Thomas Barnett was the first child of Joseph
Barnett and Hannah Olivia Watts (nee Allingham), born in Remenham, Berkshire,
in 1834 and christened on September 22nd, 1834.
At the time of the 1841 & 1851 censuses, Thomas was living at home at Common Barn Farm, Remenham.
Thomas married Thomasine Christiana Matthews on April 15th, 1857 at Shifnal, Shropshire. Thomasine was christened February 14th, 1837 at Prior’s Lee, Shropshire, the youngest daughter of the Rev.James Thomas Matthews (incumbent of Prior’s Lee) and Caroline Gardner.
Thomas was noted as a farmer of Badger Heath Farm, Shropshire in the Wolverhampton Chronicle & Staffordshire Advertiser of September 2nd, 1857. The advert was for the sale of wheat.
Thomasine, aged 20, died on May 26th, 1858 following the birth of daughter Eva May & was buried on May 31st at Shifnal. Her abode was given as Badger Heath.
The children of Thomas Barnett and Thomasine Christiana Matthews were:
b.2.9.1.1 Eva May Barnett born May 1st, 1858 at Badger, Shropshire; died April 29th, 1915 at Moraycroft, Parkplace, Cheltenham
On April 27th, 1865 Thomas married for the second time at St James’, Clerkenwell. He married his cousin Catherine Barnett, second daughter of Ann Matthews & William Barnett [b.2.8] of Saunderton Grange, Wycombe, christened August 31st, 1831 at Saunderton. At the time of the marriage Thomas, a farmer, was living at White Bear, Piccadilly & Catherine gave her address as 3 Wilmington Square.
Thomas spent time in Africa as indicated by his mother's Wills and Codicils. His daughter was brought up by his parents who provided for her in their Wills. A letter from his wife Catherine in Natal to her sister Susan Barnett at Saunderton Grange in April 1879, reveals her appeal to her country women for clothing & money on behalf of the widows & children of the volunteers & police who fell during the engagements at Isandula & Rorkes Drift during the Anglo-Zulu wars. (Bucks Herald 26th April 1879)
According to the Reading Mercury, Thomas, aged 55, died on February 18th, 1880 at his residence Warsash, The Dargle, Peter Maritzburgh, S Africa.