Thomas Seccombe (bef. 1866 - 1923)

Born before 17 Jun 1866 in Terrington St Clement, Norfolk, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Goddard) Seccombe — married about 1896 in Paris, Seine, France [uncertain]

Died 20 Jun 1923 after age 57 in Kistor Private Hotel in Torquay, Devon, England

Biography

Thomas Seccombe is Notable.

Thomas Seccombe was an English author, critic and educator.

Birth

Thomas was the eldest son of the country doctor and surgeon, Dr John Thomas Seccombe and his first wife Elizabeth Margaret (Clout) Seccombe. Thomas was born in Terrington St Clement in 1866 and baptised there on 17 Jun 1866. ^{[1] [2]}

His mother, Elizabeth, died in 1869, when Thomas was three, ^[3] probably due to complications following the birth of his younger brother, Philip. ^[4]

Education

Thomas attended Felsted Grammar School near Dunmow in Essex, where he was a boarder from 1880 to 1885. At school he excelled academically, being a Junior and Senior Exhibitioner. He was also a School Prefect and was selected for the School Football XI of 1884. ^{[5] [6]} Thomas went on to attend Balliol College, Oxford, matriculating on 24 October 1885 at the age of 19. In 1889 he was awarded the Brackenbury Prize, a scholarship for academic excellence, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts 1st class in History. He continued to study at Balliol and was awarded the Stanhope Prize in 1887, an undergraduate history essay prize, and a degree of Masters in Arts was conferred on 14 June 1894. ^{[5] [7]}

Marriage and Children

Thomas married Elizabeth Jane Goddard. No marriage record has been found on the GRO Index, however it is possible that the marriage took place in Paris, France in 1896 ^[8] They had four children:

• Margaret (b. 20 Nov 1897) ^{[9] [10]}
• Lionel Sidney (b. 1903) ^[11]
• Edward John Philip (b. 1910) ^[12]
• Ann Elizabeth Seccombe (b. 1917) ^[13]

Thomas and Elizabeth made their home primarily in London. They left England for Ontario in Canada when Thomas accepted the position of Professor of English Literature at the university there. He relinquished his professorship two years later because of ill-health. ^[14]

Thomas returned to England and passed away on 20 June 1923. ^[15] At the time of his death his home address was given as Glencairn, Camberley in Surrey although he died at Kistor Private Hotel in Torquay. He left £16,768 5s 11d to Elizabeth Jane Seccombe, his widow, and John Ambrose Seccombe M.D. ^[16]

Teaching Career

After graduating Thomas became a Lecturer in English and History. He worked at a variety of secondary and tertiary institutions including :

• 1891 - 1901 Assistant Editor Dictionary and National Biography ^[10]
• Shrewsbury College, Shropshire ^[17]
• Owen's College, Manchester (now the University of Manchester) ^[5]
• Holloway College and Birkbeck College ^[5]
• 1911 East London College, University of London ^[5]
• 1912-19 Prof of English at Royal Military College Sandhurst ^[5]
• 1921-1923 Prof of English Literature at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario ^[5]

Bibliography

Thomas was the Editor of:

• 'Twelve Bad Men' 1894;
• 'Baron Munchausen' 1894;
• 'Isopel Berners' 1902;
• Constable's 'New English Garner' 1903;
• 'Religious and Philosophic Series' 1906-12;
• 'In Praise of Oxford' (2 volumes) 1910-12.

And the Author of :

• 'The Age of Johnson' 1898;
• 'The Age of Shakespeare' (2 vols, with JW Allen) 1903;
• 'Bookman History of English Literature (2 vols) 1906;

with contributions to 'Encyclopaedia Britannica' and Cambridge Modern Literature.

