Thomas Wellden

184 Lower Street

Elora House, Queen Street

Occupation: Tailor & Draper

Thomas by 1841 had served his apprenticeship and had set up business at 184 Lower Street as a tailor. Vincent Cornwell, the father of Elizabeth, his then future wife, had his Shoemaker’s shop a few doors along at 174 Lower Street. They married in September 1849 and set up home at the tailor’s shop. At that time they had taken on a servant, Mary Cox, who accidentally set fire to her bedroom and was luckily saved by Thomas.
By 1854 Mary Cox had moved on and they then employed twelve-year-old Margaret Clark who, in November 1859 won a prize at the Nonington, Ash, Wingham, etc. Agricultural Association Show in the ‘non-agricultural class’ for remaining in service for seven years. She stayed with the family for at least another two years as she appeared with them on the 1861 census.

Albert Terrace

George Wellden, Thomas’ brother and his wife Mary Ann, who was sister to Elizabeth, both died in 1860.
They left three young children to be cared for, so Thomas and Elizabeth took in George, the youngest aged four and the two daughters Christiana and Mary Ann were boarded at a school in Albert Terrace, London Road. By 1871 Christiana was living with them and George was at school in Ramsgate. Mary Ann is now with the children’s other uncle, Edwin Cornwell.
The Deal Pavement Act of 1791 brought about the formation of the Commissioners of Pavements, a Trust to improve the town, they started the process of paving, lighting and generally improving the town for the benefit of the inhabitants. Annually commissioner vacancies were publicised, and nominees were chosen by election. In 1868 Thomas and his brother-in-law Edwin Cornwell were both elected as  Commissioners of Pavements.

In 1872 the way parliamentary and local elections were held was changed with the Secret Ballot Act so poll books were no longer used and Electoral Registers introduced.

Elora, 11 Queen Street

The register for that year shows Thomas was living in a newly built house named ‘Elora’ on Deal’s Queen Street. He was also still occupying and working at the tailors shop at 184 Lower Street, now Simmonds Jewellers.

On July 8, 1881, Elizabeth died at their home in Queen Street and was buried in Hamilton Road Cemetery. Thomas remarried, in Islington, a year later to widow Sarah Elizabeth Price. We are presuming that they met through mutual friends or through business associates. Sarah’s husband Ebenezer Price was in some sort of manufacturing when he died in 1880 leaving her £1,000.
After they married Thomas and Sarah returned to live in ‘Elora’ on Queen Street where they remained until their deaths.

184 Lower Street, now 60 High Street

From Thomas’ will we know that he owned the freehold of both ‘Elora’ and his shop on High Street.

‘Elora’ he left to Sarah for her lifetime, as well as an annuity of £250. He also made a bequest to Annie Cornwell, his first wife, Elizabeth’s, sister of £20 a year and once his brother’s children reached 21 years of age, they were all to receive money from a trust set up for them and his other nieces and nephews. His nephew George Wellden was to inherit the shop at 60 (once 184) High Street but if he chose to sell it the money was to be added to the trust. His niece, Christiana Wench, was to inherit ‘Elora’ on the death of Sarah at which time Thomas wanted Christiana to also have his plated inkstand and George a silver salver.

Sarah herself died in 1909 and probate tells us she left £1,373. 12s 4d which today is worth approximately £108,000.00. It seems, from probate, that she left most of this to her grandsons Sydney and Owen Price.
Thomas and Sarah are buried in Hamilton Road Cemetery in a plot with many of the Wellden family. Thomas is buried with his first wife Elizabeth and
Sarah is buried nearby.

Thomas’ memorial inscription reads –

 

Thomas Wellden
(for 68 years a member of the Baptist Church in this Town)
Who passed away 16th  May 1906 in his 87th year
“Until the day break and shadows flee away


Following her death in 1909 Christiana put ‘Elora’ up for sale and from the ‘Conditions and Particulars of Sale’ we get a good description of the property.
We don’t know, as yet, when the High Street property was sold but it was occupied in 1911 by solicitors clerk Arthur John McDiarmid. 

Sources and further reading:
Newspaper image © The British Library Board. All rights reserved.
With thanks to The British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)