Thomas KIMBER, Sevenoaks, Kent

[jan416]

I am hoping to finally solve this mystery. The family story is that Thomas KIMBER disappeared, and was presumed dead, until a letter arrived in England, stating that he had died in Sydney, Australia, and left his estate to his family. The Policeman who delivered the letter said it was a small fortune. I don't think the family made a claim. Needless to say, this has peaked my interest.

I have since discovered that his last known child was born in Sevenoaks, Kent in JAN1888, and neither Thomas, nor his wife, or younger children appear on the 1891 census - so I assume he left England between those dates. His wife Harriet is back on the 1901 census, in Kent. They were notified of his death some time in the 1910's and again in the 20's I think.

I have not been able to find any information about Thomas in Australia, and think he may have changed his name after the disappearance.

If someone has access to shipping records, I would be very grateful to at least know when they left England, and the actual destination - perhaps not Sydney.

Details - Thomas KIMBER b. 1846 Limpsfield, Surrey, wife Harriet (nee SOUTHBY) b. 1849 Shoreham
marr. AUG1868 Sevenoaks. Thomas was a bricklayer.
children - Eliza b. MAR1869 Otford, Elizabeth b. SEP1872 Harts Land, Amy b. JUL1874, Emma b. DEC1876, Thomas b. MAY1879, William b. SEP1881, Daisy b. NOV1883, Herbert b. JAN1888, all Sevenoaks.
Eliza and Emma stayed in England.

Any ideas will be gratefully received. Thanking you, Jan

[valg]

I am hoping to finally solve this mystery. The family story is that Thomas KIMBER disappeared, and was presumed dead, until a letter arrived in England, stating that he had died in Sydney, Australia, and left his estate to his family. The Policeman who delivered the letter said it was a small fortune. I don't think the family made a claim. Needless to say, this has peaked my interest.

I have since discovered that his last known child was born in Sevenoaks, Kent in JAN1888, and neither Thomas, nor his wife, or younger children appear on the 1891 census - so I assume he left England between those dates. His wife Harriet is back on the 1901 census, in Kent. They were notified of his death some time in the 1910's and again in the 20's I think.

I have not been able to find any information about Thomas in Australia, and think he may have changed his name after the disappearance.

If someone has access to shipping records, I would be very grateful to at least know when they left England, and the actual destination - perhaps not Sydney.

Details - Thomas KIMBER b. 1846 Limpsfield, Surrey, wife Harriet (nee SOUTHBY) b. 1849 Shoreham
marr. AUG1868 Sevenoaks. Thomas was a bricklayer.
children - Eliza b. MAR1869 Otford, Elizabeth b. SEP1872 Harts Land, Amy b. JUL1874, Emma b. DEC1876, Thomas b. MAY1879, William b. SEP1881, Daisy b. NOV1883, Herbert b. JAN1888, all Sevenoaks.
Eliza and Emma stayed in England.

Any ideas will be gratefully received. Thanking you, Jan

Searching 1900-1920 only NSW death I can find for a Thomas Kimber is 1919 Gundagai aged 79..which would be registered at the Sydney BMD no other details are noted. Would need to purchase a copy for more details...Registration Number 9145/1919

[Kerrywood]

If someone has access to shipping records, I would be very grateful to at least know when they left England, and the actual destination - perhaps not Sydney.

There are no outgoing passenger lists from the UK before about 1890. Those that survive can be accessed on the pay/subscription site Find My Past.

Daisy b. NOV1883, Herbert b. JAN1888, all Sevenoaks.

What does Herbert's birth certificate say about his father? Is there any chance that Thomas could have died or left home earlier than that?

Searching 1900-1920 only NSW death I can find for a Thomas Kimber is 1919 Gundagai aged 79

There's a brief mention in 1897 of what looks like that Thomas KIMBER here. A full search of the Trove database might provide more references to help determine if he is the right person.

[jan416]

Thanks valg,

I have the Gundagai death cert. which has a lot of conflicting information on it, but says that he was a 79 year old farmer ( therefore born 1840), originally from Yorkshire. He married twice, first in Tasmania, then in Gundagai in 1893. He had about 9 children from the second marriage.

I have had contact with his descendants, and the story becomes more tangled. They say he arrived in Tasmania at the age of ten, with the name of Thomas RAPLEY, travelling with Thomas and Elizabeth RAPLEY, although they suspect he was not the son of Elizabeth, but her cousin, and his name is Thomas RIDGES - her brother Willam RIDGES was also on the ship. (The RIDGERS family in Australia claim that he is actually Thomas WHITE! See www.ridgers.org.au - I hope this site is still current)

He married in Tasmania, and eventually moved to Gundagai, NSW in 1877. He was Thomas RAPLEY when his first wife died in 1884, and he remarried in 1893, using the name Thomas KIMBER.

I do not have his will, but his descendants have not mentioned anything about unknown beneficiaries.

Something is odd about him choosing KIMBER as his new name, and the timing fits with my Thomas, but I can't think of any connections.

I hope I haven't made this more confusing than necessary. Thanks for your interest and help, Cheers, Jan

[jan416]

Herbert's birth certificate is the first one that describes Thomas KIMBER as a bricklayer journeyman. They were living at Red Brick Row, St. John's Hill, Sevenoaks, and Harriet was the informant. He is probably still alive, but possibly not at home then. I'll have a look at Trove again.

Many Thanks, Jan

[Kerrywood]

Herbert's birth certificate is the first one that describes Thomas KIMBER as a bricklayer journeyman.

So what was his occupation before that? If he was doing something different, it might help us to find him!

Or do you perhaps mean this is the first time he was described as a journeyman?

'Journeyman' doesn't necessarily mean that he travelled with his work. Originally it referred to someone who had completed an apprenticeship and was employed by the day (journée). By the 1880s, it wouldn't be that specific.

[jan416]

Sorry for not being specific, Kerrywood. This is the first time that Journeyman was added. I presumed it meant he travelled for work, and was possibly not at home at the time of the birth.

The Trove entry is connected to the Gundagai Thomas KIMBER, and although questionable, I doubt there is a connection.

Thanks so much for your insight and interest - I'm learning all the time! Cheers, Jan

[jan416]

Just another thought. Are there shipping records for passengers returning to England. Perhaps I can find out where Harriet travelled from, when she returned.

It would be between 1891 and 1901.

Many Thanks, Jan

[dawnkaren]

i dont have credits to be able to access these records for you but there are 2 thomas kimbers

KIMBER Thomas 1904 M 1924 London Australia Melbourne
KIMBER Thomas 1914 M 1929 Southampton Australia Brisbane

just wondering if it would be worth having a look and see if they are possibly thomas's? from a second marriage maybe?

[jan416]

Thanks dawnkaren,

I'm not sure what the years mean - are they when the passenger left and then returned? If so, the dates would be too late for my Thomas - I think he left between 1888 and 1891, and I'm fairly certain he died before 1920.

I'm presuming he died in Australia, so want to find when his wife, Harriet and their younger children returned to England, and more particularly, from where, to give me a starting point. (between 1891 and 1901)

Please tell me how and where I can access these records.

Many Thanks, Jan