Thomas Albert BLACKMORE

  General Notes:

Births Jun 1862 Kensington 1a 141 Thomas Albert Blackmore

16 March 1862 at The Meadows, Sands End, Fulham. Thomas Albert, Boy, William Blackmore, Ann Blackmore formerly Muxworthy, Railway Labourer. Registered by Ann Blackmore, mther of same address on 23 April 1862.

1st Marriage Jun 1886 Barnstaple 5b 808
Blackmore Thomas Albert
HEDDEN Matilda Gertrude
NEWCOMBE William
Webb Ellen Emma

Marriage Certificate
June 12 1886 at Holy Trinity parish church, Barnstaple
Thomas Albert Blackmore, 24, Bachelor, Joiner, Dymond Street. father William Blackmore, Gentleman
Matilda Gertrude Hedden, 25, Spinster, - , Dymond Street. father - none
Witnesses were William Henry Pooley and Lucy Grace Blackmore (sister)

2nd Marriage Mar 1896 Barnstaple 5b 718
Blackmore Thomas Albert
Britton William Henry
GARNISH Martha
West Mabel Rose

Marriage Certificate
17 March 1896 at The Methodist Chapel, Barnstaple
Thomas Albert Blackmore, 32, Widower, Carpenter, 10 Gloucester Road Newport Barnstaple. Father William Blackmore, retired Engineer
Martha Garnish, 34, Spinster, - , Sherwill. Father George Garnish, Tailor.
Witnesses were William Lavercombe (husband of Mary Ann Garnish, sister) and Emily Huxtable (Martha's sister)

North Devon Journal 12 Mar 1896
Blackmore-Garnish. - March 7, at the Wesleyan Chapel, Barnstaple, by tbe Rev. J. G. Warrington Thomas A. Blackmore, of Barnstaple, to Martha (Mattie), youngest daughter of George Garnish of Shirwell

Death Mar 1929 Barnstaple 5b 721 Blackmore Thomas A age 67
Died 3 January 1929 at 96 Pilton Street, Pilton East, Barnstaple, Devon
Thomas Albert Blackmore, Male, 67, Carpenter and Undertaker (Master). Informant was the Coroner on 7 January following an inquest on 4 January. Verdict was that he Hanged himself.
An article in the North Devon Journal 10 Jan 1929 gives a report of the inquest. It states that he was a well known and respected master carpenter and undertaker. In it his wife, Martha, said that her husband had been worrying himself considerably about his business falling off. There was a lot made about an empty whisky bottle found in the workshop and whether he had been drinking heavily.

Exeter & Plymouth Gazette 4 January 1929
Barnstaple Tragedy
A tragic discovery was made yesterday afternoon by the wife of Mr Thomas Blackmore, of Pilton Street Barnstaple, who found her husband hanging from a rafter in his carpenter's workshop. She sent for assistance and Mr F Mitchell, who lives at Pilton Post-Office, was quickly on the scene and cut the body down. Dr G K W Sanders was also summoned, and arrived promptly, but could only pronounce life extinct. An inquest is to be held.

Probate 1929
Blackmore Thomas Albert of 96 Pilton Street Barnstaple Devonshire died 4 January 1929. Administration (limited) Exeter 8 June to Edith Jane Smith (wife of William Burgess Smith). Effects £462 6s
Edith Jane Smith is Eliza Jane (nee Garnish) - his wife's sister

Details of Administration
Admon
Be it known that Thomas Albert Blackmore of 96 Pilton Street Barnstaple in the County of Devon … died there on the 4^th day of January 1929 intestate…
That Martha Blackmore the lawful Widow and Relict and the only person entitled to his estate is now a person of unsound mind…..
Letters of Administration were granted at the District Probate Registry at Exeter to
Eliza Jane Smith (wife of William Burgess Smith) of 11 St Brannocks Road Ilfracombe in the said County the lawful sister and one of the nearest of kin of the said Martha Blackmore for the use and benefit of the said Martha Blackmore during her Lunacy
Dated the 8^th day of June 1929
Gross value of Estate £462:6:0
Net value of Personal Estate £ nil
Extracted by Harding Son and Rootham Solicitors, Barnstaple

It appears from this that both of Thomas Albert's children were dead. Else it is likely that Administration would have been applied for by his daughter. Instead it was his wife's sister. When his wife died 6 months later, she only left £192, so where did £300 disappear in such a small amount of time?

