Thomas Hanmer: Great Great Grandfather (1826-1900)
Not much is known about Thomas Hanmer's early years. The family tree records his birth date as 6 July 1826, but this is before records were collected centrally and to date no formal record of his birth has been found. We know his father was John Marsden Hanmer, a Surgeon living in Liverpool, as his name is recorded on Thomas's marriage certificate. His mother was Mary Quail, who married John Marsden in Lancashire in 1820; and he was one of 4 children, all born in Lancashire, possibly in Liverpool:
Twins Dorothy and Jane Elizabeth Hanmer, born in 1823.
Thomas Hanmer, born in 1825 (he may have been baptised in 1826?).
Jeremiah Hanmer, born in 1827.
Records suggest that Thomas's father died in 1828 when Thomas was only 2 or 3 years old, and that he might have been sent away to school in Derbyshire, but more research needs to be done on this to provide concrete evidence. The 1841 census certainly shows records of a pupil and boarder named Thomas Hanmer, aged 14, at Repton School in Derbyshire, which had been founded in 1557 by Sir John Port the Younger. Bagshaw's 1846 Trade Directory of Derbyshire contains the following information about Repton. "The school is a large stone building covered with flat tiles. The scholars on the foundation are reduced to 8 poor scholars who are appointed by the governors in rotation: 4 of which receive £40 per annum for their board and education; and the other 4 have £45 each for the same purpose. The Headmaster's salary is £360." The headmaster was the Rev Thomas Williamson Peile DD. At the time of the 1841 census he was 35 years old, married to Mary, 30, with 6 children. At the same date the school recorded 27 pupils, aged between 10 and 20.
The first firm evidence we have is of Thomas's marriage to Sarah Leach Williams on 15 September 1847 at Holy Trinity Church, Birkenhead, Cheshire. At that time Thomas's occupation was described as "Merchant". Sarah had been born on 10 September 1829 in Gloucester, and her parents were Benjamin and Elizabeth Williams. Benjamin was a hatter, Elizabeth a milliner, and at the time of the marriage Sarah was living in Birkenhead. The two witnesses were Jeremiah Hanmer (Thomas's brother?) and Catherine Williams (no info so far on who Catherine was but presumably she was related to Sarah)
Sarah and Thomas had 11 children born between 1848 and 1867, 9 of whom survived to adulthood. The remaining two died soon after they were born. .....more about Thomas and Sarah's children.
On 17 September 1888, when Thomas was about 62, Sarah died, aged 60, at the family home at 36 Carlton Road, Tranmere. The cause of death was given as chronic osteo-arthritis, from which she had been suffering for 9 months, and congestion of the lungs.
Less than 2 years later at the age of 65, on 2 July 1890, Thomas re-married. His second wife was Ann Nancye Jones, a woman some 18 years his junior (born 1843?). He died 10 years later aged 75, on 9 November 1900 at Glendale, Troutbeck in Ambleside. The cause of death was cited as softening of the brain. Present as his death was Mary Jones, his sister in law. (Where was his wife Ann?) Ann died on 28 February 1914, aged about 71.
The great bulk of Thomas's career was spent in employment at the Liverpool Sailors' Home
. It began in 1850 or 1851 when he took up work there as a Clerk, under the direction of James Boardman who headed the commercial and financial departments. In 1852, the notes of the Sailors' Home's Management Committee meeting of 20 October record that the Committee resolved that "Thomas Hanmer be recommended to the General Committee to be appointed accountant and cashier and to act as Secretary when possible at a salary of £100 per annum, he giving reasonable security." On 28 November 1860 the Management Committee resolved that Thomas be appointed General Manager of the Home "at an increase of salary of £50 per annum to commence on 1 January 1861, that he reside in the house and that a staircase be made to the room above". On 8 July 1863 it was resolved that "Mr Hanmer's salary be advanced £25"; and on 25 October 1865 it was resolved "that the Secretary's salary for 1865 be £300 being an advance of £25 per annum". He finally resigned, due to failing health, in 1896, aged 70, after 46 years' service. He only had 4 years of retirement, possibly spent in the Lake District, before he died in Ambleside in 1900. One hopes he was well enough to enjoy the celebrations that would have marked the turn of the century.Click here for census data about Thomas