Thomas Walker aka Thomas Davis (abt 1820 - 1905)
Thomas Davis is the name used by my GGG Grandfather at the time of his death, and on the legal documents and the marriage and death records of his child. According to his death certificate he was born about 1820, in Sydney NSW, and married my GGG grandmother in 1854 in Victoria and lived in Queensland for a period. The death certificant notes his parents a Clement and Sarah and his father was a carpenter. Comprehensive search of records in both New South Wales and Victoria, failed to identify birth or marriage records for Thomas, or any of his children.
Thanks to Jen Christianson - a fellow descendant of this line - we were finally able to find some records relating to Thomas in September 2021. This discovery changed our thinking and research.
We knew that Thomas married Jane Bygrave, supposedly in 1854 in Geelong, Victoria. Jane was the illegitimate daughter of Richard Bygrave and Sarah Thomas. Jane arrived in the Port Phillip in September 1853. In August 1854 she is recorded on the birth certificate of her son - Francis - as having married Francis MacDowell in the Roman Catholic church in Melbourne - although her erstwhile husband - Francis - is noted as being deceased at the time of the childs birth and we have been unable to find a marriage certificate for Jane and Francis, or a death certificate for Francis. Their sole child was
- Francis MacDowell Davis Born 18 Aug 1854 Geelong, VIC; Christened 2 Oct 1854 St Mary's RC Geelong; Died Mar 11 1899 Casino, NSW
Jens' research identified a potential marriage record for a Jane McDowell to a Thomas Walker on June 28 1858 at the Wesleyan Chapel Geelong. Upon receipt of this marriage certificate, we confirmed it was in fact the correct couple (based on Janes information). This marriage certificate stated that Thomas Walker was born abt 1822 in America to Peter Walker and Mary and that he was a widower whose previous wife had died in 1851. It also notes his occupation as a cook. We have yet to identify this previous spouse, or a date of immigration to Australia.
We know that the family was still in Victoria - specifically Ashby (a suburb of Geelong located in the area of Geelong West) because there is a birth of a daughter recorded on 3 July 1862. Again this record contains conflicting information with Thomas Walker recorded as William James Walker, place of birth Buffalo, USA, estimated date of birth 1821 occupation Publican and marriage 1861. Further research is now required to follow up on this new lead
There is no further records of the family record of the family until Janes death in 1877 and then Thomas death in 1905. What we know from those records is
- lived for a "few years" in Victoria
- spent an "unknown period" of time in Toowoomba (around 1864/65) - they may have travelled from Victoria to Queensland via the inland route
- settled around Tenterfield some time after 1865.
Based on Jane's death certificate, we know they had 3 more children, only one of who appear to have made it onto BDM records
- Mary Jane Davis Born 1862 Died bef. 1877
- Louisa Jane Davis Born 1865 Married Patrick McDermott 1882 Died 1942
- ? Davis Born ? Died bef 1877
There is a notation in the Government Gazette under the heading of UNDEFINED PRE-EMPTIVE LEASE for a Thomas Davis Tenterfield - we are unable to confirm if this is our Thomas or not.
We do know that in 1876 the family were living in Bryan's Gap (7km from Tenterfield) under the name Davis as it is here that Jane passes away in January 1877.
Thomas again disappears off the radar until the 1890s when he appears in Government Gazettes.
In 1900 NSW introduced an Old Age Pension. Before being eligible for the pension, individuals had to satisfy that they:
- were over 60 (for women) and 65 (for men)
- were of good character (having led a sober and respectable life for the previous 5 years)
- had lived in the NSW for at least 25 years
- satisfied a strict means test
From 1902 until his death in 1905, Thomas is recorded as receiving the Old Age Pension - under the name Davis - in the amount of £26 per annum - which meant that he owned property worth less than £390. Only 39% of people over 65 were deemed eligible. It is hoped that it may be possible to access the Pension application register which may provide further information.
Thomas died of senile decay at Lismore Hospital on 2 December 1905 - he is noted as being 85 at the time. He was interred at North Lismore Cemetery
Thomas did leave a will, but we are yet to secure a copy of that.
Possible Scenarios
The only consistency in term of information about Thomas is that the information he provides changes, making it incredibly difficult to follow the line further back. Key questions to answer
- When did Thomas arrive in Australia.
- Who was his previous wife and did they have children
- Why and when did Thomas Walker use the name William James Walker
- When did Thomas and Jane leave Victoria
- Are there other aliases
- When did Thomas and Jane start using Davis
- Are the missing childrens bdm records under walker or some other name
- Are his parents really Peter and Mary Walker if so who are the Clement and Sarah recorded on his death certificate ; was Peter Walker a carpenter
- Was he really born in the USA, if so what bought the family there.
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