Thomas Plew

Adapted From "It All Began at Wadnama" by Yvonne Nicholson

Thomas was the eldest son of John and Mary Plew. Born at Grenfell St Adelaide and baptised in the Holy Trinity Church North Terrace Adelaide. He helped establish 'Wadnama' farm from virgin land granted to his father. This involved clearing the land, building fences and sheds and establishing the homestead.

At the age of 21, three years after his father died, Thomas married Mary Ann Barnett of Lenswood near Tarlee on September 7 1865. The marriage was performed at Wadnama by the Rev. GWE Bennett and was witnessed by John Barnett and Eliza Plew. The young couple settled on a farm at Hummocks (now known as Lochiel). On 8 August 1966, Mary Ann died aged 23yrs, leaving a nine day old daughter, Mary Ann (Annie). Mary Ann is buried in the Woolshed Flat Cemetery.

A terrible blow for Thomas, and as it was impossible for him to care for a tiny child himself, his widowed mother, Mary Plew, too the baby into her care, although she had a large family herself including young children.

After his wife's death, Thomas continued to farm at Hummocks, and on 8 December 1877, he married Lucy Jane Brown (born at Yankilla), also of the Hummocks, in the Weslyan Church Auburn. Lucy was the daughter of William Thomas and Ellen (Lush) Brown originally of York England. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. H. Goldsmith and witnessed John Plew and Cecelia Plew.

Although Thomas and Lucy wanted Annie to live with them, she chose to remain with her beloved grandmother. Thomas relinquished his share in Wadnama for the sum of 279 pounds plus livestock. He continued to work the Hummocks farm where the first child of Thomas and Lucy was born, William John. Following William was Alfred Leslie (known as Bob), George Thelwell and Allan Thomas.

The town of Quorn was surveyed in 1878 and by1885 Thomas and Lucy had acquired a number of allotments. They were among the earliest settlers in the town. Lucy passed away in the Port Augusta Hospital December 28 1907. Shortly after Thomas sold the land and the family moved back to the Undalya district. He lived with family on and off.

Thomas is remembered as being a very likeable character and like a few of the Plew family he was very hard of hearing. At the time of his death on August 29 1922 aged 78 Thomas was staying with his son George. He was buried in the Currency Creek Cemetery.

Thomas relinquished his share in Wadnama in

• Reference: MyHeritage Genealogy - SmartCopy: Nov 19 2021, 1:39:50 UTC