Thomas Henry Wise Dean

He was born on 17 Jan 1873 at Sheldwich, Kent, England as Thomas Henry Wise to Eliza Pilcher Wise (born abt 1853) but his death certificate records him as Thomas Henry Wise Dean.

His birth certificate does not record who his father was but it was highly likely that it was Thomas Dean (born 1854) who Eliza married 5 months later on 5 Jun 1873 at Maidstone Kent, England.

One month after they were married they sailed from London on 7 Jul 1873 for Moreton Bay Queensland Australia on the "Indus" arriving 3 months later on 8 Oct 1873. They did not take Thomas Henry Wise with them.

It appears that he was left with Eliza's eldest brother Jesse Wise (born abt 1843) and his wife Eliza Harris (born about 1845). He was recorded as living with them at the 1881 census as their son. Jesse and Eliza may have regarded him as their own son as he had been with them since a small baby.

When he married Fanny Elizabeth Lowe Bradshaw in 1895 Kent, England, he was still known as Thomas Henry Wise. 

Interestingly, it wasn't until he was 30 years old that he re-joined his parents. He and his wife departed London 18 May 1903 on S.S. Kyarra and arrived Brisbane arrived 30 Jul 1903 . They were recorded as Thos Hy Wise F.S. (farm servant?) and Mrs Wise wife. Full payer steerage class. Fanny would have been about 5 months pregnant with her first child Henry when she arrived. 

Another interesting point was that shortly after arrival, they adopted the Dean surname as Henry was named Henry Dean when he was born 4 months later on 20 Nov 1903. Similarly their other children May Victoria (born 16 Feb 1905), Myrtle (born 8 May 1910) and Victor (born 2 Aug 1915) all had the Dean surname.

Thomas Henry Wise Dean died 22 Jan 1941 at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His death certificate recorded his parents as Thomas Dean and Eliza Wise.