Thomas was the youngest child of James and Elizabeth and was born in Greenhithe in 1840. The census of 1841 shows him living there with his parents and older siblings.
In 1846 his father died and the will directed that he, his mother and Emma Louisa and Frederick should be provided for by the continuation of the plumbing/glazing/painting busines by his half-brother Alfred. This appeared not to happen however as in 1851 his eldest brother Charles was in charge and there was no sign of Alfred.
In 1861 he was the only child of James still living with their mother Elizabeth and his occupation was described as a painter. This was not to continue though as later censuses showed that he became a policeman.
The 1871 census shows that he had married Ann Wilson, three years his senior, and born in Ely. There is however no record of their marriage. Their first child, Anne, was born in Swanscombe, which would suggest that they were married there, but none is recorded. The following year another daughter, Rosa was born in West Ashford, Kent followed by another two, Louisa (1868) and Mildred (1870) in Goudhurst. This then was the composition of the family in 1871 and Thomas's occupation is described as police constable.
If Thomas and Ann had wanted a son it was not to be as in 1875 their final child, Inez, was born, this time in Milton and by 1881 the census records that they had moved again to Eyethorne, near Eastry.
