Name Index    HOME  


Matthew Henry Thomas                     1836-1915
Matthew was born on 19 May 1836, the son of William Henry Thomas and Eliza Hathway, in London.
Marian Theresa Skinner                     1839-1901
Marian was born on 20 November 1839, the daughter of Thomas Bridges Boucher Skinner and Georgina Burrell.
I have identified the following children.
  Marian Kate Born abt 1865   Colombo, Ceylon Married Francis John Hadden
Arthur H. Born abt 1866   Colombo, Ceylon Lieut. Ceylon Mounted Infantry, KIA
Edward Hector La Marchant Born abt 1867   Colombo, Ceylon Married Geraldine Blake
Jocelyn Hume Born abt 1868   Crostwaithe, Cumberland Married Maria Willington Roper Agar
Henry Melville Born 28 Jan 1870   Colombo, Ceylon Married Dorothy Violet Hope Rawson
Helen T. Born abt 1872   Colombo, Ceylon  
Florence A. Born abt 1874   Colombo, Ceylon  

Birth of Parents
Matthew Henry Thomas b: 19 May 1836  c: 16 Sep 1836       Camberwell, St. George, Southwark, London
son of William Henry Thomas and Eliza Hathway, Peckham

Marian Theresa Skinner b: 20 Nov 1839         Colombo, Ceylon
daughter of Major Thomas Bridges Boucher Skinner C.M.G. and Georgina Burrell

Marriage
23 Aug 1864
Matthew Henri Thomas
Marian Theresa Skinner

Children
Marian Kate Thomas b: abt 1865               Colombo, Ceylon
daughter of Matthew Henry Thomas and Marian Theresa Skinner     Died 30 Oct 1955
Arthur H. Thomas b: abt 1866               Colombo, Ceylon
son of Matthew Henry Thomas and Marian Theresa Skinner     KIA 4 Oct 1900
Edward Hector Le Marchant Thomas b: abt 1867               Colombo, Ceylon
son of Matthew Henry Thomas and Marian Theresa Skinner       Died Dec 1946
Jocelyn Hume Thomas b: abt 1868  c: 9 Nov 1868             Crostwaithe, Cumberland
son of Matthew Henry Thomas and Marian Theresa Skinner       Died 1947
Henry Melville Thomas b: 28 Jan 1870               Colombo, Ceylon
son of Matthew Henry Thomas and Marian Theresa Skinner   Died 28 May 1940
Helen T. Thomas b: abt 1872               Colombo, Ceylon
daughter of Matthew Henry Thomas and Marian Theresa Skinner   Died abt 1959
Florence A. Thomas b: abt 1874               Colombo, Ceylon
daughter of Matthew Henry Thomas and Marian Theresa Skinner   Died abt 1960

1881 Census RG11-5170 4 April 1881 Underskiddaw, Cumberland
Oakfield
Matthew H. Thomas
Marian T. (Wife)
Marian K.
Edward H. L. M.
Helen T.
Florence A.
Jean A. St.G. Little John
Mabel A. Plumridge (Cousin)
 Plus 8 Servants 		Age 44
Age 40
Age 15
Age 13
Age 9
Age 7
Age 39
Age 20 		Coffee Plantations Ceylon

Scholar
Scholar
Scholar
Scholar
(Visitor)
(Visitor) 		London
Colombo
Colombo
Colombo
Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya
Plymouth
Lowestoft 		Middlesex
Ceylon
Ceylon
Ceylon
Ceylon
Ceylon

Norfolk 		19 May 1836
20 Nov 1839
abt 1865
abt 1867
abt 1872
abt 1874
abt 1841
abt 1860

Death
Marian Theresa (Skinner) Thomas Died 8 Feb 1901, Age 61,       1901 1Q St Giles 1b 383
Burial: Kensal Green, London

The Times, Wednesday, Feb 15, 1901                         Death
  THOMAS - On the 8th inst., in London, Marian Thersa, the beloved wife of Matthew Henry Thomas, of Galliheria, Ceylon, and eldest daughter of the late Major Skinner, C.M.G., of Grosvenor, Bath.

Sacred
to the memory of
Marian Theresa
wife of M.H. Thomas, J.P.
of Oonoongalla, Ceylon
and daughter of the late
Major Thomas Skinner CMG
and his wife Georgina
daughter of General Burrell

Born November 20th 1839.

