Thomas Henry Graham (1819 - 1904)

Born 29 May 1819 in Wilberforce, New South Wales

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Ann (Barry) Graham — married 1843 in Wilberforce, New South Wales, Australia

Descendants

Died 12 Jun 1904 at age 85 in Freeman's Reach, New South Wales

Profile manager: Geoffrey Johnston [send private message]

Biography

Birth

• Thomas Henry was born on 29 May 1819 at Wilberforce, New South Wales.
• His parents are Thomas Graham and Mary Maria Hodgetts
• He had 13 siblings

Early Life

• Thomas grew up on the Lock farm.
• He was educated and could read and write

Marriage

• Thomas married Sarah Ann McKellar on 24 August 1843 in Wilberforce, New South Wales.
• Thomas was 24 years old and Sarah was 17.
• There is some doubt about Sarah's identity - Sarah Ann Callar or Sarah Greentree.
• Thomas and Sarah had 13 children

Legal and Financial Problems

• In 1862 when his father died Thomas took possession of the farm as Thomas Orlando Reynolds lease had expired.
• William Jasper, who had a "life interest in the farm" quickly pressed his claim, which Thomas refused to recognise.
• To avert what was believed to be a takeover Thomas and a Thomas Anderson (husband of Mary Ann Graham) agreed that Thomas Anderson would buy the land and they would then shared half each.
• Unfortunately it didn't work and after a complicated legal battle Thomas Graham was declared insolvent in 1864 and Thomas Anderson was also declared bankrupt.
• William Jasper acquired the farm in 1866 and also bought all of Thomas's belongings at auction for 11 pounds. William later sold the farm in 1867 for 260 pounds.

Health Issues

• Thomas suffered from sciatica and found farming difficult.
• He became a butcher in Windsor.
• In later life his eyes deteriorated an was eventually unable to see properly
• On 2 December 1865, during the legal fight his wife had to write letters on his behalf as his eye sight was so bad. Some letters written by Sarah Ann Graham on Thomas's behalf to Thomas Anderson still exist.

Death

• Thomas died on 12 June 1904 in Freeman's Reach, New South Wales
• He was buried in June 1914 in Wilberforce, New South Wales

Sources

• Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922
• New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages / 4837 / 1819
• Australia, Marriage Index, 1788-1950
• New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages / 283 / 1943
• The Brave Pioneers 1788-11988 by Richard J. Hodgetts.
• http://www.angelfire.com/oz/settlers/Thomas_Graham.html
• New South Wales Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages / 7764/1904
• Australia, Death Index, 1787-1985
• Australia and New Zealand, Find a Grave Index, 1800s-Current
• Chestnut-Blue's entry for Thomas

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