as babies.
The second child Sydney passed away aged between 7 - 9 months in Jul/August 1884, in the district of Swansea, Glamorganshire. He was buried on 4th August 1884 in Llangyfelach, Glamorganshire. The third child, and first born daughter Alice passed away aged six in Jul/Aug/Sep 1892, in the district of Swansea. The sixth child Albert passed away between 9 - 15 months old in Apr/May/Jun 1893, in the district of Swansea. The seventh child Ivor passed away between 0 - 6 months in Oct/Nov/Dec 1893, in the district of Swansea. Their eighth child, a daughter Emily, passed away aged between 17 - 23 months old, in Apr/May/Jun 1897, in Swansea. Their ninth child Bertie passed away aged between 0 - 6 months old, in Oct/Nov/Dec 1898, in Swansea. And their tenth and youngest child Gladys passed away aged between 0 - 6 months old, in Oct/Nov/Dec 1901, in Swansea.
Losing seven out of their ten children, six as babies, even for the time this a poor infant mortality rate. Poor Thomas and Sarah Ann. There surviving children were three of their older sons: William, Samuel and Frank.
On the 1891 Census, the person walking from door to door, compiling the census, misheard Alice Hannah's name and recorded her as another son by the name of Alexander. They may have simply seen some of the young sons running around, as their mother opened the door and with a Devonshire accent listed the names of her children - likely dropping the H of Hannah - presumed or misheard an Alexander - rather than Alice Hannah - was another of those young children. Indeed Alice and her older bother William may have not been at home at the time, being by then of school age. I have corrected the name of the census below.
1891 Census:
1901 Census:
1911 Census:
Thomas, Sarah and their children lived for many years at their home of 292 Neath Road, a two-up two-down, in Swansea.
In Jul/Aug/Sep 1914, when Thomas was about fifty-seven, his wife Sarah Ann passed away, aged about fifty-three, in the district of Swansea. In Jan/Feb/Mar 1916, Thomas himself passed away, aged about fifty-nine, also in the district of Swansea.
In Jul/Aug/Sep 1914, when Thomas was about fifty-seven, his wife Sarah Ann passed away, aged about fifty-three, in the district of Swansea. In Jan/Feb/Mar 1916, Thomas himself passed away, aged about fifty-nine, also in the district of Swansea.
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