Family Vignette – The Tragic Lives of Thomas Adams and his Family

 

Family Vignette – The Tragic Lives of Thomas Adams and his Family

Thomas Adams was born in September 1829 in Pakefield, Suffolk, England and baptized on September 20, 1829 in the local church.  His parents were Thomas Adams 1804-1878 and Ann Colby 1807-1892.  Thomas (Jr.) was the second child of seven born to Thomas and Ann. Their children were:

1.      Philip Randal Adams 1828–1906

2.      Thomas Adams 1829–1911

3.      Henry Colby Adams 1831–1832

4.      Robert Adams  1833–1896

5.      Judith Adams 1836–1895

6.      Margaret Adams 1840–1888

7.      Daniel Colby Adams 1841–1910

Thomas Adams was a fisherman, like his father and his older brother Philip Randal.  He would be followed in this trade by his younger brothers Robert and Daniel Colby.

Thomas married Martha Rose Bobbitt on January 1, 1849 at St. Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. Their children were:

1.      William Bobbitt Adams 1849– married Barbara Knights Gooch in 1870.

2.      Thomas Colby Adams 1851–1929 married Charlotte Maria Fuller in 1873.

3.      Henry George Adams 1855–1920 married Sarah Gilby in 1877.

4.      Ellen Elizabeth Adams 1855–1855

5.      Randal Benjamin Adams 1857–1858

6.      Eve Anna Adams 1858–1858

After the birth of their first three children-- William Bobbitt, Thomas Colby and Henry George--Martha Rose was unable to successfully raise their remaining children.  Each of them died in infancy and the birth of Eve Anna in 1858 may have led to her own death.

In 1861, Thomas Adams, widower was working as a fisherman aboard the fishing vessel “Beeswing” under the ship Master George Warford. In 1871, Thomas Adams was still working as a fisherman and living with his eldest son and his wife Barbara Knights Gooch at Beach Street Cottage in Pakefield. By 1881, Thomas was still a widower living as a fisherman with his son and Barbara, but at their new address on Barn Lane, Pakefield.

The death of Martha Rose Bobbitt was devastating to the family.  The three eldest sons were raised with other family members.  William Bobbitt was working as a Boy on the fishing vessel “Sunbeam” with his uncle Philip who served as the ship’s Master.  By 1871, William had been married to Barbara Knights Gooch and was serving as Mate on the fishing vessel “Galilean” under the ship master William Read.  His brother Henry George worked on the same ship as a Boy at age 16.

Thomas Colby and Henry George Adams

In 1861, both Thomas Colby, 10 years old and his brother Henry George, 6 year-old, were living with Martha Ann Margaret White, 21, unmarried woman from Kirkley working as a housekeeper for her fisherman brother Lewis White.  The circumstances of how and why the children were living Margaret White are unclear since there is no apparent familial relationship to the White family.  (Martha Ann Margaret White is shown as Magaret Adams.  This was incorrectly written with the surname Adams, but she was never married to Thomas Adams and it clearly was meant for Thomas and Henry George.)

 

Thomas Colby Adams grew up without his father and mother after age 8.  He did, however, manage to grow up as a fisherman and then became a husband and father.  On December 23, 1873, he married Charlotte Maria Fuller 1850-1904.  Their children were:

1.      Martha Maria Adams 1876–1876

2.      Kate Maria Adams 1876–1950

3.      Amos Henry Adams 1877–1957

4.      Agnes Mary Adams 1880–1914

5.      Macdonald Adams 1882–1962

6.      Robert William Adams 1890–1954

After the death of his wife, Charlotte in 1904, Thomas Colby Adams was living with his daughter Kate Maria and her family. 

Henry George Adams and his son, Henry George Adams

Henry George Adams grew up to be a fisherman and on December 24, 1877, he married Sarah Gilby at St. Margaret’s Church in Lowestoft.  Their children were:

1.      Martha Ann Adams 1879–1933

2.      Henry George Adams 1881–1915

Very little is known about Henry George Adams.  It is suspected he died sometime after 1920.  His wife, Sarah Gilby died in April 1907.  Of their two children, Henry George Adams, was a fisherman, like his father, grandfather and great-grandfather. 

Henry George Adams,1881-1915, died when his fishing vessel was lost at sea.  His vessel was the H. M. Trawler Labrador which struck a German mine.  He left a widow, Ruth Maria Elizabeth Barber.

Genealogy:  Henry George Adams 1881-1915 was the son of Henry George Adams 1855-1920 and his father was Thomas Adams 1828-1911 and his father was Thomas Adams 1804-1878 and his father was Philip Adams 1763-1807 and his father was John Adams (Master Baker) 1730- and his son was John Adams 1750-1837 and his son was John Curtis Adams 1797-1873 and his son was William Frederick Adams 1848-1907 and his son was George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.