Researchers who have claimed this convict
There is currently one researcher who has claimed Thomas Elton
Biographies
Born in Foleshill,Nr Coventry,Warwickshire,baptised St Lawrence Church,Foleshill 12 Oct 1826,the eldest of 6 children.His father was Thomas(1801-1876)his mother Martha(nee Checklin)(1804-1884)he was a farmer who later became a licenced victualler.On 8 Sept 1847 he married Susannah Maynard at St Michaels Church,Coventry and in 1851 he was a butcher living in Chantry Place,Coventry with his wife and son,also Thomas(1848-1903).On 23 Aug 1860 he entered Birmingham Lunatic Asylum,he only stayed a few weeks,apparently suffering from depression and by 1861 he was living in Allison Street,Birmingham working as a 'carter'transporting goods around the country which is why he was in London on 21 Feb 1862 at the New London Cattle Market.He was seen by witnesses arguing vehemently with John Gould,a farrier about a horse Gould had sold Thomas which he had found to be'an old screw'(a horse not fit to work)Gould equally vehemently argued back and Thomas became more and more incensed.He began to abuse Gould both physically and verbally,pushing and 'knocking him on the nose'with his 'drovers'stick'(an ash rod with a pointed end)calling him a'b..... old rogue'he then took the halter he was carrying and tried to wrap it round Goulds neck and was heard to say'I will hang you you old b......,I will',Gould said I will call a policeman and Thomas said do!there is one over there(PC Faint),who had been watching the proceedings.At this moment Thomas thrust his 'drovers stick'into the face of Gould jabbing it into his eyelid next to the bridge of his nose,PC Faint then intervened and took both men into custody.Gould was able to walk and talk so PC Faint was not unduly worried and on arrival at the station he charged Thomas with assault and put him in a cell(who all the while was expressing his apologies for his behaviour)he then took Gould to the Great Northern Hospital where his wound was dressed,he then took Gould home.On the 22nd Feb Gould was taken to St Bartholomews Hospital,unconcious where the House Surgeon William Stevenson noted a puncture wound in the left eyelid,Gould never regained consciousness and died the next day.Stevenson immediately did a Post Mortem and found that'Thomas' stick'had in fact penetrated 4 inches into Goulds skull piercing the brain enough to cause inflamation and paralysis then death,although on the outside there was little to see.A defence witness stated Thomas had good character and brought up his stay in the asylum.On 6 Mar 1862 at the Central Criminal Court(the Old Bailey) he was found guilty of manslaughter and ordered to serve 6 years penal servitude,and to be transported to the Swan river Colony,Australia.He spent a year in Portland Prison,Hampshire doing hard labour building part of the new shore defences for the Royal Navy.On 28 Dec 1863 he left England on board the 'Lord Dalhousie'.It would appear he did quite well working as a servant,labourer and butcher(his original trade)he probably earned a lot more in Australia than he ever would have in England.He received a ticket of leave 3 Nov 1864 and a conditional pardon 15 Sept 1866.I cannot be sure but I wonder if the sad demise of his wife Susannah may have swayed the judiciary,possibly her husbands crime affected her but for whatever reason she entered Birmingham Asylum on 1 Feb 1865 and on 30 May 1866 she died there,her son Thomas would have been abt 17 yrs old.I can find no trace of Thomas Snr untill 1911 when at 85 years old he was a resident of Aston Union Workhouse,Birmingham,after that nothing.His son predeceased him dying in 1903,his grandson Samuel Maynard Elton(1877-1928)had a son Reginald Maynard Elton(1898-1916) who died on the 1st day of the Battle of the Somme,The Battle of Albert and is buried at Hebuterne Military Cemetery.I don't think Thomas was a bad man circumstances and mental illness can often alter a persons ability to cope in certain situations I do think he could have been proud of his son and the family he started.
Submitted by Researcher (Diane Jones) on 30 November 2021
|
Disclaimer: The information has not been verified by Claim a Convict. As this information is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the data to verify its accuracy. Research notes
There are currently no research notes attached to this convict. Sources
- The National Archives (TNA) : HO 11/18, p.569
|