England Census Records

1871 Census: Thomas is in Clapham, Surrey^[18]

Thomas L Seecombe Head Male 58 Creed, Cornwall

Louisa Seecombe Wife Female 64 Stepney, Middlesex

Henry L Seecombe Son Male 29 Hackney, Middlesex

Blanche A Seecombe Daughter Female 24 Hackney, Middlesex

Thomas Seecombe Grandson Male 4 Terrington, Norfolk

Philip J A Seecombe Grandson Male 1 Terrington, Norfolk

Eliza Baker Visitor Female 59 Doddington, Lincolnshire

Agnes Carter Servant Female 24 Kingsbridge, Devonshire

Amelia Tucker Servant Female 27 South Tawton, Devonshire

Charles E Ulrich Servant Male 13 Battersea, Surrey

1911 Census: Thomas is married and a Lecturer in History at Birbeck and East London College. He is boarding at Rhossili, Glamorgan, Wales on Census night ^[19]

William Richards Head Male 64 Rhossilly, Glamorganshire

Jane Richards Wife Female 63 Rhossilly, Glamorganshire

Sarah Ann Beynon Niece Female 22 Rhossilly, Glamorganshire

Minnie Beynon Niece Female 17 Rhossilly, Glamorganshire

Edward Charles Cunnington Boarder Male 20 Devizes, Wiltshire

Maud Edith Cunnington Boarder Female 42 Glamorganshire

John William Allen Boarder Male 45 S Hamstead London, London

Elsie Florence Allen Boarder Female 39 Briton Ferry, Glamorganshire

Thomas Seccombe Boarder Male 44 Ferrington St Clements, Norfolk

Ernest L Pegge Boarder Male 35 Briton Ferry, Glamorganshire

Emma Maud Leyson Boarder Female 26 Mumbles, Glamorganshire

Frederick Ernest Jones Boarder Male 28 Swansea, Glamorganshire

Felsted Alumini Record

SECCOMBE, Thomas (1880-1885).†1923 f of LSS 1917. Educator and Author. Prefect. Junior and Senior Exhibitioner. Football XI 1884. Chairman OF Dinner 1912. Born in Wakefield, Yorks. Balliol College, Oxf. BA (Bracknbury Prize and 1st Class History) 1889, MA 1895. Stanhope Prize 1887. Asst Editor 'Dictionary of National Biography' 1891-1900. Apr 1898 wrote an article in Essex Reviews 'Felsted School by an old Fel;stedian'. Lecturer in Eng Lit, Owen's College, 1901; in History at Holloway College and Birkbeck College; from 1911 solely at East London College, Uni of London; 1912-19, Prof of English at RMC Sandhurst; 1921 Prof of English Literature at Queen's Uni, Kingston, Ontario. Editor of 'Twelve Bad Men' 1894; 'Baron Munchausen' 1894; 'Isopel Berners' 1902; Constable's 'New English Garner' 1903; 'Religious and Philosophic Series' 1906-12; 'In Praise of Oxford' (2 volumes) 1910-12. Author of 'The Age of Johnson' 1898; 'The Age of Shakespeare' (2 vols, with JW Allen) 1903; 'Bookman History of English Literature (2 vols) 1906; contributions to 'Encyclopaedia Britannica' and Camb Modern Lit. Died at Torquay. ^[5]

Research Notes

1. There appears to be no Census record of the couple living together. In 1901 Elizabeth and baby Margaret are living with an aunt and in the 1911 Census Elizabeth, Margaret and Lionel are in Acton. ^[20] Thomas was often a border in a hotel - it's possible that he frequently away from home because he was engaged as a guest speaker or as part of his research.

