John Thomas- Kendal Mayor 1916-1919

[GemMcMan]

Hi all,
i am trying to find information on John Thomas, he was the mayor of Kendal from 1916-1919 and his lady mayoress was his niece Grace Williams,

When John Thomas died he left all his wealth to Kendal to buy cottages/ Alms housing, and money to Kendal hospital to buy beds

I cant find anything through Google, any Help or Information would be useful!!
thankyou

gemma

[CaroleW]

Kendal is Westmorland - not Cumberland so I'll ask the moderator to move it

When and where was he born?

Who were his wife/children

When did he die

The 1911 index only has one entry for that name in Kendal - John H Thomas but he was only 22 which seems a bit young to become Mayor only 5yrs later

This link shows him as John John Thomas which seems strange

http://www.kendaltowncouncil.gov.uk/images/downloads/mayors%20of%20kendal%20since%201575.pdf

[CaroleW]

There is this possible 1901 entry

Hawthorn Villas Kendal

John J Thomas 39 unmarried b Caernarvon ? Llanwnda - mining engineer - slate quarries - employer

RG13 Piece 4913 Folio 131 Page 39

[arharris]

I am a great niece of John Thomas, born in Rhostryfan near Caernarvon.  His sister, Grace , was my grandmother and his niece, Grace Williams , was my mother. I have more information about his sister's family, which may be helpful and would be interested in additional information.
His sister Grace, married Owen Williams and they had 10 children, one died as a child. They lived in Llangefni, Anglesey.

[Jos, Whitehaven]

Kendal is Westmorland - not Cumberland so I'll ask the moderator to move it.

.

Carole,

You are correct about Kendal being in the county of Westmorland prior to 1974, when it became part of the new county of Cumbria.

As you also state, this thread would be better being moved to the Westmorland section. Those with specialist knowledge of the old county of Westmorland will be more likely to pick up the thread.

[arharris]

The family story is that John Thomas left North Wales as a teenager. His father was a slate quarryman and they lived  (a family of about in a small cottage in Rhostryfan. He presumably went to work in the slate quarries of Westmoreland and ended up owning a few. He never married apparently. I don't think my mother could have been his lady mayoress as she was only born in 1912. her mother, John's sister, was also Grace Williams when she married.

[Jos, Whitehaven]

As John Thomas was Mayor for 3 consecutive terms during WW1 there should be a lot of information in the 'Westmorland Gazette' from the time. I would guess the Mayor-making ceremony report in the newspaper would confirm which family member was his Mayoress.

Ideally, you could do with someone who is able to visit the Kendal Archives Office of Cumbria County Council to look this up for you. Your chances of this would be improved if this thread was moved by the Moderators to its correct county of the time (Westmorland).

If you have not already done so, perhaps you could also try a direct enquiry to Kendal Town Council and see if they have a photograph or other information about John Thomas. This is a link to their website:
http://www.kendaltowncouncil.gov.uk/content/view/21/37/

Good luck!

[arharris]

Thank you. I could always put a visit to Kendal on my to do list. Many thanks,

[clearly]

The Kendal Archive Centre of Cumbria Archive Service holds the following file:

WDY 576
Alderman J J Thomas
Photocopies and laser prints of newspaper cuttings and photographs relating to Alderman J J Thomas (1860-1940), former Mayor of Kendal, Freeman of the Borough, and managing director of Tilberthwaite Green Slate Co. Ltd. 1929-1940. 1 folder

Certainly worth a visit or a phone call I would think.