No. 15.
GENEALOGY OF THE THOMAS FAMILY.
The family of Sir George Thomas is certainly of Welsh extraction, and, by tradition, came from Glamorganshire, and still possess considerable property in Antigua. The first of the name in the island was
William Thomas, of Bristol, Esq., who afterwards emigrating to Antigua, became a member of the legislature of that island, and in such capacity signed the “Remonstrance,” drawn up in the case of Col. Philip Warner, in 1676. He married, at St. Augustine’s, Bristol, 2 Nov. 1665, Lydia Tomlinson, by whom he had issue two sons and two daus.—viz.,
i. William, son and heir, member of her majesty’s council in Antigua, died in or about 1717, leaving his nephew, George Thomas, his heir.
ii. George, (second son of William Thomas,) col. in the army, m. — Winthorpe, dau. of Samuel Winthorpe, of Antigua, Esq., and sister of the first wife of Edward Byam. Col. Thomas dying 13 May, 1707, left issue two sons and one dau.—viz.,
1. George, first Bart., of whom hereafter.
2. William, who m. — Yeamans, dau. of John Yeamans, of Mill Hill, Antigua, Esq., and dying, left issue,
William, who was killed in a duel, and left his estate to his sister.
Elizabeth, who m. Frances Farley, Esq., and dying s. p., left her estate to her husband.
3. Elizabeth, m. William Dunbar, of Dickenson’s Bay, Antigua, Esq.
iii. Lydia, who m. 1st, the Hon. Samuel Martin, and 2ndly, Governor Byam.
iv. Alice, m. to Dr. Daniel Mackinnon, of Antigua, the first settler of the name in that island.
Sir George Thomas, Bart., who inherited the estates of his uncle, the Hon. William Thomas, was appointed governor of the Leeward Islands, 25 Jan. 1752, and afterwards created a Baronet. He left issue, by his wife, Lydia, dau. of John King, Esq. of Antigua,
i. William, second Bart.
i. Lydia, who m. John White, Esq. of Chichester, M.P., and whose granddau., Frances, m. Gen. Crosbie.
ii. Margaret, m. to Arthur Freeman, Esq., by whom she had, among other issue, Inigo Freeman, of Ratten, near Eastbourne, Sussex, and who assumed the name of Thomas, m. 1st, Charlotte, dau. of Henry Peirce, Esq. of Bedale, co. York; and 2ndly, Frances, dau. of Viscount Middleton, and has issue by both marriages.
Sir George Thomas dying at Upper Brook-street, London, 31 Dec. 1774, was succeeded by his eldest son,
Sir William, who was living at Pickitt’s Hill, co. Hants, in 1745, high-sheriff for Sussex in 1767, m. Margaret, only dau. and heir of Walter Sydserfe, Esq. of Antigua, and Soho, London, and had issue,
i. Anne, m. in 1774, to Stephen Popham, Esq.
ii. Elisabeth, m. to Andrew Lyon, of Edinburgh, Esq.
iii. Maria, m. to General Popham.
iv. Margaret, m. to William Roe, Esq.
v. Lydia, m. to Alexander Adair, Esq.
Sir William died 16 Dec. 1779, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
Sir George, of Dale Park, co. Sussex, m. 1st, Jane-Louisa, dau. of Alexander Salis, Esq. of Andelheim, Alsace, Switzerland, by whom he had issue,
Sir George-William-Lewis, fourth Bart.
Sir George (third Bart.) m. 2ndly, Sophia, dau. of Admiral John Montague, who was living in 1843, s. p., and dying in 1816, was succeeded by his son,
Sir George-William-Lewis, present Bart., born about 1768, m. Elizabeth, dau. of Richard Welsh, Esq., by whom he has issue,
i. George, died in 1820.
ii. Montague. iii. William.
i. Helen. ii. Sophia.
iii. Louisa-Leonora, m. in 1841, to — Browne, Esq., 41st regt. at Weymouth.
iv. Elizabeth.