Thomas Swales

Thomas was born the son of a shoemaker, and apprenticed and later worked as a tailor in his early years. This may have been how he met his wife to be, Sarah Ann Ward, who's father was a weaver by profession. Like many in North Yorkshire, both Thomas and his father were turned toward jobs relating to the mining industry, and in his later years in Yorkshire, Thomas worked as a weighman at the ironstone mines. The weighman's job was to check the weight of ore, and keep track of the ore produced by each miner. This suggests that Thomas had recieved a fairly good education, since this job would require a variety of skills in memory, reading, writing and mathematics. In 1881 and 1891, they lived at 20 Bolckow Street, North Skelton. The next street over was Vaughan St. Bolckow and Vaughan were the owner/developers of the N. Skelton Ironstone mine. Interestingly, after Thomas and family left for America, the person who moved into their house at 20 Bolckow Street was also the weighman. Perhaps this was the weighman's house, as most of the people on Bolckow and Vaughan appear to have been employees of the ironstone mine. On Tuesday, July 12, 1881, this article appeared in "The North-Eastern Daily Gazette": PRIMITIVE METHODISM IN CLEVELAND. --------- FOUNDATION-STONE LAYING AT NORTH SKELTON. On Monday afternoon the foundation-stone of a new Primitive Methodist Chapel was laid at North Skelton. The members of this demomination have, since they commenced religious work at North Skelton, been holding services in a cottage which has been kindly lent to them by Messrs Bolckow, Vaughn, and Co. The cottage, however, became too small, and hence the pleasant ceremony of Monday. The site of the chapel is on the Whitby road, and the structire when complete will seat about 250 people. The foundation-stone was to have been laid by Mr T. H. Richardson, of Middlesbrough, and a second stone by Mr W. Whitwell, of Saltburn, but owing to circumstances over which these gentlemen had no control they were unable to attend, consequently the business of laying the stone fell to the lot of the much - esteemed manager of the North Skelton mines, Mr George Robinson. After singing and prayer (the latter being offered by the Rev. Mr Shipley), the Rev. Mr Moore introduced Mr Robinson to the assemblage. -- Mr Robinson said: Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of Mr T. H. Richardson, of Middlesbrough, who is unable to attend, I have the pleasing duty of laying the foundation-stone of this chapel. Mr Richardson, however, although not present with us, has sent you a donation of £5, which I have much pleasure in handing to Mr T. Swales. You must not expect me to make a speech, for it is pretty well known that I am not a speech-maker. I am, however, glad to be present, and I hope that the building and the people who worship in it will be prosperous. I am always willing to do what I can to help the denomination, and I have great pleasure, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, in declaring the stone well and truly laid. (Applause.) -- Letters of apology were read from Messrs Richarson and Whitwell, each wishing the Society Godspeed. Memorial bricks were then laid by Mrs Nelson and Mrs Shepherdson, and my Messrs T. Catron, D. Swales, J. Hugill, and T. Watson, each of who laid a donation varying from £1 downwardson the bricks. £2 was also land on the sone by Mr T. Swales on hehalf of the Sunday School scholars. The building, which will be of galvanized iron laid on brick, will be constructed by messrs Sanderson and Son, of London, and will cost about £350, £130 of which has been already subscribed. A very excellent tea was provided in a tent belonging to the Society, and to which about 300 sat down. A public meeting was also held at night under the presidency of Mr G. Robinson, when addresses were delivered by the Revs. Messrs Shipley, Moorse, French, J. B. Raynor, and others. The day's proceedings were a great success. I have every reason to believe that the T. Swales, and the D. Swales mentioned above were our Thomas and his father Daniel, who were active Primitive Methodists, and lived in North Skelton, as noted above. In 1891 there is a nephew Daniel Swales Sanderson living with them. This nephew is the son of Thomas' half sister Hannah Elizabeth. He and his sister Mary came to the US with the Swales later that year. Thomas' father Daniel died in March of 1891, before the 1891 census. They moved to the US later that year, arriving at the port of New York on 22 May 1891, and before the end of the year, their teenage son Daniel (named for his grandfather) had also died. What an incredible year that must have been for them. On 1 Apr 1895, he was listed an an Official Leader of Peckville United Methodist Church, and as a Steward in 1898 and 1900. Thomas applied for naturalization 18 Oct 1894 (see pictures of Reel 13, file 2073), but it appears he was not naturalized until 1897. In the Peckville United Methodist Church records, regarding his death, there is the remark, "Triumphant Death". Obituary from Scranton Republican, Tuesday, 21 Dec 1915 (under the heading NEARBY TOWN NEWS for PECKVILLE) Thomas Swales, of Keystone Avenue, died at his home tonight, aged seventy years. He was born in England and came to this place twenty-five years ago. Besides his widow four children survive him. They are Mrs. Elizabeth Jayne, Mrs. Alice Hartman, William and Ernest Swales, all of this place. Obituary from Scranton Republican, Wednesday, 22 Dec 1915 THOMAS SWALES Thomas Swales, aged seventy years, for the past twenty-five years a prominent resident of Peckville, died Monday night at 8:30 o'clock at his home, 337 Keystone Ave. He was born in Duishborough (sic), Yorkshire, England. For the past eighteen years he had been employed as night watchman at the Grassy Island slope of the Delaware and Hudson company. The deceased was a member of the Improved Order of Red Men and of the Sons of St. George, of Olyphant; also of the Fifty-seven Varieties Bible class of the Peckville M. E. church. Furneral notice later. Funeral notice from Scranton Republican, Thursday, 23 Dec 1915 The funeral of Mrs. (sic) Thomas H. Swales, of Keystone avenue, Peckville, will be held from the family residence at 1:30 o'clock this afternoon. Rev. Palmer will officiate. Church services will be held at 2 o'clock at the Methodist church. Interment will be made in the Protestant cemetery. (note the grievous error in the funeral notice indicating the funeral was for Mrs. Swales, however the date confirms it was for Thomas).