Thomas arrived in South Australia on 11th October 1838 at Holdfast Bay (Glenelg), aboard "Surrey" from London with his wife, mary, and his brother, James, James's wife Susanna, and their children. Thomas and James were selected migrants with guaranteed Government work
1841 Census shows Thomas as living in Wright St, Adelaide. 1 male under 35, 1 F under 35, 1 F under 14 years. As at 1 Jan 1843, Thomas is listed as a Miller.
During the q0 years 1844 - 1854 their 4 youngest children were all born at 'Longleas", Prairie, a dairy property, close to the River Torrens , at Prairie, just south of Cudlee Creek in the Adelaide Hills.
It is thought that in 1853 Thomas and his brother James went to the Ballarat goldfields and did sufficiently well to return to SA and purchase land.
in 1855 Thomas and family moved to 'Stoney Creek", 5kms NE of Birdwood, 6kms from Mt Pleasand and 13 kms from Mt Torrens. in 1969 the old house with renovations was occupied by a Mrs Rendell.
Thomas's wife, Mary at the age of 73 was admitted into hospital in 1888, where she died. At this time Thomas went to live with his youngest son, Hugh at Woorak, where he died in 1895.
