Thomas Christie Bradshaw (1938-1880)

Thomas Christie Bradshaw was born on September 11, 1838,  St. Lukes Middlesex . His mother, at the time, was legally married to Lt Cl Paris William Augustus Bradshaw.  In the 1841 Census he is recorded as living at Chertsey Union Workhouse. His mother, Isabella was aged 25 [but could have been betwen 23 and 27 due to rounding to the nearest 5 years; i.e. born between 1814 and 1818] He was recorded as Thomas Christie Age 2, born out of County. His legal father and sisters lived in a wealthy neighborhood.

In the 1851 Census I can find two possible places of abode.  There is a Thomas Christie (aged 12 born Middlesex, "scholar") living with his mother, Isabella (aged 39 born Belfast, listed as "assistant"), living at 9 Colstone Street.  There is a Thomas Bradshaw visiting 15 Parks Street Kensington.  See copies of the original records below. It is hard to know which is correct for our Thomas. If he is indeed listed as Christie in 1951, why is he Bradshaw when he is 2 years old in 1941?

His working life began as a ship boy (second class) on the 22 June 1853, when he entered the royal navy  aboard the HMS Victory. He was signed on for 10 years from the age of 18. He was aged 14 years and 9 months. Did that mean he signed on for 13 years, till 1866 ? (10 years from 11 Sept 1856, when he turned 18). He was eventually discharged on 21 January 1867. He was described on the ships register as being stout, healthy and intelligent. He was  5ft 4in, with sandy hair, fair complexion and hazel eyes.  He signed on without his parents permission as  "the boys parents cannot be discovered but the lad himself is willing and desirous".  During his time in the Royal Navy he also served on other vessels including the Cygnet (according to 1861 census) and the Ganges (1871 census). 

Over the next years he consistently achieved favourable ratings of good character and seems to have progressed to become able seaman.  

On 10 March 1872 he appears as a boatman or coastguard on the Hector. He was described as commanding seaman?  It was on records of his service on the Hector that  details of his tattoos is recorded "Tomb, Britannia, man & bracelet on right arm. Man & woman, Anchor and Hope, Sailor on a barrel & bracelet on left arm. Full rigged ship on breast". His service was firstly paused, and then permanently stopped, on 13 April 1878, and he was subsequently pensioned. His years of service amounted to 21 years 182 days. He must have been sick because he died two years later of dilation of the heart, which the doctor certified had been present for at least two years. Eliza was present at his death. He was only 41.

He married Elizabeth Blake in April 1861 in his hometown. They had five children in 12 years. After his death Eliza had to rear the five children alone and work as a char woman.

Thomas's background is a mystery.  His father, Paris William Augustus Bradshaw, was a lieutenant colonel, yet Thomas is recorded as being reared  in workhouses including Chertsey.  If his father was not Paris, why was his later born brother, who died as an infant at the workhouse, named Paris? His mother, Isabella Kernaghan, had earlier born 3 daughters to Paris, who still lived with their father in London. Shortly after Thomas's birth Paris is recorded as being a widower and marrying Rebeckah, going on to have 3 more sons, curiously, one also called Thomas and one called Paris! 

Isabella resided in the workhouse.  It is in the workhouse records that her behaviour was poor and that she had angry episodes, using bad language and damaging property.  She was also charged with neglecting her son, who had been left unsupervised outside the workhouse. Isabella and Paris were both from Ireland, Dublin.

Eliza

When Eliza Blake was born on June 1, 1835, in Chertsey, Surrey, England, her father, James, was 34, and her mother, Elizabeth, was 29. She married Thomas Christie Bradshaw and they had five children together. She was with Thomas when he died of "dilation of the heart" when he was only 41. In the 1881 census she is listed as a widow, with the children as head of the house, working as a charwoman. Her life must have been difficult. She then married Frederick Pharo and they had one son together. She died in September 1916 in Guildford, Surrey, England, having lived a long life of 81 years.