Died February 8th 1901
London KENSAL GREEN CEMETERY
PHOTO from Dr. Jean Ferran

1901 Census RG13-3999 1 April 1901 Whittington, Lancashire
Newton Hall
North North
Alecia G. (Wife)
Alice H.
John B.
Edward J. J.
 Edward H. Thomas
Jocelyn H. Thomas
Helen T. Thomas
Florence A. Thomas
Plus 10 Servants 		Age 77
Age 65
Age 39
Age 4
Age 1
 Age 33
Age 32
Age 29
Age 27 		Living on own means




 Living on own means
Living on own means
Living on own means
Living on own means
 Madras
Bath
Thurland Castle
Kenfield Hall
Halicore

 Oakfield
 India
Somerset
Lancashire
Kent
Lancashire
 Ceylon
Cumberland
Ceylon
Ceylon 		abt 1823
abt 1835
abt 1861
abt 1896
abt 1899
 abt 1867
abt 1868
abt 1872
abt 1874

Death
Matthew Henry Thomas Died 28 Jan 1915, Age 78,       1915 1Q Keynsham 5c 971
Burial: 1 Feb 1915, Bathwick Cemetary, Bath, Somerset

The Times of Ceylon, Monday, Feb 1, 1915               Death
DEATH OF AN OLD COLONIST
Mr. M. H. Thomas
  We deeply regret to announce the death which took place at Priston Manor, Bath, of Mr. M. H. Thomas, the well-known and veteran planter of Galleheria, Madulkelle.   Mr. Thomas was one of Ceylon's oldest colonists and left for Home about three years ago. He had been ailing for some time, and the news of his death at the age of about 79 will be received with genuine sorrow by all those who knew him.
  Mr. Thomas, whose memory took him back to the early fifties, was originally in business, and in 1874 was at Messrs. Alston Scotts & Co., Slave Island. He afterwards took to planting, and spent the greater part of his career in the Madulkelle district, where he acquired the well-known Galleheria Estate. He had several sons in Ceylon, and three of them were members of the First Ceylon Contingent for South Africa.
  One of them, Lieutenant A. H. Thomas, was killed. Another Lieutenant E. H. L. Thomas is at present at Home, and has enlisted for the Front, while Mr. J. H. Thomas, of Talawakelle (?) is another son. There are two daughters in England.
  Mr. Thomas came to Ceylon in March 1856, six months before Sir William Duff Gibbon.



BRISTOL   29 March 1915                         Probate
THOMAS, Matthew Henry, of Priston Manor, near Bath, esquire, died 28 January 1915, Probate, Bristol, 29 March, to Henry Melville Thomas, Lieutenant Colonel R.F.A., and Francis John Hadden, esquire.   Effects £7,542 19s. 8d.
THE BATH HERALD, Monday Feb 1, 1915
THE LATE MR. M. H. THOMAS
Funeral at Bathwick
  The funeral took place at Bathwick Cemetery this afternoon of Mr. M. H. Thomas, of Priston Manor.   The service was read by the Rev. B. C. L. Reade, Rector of Charlcombe, and the rector of Bathwick (the Rev. C. Hylton-Stewart).   The remains were enclosed in a shell with an outer coffin of polished English oak, with brass furniture, the inscription reading: "Matthew Henry Thomas, died January 28, 1915.   Aged 79." The internment was made near to the graves of Major and Mrs. Skinner, the parents of the late Mrs. Thomas. Mr. Thomas, who had been living at Priston Manor since 1911, leaves three sons and three daughters, namely Captain Thomas, East Yorkshire Regiment, Mr. Jocelyn Thomas, who is tea planting in Ceylon, Lieut. Colonel H. M. Thomas, R.F.A., Mrs Hadden, the wife of Mr. F. J. Hadden, and the Misses Thomas.
  There were many beautiful floral tributes, including a lovely anchor of carnations, lilies, narcissus and Hyacinths, sent by the Priston parishioners and Sewing Class; a beautiful wreath from the members of the Cricket Club (in blue and white, the colours of the club), in which Mr. Thomas took much interest, being president, and other flowers were sent by the Misses Thomas, Mrs. And Miss Hadden; Mr. T.J. Hadden; Captain and Mrs. Thomas; Mr. & Mrs. Jocelyn Thomas; Lieut. Colonel and Mrs. H. M. Thomas; outdoor and indoor servants at the Manor (a fine wreath); Colonel and Mrs. and Miss Skinner; Mrs. and the Misses McDonell; Mr. and Mrs. E.(?H?) L. Skinner; Dr. and Mrs. Begg; Mr. and Mrs. Hill; Mr. and Mrs. Brymer; Mr. W. R. Alexander; Mr. J. Alexander; Mrs and Miss McCoy; and many others.
  Mr. T.G. Harding, Walcot-street, carried out the funeral arrangements.


SPECIAL THANKS  to Dr. Jean Ferran, of Monchique, Portugal, for many of the details provided above. Visit his website.