John Thomas, Free Settler "Gilmore" 1829

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• Reference: WikiTree Genealogy - SmartCopy: Feb 15 2023, 1:26:41 UTC

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Arrived as "Mr Thomas" on the Gilmore 1829
https://www.swanriverpioneers.com/_files/ugd/a02163_917c15673372485...

NOTE: No mention of the name FOXEN. The only time it is used is by daughter Jane, using it as a Maiden name when she married Henry Gray, and in registering the births of their children.

The following work on the original profile was not referenced from Wikitree unless stated, because it is not always accurate and not a primary source.

Explanations that follow are because of the errors that were originally on the family profiles.

John THOMAS and Jennifer/Jenipher/Jenypher THOMAS (COOKE):

They are the parents of (Captain) JOHN THOMAS and JANE GRAY (THOMAS/FOXEN).

The ship GILMORE arrived Swan River Colony 1829; "THOMAS, Mr & Mrs and 5 children"

https://www.swanriverpioneers.com/_files/ugd/a02163_917c15673372485...

JOHN THOMAS (junior) arrived on the GILMORE 1829, AGED 14. His sister
JANE also arrived on the GILMORE in November 1829 according to their death notices.

John Thomas and Jane Gray (Thomas/Foxen) have the same parents.

......

WA Dictionary, Battye Library, for entries of both Thomas, John (Snr) and John (Jnr).

THOMAS. John (Snr), b . 1786 (Wales), arr. 15. 12.1829 per Gilmore with family including 4(?) chd,
wife Jennifer (nee Cooke) b. 1786 (Wales) d. 13.4.1830 in childbirth at Clarence,
Chd. James b. 1812 (boatman),
John b. 1814 d. 1907,
William b. 1820 to SA,
Jane b. 1823.
Clarence Gilmore Thomas b. & d. 1830 (with mother),

he m. 2nd 22.5.1833 Mary Ann HOKIN (widow, nee Birt).

(2nd wife), (son b. 1841? d.1845? not found. (John Thomas (Snr) transported to Tasmania 1835)

An agriculturist & carpenter indentured to Thos. Peel & was still at Clarence in 5.1831. Applied for publican's licence at Clarence in 1830. (Note: that settlement failed).

Note; he was a fisherman in Fremantle at least 1834/1835.
Unknown death of John Thomas (Senior).
Unknown if he returned from Hobart Town after being transported there from Swan River Colony 1835.

WA Dictionary; son of John Thomas (Snr);

THOMAS. (Capt) John (Jnr). b.1814 (Wales), d . 6.1907 (Frem). arr. 15.12.1829 per Gilmore with parents John & Jennifer,
m. 1st 3.8.1841 (Perth) Elizabeth Ann COOPER b.1823, d.1888, dtr. of Joseph & Elizabeth,

Chd. John Frederick b.1842,
Joseph William b.1844,
Charles Joshua b. 1846 d. 1847,
James Clifton b. 1848 d.1918,
George b. 1850.
WaIter b. 1852 d.1852,
Jane Elizabeth b. 1853 d.1940.
Mary Ann b. 1858,
Alfred Edward b. 1864 d.1911.

(Plus BDM WA; Charles Edward 1856 and Victoria Rebecca b1862)

m. 2nd (he was aged 85) 25.1.1899 Elizabeth TRACEY (widow) b.1842, dtr of Isaac Perry & Maria Ann (nee Evans).
Note: Did she die in 1917 aged 73, Mrs Eliza Tracey, a great character of Perth? (No mention of Mr Thomas)

Shipmaster & hotelier, vessels, 22 ton cutter Emma &125 ton Empress 1839; sold to buy 296 ton Rory O' More in 1858 & 1860.
Bought "Ravenswood" at Pinjarra from Armstrong & rebuilt it after 1862 floods. Built & managed "Albert Hotel" Fremantle where 1st Frem.
City Council meetings were held 1871. Member of Town Trust & Council Chairman 5 times. Employed 4 T/L men 1864- 1869, &: 1 in 1881.
Owned 40 acres Cockburn district in 1868.
Lit. C/E.

...

James, the brother of Captain John Thomas, died 1856 Fremantle.
(not 1842, that was John King AKA Jacques Thomas, Mt Eliza, Perth aged 53, buried East Perth).

The Inquirer and Commercial News Perth Wed 5 Nov 1856 (James Frederick Thomas, brother of John Thomas)

"(snip)... shew cause to the said Court why administration of the goods, chattels, credits and effects of the said James Frederick Thomas, deceased, intestate, as hath been represented to us, should not be granted to John Thomas, of Fremantle, aforesaid, merchant, the brother of the deceased (snip)."

