His birth

Thomas richardson Crompton was registered at Beverley as Richardson.

Source: GRO Births
Crompton Richardson  3rd Quarter 1847  Beverley vol. XXIII page 11

Thomas richardson's emigration to New Zealand

A search of passenger lists from 1860 to 1887 for ships to Lyttelton, Wellington, Auckland, New Plymouth, Nelson, Hawkes Bay and Port Charmers has failed to find a Thomas richardson Crompton.

Thomas Richardson appears to have been the most successful of Richardson's children to emigrate to New Zealand, He is described in the motion for probate of his Will, on 10 March 1919, as a retired "farmer", of Temuka, in the Provincial District of Canterbury. A Mr TR Crompton and Mrs Crompton were passengers on the 'Rimutaka' on 4 November 1897, though the information doesn't specify in which direction the trip was. This suggests that our TR may have been successful enough to fund a trip 'home'. Right: The area where Thomas Richardson settled.

Thomas Richardson's marriage (NB His second name is recorded as Richard)

On 19 August 1871 aged 23, Thomas Richardson, as a farm servant and bachelor, married Mary jane Sowen, aged 22, a domestic servant and spinster born in Sussex, England. The marriage took place, in the district of Christchurch at The Manse. The officiating minister (or registrar) at The Manse was Charles Fraser. The witnesses appear to be James Frame of Apawa, coachman and Priscalla (Priscilla?) Sanders(?) of Christchurch, householder.

There is no evidence of a Mary Sowen, or Sowen SoundEx, in the UK census for 1851 or 1861.  There is no evidence of a Mary Sowen being born between 1845 and 1852 in the UK in Free BMD. An Ancestry search suggests that Sowen is a Yorkshire name, with many being in the Beverley area.

At the time of his sister Emily Hyde's marriage, on 10 February 1883, Thomas Richardson described himself as a farmer of Orari. Mary Jane was the second witness. Right: Orari River looking toward the Southern Alps

1815info5, sheet 2

His will, written on 28 July 1887 when he lived at Clarendon Farm, Winchester in the County of Geraldine, leaves everything to Mary Jane, his wife. Despite being 39 at the time, his will doesn‘t mention any children. It is witnessed by S(?)C Crompton, his brother. Right: Geraldine County looking toward the Southern alps

New Zealand's Electoral Roll for 1893 was the first to record women's franchise:

Crompton Mary Jane
    Electorate:  Paeroa
    Number:      773
    Residence:   Winchester
    Occupation:  Household duties

As a sheep farmer An edited record of the size of flocks in the Geraldine area for the years 1879 to 1881 (Right) suggests that Thomas richardson's flock, which had started in a modest way in 1880, had increased by 263% in the following year. Source: Sheepowner Returns 1879 - 1880 - 1881
A analysis of the full list, shows that Thomas richardson's flock was a small one.  The number of head, kept by farmers ranged from 7 to over 89 000.  However, of the 337 flocks 205 were below 500 head. Broad generalizations would suggest that, over the three years, the large cooperative farms maintained their large flocks, as did those that were 'established' with over a thousand head. Numbers of sheep on the smaller farms appeared to fluctuate.  Some fall out of the wool market altogether, whilst others, like Thomas richardson, begin to increase their flocks.

1815info5, sheet 3

Thomas richardson and Mary's death

Thomas richardson died on 1 March 1919 aged 70. On 8 March 1919 Mary jane confirmed that Thomas richardson's estate was valued at under 500 UKP. A search of Timaru District Council On-line cemetery records gives their burial reference as:

Reference          14076                         Reference          16030
Surname            CROMPTONS                     Surname            CROMPTON
Forenames          T R (MALE)                    Forenames          MARY JANE
Occupation                                       Occupation
Address            TEMUKA                        Address            TEMUKA
Age at Death       70                            Age at Death       79 Years
Date of Death                                    Date of Death
Date of Interment  3/3/1919                      Date of Interment  21/4/1928
Cemetery           Temuka Cemetery               Cemetery           Temuka Cemetery
Denomination       ANGLICAN                      Denomination       ANGLICAN
Section            B                             Section            B 
Block                                            Block 
Plot               296                           Plot               296
Beam                                             Beam
Clergy Name        REV NORRIS                    Clergy Name        REV WATSON

Their headstone reads: Temuka Cemetery, grave 1153 Thomas Richardson CROMPTON beloved husband of Mary Jane CROMPTON died March 1st 1919 Aged 70 Also Mary Jane CROMPTON Died April 20th 1928 Aged 78 Right: The headstone of TR Crompton - Temuka Cemetery, South Island, NZ. Below: TR Crompton's grave in the setting of Temuka Cemetery With thanks to Aaron Clark. The will mentions no bequests to children. A search of the Temuka phone book shows no living Cromptons in the area.

1815info5, sheet 4

His Will

In the estate of Thomas Richardson Crompton of Temuka in the Provincial District of Canterbury in the Dominion of New Zealand
Retired Farmer
Deceased
Motion for Probate ...

... to Mary Jane Crompton the Executor in the said will

Dated this 10th Day of March 1919
WG Aspinall
Solicitor for the Applicant

File 11 March 1919

I Mary Jane Crompton of Temuka aforesaid widow make oath and say as follows is

1. That I knew Thomas Richardson Crompton of Temuka aforesaid Retired Farmer the above named deceased when alive and that he was resident and was domiciled at Temuka aforesaid within the judicial District and that the nearest Registry Office of the Court to that place where the said Thomas Richardson Crompton deceased and was domiciled is at Temuka in the said Provincial District
2. That to the best of my knowledge information and belief the said Thomas Richardson Crompton was born in Yorkshire England and was a British Subject and was not at any time during his life the subject of any foreign State or Sovereign
3. That I believe the written document now produced bearing date the twenty sixth day of July 1887 to be the last will and testament of the said deceased and I am the Executor herein named
4. That the said Thomas Richardson Crompton died at Temuka aforesaid on or about the first day of March 1919 and I am able to depose from having been present at his death and seen his dead body after death
5. That according to my knowledge and belief the Estate Effects and credits of the deceased in respect of which probate is sought are under the value of £500:0:0
6. That I will faithfully execute the said will by paying the debts and legacies of the deceased so far as the property will extend and the law binds
7. That I was born in Sussex England and am a British Subject and have never been at any time during in my life the subject of any foreign State or Sovereign.

Sworn by the said Mary Jane Crompton at Temuka aforesaid this 8th day of March 1919 before a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand.

Dated 26th day of July 1887
WILL of
Thos Richardson Crompton

---- Goodby Timaru

This is the last Will and Testament of me
Thomas Richardson Crompton of Clarendon Farm Winchester in the County of Geraldine New Zealand Farmer I give devise and bequeath all my real and personal estate of what kind or nature soever of or to which I shall be possessed or entitled to my wife Mary Jane Crompton for her sole and separate use and estate absolutely and I appoint my said wife sole executrix of this my will On Witness whereof I have hereunto set my name this twenty sixth day of July One thousand eight hundred and eight seven

1815info5, sheet 5

Signed by the Testator Thomas Richardson as and of his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other all being present at the same time have hereunto subscribed out names as witnesses

JR Hayes MD Surgeon of Temuka

Probate

Name               Thomas richardson Crompton
Place              Temuka
Occupation         Farmer
Death date
Court              Timaru
Probate No.        1380
Date filed         11mar1919
Type               Will

Source: New Zealand Society of Genealogists CD

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This page was created by Richard Crompton and maintained by Chris Glass	Version C7 Updated 26 January 2008