Her poor parents, James Blake (shoemaker) and Elizabeth (Rose), had been in Chertsey workhouse with their children.  At one time, records indicate that James was charged with failing to take care of the children whilst in the workhouse.  He may have been depressed.  His wife had been committed to the asylum.  At one time having her returned to the workhouse was attempted but she was not fit and was returned to the asylum.

Eliza must have met Thomas in the workhouse, as children.  

Notes from Ancestry.com (courtesy Janice Wright);

◦F Ada Bradshawe 1874-Siblings◾F Anne Bradshawe 1828-◾F Charlotte Maria Bradshawe ca 1830-1911◦F Isabella Bradshawe 1831-1898◾F Mary Bradshawe 1832-1898◦M Paris Bradshawe ca 1840-1841

Half-siblingsOn 's side Paris William Augustus Bradshawe , Col 1807-1885 ◦with Rebecca Frances Unknown ca 1820- ◦M Thomas Bradshawe ca 1841-◦M Paris Bradshawe ca 1845-◦M George Paris Bradshawe 1853-1889

Occupation

Occupation: Between 22 JUN 1853 And 31 March 1878 (Source: Service Records - Royal Navy CS Service Records) Middlesex, 11th September 1838 Description: Height 4ft 8in, Weight 85 lbs, Complexion Freckled, Hair Red, Eyes Grey, Marks None. He is entered for H.M.S. Victory, date of entry and date of volunteering for continuous and general service - 22nd June 1853 as a Boy 2nd Class for a period of Ten years from the age of 18, Number of register ticket 580 - 574. Dated 14th July 1853 showing he is fit in all respects for Her Majesty's Service finding him to be a well grown, stout lad of perfectly sound and healthy constitution, free from all physical malformation and intelligent. The consent of his parents is crossed out saying "the boys parents cannot be discovered but the lad himself is willing and desirous" the form is signed by Thomas Christie, two Captains (one maybe Edw.d H Scott the other unreadable) and two medical officers (unreadable) (Source: Service Records - Royal Navy CS Service Records) No. on ship's books 512, Character Good, Ship "Victory", age 14yrs 9mths, Rating boy 2nd Class, Entry 22 June 1853 to 30 Dec 1853, Then No on ships books 75 from 31 Dec 1853 to discharge 30 June 1854, character Very Good. (Source: Service Records - Royal Navy CS Service Records) (Source: Service Records - Royal Navy CS Service Records) (Source: Service Records - Royal Navy CS Service Records) (Source: Service Records - Royal Navy CS Service Records) (Source: Service Records - Royal Navy CS Service Records) (Source: Service Records - Royal Navy CS Service Records) Height 5ft 4in, Complexion Fair, hair Sandy, eyes Hazel Ship in which he volunteers HMS Victory No on ships books 5/115 Rating in Do. Able Seaman Date of actually Volunteering for Continuous Service and Date of Commencement of Engagement 12 January 1867 for a period of 10 years Late CS No. in red ink 580574 crossed out 218 written beside. 10 years from 11 Sept 1856 HMS Victory date 21 January 1867 signed by Captain or commander (unreadable) and two medical officers (unreadable)and signed by Thomas Christie Bradshawe himself and witnessed ?? Richardson (Source: Service Records - Royal Navy CS Service Records) (Source: Service Records - Royal Navy CS Service Records) (Source: Service Records - Royal Navy CS Service Records) 

 to discharge 4 November 1876 Rating Boatman, Character not stated. Badge 10 March 1872 3 Badges Coast guard "Hector" 5 November 1876 to discharge 31 March 1878 to be paused, Rating Commanding Seaman? note at bottom in red ink Inferior Petty Time (or Since) 1yr: 147 days Total time of service Years of 365 days Days 10 100 9 300 __1_ ___________147___ 21 years 182 days (Source: Service Records - Royal Navy CS Service Records) Hair: Auburn Eyes: Hazel Complexion: Fair Wounds, Scars or Marks [ie Tattoos]: Tomb, Britannia, man & bracelet on right arm. Man & woman, Anchor and Hope, Sailor on a barrel & bracelet on left arm. Full rigged ship on breast. Trade: Sea Ships served in: Hector CG [Coast guard] Ships Books: List 63 No 41 Character: Exy [exemplary?] Pensioned 13 April 1878, Hector List 91 No 38 FE [first entry?] 

