Thomas Blayney, tailor of London link
including a New Zealand branch
Thomas Blayney who died 1819 and descendants
The oral tradition is that this branch of Greater London Blayneys descended from Irish Blayneys, moving after an inter-family religious feud. Recent research has placed this story in doubt, at least as it applies to our Thomas Blayney line. Our Blayneys certainly became non-conformists while some appeared to be agnostic (or non-religious).
We have, with the help of a number of others, particularly Terry Muff [804], Kevin McKenzie [145], and more recently Sarah Callen [1326] been able to establish a relatively clear line of descent all the way from the first Blayney (Evan of Tregynon, Wales) to our Thomas.
See the ancestry of Thomas Blayney born 1768/9 - 1819
Here is a mix of information received from Terry Muff [804], Kevin McKenzie [145] and Sarah Callen [1326] descended from Thomas Blayney (1827-1913), Ian Blayney [127], descended from Frederick Blayney (1840/1-?1894/5), Bob Bowles [143], descended from Harriet Blayney (1824-1897), Michael (& Juliet) Blayney [148], descended from Benjamin Blayney (1829-1897), Jane Gibson [149], descended from Francis Blayney (1839-1903) and my family, descended from Alexander Blayney (1843-1924). Other information comes from some secure Internet info, as well as information obtained from memories and histories of living New Zealand Blayneys (some now deceased). Terry's list of Thomas & Rebecca Blayney's children has nine matches with my list [shown in bold], including the correct birth year for my g-grandfather Alexander, so I am more than confident Terry is my 3rd Cousin once removed. Names of children of Thomas & Rebecca confirmed by census or BDM records are underlined
Research by Terry Muff [804] linked to that from Robert (Bob) Blayney and Kevin Mckenzie has identified the link back to Montgomeryshire which you can see in my Link page.
1 Thomas BLAYNEY b.1768/9 (Shoreditch); d.1819 (London) One oral tradition had him as the son of a shoemaker, and the evidence uncovered by T Muff had the parents of Thomas as Richard and Mary BLAYNEY of London]. However in order to fit with Thomas being 50 when he died in 1819, Kevin McKenzie now thinks it is more than likely that a generation was missed and his father was one Thomas BLAYNEY, b.14Aug1754, the son of said Richard [145]. Thomas (d.1819) learned his trade working for his cousin Richard, (son of Rev Blayney) and James Smith (Haberdasher) at 156 Cheapside [854]. He subsequently worked as a tailor at No 2 St Agnes (Well) Circus, Old St Road, Finsbury 1808 to 1816, [see the Blayney London]. Variously named Mr, Thomas or Thos Blayney, Blany or Blaney. Probably have learnt his trade at the haberdashery shop at 156 Cheapside from James Smith. Thomas died 1819; bur.4Jul1819 (Bethnal Green) [Non-Conformist Record Index RG4-8] [1263] The death at age 50 in 1819 is inconsistent with him being the Thomas who married Mary Holmes, previously presumed to be his first wife but now possibly this Mary married his father or was not directly related - see Thomas & Mary BLAYNEY m.1780 + Priscilla Charlotte SARGEANT b.2Mar1775; bpt.29Mar1775 (St Luke, Old Street) m.4Aug1795 St Luke Old Street, Finsbury. [d/o William SARGEANT (1735-1816) and Susanna WISDOM (1735-1806); d.Mar1841 in Bethnal Green.] Two children identified, Thomas & Elizabeth, and probably a third (Arthur) is likely [145]. More recently three more children of Priscilla have been identified by researcher Sarah Callen [1326], namely Ephraim, Isaac and Jonah. It would appear that Thomas wasn't particularly reliable in registering these births. 2 Thomas BLAYNEY b.1796 See Thomas below. 2 Joseph BLAYNEY b.1803 (1798 or 1806); d.13Sep1846 (London Hosp) ("Dropsy" [probable Congestive Heart Failure]) Age in 1841 Census given as 35, implying a DOB Age at death given as 48 implying a DOB of 1798 Fishmonger; Man Servant. 2 Elizabeth BLAYNEY b.7Sep1805, bap.31Aug1830 (St Leonards, Shoreditch) [1263]; d.1858 + Joseph WRIGHT m.1829 (St Luke Old St) See the Elizabeth BLAYNEY family and 2 Arthur BLAYNEY b.1812 (St Lukes); grocer/milkman/dairyman/watercress grower d.3May1884 (Holloway Prison, Middlesex) aged 72 [130] (paralysis)
