Thomas Pritchard (abt. 1836 - 1915)

Born about 1836 in Abbey Dore, Herefordshire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Ellen (Keeley) Pritchard — married 1869 in Hereford, Herefordshire, England, United Kingdom

Died 22 Sep 1915 at about age 79 in Addington, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

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Biography

In the second quarter of 1869, Thomas Pritchard and Ellen Keeley married in Hereford, Herefordshire, England. ^[1]

At the time of the 1871 Census, Thomas and Helen Pritchard, and their two young sons George and James are listed living in The Village, Lower Bullingham, Hereford, Herefordshire, England. Thomas's occupation was listed as Agricultural Labourer. Helen was recorded as born in Ilmington Warwickshire, and Thomas as born in Abbey Dore, Herefordshire.^[2]

In 1876, Thomas, a 32 year old labourer, and Ellen, 22, emigrated from England on the vessel Hereford with three children: George (5), James (4) and Thomas (2). They were listed as assisted migrants, and landed in Canterbury on 14 Jul 1874. ^[3] They settled in Ashburton.

Thomas and Ellen had at least another six children in New Zealand from 1876 to 1893.^[4]

thomas appears to have worked as a labourer in Ashburton. In 1882, the names George Keeley and Thomas Pritchard appear on a land document for two acres in Ashburton. ^[5]

Seventy nine year old Thomas died in Christchurch in 1915. ^[6]

Research Notes

There are some discrepencies in Thomas's birth year. In the passenger listing for his emigration from England, his age is listed as 32, which gives a birth year of 1842, however, other Census records have it as more like 1836, and is death record has his age in 1915 as 79, which puts his birth at 1836. It may have been advantageous for him to be younger for his assisted immigrant status.

The following records are not certainly this Thomas Pritchard. Other researchers have identified his parents as James and Sarah nee Wellings. A Thomas Pritchard, son of Thomas and Anne, was baptised in Abbey Dore on 24 July 1836. ^[7]

In the 1841 Census, Thomas was listed in the home of his parents Thomas and Anne: New House, Abbey Dore, Hereford & Dore, Herefordshire, England. He was the fourth of five children, aged from 2 to 10 years old. His father's occupation was recorded as Carpenter. ^[8]

In the 1861 Census, Thomas is likely to be the twenty five year old labourer living in the Abbey Dore home of his sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Thomas Williams. ^[9]

Ellen's parents, Giles and Abi and their two daughters, along with her brother William and his family also emigrated from England on the Hereford, on the same voyage.

Sources

1. ↑ Herefordshire, England, Volume 6A, Page number 890, Record set England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005. Accessed on findmypast.co.uk
2. ↑ 1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census. Archive reference RG10. Piece number 2691. Folio 59. Page 5. Schedule 10. Accessed on findmypast.co.uk
3. ↑ "New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Passenger Lists, 1839-1973," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FSB2-DTB : 9 March 2021), Thomas Pritchard, 14 Jul 1874; citing ship , Archives New Zealand, Wellington; FHL microfilm 004412219.
4. ↑ New Zealand Civil Records. Historical births, accessed online at www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
5. ↑ New Zealand Land Records. Accessed on findmypast.co.uk
6. ↑ New Zealand Civil Records. Death Registration number 1915/6695. Accessed online at www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
7. ↑ Herefordshire Baptisms. Accessed on findmypast.co.uk
8. ↑ 1841 England, Wales & Scotland Census. Archive reference HO107. Piece number 427. Book number 1. Folio number 6. Page number 9. Schedule 39. Accessed on findmypast.co.uk
9. ↑ 1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census. Archive reference RG09. Piece number 1823. Folio 8. Page 9. Schedule 30. Accessed on findmypast.co.uk