Thomas (Dergan) STIMPSON (1864-1943)

Events

Parents

Children

Life History

Thomas (Dergan) STIMPSON was born on 26^th September 1864 at Ody Hill, Sutton Wick Berks. He was the 4^th child of James STIMPSON and Ann (nee DENTON). He was still living at Ody Hill Sutton Wick when he was age 6 (1871 census) but it is likely that he moved house, with his parents, to Radley when he was aged about 9. When Thomas was aged 15,  his half brother William Denton married Urania Sly from Purton Wiltshire at St Helens church Abingdon on 18^th Oct 1879. By the time of the 1881 census, Thomas (age 16) was still living with his parents at Radley and working as an Agricultural Labourer. It is likely that he was working on the same farm as his father James, who had won several prizes in the annual Abingdon ploughing matches over the last 13 years.

Marriage.

    On Sunday 31^st Oct 1886, aged 22, Thomas married his bride Annie Maria KING at St Michael's Church Abingdon. Annie was the 4^th daughter of Thomas King from Ock Street Abingdon, and St Michael's in Park road would have been her local church.  Thomas & Annie then set up home in Barton Berks (Between Abingdon and Radley).

    On 14^th July 1889 it is likely that Thomas was convicted of stealing a Scythe Stick from the Ironmongers in Abingdon, resulting in a sentence of one month’s hard labour. (see JOJ press cutting below)

    In about 1889 Thomas and Annie, with their first baby William, moved to Culham. Here they gave birth to their 2^nd son Alfred Thomas STIMPSON on the 13^th Oct 1890, and 3^rd son George Henry STIMPSON on the 26^th Mar 1893. On the 1891 census the family are shown as living at House No 53 Culham (near  to the Lock House). Aged about 29 Thomas moved house, with his family, to Ock St, Abingdon. It is likely that father-in-law Thomas KING had recently died here. Shortly after the move, son George Henry STIMPSON died aged 2 (1895). (cause of death “Congestion of the brain”). Over the next 2 years they had 2 more children, Charles Eli STIMPSON (1895) and Annie Victoria STIMPSON (1897). The family then moved to Draycott (Southmoor) where daughter Beatrice May STIMPSON (1899) was born. By the time of the 1901 census, Thomas, his wife and 5 children, were living at Brittenden Standlake, where his occupation is listed as a “Carter on Farm”. On 17^th Apr 1901 they had their last child Victor Frederick STIMPSON. By 1911 the family are listed at Appleford.

    3^rd Apr 1915 sees the marriage of son Alfred Thomas STIMPSON to Edna Mary STIMPSON at Appleton church, and 1^st Feb 1917 son William G STIMPSON is killed in action in France WWI. In 1929 Thomas (aged 66) & Wife Annie move to Park Lane Appleton to be next door to their son Alfred & Edna. They rent the cottage from Tilly King (next door) for 7/6 per week. 10 years later (12-Jan-1939) sees the death and funeral of daughter Beatrice May aged 39 at Besselsleigh. On 31^st Oct 1936 Thomas & Annie celebrate their Golden wedding anniversary. In 1939 Thomas assisted his son Alfred and family in moving house from Park Lane to 83 Eaton Rd, Appleton. The furniture was moved on a horse and cart, and Grandson Gordon STIMPSON (age 7) and his friend Roderick EDGINGTON received a beating from Thomas for jumping on the cart and causing the horse to move off. Thomas died in 1943 aged 78 and was buried at Appleton church on 24^th Feb 1943. Two years later, in 1945, his wife Annie Maria (nee) KING also died. She too was buried at Appleton Church. Dergan appears to be the local nickname of Thomas. (Source: Gordon Stimpson grandson).

Hobbies. 

    Thomas kept a number of rabbits in hutches at the bottom of his garden at Park lane. He would carry a large bunch of keys attached to a large cotton reel, and most of the keys were for locks on the hutches. (memories WJS).

Thomas and Annie STIMPSON at Park Lane Appleton. circa.1940

Press Cutting (Nov 1936) of Thomas & Annie’s Golden Wedding. This suggests “of their 7 children, 3 sons and 2 daughters survive” by 1936. This would be Alfred, Charles, Victor, Annie & Beatrice. Son William was killed in WW1 and son George died at the age of two.

The above article relating to a stolen scythe stick is most likely this Thomas (Dergan) STIMPSON (b.1864). The article refers to him being “a young married man”. Thomas would be aged 25 and had been married for 2 1/2 years. Although FreeBMD lists 2 Thomas Stimpson births registered in Abingdon district between 1860 & 1869, the marriage index lists only one Thomas Stimpson married between 1879 & 1889 in Abingdon district. Therefore this Thomas would seem a likely candidate. The 1881 census also only suggests 2 Thomas Stimpson’s below the age of 30 in Berkshire. The other one being Thomas’s first cousin (son of John 1834) of Marcham who didn’t marry until 1895. 

Press cutting (Jan 1939) of death of daughter Beatrice. Among mourners were Mr and Mrs Thomas Stimpson (parents), Alfred (AT), Charles (CE) & Victor (VF) (brothers), Mary (M) & Edith (E) Stimpson (nieces).

Census transcripts

BMD Certificates

The information on these pages was compiled by Peter Stimpson from sources available at the time of research. If any errors or additional information is known then please drop me an e-mail.

Last updated Mar-2011