ERO is Essex Record Office
THOMAS TOMKIN (the father)
1812-27, ERO Q/SBb 465/21, 469/22, 473/29, 477/19, 481/19, 485/9, 489/21
Reports of visitors to Mr Tomkin’s asylum at Witham.
1818, ERO D/DBw M40
Eleanor Bryckwood Royce of Woodham Mortimer, spinster, to marry Thomas Tomkin of Witham. Trustees = James Campion Wright of Writtle, clerk, and John Bryckwood Royce of Woodham Mortimer, gent (re purchase of property in Witham)
1819-??, parish registers
Baptisms of children of Thomas and Eleanor Tomkin include:
1819, August 20 Thomas Marchant Tomkin
1821, January 30 William Bryckwood Tomkin
1826, ERO Q/SBb 485/16
Report of the physician visitor and magistrates appointed to visit the Asylum of Thomas Tomkin surgeon of Witham for the reception and care of the insane … ‘we found it in every respect conformable to the Act for the regulation of such houses. It is also in our opinions admirably adapted to the comfort of the patients and well calculated to promote their restoration to sanity (signed John Badeley MD, Charles Dalton, William Lucio) (these notes from Jane Pearson).
1828, ERO Q/Alp 2
Plan of Mr Tomkin’s asylum, with notice of intention to apply for renewal, Sept 1828, reading: ‘Sir, I hereby give you notice it is my intention to apply for a renewal of my licence to keep a Lunatic Asylum in the Parish of Witham … I shall not reside in the Asylum myself. My Superintendent’s name is John Boltwood, previously a Farmer and innkeeper. My housekeeper’s name Elizabeth Fox. I propose receiving not more than twenty patients ‘.
Thomas Tomkin, Surgeon, Witham.
PS [happy to do another plan if this one not good enough] The rooms are all of them about eight or ten feet high.
1830, ERO Q/SBb 501/17 and 501/19
17 certifies that Dr John Badeley attended as visiting physician to Mr Thomas Tomkin’s lunatic asylum, Witham, with the visiting magistrates on four occasions Dec 1829-Sept 1830 and signed the minute book (21 October 1830).
19 is a notice from Tomkin that he intends next session to apply for a renewal of his licence ‘granted to me for keeping a House situate in Maldon Lane in the parish of Witham … for the reception of 20 insane patients viz. 18 patients not parish insane and 2 parish insane patients under the superintendence of John Boltwood’ (these notes from Jane Pearson).
1836, ERO G/WM 1
Thomas Tomkin chosen as one of two doctors for the poor, by new Board of Guardians.
ERO Q/SO 36. 16 October 1838, page 31
Witham Madhouse licence. Thomas Tomkin – notice of house proposed to be licensed. Empower George Wilson, ‘formerly a farmer’ as Superintendent as TT doesn’t intend to reside there. For ‘25 Insane persons, whereof 5 to be parish paupers’.
1840, ERO D/P 30/28/5
Thomas Tomkin lived on north side of Newland Street; 13 in the house, all attended parish church.
1841 census, HO 107/343/15, f.22, Newland Street (poss 80-84)
| Thomas Tomkin | 50 | Surgeon | N |
| Eleanar Tomkin | 45 | Y | |
| Henry Tomkin | 7 | Y | |
| / | |||
| Mary Cooper | 35 | Indt | Y |
| Alfred Thorp | 30 | Surgeon | N |
| Arthur Tailor
[see 1861 entry for TMT the son, below, and also newspaper report of 1862 below] |
— | Ind [deleted] | N |
| Sarah Cotton | 30 | FS | Y |
| Amelia Minett | 23 | FS | Y |
| Rebecca Spooner | 19 | FS | Y |
| Henry Harvey | 19 | MS | Y |
1848, White’s directory
Population in 1841 included ‘18 in the private Lunatic Asylum, which was established here in 1819 by Mr Tomkin, surgeon, and has room for 30 patients’.
1851 census, HO 107/1783, f.203, p.15, schedule 56
Newland Street (probably 82-84, Medina House)
| Thomas Tomkin | Head | M | 63 | Surgeon M.R.C.S. London & Edinburgh | born Kent, Yalding |
| Eleanor Tomkin | Wife | M | 57 | Wife of ditto | born Essex, Woodham Mortimer |
| Jane N Tomkin | Dau | U | 21 | Dau | born Essex, Witham |
| Mary M Tomkin | Dau | U | 19 | Dau | born Essex, Witham |
| Henry E Tomkin | Son | U | 17 | Son | born Essex, Witham |
| Matilda Crossley | Servt | U | 23 | Cook | born Essex, Lawford |
| Sarah Owers | Servt | U | 28 | Housemaid | born Essex, Gt Leighs |
| Charity Carrington | Servt | U | 28 | Housemaid | born Essex, Beaumont |
| Joseph Newman | Servt | U | 18 | Groom | born Essex, Witham |
1855
Thomas Tomkin organised a petition of 94 ratepayers against proposals by the Local Board of Health for a new drainage and water scheme for Witham (D/HWi 1).
