Fourth Generation

Thomas Adams (1845-1925) - son of James Andrew Adams (1810-1886) - son of James Adams (1775-after 1851) - son of Israel Adams (about 1850-1800)

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Thomas Adams is a direct ancestor of Bill Burgar, the author of this history.

Thomas Adams was born on 21 December 1845 in Chelsea, Middlesex.⁸ Civil Registration of Birth Certificate states:

Thomas Adams, Boy, born 21st December 1845, son of James Andrew Adams, BrickLayer, and Catherine Adams, formerly Shelley, of 30 Cumberland Street, Chelsea, Middx.
The birth was registered in the Registration District of St Luke Chelsea,, Sub District of Chelsea, Middx, by J.A. Adams, father, on 7th January 1846.

Civil Registration of Births reference is Mar 1846, Vol 3, p 39 - in Chelsea, Middlesex¹⁶

He died in 1925 at 40 Grant Road in Battersea, London.²¹⁴ Civil Registration of Death reference is Jun 1925, Vol 1d, p 360. Aged 79. - in Battersea, London.¹⁶

In the 1851 Census  he was living with his parents in Chelsea.  In 1854 his mother died and he and his brother Julius are with their father in the 1861 Census.

See 1851 and 1861 Census returns

We believe that we have found Thomas Adams in the 1871 Census living in Aylesbury.

See 1871 Census

Lily Bond (grand-daughter) said that Ellen Rosina Rowe was Thomas Adams' second wife., and we have now proved this to be so. However, we have not been able to find this first marriage of Thomas Adams.

The first record we have found of Thomas and Ellen Rosina Rowe's relationship is at the baptism of their first son Thomas James (always referred to as James Adams) in 1873 (see below).  At this time Ellen Rosina was 17 years old and they were not married.   They did not marry for another 20 years, in 1893. 

The Marriage register at St Saviour, Southwark ⁴² states:

Thomas Adams, aged 46, Bricklayer, Widower of 116 BroadWall, Southwark, and
Ellen Rosina Rowe, aged 37, Spinster of 122 Broadwall, Southwark,
were married on the 4th December 1893. Both signed the register.

The fathers were James Andrew Adams, Bricklayer (Deceased) and Samuel Rowe, Coach Maker (deceased).

Witnesses were James Meeke (official) who signed and Charles Fielder (who signed with an 'X').

It would seem that the first wife of Thomas probably died just prior to the above marriage, thus freeing him up to marry Ellen Rosina Rowe.

It seems strange that they were said to have different addresses when they married.  The 1891Census shows that two families of bricklayers were living at 122 Broadwall, and at 116 was a widow . Between the two houses was Mary Rowe, a widow dressmaker.  It is uncertain who was living at these addresses 3 years later when the marriage took place. But there is a possibility that our couple knew the occupants and used their addresses for convenience and propriety. 

Young James seems to have been deposited onto Ellen Rosina's parents (Samuel James and Ellen Rowe). He appears with them as an 8 year old 'adopted son' in the 1881 Census.  Lily Bond (grand-daughter) reported that James Adams was a half brother to the other Adams children.  Strictly that was not the case, but having been brought up by the grand-parents, it might have appeared that he was not part of Thomas and Ellen Rosina Adams family in later life.

See the 1881 Census for young James Adams

Whilst son James was with her parents, we have been told ²¹⁴ that Thomas and Rosina Adams were travelling through England and Scotland for Thomas to find work as a bricklayer during the late 1870s and early 1880s.  Their son, Samuel, was born in Sunderland, which seems to bear this out story.  

We have been unable to locate them in the 1881 Census, but this may be a result of them being on the move.  However, by 1891 they have settled in Battersea and appear together in the 1891 and 1901 Census returns.^14,15   Even then, they were constantly on the move.  Nearly every child was born at a different address.

See 1891 and 1901Census

In the Register of Electors in Battersea, Polling District 4, in 1901 is:

Thomas Adams of 11 Orville Road, Battersea.

