William Thomas (abt. 1876 - 1913)

Born about 1876 in Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand

Husband of Clara Alice (Brooker) Thomas — married about 1899 in New Zealand

Died 24 May 1913 at about age 37 in Tripp Settlement, Canterbury, New Zealand

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Biography

William Thomas was born around 1876 at Lincoln, Canterbury. He was the son of J. and M. Thomas of Lincoln.

He married Clara Alice (Brooker) around 1899. They had six children.

He took up about 140 acres of land at Tripp Settlement, Canterbury, near Geraldine, to farm (Orari Gorge, Woodbury).

He passed away on 24 May 1913 on his farm, aged 36, as a result of a gun accident. He had taken a shotgun when tending to sheep, in the hope of getting a hare, but was accidentally shot in the head when the triggers snagged when he was climbing through a wire fence.

He was buried at Woodbury Cemetery.

Sources

• New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages search for marriage reg. no. 1899/2421, marriage of Clara Alice Brooker & William Thomas.
• New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages search for death reg. no. 1913/4219, death of William Thomas, age 36Y.
• Temuka Leader, 27 May 1913, Page 3, Accidents via Papers Past, [Fatality at Tripp Settlement], William Thomas, who took up land at Tripp Settlement, near Geraldine; left home on Saturday morning to attend to sheep; taking a gun saying he might get a hare; Mrs Thomas heard a short at 09:30; husband didn't return at dinner time; sent out a boy to look for him; boy returned shortly before 13:00 saying there was a man lying by the fence; Mrs Thomas went to look and found her husband with part of his head blown away and evidently dead; Constable O'Grady and Dr Hislop attended; triggers of the gun were caught in the middle wire of the fence; evidently the deceased had been trying to get through the fence; deceased was a native of Lincoln, near Christchurch, 36 years old, leaves a widow and 6 children; holding was of about 140 acres; inquest held on Sunday morning in the residence of William McLeod, Orari Gorge, before Mr J. Kennedy, J.P. and a jury of 6; deceased's wife Clara Alice Thomas gave a deposition; her husband had not been well for about a fortnight and complained of indigestion, but death apparently an accident; Patrick Wood Hislop, medical practitioner gave a deposition; death would have been instantaneous, caused by gunshot wound; John James O'Grady, police constable, gave a deposition, including some details about where body parts ended up; body was removed with the assistance of neighbours to William McLeod's residence; jury's verdict was accidental death caused by a gunshot wound; and they disapproved of people using guns which are in a defective condition.
• Lyttelton Times, 27 May 1913, Page 1, Deaths via Papers Past, death on 24 May 1913 at Orari Gorge, Woodbury, of William Thomas, husband of Clara A. Thomas, eldest son of J. and M. Thomas, of Lincoln, late of Breeze's Road, Bromley, and previously of Railway Department, Lyttelton; by accident; funeral 27 May 1913.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #252642485, William Thomas, Woodbury Cemetery, Block 4, Plot 74.

Research Notes

• Possibly his birth registration: 1876/13329, birth of William Thomas, parents Mary & John.
• Possibly his mother: North Canterbury Gazette, 28 January 1938, Page 4, Obituary via Papers Past, death in January 1938 of Mary Thomas, widow of John Thomas of Lincoln.