1861 census, RG 9/1107, f.51, p.3, schedule 11
Newland Street (High House, part of 5)
| Thomas Tomkin | Head | M | 73 | Physician & surgeon; member of St Andrews College, Scotland, colleg surgeons, Edinburgh, & college surgeons, London | born Kent, Yalding |
| Eleanor Tomkin | Wife | M | 68 | born Essex, Woodham Walter | |
| Charlotte Tokely | Servt | U | 20 | House servant | born Essex, Rivenhall |
| Charlotte Davey | Servt | U | 19 | Cook | born Essex, Brightlingsea |
1861, parish register
Thomas Tomkin was buried 25 November 1861 aged 74.
1865, ERO D/DU 56/4
Auction by trustees of late Thomas Tomkin – land etc.
1869, ERO D/DU 56/4
Auction of furniture of late Mrs Tomkin of Newland Street.
THOMAS MARCHANT TOMKIN (eldest son of Thomas)
Note: Thomas’s second son was William Bryckwood Tomkin who practised with Thomas Marchant Tomkin c.1855-65, but was killed in a chaise accident in 1865)
1851 census, HO 107/1783, f.191, p.41, schedule 153
Newland Street (High House, part of 5)
| Thos M Tomkin | H | M | 32 | L.A.C., M.R.C., S.E. | born Essex, Witham |
| M.P. Tomkin | W | M | 30 | born London | |
| Sarah Wybrew | Serv | U | 22 | Dom Serv | born Essex, Marks Tey |
1861, ERO T/B 266
Bills for confinement to someone at Crix, from TM and WB Tomkin of Witham, surgeons.
1861 census, RG 9/1107, f.79, p.17, schedule 91
Newland Street (prob. 96-98 Newland Street)
| Thomas Marchant Tomkin | Head | M | 42 | General practitioner, MRCSL & LAC | born Essex, Witham |
| Marian Tomkin | Wife | M | 40 | born London | |
| Anne Grist | Niece | U | 17 | born London | |
| Arthur Taylor
[see 1841 entry for TT the father, above, and newspaper report of 1862 below] |
No relation | U | 52 | born London | |
| Daniel Magniac
[as DB he was at the Retreat, Tomkin’s asylum in Maldon Road, in 1871, 1881 and 1891. Also see diary and newspaper entries below] |
No relation | U | 37 | born China | |
| Maria Hughes | Serv | U | 20 | House servant | born Essex, Manningtree |
| Sarah Joyce | Serv | U | 17 | House servant | born Essex, Boreham |
Dixon diary, 25 Feb 1862:
‘A curious prosecution today before our justices at Witham. Mr Tomkin who succeeded his father in keeping a lunatic asylum at Witham has been informed against for keeping a lunatic in his private dwelling house not licensed. The Commissioners for lunacy are the prosecutors in these cases. Mr Tomkin was convicted and had to give bail to appear at the assizes where the case will be gone into for adjudication. The sentiment at Witham is very adverse to Mr Tomkin, he is considered harsh and severe in his management of these unfortunate people who come under his care.
Chelmsford Chronicle, 28 February 1862, pp. 2 and 3
Long report of the above hearing. It was Commissioners in Lunacy who brought the case and it was clear that the magistrates were somewhat embarrassed as they were all friends of Tomkin’s. But they found there was a case to answer and referred him to Assizes, on bail. There was reference to another case, about cruelty – not clear when or whether heard at another time. The man concerned was Daniel Francis Magniac. There was also reference to a Mr Taylor being kept in the house also, and a Samuel Tatson who acted as their keeper.
Chelmsford Chronicle, 6 December 1862, p 3
At Assizes Mr T pleaded guilty and the prosecution were happy, saying he had only offended against the strict letter of the law and ‘in all other respects acted with kindness and humanity to the unfortunate gentleman in question’.
1868, Poll book
T M Tomkin voted, Tory.
1870 et al, Kelly’s directory
T M Tomkin member of Local Board of Health.
1871 census, RG 10/1695, f.26, p.16, schedule 80
Newland Street (High House, part of no. 5)
| Thomas M Tomkin | H | M | 52 | Surgeon etc. | born Essex, Witham |
| Marian Tomkin | W | M | 53 | born London | |
| Alice Harvey | Visitor | — | 8 | Scholar | born Essex, Witham |
| Martha Black | Servt | U | 22 | Genl Servt Domestic | born Norfolk, Hilhoughton |
| Hannah Cranmer | Servt | U | 23 | Genl Servt Domestic | born Essex, Rivenhall |
1881 census, RG 11/1809, f.26, p.16, schedule 83
Newland Street (High House, part of no. 5)
| Thomas M Tomkin | H | M | 62 | Surgeon Guys | born Essex, Witham |
| Marian P Tomkin | W | W | 63 | born Middx, St Brides | |
| Alice Harvey
[she was bapt 2 Jan 1863, dau of Thomas Harvey, miller, and Hannah his wife, of Witham] |
Adopted dau | U | 18 | born Essex, Witham | |
| Elizth Cook | Servt | U | 19 | Housemaid dom servt | born Essex, Halstead |
| Anne Wager | Servt | U | 23 | Cook dom servt | born Essex, Tolleshunt Darcy |
1891 census, RG 12/1425, f.21, p.12, schedule 79
Newland Street (High House, part of no. 5)
