Dan Thompson (b. 12 Oct 1848 in
Broughton, Northamptonshire), son of
Daniel Thompson and Mary Adcock, at 19, married
Mary Ann Green (b. 3 Jul 1849 in Bethnal Green), 18, daughter of
Edward Green and Eliza Goodman, at the
Church of Saint John the Evangelist,
Limehouse (
bombed in 1940 and
since demolished) on
15 Aug 1867. Witnesses to their marriage were Robert Davis and Harriet Blundell (in 1861, Harriet, then 12, had been a visitor in the household of Mary Ann's parents, so may have been family.)
Dan and Mary Ann had two children:
- Eliza Louisa Tompson b. 24 Aug 1868 at 299 Cable Street (1868 S Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 417)
- Dan Edward Green Tompson b. 12 Mar 1870 (1870 M Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 466). Died 1870 J Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 288.
In 1851, Dan (2), naturally, was with his parents, in Broughton, but following his father's death in 1854, by 1861, Dan (12) was living in the household of his eldest brother,
George Thompson (b. 1836), who appeared to have taken over the family carpentry business in Broughton, along with their widowed mother, Mary Thompson (née Adcock). Dan's brother
Benjamin (19) was then living with
their aunt and uncle, in
St George in the East, Middlesex. So it's presumably as a result of this latter connection that Dan also went to London and it seems to be that when the brothers reach the East End they
drop the aitch from Thompson. My mother always insisted it was Tompson.
Mary Ann Tompson, wife of Dan Tompson, Bricklayer (present at the death), died on 19 Mar 1870 at 363 Cable Street, St George in the East, after giving birth to their son. The causes listed on Mary Ann's death certificate state "
Childbirth 7 days, Scarlet Fever 4 days, exhaustion". She was just 20.
In April 1871, the widowed Dan Tompson (22) was lodging in Cable Street, while his daughter Eliza Louisa (2) (listed as Thompson), was living with her widowed
maternal grandmother, Eliza Green, then landlady at The King and Queen Public House in Tait Street, St George in the East (
Wapping).
Dan and Sarah Jane went on to have a further TWELVE children:
- Amelia Mary Tompson b. 1872 D Qtr in STEPNEY Vol 01C Page 473 (Died, aged 1, in 1874 M Qtr in MILE END OLD TOWN Vol 01C 399)
- Jessie Elizabeth Tompson b. 1874 D Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Vol 01C Page 597 (Died, aged 1, in 1876 M Qtr in Vol 01C Page 433)
- Sarah Sophia Tompson b. 9 Oct 1876 (1876 D Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 523), bap. 5 Jun 1895 in Waddesdon
- Mabel Grace Tompson b. 6 Aug 1878 (1878 S Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 443), bap. 25 Dec 1890 in Waddesdon
- Mary Adcock Tompson b. 1880 S Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 371 (Died, aged 1, in 1881 J Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 280)
- Dan Baker Tompson b. 1882 D Quarter in ST: GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 385 (Died 1883 J Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 274)
- Charles Frederick Tompson b. 1884 M Quarter in ST GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 409 (Died, aged 3, in 1887 M Quarter in POPLAR Volume 01C Page 451)
- George Daniel Tompson b. 1885 S Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 349, bap. 25 Dec 1890 in Waddesdon
- Ernest Wilberforce Tompson b. 1888 D Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 641 (Died, aged 1, in 1890 J Qtr in WEST HAM Vol 04A Page 81)
- Amelia Mary Tompson b. 14 Nov 1890 (1890 D Quarter in AYLESBURY Volume 03A Page 648), bap. 25 Dec 1890 in Waddesdon
- Ellen Hoile Folville Tompson b. 22 May 1893 (1893 S Quarter in MELTON MOWBRAY Volume 07A Page 323), bap. 5 Jun 1895 in Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire
- Ivy Maud Tompson b. 23 Feb 1895 (1895 J Quarter in AYLESBURY Volume 03A Page 761), bap. 5 Jun 1895 in Waddesdon
The mother's maiden name on all of these birth registrations is BAKER.