1871 census
RG10/057 F13 P18 (cont'd on F14 P19)
St Peters Wharf Cottage, Hammersmith
Ann Blackmore, Head, Wife, 39, Labourer Wife, Devonshire Barnstaple
William do, Son, , 16, Errand Boy, Devonshire Barnstaple
Samuel Blackmore, Son, , 11, Scholar, Norfolk Wortwell
Thomas do, Son, , 9, Scholar, Middx Fulham
Lucy do, Daur, , 6, Scholar, Devonshire Barnstaple
Ellen do, Daur, , 3, , Middx Hammersmith

1881 census
Dwelling:Bickington Rd
Census Place:Fremington, Devon, England
Source:FHL Film 1341542 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 2251 Folio 79 Page 5
MarrAgeSexBirthplace
Frank CODDM62 MPlymouth, Devon, England
Rel:Head
Occ:Tanner
Grace E. CODDM51 FBps Tawton, Devon, England
Rel:Wife
Occ:Shop Keeper Grocer
Thos. BLACKMOREU19 MLondon, Middlesex, England
Rel:Boarder
Occ:Joiner

1891 census
18 Victoria Street, Barnstaple
RG12/1774 F107 P6
Thomas Blackmore, Head, M, 28, Carpenter & Joiner, London Fulham
Matilda do, Wife, M, 29, , Devon Barnstaple
Thomas do, Son, , 4, , Devon Barnstaple
Bessie do, Daur, , 8mo, , Devon Barnstaple
Hannah Hedden, Boarder, Wid, 58, Laundress, Devon Bishops Tawton (actually mother in law)

1901 census
RG13/2150 F45 P5
96 Pilton Street, Pilton East, Devon
Thomas A Blackmore, Head, M, 38, Carpenter & Undertaker, London Fulham
Martha do, Wife, M, 40, , Devon Sherwill
Thomas A do, Son, S, 14, , Devon Barnstaple
daughter Bessie is with Grandmother (Hannah Hedden) and aunt (Bessie Hodgson)
---------
95 Pilton Street
Philip Aze, Head, M, 28, Glover, Devon Pilton
Beatrice M Aze, Wife, M, 26, , Devon Barnstaple
Alfred Facy, Boarder, S, 31, Labourer (floor factory), Devon Sherwill
---------
same page
Ann Blackmore, Head, Wid, 42, Grocer Shop Keeper, Berks Reading
Ethel do, Daur, S, 18, Dressmaker, Devon Barnstaple
Leo do, Son, S, 6, , Devon Barnstaple
Robert do, Son, , 4, , Devon Barnstaple

1911 census
RG14PN13375 RG78PN775 RD284 SD4 ED25 SN97
96 Pilton Street, Barnstaple, Devon
Thomas Blackmore, Head, Married, 47, Carpenter and Undertaker, London Fulham
Martha Blackmore, Wife, Married 15 years, , Devon Shirwell

1920 - living in Barnstaple according to newspaper report of his father's funeral. See the will of William Blackmore as to why Thomas got nothing from his father.

Kelly's Directory 1914
P851 Devonshire Private Residents (P54 in bottom right hand corner)
Blackmore William, 15 Westbourne grove, Ilfracombe
Blackmore William Henry, 79 St Brannock's Road, Ilfracombe
P975 Devonshire Traces - Carpenters & Joiners
Blackmore Thomas A. 96 Pilton st Pilton Barnstaple

