Benjamin Thomas (1858 - 1938)

Benjamin Thomas was born 26th March1858 in Penrhyddlan, Llanwrthwl, Breconshire,Wales. He died 2nd September 1938 aged 80, at Killoingworth, Lake Macquaire, New South Wales, Australia. His death certificate states that he died of uraemia which

"Is the retention of excessive waste products of protein metabolism in the blood. Uraemia may be due to glomerulo- or pyelonephritis, urinary obstruction, polycystic disease of the kidneys, congestive cardiac failure, poisons, dehydration or shock. The severity of symptoms is often greater with acute uraemia. Malaise, fatigue and decreased mental acuity are often the first signs of advancing chronic uraemia. Other symptoms include muscle twitching, peripheral neuropathies, muscle cramps, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, stomatitis and pruritis. The skin may develop a yellow-brown discolouration, and occasionally, urea from sweat may crystallize on the skin".

The 1881 census shows Benjamin living with his parents at LudbrookVilla, Builth, Breconshire. One other fact emerged from the Census: he did not emigrate with his sister Ann, who went to Australia in 1875. On the census he is shown as being an unemployed Railway Guard, aged 23. As far as we know Benjamin was single when he emigrated to Australia. It looks from the details we have that he settled in the Wallsend area of New South Wales which is near the port of Newcastle. (see map below)

He married his future wife JANE HANNAH WILSON on March 11th 1891 in West Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia  and had the following children:

1. Frank Dixon Thomas was born 1892 in West Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia. He married a Doris Gilbert

2. Ivor Robert Thomas was born 1895 in West Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia.He died 8th November 1945 in Ryde District Soldiers Memorial Hospital, NSW, Australia. Ivor Robert married Margaret Alice Ahearn on circa 1920 in Gunning, NSW, Australia.

Ivor and Margaret had the following children

3. Hannah Lilian Thomas was born 8th October 1898 in Killingworth, New South Wales, Australia. Hannah pre-deceased her father

4. Arthur Ernest. Heyworth. Thomas was born 5th December 1901 in West Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia.

5 Marjorie May Thomas was born in 1904. Marjorie sadly predeceased her father, dying at the relatively young age of 28, in 1932

6. Benjamin James Gordon Thomas was born 1906 in West Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia. In 1937 he married Edna M Harland

From the details we have it looks as though Benjamin and Jane brought all the family up in West Wallsend. The area was heavily dependent on coal mining in the late nineteenth and twentieth century. The main coal exporting port of Newcastle lay eight miles to the east and was served by a number of railways that brought the coal down from the mines to the docks. Given Benjamin's occupation in 1881 is it fair to assume that unemployment was the reason why Benjamin emmigrated to Australia. His occupation on the death certificate was given as Storekeeper

Benjamin was buried in the Church of England Cemetery in Wallsend, on 4th September 1938, the minister that officiated at the service was a C Edwards

There is an excellent history of the Wallsend area which you can view by clicking the link

Return to the Thomas Family Page

Return to main Family History Page

This page was last updated on 17/05/11 10:51