I have just found a probate notice for Thomas Lock who was a leading hand of labourers, who died at Chatham Dockyard 16th Jan 1885. His home address was 49 Priestdale, Ordinance Place, and his widow was Elizabeth Ann He may be the Thomas Lock that I am looking for. There are a few of them about. My potential Thomas, unless I have mixed up more than one, was born around 1809 in Woolwich. He may have had a wife Ruth, who only appears in 1861, and he was in the dockyard then and in 1871, but then nothing afterwards It sounds as though it might have been a death of note, but I haven't found a mention of it in the papers. Can anyone find anymore about him, to see how many Thomases I have?
This seems to be : Thomas Lock 23 sep late of 49 Priestdale ordnance place chatham leading hand of dock workers at Chatham dockyard principal.reg. to Elizabeth Anne lock widow of 1885 -perhaps of Sunbury- no age given & Free BMD doesn' have a match. Another one was: Thomas Lock 48 Charles st Portland town M'sex widower d 49 Mar 1879 at Charles st. -Principal registry to John Lock son & one of n-o-kin
Regarding the second Thomas above, a John Lock comes up as a shipwright at Chatham docks. Probably a popular name in that area.
I've had a good rummage through the papers and can find nothing regarding the death of a Thomas Lock(e) at Chatham Dockyard in January 1885. I suspect he may have died there but possibly not under circumstances which would appear in a newspaper. The death appears in the GRO index - March Qtr. 1885 under Thomas Locke - aged 43 - Medway 2a 386
It was indeed the first probate mentioned. Thanks for looking in the papers. I can't find any more records for Thomas and Elizabeth Ann in Chatham either. Edit: Ah just saw the age at death, maybe not him after all