| Thomas M Tomkin | H | Wid | 72 | Surgeon | born Essex, Witham |
| Frank C Payne | Boarder | M | 31 | Surgeon | born Essex, Birdbrook |
| Alice Payne
[nee Harvey, TMT’s adopted daughter, see 1881] |
Boarder | M | 29 | born Essex, Witham | |
| Thomas Payne | Boarder | 5 mo | born Essex, Witham | ||
| Mary Savill | Serv | S | 21 | Cook Domestic servt | born Essex, Blk Notley |
| Ellen Scot | Serv | S | 31 | Housemaid ditto | born Essex, Faulkbourne |
| Charlotte Bull | Serv | S | 15 | Housemaid ditto | borne Essex, Rivenhall |
1895 Thomas Marchant Tomkin died.
1901 census, RG 13/1725, f.21, p.3, schedule 14, Newland Street (High House, part of no. 5)
| Frank C Payne | Head | M | 41 | Surgeon (employer) | born Essex, Birdbrook |
| Alice Payne
[nee Harvey, TMT’s adopted daughter, see 1881] |
Wife | M | 38 | born Essex, Witham | |
| Thomas Payne | Son | 10 | born Essex, Witham | ||
| Henry S Payne | Son | 8 | born Essex, Witham | ||
| Marian A Payne | Dau | 6 | born Essex, Witham | ||
| Beatrice Dazley | Serv | S | 24 | Housemaid, Domestic | born Essex, Rivenhall |
| Annie Smith | Serv | S | 27 | Nurse, Domestic | born Essex, Braintree |
| Elizabeth Doo | Serv | S | 23 | Cook, Domestic | born Essex, Fairstead |
| Lilian M Sainty | Serv | S | 19 | Nurse, Domestic | born Essex, Braintree |
THE PAYNES (from misc other records)
Alice Payne d.1903.
By 1925 Frank C Payne was of Clacton.
Dr William Payne, their son, b. c.1901, died 1959 aged 58; surgeon at Essex Cty Hospital, Colchester, for 3 yrs.
Marian Payne married Mr John Taber
A Frederick Payne married Annie Maud Blackie, d of Thomas M Blackie owner of Chipping Hill School (now 35 Newland Sreet). She d.1904 and he d.1939.
Daniel Francis Magniac (c1824 -1902) was the son of Daniel Magniac, (fifth son of Francis Magniac who died in 1827, and brother of Hollingworth Magniac, who pulled together in 1826-7 the Canton opium traders, Magniac and Co, by making sure Daniel, who had committed the error of marrying his Chinese/Portuguese mistress and having with her two sons, of whom Daniel Francis was one, and taking into partnership William Jardine and Alexander Matheson). Between 1827 and 1832 things developed, and by the later date, the firm had become Jardine, Matheson. It seems that Daniel Francis was separated from his parentage and shipped to the UK with the help of William Jardine, and sent to Alexander Matheson’s mother in Inverness, eventuallu being enrolled there in Inverness Royal Academy. He appears in the 1851 census as a guest of Izabella Somerset. But it would seem that between then and 1862 he became a permanent inmate at Witham, until his death. Apart from the 1862 law case, is anything else known of him? Who paid for his keep? What was his situation? Anything else known of him?
Hello Jim. It was good to hear from you, especially as I’ve long been intrigued by Mt Magniac. It was interesting to have your information about him. However, I don’t think I’ll be able to tell you much more about him myself. Apart from the census, my main source of information is the Essex Chronicle newspaper report of the 1862 trial. And my photocopy is difficult to read because there is a pale strip down one side. From what you say, anyway, you know enough about the trial.
But in the light of your questions, I’ll send one or two notes from the trial which might be relevant.
I noted that Mr Travers, the surgeon who placed him with Mr Tomkin, said that this was “in virtue of the instructions I received from the family, via Mr Hope”. Mr Travers thought that Magniac was “perfectly sane”.
Mr Lewis for the plaintiffs said that “He would have to show them the fact that Mr Tomkin received an annual income in respect to Mr Magniac”.
And Mr Charles Hope said “I am a tea broker in London. I know Mr Magniac and Mr Tomkin … I have been in the habit of making remittances to Mr Tomkin for the board, care and attendance of Mr Magniac”. Mr Hope also spoke of how sane Magniac was when he went to Mr Tomkin.
I did raise my eyebrows at this next one but I expect he was just talking about cruelty: Samuel Tatson said “Whilst Mr Magniac has been walking out with me, I never saw any acts of indecency committed by him or by Mr Taylor. I have never seen acts of cruelty committed upon Mr Magniac or upon Mr Taylor.”
There were also some inconclusive discussions about Magniac had any money.
I’m sorry just to repeat items that you probably have already. But I can’t find anything else. I hope you succeed in any further investigations that you make.
We have just moved in The Retreat Witham Maldon would like to see pictures of original photos of
The Retreat
We live at The Retreat
Sent email – have no original photos of the Retreat as far as I know. JG