Thomas Challis (1794 - 1874)

Born 1 Jul 1794 in London, England

Husband of Mary Ann (Mathewman) Challis — married 26 Apr 1819 in Saint Giles Cripplegate, London, England

Descendants

Died 20 Aug 1874 at age 80 in Edmonton, Middlesex, England

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Biography

Thomas was born in 1794. He was the son of Thomas and Mary Challis.

Christening Date: 08 August 1794 Christening Place: SAINT GILES CRIPPLEGATE BARBICAN INDEPENDENT, LONDON, ENGLAND

Dr Williams Library, Cripplegate, 1829

His Birth was registered at Dr Williams Library, Cripplegate a nonconformist Registry. The register states he was born on Thomas, child of Thomas Challis and Mary Loosely, was born on 1 July 1794 in St Giles, Cripplegate, London, England.^[1]

His father was a butcher in St. Giles Ward. They were descended from the Huguenots, their earliest English ancestor Simon Challis, at the request of Lord North, was made a Freeman of the City on 7th October 1600.

Thomas married Mary Ann Mathewman on April 26, 1819 in St. Giles Cripplegate, London, England.

He was a hide merchant with business premises in the Bermondsey area of south London, and also was a skin broker in Finsbury.

Census 1841: Baker Street, Enfield, Middlesex, England. Aged 45. By now Thomas and Mary had 11 children.

Thomas was elected an alderman for Cripplegate Ward in 1844, an office he held until his death, when he was the senior member of the court of aldermen of the City of London. In 1846-47 he held the office of Sheriff of London and Middlesex and was Lord Mayor of London in 1856-57.

Census 1851: Baker Street, Saint Andrews Enfield, Middlesex, England. Also in the household were his wife, six children, one governess and five servants.

Occupation: Banker

In June 1852 a general election was called and a group of 500 electors in the Clerkenwell area presented a petition to Challis requesting that he stand for election to parliament for the constituency of Finsbury. He consented to become a candidate, declaring that if elected he would "exercise his own judgement, and, opposing all class legislation, he should make truth the basis of his conduct, and the happiness of the people his object." There were three candidates for the two-seat constituency, and Challis was elected along with his fellow Liberal, Thomas Slingsby Duncombe. He served a single term, standing down at the next general election in 1857.

On Michaelmas Day 1852 Challis was elected by the Corporation of London as Lord Mayor of London. He took office on 9 November, although the traditional Lord Mayor's Show was not held as the City was preparing to hold the state funeral of the Duke of Wellington.

Census 1871: Enfield, Middlesex, England. Aged 76.

Occupation: Gentleman

Thomas passed away in 1874 at the age of 80. He died at his country home in Enfield, Middlesex, and was buried at Enfield Chase Cemetery.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: "England & Wales, Non-Conformist and Non-Parochial Registers, 1567-1936"
   The National Archives (United Kingdom); Kew, Surrey, England; Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths surrendered to the Non-parochial Registers Commissions of 1837 and 1857; Class Number: Rg 4; Piece Number: 4663
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 2972 #1646680 (accessed 27 April 2024)
   Thomas Challis born on 1 Jul 1794, child of Thomas Challis & Mary Loosely, in St Giles, Cripplegate, London, England.

• https://familysearch.org/tree/#view=ancestor&section=details&person=LHTC-46S&spouse=LV8L-NB8

• "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JW8V-5P2 : 30 December 2014), Thomas Challis, 08 Aug 1794; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 0597081 (RG4 4218-20), 0597081 (RG4 4370).

• Guildhall Historical Association [[1]]

• "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NV1F-TM2 : 10 December 2014), Thomas Challis and Mary Ann Mathewman, 26 Apr 1819; citing Saint Giles Cripplegate,London,London,England, reference ; FHL microfilm 380,212, 380,213, 380,214, 380,215, 380,216, 380,217, 380,218, 380,219, 380,220.

• "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQJX-GSS : 30 October 2015), Thos Challis, Enfield, Middlesex, England; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census,"

• "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGXG-ZF7 : 24 July 2016), Thomas Challis, Saint Andrews Enfield, Middlesex, England; citing Saint Andrews Enfield, Middlesex, England, p. 23, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census,"

• "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VF6Z-FXZ : 24 July 2015), Thomas Challis, 1871.

• "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2JJC-P3K : 31 December 2014), Thomas Challis, 1874; from "England & Wales Deaths, 1837-2006,"

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Challis