Thomas Boyer (1803- 1865)
The second son of William & Ann Boyer, Thomas was born at Folkingham.
The family moved to Swinstead when he was two and then to Corby (Glen).
William was a farrier, farmer and cow-doctor, until 1841 when he became licensee of the Bull, Corby.
In 1825, Thomas enlisted with the 85th Regiment of Foot at Bourne, but was discharged the following year due to curvature of the spine, following fever and bubonic inflammation from cold.
He married Elizabeth Bailey, in Grantham, in 1828 and they had 10 children.
He rented land from Ancaster Estates at Corby Acres. Unfortunately he was an unsuccessful farmer and by 1833 was evicted owing more than £100, which was written off.
By 1841, the family lived at Colsterworth, frequently seeking help from Bourne workhouse. Around this time three of their children died.
Two years later, 41-year-old Thomas was arrested for stealing a lamb-hog from Corby farmer John Aldridge. A boy discovered the skin and entrails under a hedge.
Colsterworth constable William Barker searched Boyer’s house and found a shoulder of mutton in salt, which matched a skin he had sold to a Mr Ingle, a fellmonger.
At Lincoln Assizes he was sentenced to 12 years in Van Dieman’s Land (Tasmania). His ship sailed on 14th May 1844 and arrived at Hobart on 5th September.
He worked on a chain gang for 15 months, gruelling work for a man with a back injury.
In 1850 he was given his ticket to leave, and three years later a conditional pardon, although was he no longer allowed back into England
Elizabeth, who was working as a charwoman in Corby, and one daughter, Caroline, went out to join him in 1853.
They had another son, George Thomas Boyer – from whom all the Tasmanian Boyers are descended.
Thomas died in 1865 and Elizabeth remarried.
Research by Christina Negus
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.