Thomas Henry Vickers was born about May 1844 to Benjamin Randall Vickers and Margaret (nee Threlfall). He was baptised in Brunswick Chapel in Leeds on 19 May 1844, the register records that Benjamin was a Dry Salter and that they lived on Brunswick Terrace in Leeds.

The 1851 Census shows that Thomas was boarder at a school in Moorville House on Moor Road, Headingley along with his older brother Benjamin Threlfall.

In 1861 the census shows that Thomas (16) was living at Willow House on Chapeltown Road with his parents and older brother Benjamin (18) and that both brothers were apprentices to their father who was an Oil Merchant.

Thomas married Emma Sackett in January 1868 and they had the following children:

  • Henry Augustus (1869-1951)
  • Margaret Beatrice (1871-1935)
  • Emma Marian (1873- )
  • Edward Threlfall (1874-1959)
  • Olive Muriel (1877- )

The 1871 Census shows the family living a couple of doors away from Thomas’ father on Leeds Road, New Leeds – what we now call the Chapeltown Road. He was 26 years old and working as an “Oil Merchant & Drysalter”.

By the time of the 1881 Census the family had moved to Park Villas in Roundhay, Thomas is 36 and described as an Oil Merchant.

Thomas’ father died in August 1881 and it looks like Thomas and his older brother Benjamin took over running the business together.

In 1891 the family were still living at Park Villas on Park Road in Roundhay, Thomas was now 46 years old and still an Oil Merchant. His son Henry was an Oil Merchant traveller and Edward was an electrician.

The family moved out to Ilkley and were living at Thorncliffe, 16 Parish Ghyll Road at the time of the 1901 Census. Thomas was now 56 years old and still an Oil Merchant. Edward (26) and Olive (23) were still living with them.

Thomas died on 23 November 1904 and was buried in the graveyard of St Matthew’s church in Chapel Allerton on 26 November. I have yet to find where.

Probate reads:

VICKERS Thomas Henry of Thorncliffe Ilkley Yorkshire oil-merchant died 23 November 1904 Probate Wakefield 2 February to Benjamin Threlfall Vickers oil-merchant and Henry Eustace Vickers company’s-manager Effects £13167 18s. 4d.