Terraced houses of same
style of Ashford St Hackney
Victorian Cheapside, becoming
Poultry (Bucklersbury to right) by
T H Shepherd, engraver W Wallis
Linendraper 1818
Willcox & Gibbs sowing machine
In 1871 Willcox & Gibbs were
based at 150 Cheapside (3 doors
away from where the Blayney
firm had been). They may have
made tailers redundant.+ Elizabeth HANSON b.1818 (Shoreditch); m.02Oct1838 (Bethnal Green) [130] [1396] Admitted to Hoxton House asylum 1872 then Essex Lunatic Asylum 1876 (13yr); d.16Oct1889 (Essex Lunatic Asylum); (exhaustion from melancholia) [dau. of John HANSON]
Wrongly accused of keeping a pig in a place which endangered health (not his pig). He was late to the hearing on 28 April because of difficulty walking, was found guilty in his absence and sentenced to a month's hard labour as he couldn't pay the £4 fine. He was excused from the hard labour by the prison surgeon because of his condition but died on 3 May. [1326] 3
Bill Blayney
Bill's wifeWilliam (Bill) Cornelius BLAYNEY b.Q3 1839 (Bethnal Green) [or 1834]; chr.1840 d.1895 (Hackney) [130] [1396] Occ. Warehouseman then Green Grocer. [Previously William was thought to be a son of Thomas and Rebecca but while he appeared to be treated like a son (as demonstrated by photos held by Alexander's son Thomas, my grandfather), he was in fact the son of Arthur, not Thomas [1267]]. + Mary Ann TINSON
Walter Hanson BLAYNEY, Settler was fined 5s (7s costs) for leaving his cart unattended (Beach Road, 1900)! He sold land in Avondale 1911 [499] d.unm.11Jun1914 (Edendale Auckland) [122] [142] [865] Probate 20Jul1914 [1502] His Death Duties came to £1,248 in 1915 [1250]. Bur. Waikumete Cemetery 3 Joseph BLAYNEY b.Q1 1847 (Bethnal Green) [130]; Milkman in 1861; Builder in 1881; Confectioner in 1891 and Bricklayer in 1901; d.Sep1914; bur.10Sep1914 +(1) Caroline FOLEY b.~1850; m.13Jan1873 (St Mark, Myddleton Square); d.1875; bur.20May1875 (Leyton, Essex) +(2) Eliza BRAZIER née GILL b.Q1 1845 (Kensington); m.22Jun1878 (St Peters, West Hackney) [widow of William BRAZIER, dau. of John GILL, bootmaker] 4 Eliza BLAYNEY b.Q2 1872 (Shoreditch) 3 Sarah Ann BLAYNEY b.Q3 1849 (Poplar) [130] [1396] +(1) William Frederick SMITH m.3Feb1880 (Bethnal Green); d≤ 1886 [son of Henry Smith (Tailor)] +(2) Benjamin COTTON m.18Apr1886 (Bethnal Green) [son of Benjamin Cotton (Shoemaker)] 3 Emma BLAYNEY b.Q4 1851 (Bethnal Green) [130] [1396] 3 Mary Ann BLAYNEY b.Q3 1853 (Bethnal Green) [130] Described as "formerly of Ilford, Essex then Suffolk" when made sole heir of her brother Walter Hanson BLAYNEY 1502] + William DAVIES b.1851 (Poplar); m.28Feb1878 (Bethnal Green); d.<1911 (when the Census had Mary Ann Davis as a widow) 4 Mary Ann Maria DAVIES b.23Nov1878; Reg. 4Jan1879 (Hackney) 3 Jonah BLAYNEY b.Q2 1857 (Bethnal Green) [130]; d.Aug1863, bur.4Aug1863 (City of London & Tower Hamlets Cemetery) [6y3m] 2 ?Ebeneza ?Blayney (a soldier) 2 Ephraim BLAYNEY d.21Nov1844 (Shoreditch Workhouse) 2 Isaac BLAYNEY b.~1815; d.1855 (Bethnal Green Union House); bur 9Mar1855 [?37 in 1851 Census; 39 at death]; Occ.: Tailor 2 Jonah BLAYNEY [mistranscribed as Blaquey] b.1857 (Bethnal Green) [130]; d.1876 + Mary Ann Tracy LAWRENCE née SUTHALL b.1813 (Worchestershire); m.1Jul1843 [Previously married to Thomas Bascum LAWRENCE Q3.1843 (Shoreditch) or 15May1839 (Old Church, St Pancras). Thomas d.Nov1839] 3 Douglas BLAYNEY b. Q2 1844; d.Apr1844; bur.16Apr1844 (St Matthew's Bethnal Green). 3 Richard Jonah BLAYNEY b.Q1 1845 [11 children] + Eliza Gilbert m.9Aug1867, (St Matthew's, Bethnal Green); d.20May1921. 4 Eliza BLAYNEY b.Q2 1868 (Bethnal Green) + Alf G ROSE b.1864 [1 child] also... 4 George BLAYNEY (b.