This is the same address as in the 1901 Census.  However, in the 1903 Register of Electors for Battersea he is at 48 Latchmere Grove.  It is from this address that his daughter Annie married in 1906. 

The Register of Electors in 1911 shows that he was still resident at 48 Latchmere Grove, together with his daughter Annie and his  son-in-law, Joseph Frederick Bond and family. Thomas Adams jr. rented a room in the top of the house from his father. This suggests that Thomas Adams snr. was the main tenant of the house.

It is said that Thomas Adams was a Master bricklayer, and has his name on a plaque at Salesian College in Battersea High Street, but we have not proved that this is so.

See Photo of Thomas Adams and Ellen Rosina (Rowe) Adams

Ellen Rosina Rowe was born in 1856 and was therefore 10 years younger than her husband.

See details of Ellen Rosina Rowe, her siblings and ancestors.

See family tree for the descendants of Thomas Adams and Ellen Rosina Rowe

Thomas Adams and Ellen Rosina Rowe had the following children:

i.	James (really Thomas James) Adams
ii.	Samuel Adams
iii.	Rose Adams was born in 1883 in Rotherham, Yorkshire.16 Civil Registration of Births reference is - in Rotherham, Yorkshire16 Civil Registration of Death reference is - in Rotherham, Yorkshire.16 She died in 1883 in Rotherham, Yorkshire.16
iv.	Lily Adams was born in 1883 in Rotherham, Yorkshire.16 Civil Registration of Births reference is -16 Civil Registration of Death reference is - in Rotherham, Yorkshire.16 She died in 1883 in Rotherham, Yorkshire.16
v.	Henry Thomas Adams
vi.	Annie Adams
vii.	Thomas Adams was born on 18 January 1888 at 106, Winstanley Road in St Peter, Battersea, London.16,259 He  The Baptism Register of St Peter, Battersea 259 states: Thomas, son of Thomas and Ellen Rosina Adams, Bricklayer, of 106 Winstanley Road was born on the 18/1/1888 and baptised on 13/5/1888 Civil Registration of Births reference is Mar 1888, Vol 1d, p 682. - in Wandsworth, London16 The 1911 Poll book for Battersea shows that Thomas Adams jr. rented a room in the top of the house from his father. Thomas Adams was killed in action on 9 August 1915 in France, Damascus and Cairo.170 Transcripts of soldiers who died in WWI states: Thomas Adams, of Battersea, enlisted at Battersea, was a rifleman in the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) - 9 Battalion, No S5309, was killed in action on the 9th August 1915. Based in Aldershot. From the Commonwealth War Graves Commision: ADAMS, THOMAS Rifleman Number S/5309, Rifle Brigade, 9th Bn. died 09/08/1915 aged 27 Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 46 - 48 and 50 on the YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL Son of Thomas and Rosina Adams, of 40, Grant Rd., Battersea, London.
vii.	Rosina Adams was born on 25 March 1890 in Battersea, London.16 She was baptized on 25 March 1890 40 The Baptism Register at Christchurch, Battersea has the following entry: Rosina Adams, born 25th March 1890, daughter of Thomas and Ellen Rosina Adams, Bricklayer, of 18 Benfield Street, was baptised on 11th May 1890. Civil Registration of Births reference is Jun 1890, Vol 1d, p 625 - in Wandsworth, London16 Unfortunately, she died a few years later. Civil Registration of Death reference is Jun 1892, Vol 1d, p 354. Aged 2. - in Wandsworth, London.16
viii.	Albert Adams was born on 15 January 1892 in Battersea, London.40 He was baptized on 12 April 1892.40 The Baptism Register at St Mary, Battersea has the following entry: Albert Adams, born 15th January 1892, son of Thomas and Rosina Adams, Bricklayer, of 5 Lithgow Street, was baptised on 12th April 1892 at St Mary, Battersea.
ix.	Julius Adams