Thomas was born about 1746 in England. "My great grandfather was the eldest of three sons. His name was Thomas, as was also the name of all the early eldest sons of the Blakeneys. When a young man, he came to America, in the early days of our country, and bought lands on the south of Manhattan Island, from the Battery up to about the site of Trinity Church, and also in Vandam Street"[1]
It appears that Thomas immigrated to New York from Newry, Ireland aboard the ship Buchannon in August of 1765.[2]
"Thomas Blakeney, as a young man, came to New York City before 1766, as on May 22 of that year, he married in the Presbyterian Church in that place, Catharine Burbank. Family tradition is that he was one of three sons. There is no evidence in New York deeds and mortgages that he ever owned any property in that city. The date of his death has not been found and family records state that he was lost at sea, when returning to his old home in England."[3][4][5]
Regarding the "three sons" statement, the other two are probably Edward, who married Eleanor Blair, and James, who married Hester (unknown maiden name).
He married Catharine or Catharina Burbank on May 22, 1766 in the Presbyterian Church in New York City.[6]
"My grandfather, Thomas Blakeney, was the eldest son of my great grandfather, of the same name. When still young, great grandfather Thomas Blakeney, concluded to return to the parent country and settle up his estate there. He took with him all his required documents, and the steamer, with all board, was lost. This may account for the very few Blakeneys. Seemingly, when I was young, ours was the only family of that name. My father, Thomas Blakeney, used to impress upon us that grandfather was very particular that the name be spelled correctly." [7]
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- the Peerage has no record of issue, and its pretty good for the Blakeneys in Ireland, who are my cousins/uncles. Thomas' story that the oldest sons were all called Thomas doesn't fit with this lineage. The Anglo-Irish Blakeneys stayed and prospered in Ireland for a long time.
Suggest you look in Norfolk, England for Thomas' father and forebears. See also Blakeney-378