John Thomas (abt. 1829 - 1897)

Born about 1829 in Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 14 Nov 1897 at about age 68 in Barkerville, British Columbia, Canada

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Biography

John Thomas is/was a significant British Columbian.

John "Navvy Jack" Thomas was a British Columbia pioneer. He built his family home on property on the West Vancouver waterfront, operated the first by-request ferry service from Vancouver to Ambleside, and ran a gravel business. He is also an ancestor to many Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam families.

John was born about 1829.

He married Rowia, a Musqueam Nation woman who was the daughter of Quil-eet-rock and the granddaughter of "Old Chief" Kiapilano. Other records have her name as Slawia and she was Baptized as Magdeleine just before her death in 1888.^[1] Jack and Rowia raised four children:

• Emma Thomas, born on 6 Dec 1876^[2]
• Christine Thomas, born on 25 Sep 1877^[3]
• William Sampson Thomas, born about 1881
• Mary Thomas, born in 18 Jan 1888.^[4]

He passed away in Barkerville in 1897.^[5]

The Navvy Jack House at 1768 Argyle Avenue is now a protected heritage house located within Lawson Park in West Vancouver. There is also a Navvy Jack Point Park nearby.

Research Notes

Possible census record:

• "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7TV-N31 : 3 March 2021), John Thomas, Royal Navy At Sea And In Ports Abroad; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

No LAC 1881 or 1891 census records found.

Sources

1. ↑ "British Columbia Baptisms," online database. Entry for Magdeleine Unknown; BC Archives Mfilm Number: B16253 - not available at BC Archives, St Peters Church (Roman Catholic), Squamish, 1888-06-01, Other Location: New Westminster, Birth Date:1853-??-?? Affiliation: Stamas Squamish, Comments: Adult, parents unnamed, in danger death, spouse "Navi Jack". Not digitized. Royal British Columbia Museum: BC Archives (http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy : accessed 1 May 2022).
2. ↑ "British Columbia Death Registrations," online database with images. Entry for Emma Williams; Registration Number: 1962-09-002088, Vancouver, 1962-01-25, Age at Death: 85, Parents: John Thomas and Madeline Annie n/k. Death certificate Royal British Columbia Museum: BC Archives (royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/genealogy : accessed 1 May 2022).
3. ↑ "British Columbia Death Registrations," online database with images. Entry for Christine Jack; Registration Number: 1960-09-004495, Nelson, 1960-03-23, Age at Death: 82, Parents: John Thomas and Annie N/K. Death certificate Royal British Columbia Museum: BC Archives (royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/genealogy : accessed 29 Apr 2022).
4. ↑ "British Columbia Death Registrations," online database with images. Entry for Mary Walker; Registration Number: 1960-09-013649, Prince Rupert, 1960-11-12, Age at Death: 80, Parents: John Thomas and not known. Death certificate Royal British Columbia Museum: BC Archives (royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/genealogy : accessed 1 May 2022).
5. ↑ "British Columbia Death Registrations," online database with images. Entry for John Thomas; Registration Number: 1897-09-234396, Barkerville District, 1897-11-14, Age at Death: 68. Not digitized. Royal British Columbia Museum: BC Archives (royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/genealogy : accessed 30 Apr 2022).

See also:

• The story of John “Navvy Jack” Thomas westvancouverite.ca 06 Aug 2019. Accessed 30 Apr 2022
• Statement of Significance: Navvy Jack Thomas House 1768 Argyle Avenue, West Vancouver, BC. May 2008. Accessed 30 Apr 2022
• Navvy Jack House: The Case for Conservation. Appendix C.Accessed 30 Apr 2022
• https://www.nsnews.com/local-arts/west-vancouver-new-public-art-recalls-foggy-tale-of-navvy-jacks-rooster-7750192