Report of inquest in North Devon Journal on Thursday 10th January 1929
BARNSTAPLE - Barnstaple Suicide. Master Carpenter Found Hanging. - It was a great shock to a large number of townspeople of Barnstaple to learn on Thursday that MR T. A. BLACKMORE had been found hanging dead in his workshop at the back of his residence, 96 Pilton-street, Barnstaple. - A well-known and respected master carpenter and undertaker, MR THOMAS ALBERT BLACKMORE was 67 years of age, and leaves a widow, MRS MARTHA BLACKMORE, to mourn her loss. - The Inquest. - The Inquest was held at his residence before the Borough Coroner, Mr T. A. R. Bencraft, on Friday. - The widow, MRS MARTHA BLACKMORE, said for some time her husband had been worrying himself considerably about his business falling off. She knew he had been worrying about something because he had been sleepless lately. - The Coroner: He has been drinking rather heavily hasn't he? - I don't know that he has. I have never seen him taking anything. If he has it has been behind my back. - Do you fancy it has been done behind your back? - I don't know. - You know that a nearly emptied whisky bottle was found close to him? - No, I did not know it. They (the Police) told me nothing about it. - What time on the date in question did you last see him alive? - I should think it would be about eleven o'clock. - Where was he going then? - He came and brought in my "Sunday Circle" and that was the last time he spoke to me. He put it on the table and said:- "I have brought your "Sunday Circle." He then went straight up to the shop and I said "you'll be here now won't you," and he said "yes." - You have your dinner early as a rule? - Yes at 12 o'clock. What time did you call him to come into dinner? - About quarter to twelve. - There was no answer from the shop was there? - No - and I had my dinner and went out about half-past twelve. I asked a neighbour if she had seen him and she said he was gone upward to the shop. I went up to the shop and there he was hanging. - In your opinion he was dead? - I believe he was he looked like it. I sent a message to Mr Mitchell at the Post Office and he came across. - Fred Mitchell, ex-P.C. at Torquay, and now of Pilton Post Office, said he received a request from Mrs Symons at 12.45 p.m., and on going to the workshop he found MR BLACKMORE hanging by the neck by a piece of wire, which he took to be electric light cable (produced). He appeared quite dead, and with the assistance of Mrs Symons, he untied the wire from the rafter. The body was still quite warm and he applied artificial respiration. There was a bottle on the bench labelled "Scotch Whiskey," and a wine glass and jug of water. There was a small drop in the glass and it appeared to be neat. At the end of the bench were a number of bottles (six), all smelling of whisky. He should imagine the deceased sat on the bench first and tied the piece of wire around the rafter and put the noose around his neck and slipped off the bench. His toes were touching the sawdust on the floor, but the whole of his weight was on his neck. - The Coroner: It has been alleged deceased was drinking heavily. Do you know? - I have no knowledge as to that. He was a customer of mine, but I never suspected that sort of thing. - Detective-Constable Wilshire corroborated the last witness, adding that immediately below the position of the cable was a wet portion of sawdust, which was also spilt whisky. - Dr K. G. W. Saunders said he arrived at about 1.15 p.m., and deceased was quite dead, having been dead about an hour. There was a mark around the neck as of tight ligature. There was no sign of violence on the body. Death was caused by asphyxia by hanging. The deceased's breath and mouth smelt of alcohol. He should say that having regard to sleeplessness and lack of work his condition of mind amounted to unsoundness. - The Coroner returned a verdict of Suicide whilst of Unsound Mind.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Probate, 8 Jun 1929, Exeter, Devon, England.

Thomas married Matilda Gertrude HEDDEN, daughter of Unknown and Hannah HEDDEN, on 12 Jun 1886 in Barnstaple, Devon, England.¹ (Matilda Gertrude HEDDEN was born on 28 Nov 1860 in Pilton, Barnstaple, Devon, England ⁵, baptised on 31 Mar 1861 in Pilton, Barnstaple, Devon, England, died on 21 Apr 1894 in Barnstaple, Devon, England ⁶ and was buried on 26 Apr 1894 in Barnstaple, Devon, England.)

Thomas next married Martha "Mattie" GARNISH, daughter of George GARNISH and Eliza KIDWELL, on 7 Mar 1896 in Barnstaple, Devon, England.² (Martha "Mattie" GARNISH was born on 3 Dec 1860 in Shirwell, Devon, England ⁷ and died on 4 Jul 1929 in Exminster, Devon, England ^{8 9}.)