Died
28 February 1896
Born
c1821
Sources
Ancestry
Geddes "Burlington Blue-Grey" 1975
Place
Walks
Thomas Johns
The biblical quote on the grave is from Proverbs 31.28.
IN AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE OF
GRACE
THE WIFE OF THOMAS JOHNS
DIED APRIL 19TH 1887
AGED 66 YEARS
Her children arise up and call
her blessed, her husband also, and he
praiseth her.
ALSO OF
THOMAS JOHNS
FOR FIFTY YEARS THE FAITHFUL SERVANT OF
HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE
AT THE BURLINGTON SLATE QUARRIES
DIED FEBRUARY 28TH 1896,
INTERRED MARCH 3RD
AGED 75 YEARS.
HIS END WAS PEACE.
R. Stanley Geddes’s 1975 book “Burlington Blue-Grey: A history of the slate quarries, Kirkby-in-Furness” published by the author, has the following (p276 in 2nd ed 1991):
Commercial Managers (including sales) …. (2) Thomas Johns. 1821 – 1896. Manager from 1866 to 1896. Lived at Duddon View. He was 50 years in the service of the Duke of Devonshire so he might have been from Stephen and James Ray Eddy at Skipton, before 1866. A keen member of the Wesleyan Chapel, Marshside and would be a founder member in 1870. After his death there was a stone-laying ceremony in 1905, when the Sunday School was built and there was an inscription “In loving memory of Thomas and Grace Johns, late of Duddon View, by their son and daughter”. The son would be Bennet Johns, who was quite famous with Westmorland Green Slate Quarries at Buttermere.
1841 Census
From Ancestry, we find that Thomas Johns was living in Cawsawson, Mylor, Cornwall at the time of the 1841 Census. The household had Mary Johns (55) Widow?; Nicholas Johns (25) Agricultural Labourer; John Johns (25) Gardener; Thomas Johns (20) Carpenter; Catherine Johns (12) no occupation recorded. This Census had very little detail.
Thomas Johns married Grace Perrott at Kildwick, Yorkshire on 4 July 1846. Grace was a farmer’s daughter from Cononley
1851 Census
The 1851 Census has Thomas Johns (31) Head, Carpenter, born Mylor, Cornwall, living at Cononley, Yorkshire (no house number or name). He is living with his wife Grace Johns (30) Carpenter’s Wife, born Cononley; children Sarah (4) and Bennet, (1 month), both born Cononley; and sister-in-law Ann Perrott (39) Unmarried, Dressmaker, born Eastburn, Yorkshire.
1861 Census
The 1861 Census has the Johns living at Oatle? Heads, Cononley. Thomas Johns (41) Joiner, born Mylor, Cornwall, shares the house with wife Grace Johns (40) Dressmaker, born Cononley, and children Bennet (10), Mary (5) and Sarah (14), all Scholars born Cononley.
1871 Census
In the 1871 Census the Johns were living at Burlington Cottages, Kirkby Ireleth. The household contained Thomas Johns (51) Slate Agent, born Mylor, Cornwall; Grace Johns (50), born Kildwick, Yorkshire; Sarah Johns (24) Unmarried, no occupation recorded, born Kildwick, Yorkshire; Mary M. Johns (15), born Kildwick, Yorkshire.
