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Biography
Thomas was born in 1894 in County Durham. He was the son of Thomas Jefferson. His father Thomas was a blacksmith. Thomas junior also learned the trade.
His mother, Sarah Hannah Jefferson (nee Bush) died in 1909, and his father married Sarah Jane Sunderland the following year. His father was at that time a Blacksmith manager in a colliery.
Two years later, Thomas, having been in the Waikato Volunteers since being in New Zealand, was to become a soldier in the New Zealand Army and was posted to France to fight in World War One. His age at the time of his attestation in 1915 was 20, and his service number was 12/3060. He was wounded in action, sustaining a gunshot wound in his left hip. He returned to the front and was wounded in action again in 1917. There are two instances where he was AWOL for a period of time, when he should have been recuperating. It could be that he travelled to his old home town while he was in England.
He was married to Leonora (Lena) Simm. She was also from Washington in County Durham. They were married in England, where he returned after the end of the War. They sailed back to New Zealand on 5 March 1921 (passenger list sighted). His wife's mother and siblings emigrated to New Zealand in 1923.
On his return from England, they lived at Pukemiro, where electoral rolls describe Thomas' occupation as miner.
He passed away in 1958 at the age of 63 and was interred at Huntly Cemetery.
Sources
- 1901 England Census - "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSCM-35Z : 8 April 2016), Thomas Jefferson in household of Thomas Jefferson, Washington, Durham, England; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Harraton subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
- 1911 England Census - "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWC9-KM4 : 3 August 2017), Thomas Jefferson in household of Thomas Jefferson, Washington, , Durham, England; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
- WWI Army Nominal Rolls - Source Citation: Nominal Rolls: Vol. 1: 15 Aug 1914 - 31 Dec 1915; Source Information: Ancestry.com. New Zealand Army WWI Nominal Rolls, 1914-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Name: Thomas Jefferson; Regimental Number: 12/3060; Last Residence: Pukemiro; Relative Name: T Jefferson; Relative Relationship: Father; Embarkation: 1914-1915
- Military Personnel File - Accessed at Archway, National Archives of New Zealand. JEFFERSON, Thomas - WW1 12/3060 - Army
- England & Wales Civil Marriage Index - Ancestry.com. England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc, 2010. Name: Thomas Jefferson; Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1921; Registration district: Chester-le-Street; Inferred County: Durham; Spouse: Leonora Simm; Volume Number: 10a; Page Number: 1234. ALSO SEE; "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVZ2-M7WV : 9 October 2014), Thomas Jefferson and null, 1921; from “England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005,” database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1921, quarter 1, vol. 10A, p. 1234, Chester Le Street, Durham, England, General Register Office, Southport, England.
- New Zealand, City & Area Directories, 1866-1954 - Residence: Pukemiro in Years 1930, 1933, 1938, 1942, 1946, 1947, 1950-51, 1954
- New Zealand Death Index - Ancestry.com. New Zealand, Death Index, 1848-1966 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Name: Thomas Jefferson; Death Date: 1958; Registration Place: Huntly, New Zealand; Folio Number: 3380
- New Zealand Cemetery Records - Ancestry.com. New Zealand, Cemetery Records, 1800-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Name: Thomas Jefferson; Birth Date: abt 1895; Death Age: 63; Death Date: 8 Aug 1958; Death Place: Huntly; Burial Place: Waikato, New Zealand; Cemetery: Kimihia; Spouse Name: Lena Jefferson
- Find A Grave: Memorial #169203328