In 1881, Dan Tompson (32) and Sarah Jane Tompson (29) were living at 27
Watney Street, St George in the East, with Dan's daughter
Eliza Louisa Tompson (12) - listed as Elizabeth L - Sarah Sophia Tompson (5), Mabel Grace Tompson (3) and Mary Adcock Tompson (0). (Living at the same address were Sarah Jane's younger sister, Sophia and her husband
Charles Frederick Burden. Both couples followed similar naming patterns for their children, with Dan and Sarah Jane naming one son Charles Frederick, which suggests they were close. Burden went to Canada in 1900. Did this have a bearing on Dan and Sarah Jane's decision to emigrate in 1912?)
On 4 Oct 1886 Mabel Grace and on 1 Nov 1886 Sarah Sophia, daughters of Dan Tompson of 106 High Street, were enrolled at Bow High Street School (Closed in 1932). This record provides their actual birth dates.
Mabel Grace (b. 1878), George Daniel (b. 1885) and Amelia Mary (b. 1890), were all baptised on Christmas Day 1890, in Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire.
In 1891, in High Street, Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire were Dan Tompson (40) Bricklayer; Sarah Jane Tompson (39), Mabel G Tompson (12), George D Tompson (5) and Amelia M Tompson (0). Eliza Louisa Tompson (22) 'Fancy box maker' was living with
William and Ellen Burton, in
Knapp Road, Bromley, Poplar, listed as their niece (Ellen Burton (née Baker) was Sarah Jane' sister). Sarah Sophia Tompson was visiting her
aunt Mary Thompson, widow of her father's brother, Benjamin, at the Spotted Cow, Hither Green, Lewisham.
Sarah Sophia, Ellen Hoile Folville (b. 1893 in
Ashby Folville, Leicestershire and Ivy Maud (b. 1895) were also baptised, in Waddesdon, on 5 Jun 1895. The denomination on all of the baptisms is listed as Anglican, so I assume this was at the church of St Michael & All Angels, Waddesdon. In later documents, Dan lists himself as Wesleyan and there is a
Wesleyan Chapel in Waddesdon High Street.
In 1901, Dan Tompson (52) and Sarah Jane Tompson (49), were listed as living in
Gracious Street,
Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire with George Daniel (15) Bricklayer; Amelia Mary (10), Ellen T H (7) and Ivy Maud (6), plus lodger, William Warren (61), described as 'Draper But Not In Occupation'.
Dan's obituary details that, in 1904 he was elected to the Whittlesey Urban District Council and that "Mr Tompson came to Whittlesey in July 1896 and became landlord of the "King's Head" (now in residential use,
see image) in, Gracious Street, which he kept until he left for Canada in 1911."
In 1911, Dan Tompson (63), Sarah Jane Tompson (60), Ellen Hoile Folville Tompson (18), Ivy Maud Tompson (16) and William Charles Kritzer (7), Grandson, were living at
Lattersey Field, Whittlesey;
Mabel Grace Tompson was a
Lady's Maid in the household of
Sir Philip Hickson Waterlow, 2nd Baronet (
Waterlow and Sons) in
Carlton House Terrace; Amelia Tompson (23) from Waddeston, Bucks was a Domestic Servant in the employ of
James Hainsworth Ismay (son of
Thomas Henry Ismay, founder of the
White Star Line) at
Iwerne Minster House,
Iwerne Minster, Dorset.
Family stories, at best, usually have a mere grain of truth in them, almost universally contain large measures of exaggeration and "self-aggrandisement" and sometimes,
huge amounts of complete fiction. Researching family history, therefore, becomes an exercise in debunking the family myths. Some relatives are more prone to bigging themselves and their forebears up, so you learn to question (read completely disbelieve) their tales, so you could honestly have knocked me down with a feather when I found this one was mostly true.
