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b.1878-d.1908
Early days
Thomas was born on 25th January 1871 at 14 Verulam Street in Holborn. His parents were Henry Jones, a former cattle drover, and his wife Keziah Tadgell (sometimes Taggall). They had a shop at number 14, and on that year’s census record Henry is described as a general dealer.
Thomas had a brother William who was a couple of years older. There had been other children (Henry John, Sarah Caroline, Louisa Emma) but all are thought to have died in infancy.
The family stayed in Verulam Street for some years, moving to number 19 by 1881 and to number 27 by 1891 (by which time William had married and moved out to number 16).
Both Thomas and William worked as cabmen.
Marriage
In May 1894 Thomas married Annie Bresnahan at Christ Church in Southwark; this was the church where his brother William had married Eliza Speller some 6 years earlier. William and Eliza were witnesses to the marriage
In the 1880s, the Bresnahans had been their neighbours in Verulam Street, at number 21.
Tragedy strikes
Thomas’s wife Annie died in August 1906 from complications of pregnancy. Shortly after this, Thomas began to suffer from epilepsy and early onset dementia. He was admitted to City Road workhouse in February 1907 and after two weeks he was ordered to Ewell Epileptic Colony. From there he was transferred to Horton Asylum in May 1908. His condition deteriorated very quickly and he passed away at Horton on 1st July 1908. Cause of death: General Paralysis of the Insane.