Census Records and Addresses;

1841; Census - HO107/1074 Book9 Folio 45 p7 line 3 - Isabella Aged 25 [but could have been betwen 23 and 27 due to rounding tothe nearest 5 years; i.e. born between 1814 and 1818] born Ireland Thomas Christie Age 2 born out of County -

1851; Census: Scholar  9 Colston Street, Bedminster, Bristol, Somerset, England (Source: Census 1851) [As Isabella & Thomas Christie]  There is also a census record for Thomas Bradshaw aged 13 visiting 9 Park Street, Kensington.

1853 Residence: 1868 73 Lucknow Street, Fratton, Portsea, Hampshire, England (Source: Birth - Civil Registration - Birth Record Index) Lucknow Street, Fratton, Portsea. Census: Ordinary Seaman 

1861 HMS Ganges (Source: Census 1861) 

1871;Census: Boatman - Married 1871 HMS Cignet (Source: Census 1871) 

1880;Residence: 1880 6 Hunts Road, Woolston, Southampton, Hampshire, England (Source: Death - Civil Registration - Record Index) Hunts Road, Woolston, St. Mary Extra, South Stoneham in the county of Southampton aged 41 years, occupation Coast guard and Naval pensioner, cause of death dilation of heart, 2 years certified by AJ Turner FRCS(E?) &c Eliza was present at death.Sources•Birth: Family Records - Letters & Documents - Other - Janice Wright Reports - 2008 (descendant of Paris William Augustus Bradshawe) -

Information from-  Census 1861 - 

RG9/4439 Folio 212 p13 line 5 - Thomas Age 23 born London [As Thomas Christie] - Service Records - Royal Navy CS Service Records - 39920 E218 (from TNA ADM 139/3 & 188/68) shows No. 95 - Name Thomas Christie alias Thomas Christie Bradshawe, Born St. Lukes Middlesex, 11th September 1838 Description: Height 4ft 8in, Weight 85 lbs, Complexion Freckled, Hair Red, Eyes Grey, Marks None. He is entered for H.M.S. Victory, date of entry and date of volunteering for continuous and general service - 22nd June 1853 as a Boy 2nd Class for a period of Ten years from the age of 18, Number of register ticket 580 - 574. Dated 14th July 1853 showing he is fit in all respects for Her Majesty's Service finding him to be a well grown, stout lad of perfectly sound and healthy constitution, free from all physical malformation and intelligent. The consent of his parents is crossed out saying "the boys parents cannot be discovered but the lad himself is willing and desirous" the form is signed by Thomas Christie, two Captains (one maybe Edw.d H Scott the other unreadable) and two medical officers (unreadable)•Spouse: Marriage - Civil Registration - Certificate - 1861 - Q2 Apr/Jun - Chertsey Vol 2a p20 Entry 307 - 

Information from Copy of Marriage Certificate - 

Married in Parish Church of Addlestone in the parish of Chertsey, Surrey both full age and residing in Addlestone, Thomas a Mariner, father Paris William Augustus Bradshawe occupation Lieutenant - Colonel HMS and Eliza, in Service father James Blake, occupation Boot maker, witnesses show the marks of John Gray and Georgina Gray (Eliza's sister?) other witness Emma Blake (?)

•Death: 

Death - Civil Registration - Record Index - 1880 - Q1 Jan/Mar - South Stoneham Vol 2c p39 Entry 222 - Information from Copy of death certificate - died 19th March 1880 at 6 Hunts Road, Woolston, St. Mary Extra, South Stoneham in the county of Southampton aged 41 years, occupation Coast guard and Naval pensioner, cause of death dilation of heart, 2 years certified by AJ Turner FRCS(E?) &c Eliza was present at death.