My mother always said that one of the Tompsons went to Canada and set up a business. The story wasn't without some exaggeration, as she did infer that they'd set up a massive corporation, were immensely famous and gave the impression that if one were to go to any place in that vast country and mention "Tompsons" everyone would instantly know the household name - when reality was a couple of self-employed
brickies - but they
do turn up in Canada. To be fair, she will have got this story too from
her grandmother, Eliza Louisa Sweeney, but my mother didn't seem to know who among the Tompsons had gone to Canada and the way the story came across was as if it was some
way distant relative, not Eliza Louisa's own father.
Dan's son
George Daniel Tompson, had travelled, initially to the US, in 1908, but on 6 Jul 1912, Dan Tompson (63), with daughters Amelia (21) and Ellen (19), embarked in London bound for Montreal on the
R.M.S. Corinthian. Curiously, they're listed on the passenger list under "The Salvation Army Pantel", with Dan's Profession, Occupation or Calling listed as "Farming" and of the girls as "Domestic". They had all travelled 3rd class, or
Steerage. Then separately, on 18 Oct 1912, wife Sarah Jane (listed as 36, although she was actually 61), daughter Ivy (17) and Willie Thompson (8) - the grandchild listed on the 1911 Census as William Charles Kritzer - embarked in Liverpool aboard the
SS Corsican, also bound for Montreal. One can't help thinking too that
1912 must have been an anxious time to make the voyage.
 |
House on the left 131 Morrison Avenue, Toronto, Canada
|
The family set up home in the
Earlscourt neighbourhood in Toronto,
settled in 1906 by labourers from the British Isles. Even in 1914 it still had a “shack town” reputation.
This article about the area, which talks of a "Building Boom", indicates why the Tompsons went there, "
The modest sized lots on empty fields appealed to those looking for affordable land, low taxes and lax building regulations." Reading between the lines, my belief is that the family acquired one of the plots and split it between father and son. George Daniel initially lived in the house on the right of the picture, 133 Morrison Avenue and Dan settled in the house on the left, 131 Morrison Avenue. Given they were bricklayers, there's a good chance they built the houses themselves.
On the 1921 Census of Canada, Dan (72), Sarah Jane (69), Amelia Mary (31), Ellen (29), Ivy Maud (27) and Willie Christie (18) - the grandson with the ever-changing surname - were all living at
131 Morrison Avenue, Toronto.
Dan Tompson died on Friday, 1 Aug 1924, at his home of 131 Morrison Avenue, Toronto. The record of his death says it was from "Senility", although his obituary contradicts that saying, "
He was 77 years of age, but his vigour of mind made him appear younger." He was actually only 75. Dan was buried on 3 Aug 1924 at
Prospect Cemetery, Toronto,
Section 17, Plot 509. (
Plan)
August 23, 1924
DAN TOMPSON of WHITTLESEY
A Noted Builder's Death in Canada
Whittlesey Council Meetings of the Past
Old friends in the Whittlesey neighbourhood will learn with regret that Mr Daniel Tompson, formerly a well-known Whittlesey resident, of whom many will have lively and pleasing recollections, is dead.
The following is culled from the "Toronto Evening Telegram":- The Lloyd George of Earlscourt is dead. Dan Tompson he was to strangers, but Lloyd George to the hundreds of Earlscourt residents who saw a likeness to the British statesman in the shaggy crop of hair and the rugged, honest face - who watched him as he stood at rate payers' meetings denouncing some condition which he thought unjust - who heard his ejaculate "Shame!" at some big public gathering, when overpowering indignation forced a remark from him. Dan Tompson died on Friday at his home, 131 Morrison Avenue. He was 77 years of age, but his vigour of mind made him appear younger, and he rarely missed a meeting of his favourite organisation, the British Imperial Association. Born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, he lived over 30 years in London, and was nine years on the Whittlesey Urban Council. In 1912 he came to Toronto, and lived in Earlscourt for the last seven years. He was a member of the Church of England [?] And Royal Alexandra [?] No 2459. Surviving him are his widow, Mrs Sarah Jane Tompson;
one son, George, 124 Hatherley Road; and six daughters,
Mrs J Sweeney,
Mrs J Christie and
Mrs Mabel Martin, of England and Misses Amelia, Ellen and Ivy at home. He was always an outstanding figure at meetings. Head thrown back and blue eyes flashing, he could speak from his extensive experience on practically every subject which was under discussion.
