He was born 1783/4 at Ossington, Notts.
He married Nancy Pattrick (born 11 August 1789 and baptised 13 August 1789 at Thorne, the daughter of John Patrick and Ann Mitchell) on 30 December 1807 at Hatfield.
In 1841, at Ninescores, Finningley, Nottinghamshire, in the household of George and Elizabeth Chester (subsequently found to be Thomas' son-in-law and daughter) Thomas was aged 50-55, a farmer, with Nancy aged 50-55. Neither was born in the county. It seems that they were visiting George and Elizabeth Chester, as Thomas and Nancy's other children were at Barlby in 1841.
He was described as farmer on Charlotte's marriage certificate (1845).
In the 1851 census of Barlby, he was aged 67, a farmer of 160 acres employing 2 labourers and born at Ossington (sic Yorks, but this appears to be in Notts, near Newark-on-Trent). His wife, Nancy, was aged 61 and born at Thornes (Yorks). With them were his son-in-law, Joseph Volans, aged 28, a teasel dealer, born at Church Fenton, Thomas's daughter Charlotte Volans, aged 29, born at Hatfield and Thomas's grandchildren, Mary Ann Volans, aged 4, Thomas Volans, aged 2 and Elizabeth Volans, aged under 12 months. There was also Thomas's grandchild Charlotte Barras, aged 15, a dressmaker, born at Stainforth, Yorks. There were also three unmarried servants. In the next household were Thomas's son Thomas and his family.
Nancy Turner’s death was registered 20 March 1856, almost two months after the event She (wife of Thomas Turner, farmer) died by her own hand 27 January 1856, at Barlby. She 'cut her throat being insane in mind' and an inquest was held by Matthew Pearson, coroner at Selby. She was aged 66.
Two snippets from the Yorkshire Gazette give a little more detail of the circumstances. The first (Saturday 26 January 1856) under the title ‘Barlby, Near Selby. – Attempted Suicide.’, records that ‘On Monday last (i.e. 21 January), the wife of Mr. Thos. Turner, of Barlby, farmer, attempted to destroy herself by cutting her throat with a pen-knife. She was in bed at the time with her husband, and he shortly afterwards, from the noise he heard, found out what had been done. Medical aid was shortly procured, and she is now in a fair way of recovery. The unfortunate woman has been in a desponding state for some time, which was no doubt the cause of this melancholy act.’ The second (Saturday 2 February 1856) under the title ‘Deaths’ reports that on ‘same day (i.e. Sunday 27th ult), aged 66, Nancy, wife of Mr. Thos. Turner, of Barlby, farmer. In our last week’s paper we stated that she cut her throat with a penknife on the 21st ult.’
In the 1861 census of Hatfield Woodhouse, Thomas Turner was a widower, aged 77, a retired farmer, born at Ossington, Notts. With him was his granddaughter Charlotte Barrass, aged 25, a dress maker, born at Stainforth (close to Hatfield) and (great?) grandson Thomas (Barrass?) aged 3 and born at Hull.
Thomas died 6 September 1861 at Woodhouse Hatfield. He was aged 77, a retired farmer and died of senectude and retention of urine 3 days. His death was registered by Thomas Chester (born 1835), of Woodhouse Hatfield (who was living next door and was married to Hannah, a granddaughter of William Turner). William Turner married Mary Grant at Finningley in 1797 and could be Thomas' half-brother.
Thomas left a will. He was a farmer of Barlby and the will is dated 3 August 1860. His executors were his sons William and Thomas Turner and Thomas Hooton, butcher of Hatfield Woodhouse. In it he requests that his landlords allow his son Thomas to take over the tenancy of the farm at Barlby and he gives him all the farming stock and equipment subject to the payment he, Thomas jnr, must make of £150 to Thomas snr’s son William within 6 months. All his real estate at Thorne is charged with the payment of an annuity of £5 to his granddaughter, Charlotte Barrass, to whom he also left the contents of his house at Woodhouse. To his grandchildren, the children of George Chester he left £10.19s. to each of the two daughters, to grandson George Chester he left £19.19s. and to grandson Thomas Chester he left £10. To the five children of his late daughter Charlotte Vollans he left the sum of £50 each. The residue was to go to son William for life and then to William’s wife, Ellen (presumably Helen) and then to his children if there were any, and if not then to his son Thomas and then to Thomas’s children. The witnesses were Wm T. Fox and Frederick Armitage. The will was proved in London 5 March 1864 by Thomas Hooton.
Thomas and Nancy's children were
Posted October 2016