His place of birth and age is given in the 1851, 1861 and 1871 Censuses. They all agree that he was born in Warwick and all give a calculated year of birth of 1791. However, the year of birth calculated from his age give on his Death Certificate is 1788. Where his daughter Harriet got his age from is not known but it is thought that Thomas would have been more aware of his own age as recorded in the censuses. A search for his baptismal record in Warwick was fruitless, but a register entry for the marriage of a Thomas Dowell and Sarah Wamsley in 1786 was found. Given the facts that their marriage was a few years before Thomas' birth, it was in Warwick and the Christian names are the same it is reasonable to suppose that Thomas and Sarah were Thomas' parents.

The Marriage Certificate for his son's marriage in 1839 and the 1851 Census give his occupation as a sawyer and it is assumed that he started work in 1800 when he was 12. The 1861 and 1871 Censuses record him as being blind and formerly a general labourer. In addition the 1881 Census states that his blindness was due to an accident. There is no indication as how the accident occurred or why he became a labourer. It may just be possible because of failing eyesight due to diabetes (his Death Certificate indicates that he died of gangrene which can be caused by diabetes) he had to give up as a sawyer which is a dangerous occupation and take up labouring until he had his accident. Whether it was due to an accident or disease is not known but in any case a sawyer is a dangerous occupation and not being able to see properly was almost certainly the reason for him becoming a labourer until total blindness forced him to give up that as well. Certainly it must have occurred between 1851 and 1861.

There is no indication in the 1861 or 1871 Censuses as to the source of his income after he gave up working. If he had been living 'on the parish' this information is generally given and he does not appear to be related to Elizabeth Ward.

Their other children were probably present

He was almost certainly present at the interment service.

Address: Bridge Row

The household consisted of Thomas and his daughter Harriett (age 10). His wife Esther was dead and all their other children had either died in infancy or had left home — Hezekiah and Frances for London. Thomas is shown as a labourer although all subsequent Censuses and official documents record him as a sawyer,

Address: Bridge Row

He is described as the head of the household and a family of eight (John and Sarah Bench and their six children) shared the house as lodgers. The size of the house is unknown. Whether there was a blood relationship between Thomas and Sarah Bench (e.g. his daughter) is not known but as she was born in the same parish as Thomas there may well have been.

Address: Wharf Street

He is lodging with the family of Reuben Ward and is described as being blind. This almost certainly accounts for the fact that his occupation is now given as formerly a general labourer as opposed to a sawyer where losing ones sight would be extremely dangerous.

Address: 7 Wharf Street

He is still lodging with the family of Reuben Ward whose family consisted of Ruben, his wife Elizabeth and their daughters Emily and Catherine. There is a note against Thomas' entry that his blindness which had been recorded in the 1861 Census was due to an accident.

Cause: gangrene and senilis

Address: Wharf Street

His Death Certificate adds the phrase "about 4 months" to the cause. It is assumed that the 4 months refers to duration of the gangrene as senilis means old age. The 1861 and 1871 Censuses record him as being blind although the 1871 says it was attributable to an accident. Both blindness and gangrene can be caused by diabetes (almost certainly type 2) which was not diagnosable during his lifetime. Gangrene can also emanate from open wounds such as those caused by an ulcerated varicose vein.

His daughter, Harriett Wimblett, who was a widow and worked as a general servant for a solicitor in Shirley Heath, Solihull was with him when he died and presumably had been given leave of absence by her employer to look after him in the final stages of his illness.

Address: for the Warwick Registration District

Address: Warwick