~1870); 4 Selina Elizabeth BLAYNEY (b.Q1 1872, bap 4Feb1872 (St James the Great), Bethnal Green; 4 Charles BLAYNEY (b.Q3 1874); 4 Walter Richard BLAYNEY (b.Q4 1876); 4 Emma Mary BLAYNEY (b.Q3 1878); 4 William James BLAYNEY (b.Q4 1880; bap 10Nov1889 (St James the Less, Bethnal Green; 4 Joseph (Herbert) BLAYNEY b.Q2 1883 (Bethnal Green); 4 Henry Alfred BLAYNEY (b.Q4 1885); 4 Rose Matilda BLAYNEY (b.Q1 1888); 4 Daisy Nelly/Nellie BLAYNEY (b.Q4 1889, bap 10Nov1889, St James the Less, Bethnal Green; 3 George Henry BLAYNEY b.Q2 1847; d.Mar1850, bur.14Mar1847 (St Mary's Haggerston) 3 Charles Joseph BLAYNEY b.Q1 1849; d.Feb1880, bur.19Feb (Newham, London)FF 2 Thomas BLAYNEY b.1797 (Finsbury) (or 1796 or 1798) ?chr.10Nov1797 St Matthew Bethnal Green [152] Occ. Journeyman Tailor. d.Sep1854 (Hackney Wick) of Cholera. It is possible Thomas fathered a child when he was about 17..... + ? 3 Arthur BLAYNEY b.~1813 Occ. Grocer, milkman, dairyman [I cannot place the origin of this story and Sarah Callen [1326] thinks it was probably a confusion with Arthur, the younger brother of Thomas.] + Rebecca LAMBERT (LAMBBERT) b.27Dec1804 [1511] Bethnal Green / Hackney, London, chr. 1804 Bethnal Green [152]; d.30June1889 (Watford) (Dementia and Decay) [Death Cert] [BDM], [130] [dau. of Francis LAMBERT (1759-1847) and Mary SMITH b.1770 [1511]] m.15Oct1823 (St Matthew, Bethnal Green) [127] [128]; Witness was Elizabeth, the sister of Thomas consistent with a pre 1823 death of Thomas Blayney b.1754. Living with son Henry Alexander Blayney at 1881 Census Staying with son Frederick at her death
Previously Walter was also thought to be a possible son of Thomas and Rebecca as he lived at the same address (Argyle Street Morningside, Auckland) as Alexander Henry BLAYNEY my great-grandfather). He was in fact the son of Arthur, confirmed by his Will making his sister Mary Ann DAVIES his sole heir [1502], making him Alex's cousin.
A description of conditions in Shoreditch and Bethnal Green, and a story about an apprentice tailor named Thomas is given on the Blayney London page.
The 1841 Ossulstone Census has Thomas listed as 40 (he was about 45) and Rebecca as 35 (she was 36), but the children generally match. They were more accurate in 1851 [See 1841 & 1851 Census returns here.]
Oral tradition is that there were up to 17 children! [142] and while I did 17 names from various sources, (having eliminated those belonging to Thomas b.1820) it turns out some were cousins, not siblings and others are without sufficient evidence, so I have appended them here.
There are only 11 in the 1841, 1851 or 1861 census lists [see here but researcher Sarah Callen [1326] has DNA evidence to confirm a 12th (Matilda). I have therefore listed those names with confirming evidence in large and bold as well as being underlined.]
Interestinly Mary Ann's two older and two younger brothers (the four oldest boys) all married a (separate) Mary Ann!
3 Harriet BLAYNEY
Harriet (oldest)
Harriet in sepiaThomas "married" four times (only two registered): +(1)Mary Ann HARRISS m.Sep1850 (Hackney) [130] +(2)EmilyEmily Martha GRIMWOOD, a dressmaker m~1864 +(3)Rosina m.1878/81. [804]) +(4)Sophia HARTMAN m.9Sep1888 (St Marks church, Bow) See the Thomas Blayney (1827-1913) family [Public Page] or See the Thomas Blayney (1827-1913) family [passworded page] NOTE: This is not the same person as the Thomas b.1820, who was born, married (to Margaret, not a Mary Ann) and died in Wales. 3 Benjamin BLAYNEY
Tom Blayney b.1827
Benjamin b.18293 Rebecca Jemima BLAYNEY b.1834 (1831)
Mary Ann Needham
Mary & Robert Needham
Frederick Blayney
Martha wife of Fred B
Alexander Blayney
Rebecca Blayney
Names excluded from the "17 siblings"
(children of Thomas and Rebecca)[1] The following are actually children of Thomas Blayney (1820-75), who has been confused by some with our Thomas Blayney. These ARE NOT candidates for the 17!
- Hayster BLAYNEY [No records]
- Edward BLANEY (em. to Cincinnati, USA); + Mary
[2] The following are uncles or cousins, not siblings so are also removed:
- Arthur BLAYNEY [See Arthur BLAYNEY] and his children...
- William Cornelius BLAYNEY [See William Cornelius BLAYNEY]
- Walter Hanson BLAYNEY [See Walter Hanson BLAYNEY]
[3] The following just have insufficient evidence, so are also removed:
- Breatrice (Beatie) BLAYNEY b.~1825 [although father fits [1516]]
- Elizabeth (Lizzie) BLAYNEY [?confusion with Bill's daughter, Elizabeth (Eliza)]
- Robena or Martha BLAYNEY [?confusion with Martha Barrett née Blayney]
- Nathan BLAYNEY [no records]
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