The second child of Michael England and Mary Bransfield
was:
Thomas England (bap 24.8.1823 – 22.10.1869)
Facts known
 |
| Thomas England [Photo from England family collection] |
Thomas was baptised on the 24-8-1823 and his sponsors were John Stanton and Ann Falvey/Hurley? [Again, the original written record is unclear.]
He was involved with the Young Ireland Movement and apparently could not bear British rule so left for America.
In September 1847 a Thomas England was present at the Formation of the Desmond Confederate Club. This meeting was concerned with: “The Restoration of Ireland’s Legislative Independence.” While Thomas England did not speak, Michael Joseph Barry, Thomas's cousin, did and was greeted with, “the loudest cheers.”[1] Subscription fees of 10 shillings for the new club were paid by Thomas.[2]
On the ninth of August 1848 Thomas wrote to his brother John.
The reason I did not write on receipt of your letter was as I was making preparations for America...From our former conversation you must be fully aware of my intention so I feel confident you were prepared for this news...M. J. Barry is in jail under the Habeas Corpus Act. I saw him on Monday.[3]
A Thomas England, aged 25, who came from Ireland, left Liverpool on the Susquehanna and arrived in Philadelphia on 17-10-1848. His occupation was given as tobacconist! [4] Thomas was born on the 24-8-1823 so he would have been 25 in 1848 and this was most likely him. Historically, he left Ireland at a momentous period in its history - The Great Famine.
In the 1850 USA census a Thomas England with a birth date about 1823 and a birthplace, Ireland, was living in Philadelphia at Pine Ward. He was there with twenty other people.
In 1851 he lived at 118 South 4th St, Philadelphia. This is known from the letters he sent home to Ireland.
Thomas left this city on March 9th 1852 for San Francisco on the ship the Asa Packer. While he had had a cabin on his trip with the Susquehanna, he was in steerage now as he hadn't done well financially in Philadelphia. For the whole of his life he was short of money for a variety of reasons, despite many seemingly good commissions. His descriptions of life on board the Asa Packer included scenes of drunkenness and confusion.[5]
He had become an architect in Philadelphia and later designed, with his partner, William Craine, the cathedral of St Mary of the Immaculate Conception, San Francisco, USA 1853-1854. He also designed St Mary’s College, San Francisco, a college occupied by the Christian Brothers, Grass Valley Cathedral, Stockton church, St Francis church, San Francisco and many other buildings in California. [6]
In 1860 The Cork Examiner commented on the church in Grass Valley.
The church of St Patrick is the most beautiful and harmonious structure in the State and a perfect specimen of Gothic Architecture. St Patrick’s church was designed and the work conducted by Thomas England and it is exceedingly creditable to him.[7]
According to the US City Directories, 1822-1995 and the San Francisco Business Directory Thomas England, Architect, had premises at 528 Clay, San Francisco from 1862-1865.
From 1867-1868 he had an architect's office at 622 Clay, San Francisco.
Thomas died of consumption aged forty six in San Francisco.
The Cork Examiner recorded that his death was on the 22-10-1869 in San Francisco. The following day, on the 23-10-1869, he was buried at Calvary cemetery, San Francisco. In 1930 his remains were removed to the Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, San Mateo County, California.
The Cork Examiner praised Thomas, “...who may justly be considered the pioneer of ecclesiastical architecture in California.”[8]
The San Francisco Monitor of the 30-10-1869 informed us that Thomas was,"unassuming in his manner, generous to a fault, gentle and considerate in his dealings with others, the soul of honour, and a warm and constant friend."
Whoever wrote this didn’t read the letters Thomas sent to his sister, Nora or his brother, John!
Historical context
Young Ireland was a political, cultural and social movement of the mid 19th century. Initially it had strong links to Daniel O’Connell’s Repeal Association and The Nation newspaper but split to form the Irish Confederation in 1847. In 1848 Young Ireland led an unsuccessful uprising and many of its leaders were transported to Tasmania. Some of the junior members went on to found the Irish Republican Brotherhood. [Thomas wrote about The Brotherhood in his letter to his younger brother John dated 9-10-1865. See the next post.]
Michael Joseph Barry was the second son of Anne England and Michael Barry. He is dealt with much more fully in ‘The Fourth Child.'
Habeas Corpus: A person who objects to his own or another’s detention or imprisonment can file for a writ of habeas corpus [Latin: You have the body.] The writ must show that the court made a legal or factual error in detaining or imprisoning the person concerned.
The Great Famine: In Ireland from 1845 to 1852 there was starvation, disease and emigration. For example, about one million people died and the same number emigrated. The immediate cause of the famine was potato blight but land acquisition, absentee landlords and the Corn Laws all played their part.
Footnotes
[1] Cork Examiner, 13-9-1847
[2] Limerick Reporter, 17-9-1847
[3] Many of these letters are in the possession of members of the England family.
[4] Pennsylvania Passenger and Crew Lists, 1800-1962.
[5] Extracts from the letters will be given in a separate chapter.
[6] San Francisco Monitor, 30-10-1869
[7] Cork Examiner, 23-1-1860
[8] Cork Examiner, 23-11-1869
Place name
Grass Valley: the largest city in the western region of Nevada County, California. Many of those who came to settle in Grass Valley were tin miners from Cornwall whose skills were ideal for mining gold.
Extracts of Letters from Thomas to his elder sister Honora and his younger brother John follow in the next post.
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