Sources

1. ↑ Terrington St Clement : St Clement : Register of unspecified type : "Parish Register" database, FreeREG (https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5818ac2ae93790eca39a8d50 : viewed 2 Dec 2020) baptism Thomas Seccombe 17 Jun 1866
2. ↑ https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content : accessed 2 Dec 2020), database entry for SECCOMBE, Thomas (Mother's maiden surname: CLOUT). GRO Reference: 1866 J Quarter in WISBECH Volume 03B Page 627.
3. ↑ England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Death (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content : accessed 2 Dec 2020), database entry for SECCOMBE, Elizabeth Margaret. (Age at death: 26). GRO Reference: 1869 J Quarter in WISBECH Volume 03B Page 366.
4. ↑ https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content : accessed 2 Dec 2020), database entry for SECCOMBE, Philip John Ambrose (Mother's maiden surname: CLOUT). GRO Reference: 1869 J Quarter in WISBECH Volume 03B Page 597.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7} Lookup of Data by name in the Felsted School Archive on-line database (https://archives.felsted.essex.sch.uk/of/lookupOF/index.php : Accessed 2 Dec 2020) name = Seccombe, Thomas
6. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27D-NMXR : 12 December 2017), Thomas Seecombe, Felstead, Essex, England; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 1, Piece/Folio 1812/129, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,687
7. ↑ "Alumni oxoniensis: the members of the University of Oxford, 1500-1886: their parentage, birthplace, and year of birth, with a record of their degrees. Being the matriculation register of the University, alphabetically arranged, revised and annotated." University of Oxford; Foster, John. Published 1891-1892. Wellcome Library Collection on-line (https://wellcomelibrary.org/item/b24873275 : accessed 2 Dec 2020) Alumni oxoniensis, volume 8, page 45, SECCOMBE, Thomas.
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 05 December 2020), memorial page for Anne Elizabeth “Betty” Seccombe (1917–Aug 1932), Find a Grave Memorial no. 206005602, citing St Peter's Churchyard, Frimley, Surrey Heath Borough, Surrey, England ; Maintained by Mary Ann Bennett (contributor 49505583) .
9. ↑ https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content : accessed 2 Dec 2020), database entry for SECCOMBE, Margaret (Mother's maiden surname: GODDARD). GRO Reference: 1897 D Quarter in HAMPSTEAD Volume 01A Page 638.
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N1NJ-CJZ : 20 March 2020), Thomas Seccombe in entry for Margaret Seccombe, 1897.
11. ↑ https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content : accessed 2 Dec 2020), database entry for SECCOMBE, Lionel Sidney (Mother's maiden surname: GODDARD). GRO Reference: 1903 S Quarter in BRENTFORD Volume 03A Page 195.
12. ↑ https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content : accessed 2 Dec 2020), database entry for SECCOMBE, Edward John Philip (Mother's maiden surname: GODDARD). GRO Reference: 1910 J Quarter in BRENTFORD Volume 03A Page 209.
13. ↑ https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content : accessed 2 Dec 2020), database entry for SECCOMBE, Ann Elizabeth (Mother's maiden surname: GODDARD). GRO Reference: 1917 J Quarter in FARNHAM Volume 02A Page 1807.
14. ↑ "Professor of Literature" Belfast Telegraph inThe British Newspaper Archive on-line database (https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002318/19230222/143/0008 ; Accessed 3 Dec 2020) Belfast Telegraph; Thursday 22 February; Page *; Column 2.
15. ↑ England & Wales General Register Office, GRO Online Index - Death (https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content : accessed 2 Dec 2020), database entry for SECCOMBE, Thomas. (Age at death: 57). GRO Reference: 1923 J Quarter in NEWTON ABBOT Volume 05B Page 172.
16. ↑ UK Government Find A Will Service (https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk : accessed 3 Dec 2020) SECCOMBE Thomas, Date of Probate 22 November 1923; Date of Death 20 June 1923, Registry London.
17. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSQ8-YM9 : 21 May 2019), Thos Seccombe, Shrewsbury St Mary, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, United Kingdom; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing St Mary subdistrict, PRO RG 13, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
18. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRFP-QV5 : 29 September 2019), Thomas Seecombe in entry for Thomas L Seecombe, 1871.
19. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XWX5-XH3 : 27 June 2019), Thomas Seccombe in household of William Richards, Rhossili, Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
20. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XW49-D3Q : 5 July 2019), Elizabeth Jane Seecombe, Acton, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.

See also:

• Wikidata: Item Q7793857, en:Wikipedia

• Wikipedia: Thomas Seccombe