WA Dictionary has mixed information; James did not get transported, his father John did in 1835.

THOMAS, James/John, (Captain) b . 1818. m. Fanny DAVIS.
Chd. Mary Ann Matilda b. 1849,
Fanny Sophia b. 1850,
Katherine Ellen.

Charged with others of plundering wreck of Cumberland & sentenced to 7 yrs transportation to Tasmania 3.1.1835.
James reprieved after his father intervened, sentenced to punishment in Swan River Colony.

Unknown: To Albany (with wife) as whaler in company with Solomon Cook & John Craigie until 1847?

James Thomas died in 1856.

Note: Whaling at Albany was by his brother Captain John Thomas, perhaps he employed James there.
Captain John and brother James had jointly run boat businesses in Fremantle.

...

1833; Dictionary of WA:

John Thomas (senior)'s new wife Mary Ann (Hokin nee Birt/Burt):
arrived on the Parmelia 1829 with her husband William and family. He died 1831.

Mary Ann Hokin married John Thomas 22 May 1833.

Problems in the marriage?

The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal WA Sat 24 Aug 1833

CAUTION.
I HEREBY caution the Public not to trust my wife, as after the date of this, I will not be held responsible for any debts she may incur. JOHN THOMAS. Perth, August 24, 1833.

John Thomas transported to Hobart Town in 1835, for plundering the Cumberland wreck.

Note: Mrs Hokin, "a very old colonist", died July 1876.
BDM WA Death 1876/8970 Perth ; Thomas, Mary Ann, aged 88 (born c1788)

East Perth Cemeteries; Mary Thomas is on the Strickland memorial headstone (daughter married Strickland).

Mary Ann Hokin - Thomas, Free Settler "Parmelia" 1829

Wikitree https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Burt-2372

Biography

Mary was born in 1788 at Portsea Hampshire England. Her parents were John & Ann Burt.[1]

Mary married William Hokin before 1815 in England.
Mary, William and their 6 children arrived in Western Australian on 01 June 1829, on board the barque, Parmelia. They were part of the first band of settlers for the proposed new colony on the Swan River. [2]
Swan River Colony. 1832 Census #502

Sadly, William died in December 1831 and Mary married John Thomas, (who was a widower) on 22 May 1833 at Fremantle Western Australia. [3]

Mary (Burt) Hokin Thomas passed away in 1876. Buried, East Perth Cemertry in the Strickland family Crypt under the name, Mary Ann Thomas. Went by Mary Ann Hokin even after remarriage . [4]

...

1835

Most likely this John Thomas and son James are of the family in this profile:

The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal WA Sat 17 Jan 1835

SPECIAL SESSIONS. Fremantle, January 12.

BEFORE W. H. Mackie, Esquire, chairman, and a full Bench of Magistrates.
PLUNDERERS OF THE CUMBERLAND.

William Keats, John Thomas, James Thomas, (his son), William Ledgard, Richard Thorne, and William Ward, charged with having stolen divers goods stranded from the wreck of the Cumberland, were placed at the bar, and all— PLEADED GUILTY.

The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal

Sat 17 Jan 1835 (selected relevant parts of article)

SENTENCE.—William Keats, Richard Thorne, and William Ward, for the two offences, 14 years' transportation; JOHN Thomas, and William Ledgard, 7 years' ;

JAMES Thomas, 6 month's imprisonment and hard labor (at the Swan River Colony).

John Thomas has long been living gentlemanly, without any visible means of existence, save his occupation as a fisherman ; but it must be spoken to his credit that, on the trial, he perfectly exonerated his son, who, he stated, did not participate in the spoil, and acted entirely under his directions.

Sat 7 Mar 1835 (part article)

THE Gov. schooner " Ellen" has conveyed away to Hobart Town the five individuals, Ledgard, Thomas, Warde, Keats, and Thorne, who were found guilty, some short time back, of stealing sundry articles from the wreck of the "Cumberland ;" .

Sat 18 Apr 1835 ; Sheriff's Office... Boats forfeited to the Crown... Auction;

THAT well known Boat lately belonging to William Ward, with Sails, &c, complete.
The Boat "Jane," formerly belonging to John Thomas, with Sails, &c.
The Boat "Gypsey," formerly belonging to John Thomas.
Further particulars may be known by application to this Office.
Geo. Fred. Stone, Deputy Sheriff.