The last paragraph of the above report is indeed a tribute to Mr Tompson's powers of expression and volubility.
His Whittlesey Associations
Mr Tompson came to Whittlesey in July 1896 and became landlord of the "King's Head" in, Gracious Street, which he kept until he left for Canada in 1911. Always original, and by no means hide-bound by convention, he combined the role of publican with that of a local preacher, truly a strange combination, and one not often seen nowadays. But "Dan" as he was intimately known to hundreds, could well sustain this dual role. There was one occasion when his dignity suffered a severe shock, and that was at Pond's Bridge. He had been invited over there in his capacity as a local preacher to take the service at the little chapel, which was given to the hamlet by Lord de Ramsey, and being unused to the pulpit, which was of [unreadable] design, he had no sooner got into it he tripped out!
By trade he was a builder and a very efficient and reliable contractor too. Among works undertaken by him was the building of the New Whittlesey Brick Company, now known as the Victory Brickworks, and he also assisted in the building of the
Gildenburgh Brick Works, now known as the United Brick Company. An employer of labour, he was most generous and paid his men liberally. Inclined towards Liberalism in politics, and delivered many stirring orations in his advocacy of the cause. As will be realised by "Sub Rosa's" accompanying article, a meeting at which Mr Tompson was present was never dull and although Dan's electioneering motto - or shall we say, battle-cry - was "Actions speak louder than words", he was never a believer in the quiet subdued style of advocacy, but went "all out" with a force that told.
Besides the wider realm of national politics, local government attracted him, and in 1904 he was elected to the Whittlesey Urban District Council, fourteenth on the list of the eighteen successful candidates. Again in 1907 and 1910 he was returned, improving his position each time, and he retained his seat on the Council until he left for Canada in 1911. Arrived in the Dominion, he carried on his business as a builder.
His wife, who, as the Canadian report states, survives him, was a charming lady, and made a host of friends in Whittlesey.
Their daughters must have travelled back to the UK, because on 17 Sep 1926, Amelia Mary Thompson (35) and Ellen Hoile Thompson (32), embarked in Liverpool, bound for Montreal on the
R.M.S. Regina. Interestingly, they gave their last address in the United Kingdom as c/o Mrs Sweeney, 102 Fore Street, London (
my great-grandmother, their half-sister).
On the 1931 Canada Census, Sarah Jane Tompson (81) widowed, arrival date 1912, was still listed at 131 Morrison Avenue, Toronto with Amelia Mary Tompson (41), Ellen Hoile Tompson (38) and Ivy Maude Tompson (36).
In 1939, the three spinster daughters were back in the UK, living together at Way Homesteads, Broadway,
Yaxley, Cambridgeshire. Amelia and Ellen were dressmakers, while Ivy was a School Teacher (Technical).
Their brother George Daniel's father-in-in law, George Oldfield's parents were, George Oldfield and Mary Haddon and, in 1851, Mary was listed as having been born in
Yaxley, then in Huntingdonshire. This may well explain why the three sisters were in Yaxley after they returned to the UK from Canada. None of these three sisters ever married and they then returned to
Whittlesey.
On 12 Sep 1939, Probate was granted to Amelia Mary Tompson and Ivy Maud Tompson on the estates of both Dan Tompson and Sarah Jane Tompson. They left effects of £400 (worth around £26,000 today), hardly a fortune.
Ellen died on 14 Jan 1976. She will have been 82. Amelia Mary Tompson of
81 Benwick Road, Whittlesey, died on 4 Mar 1986. She was 95. Ivy Maud Tompson of
Keneydon House, 2 Delph Street, Whittlesey (a Residential Dementia care home) died on 12 Feb 1991, just eleven days before her 96th birthday.
