50-Day Family History Blogging Challenge - Day 8
Fragments of Family History – A Female Undertaker
Jennifer Jones from TRACKING DOWN THE FAMILY has initiated a 50-Day Family History Blogging Challenge. This is a big writing commitment but I have decided to participate. I have decided my topic will be “Fragments of Family History”. I will write short posts of newspaper items or single stories connected to my family history. This may expand over the 50 days.
A Female Undertaker
If you saw my 50-Day Family History Blogging Challenge - Day 7 post, you may have noticed that the undertaker for Richard Brown was Mrs Thomas and Son of 111 York Street, Sydney. A female undertaker, now that’s a story!
Newspaper funeral notices are great for finding out when funeral directors were in business. Mrs J. Thomas and Son were recorded from 20 October 1881 until January 1885 when Mrs Thomas’ son, Reuben W. Thomas, took over the business.1
THE FRIENDS of the deceased Mr. JOHN JAMES PERRY are invited to attend his Funeral: to move from his late residence. 89. Bellevue-street, off Albion-street, Surry Hills, THIS AFTERNOON, at half-past 2 o’clock, to Waverley Cemetery. REUBEN THOMAS, Undertaker, 111. York-street, Late Mrs. J. Thomas and Son [my emphasis].
Previous to 1881, the business was listed as J. Thomas and Son and before that Thomas, Undertaker.2 When did Jane take over the business? 1865!
FUNERALS—The widow of the late Mr. REUBEN THOMAS, Undertaker, begs most respectfully to thank his friends and the public for their kind support during his lifetime, and to inform them that the business will still be conducted by (Mr. SAMUEL GOUGH) her late husband’s foreman, for her, in the same respectable and cheap manner as formerly. 141, York-street, Sydney.
Samuel Gough was Jane’s brother, so she had close support as a widow running her husband’s business.3
By special license, on the 15th instant, at Christ Church, by the Rev. George Carwithen, of her Majesty’s ship Calliope, Mr. Reuben Thomas, second son of Mr. Henry Thomas, C.C, to Jane, third daughter of Mr. Samuel Bond Gough, both of this city.
THOMAS—August 26th, at his late residence, 141, York-street, Mr. Reuben Thomas, undertaker, eldest son of Mr. Henry Thomas, in the 32nd year of his age, leaving an affectionate wife and four young children to lament their loss.
FUNERAL.—The Friends of the late Mr. REUBEN THOMAS, are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral. The procession will move from his late residence, York-street, near the Wesleyan Chapel, TO-MORROW (Tuesday) MORNING, at 11 o’clock precisely. J. SHYING, Undertaker.
Originally, brothers Walter and Reuben Thomas took over their father’s undertaker business in 1853.
NOTICE.—The undersigned begs to notify that he has disposed of his business to his sons Walter and Reuben Thomas and the same will be carried on by them from this date.—All claims are requested to be forwarded, for immediate payment ; and parties are requested to settle all outstanding accounts. HENRY THOMAS, Undertaker, King-street West, June 30.
Walter and Reuben Thomas continued the business until 1856 when Reuben continued alone.4
Jane ran the business from 1865 to 1885. It is not known if she became an active, hands on, undertaker, however, she did made a name for herself by carrying on the business.
Jane Thomas died on 6 June 1914 aged 83 years.5
THOMAS.—6th June, 1914, at her late residence, “Ivanhoe,” 649 Dowling Street, Moore Park, Jane, the dearly loved mother of Mrs. Jane H. Shirley, Mrs. Emily A. Bannister, and Mr. Reuben W. Thomas, aged 83 years. At Rest.
THOMAS.—The Funeral of the late Mrs. JANE THOMAS, late of York Street, City, will leave Ivanhoe, 649 Dowling Street, Moore Park, THIS (MONDAY) AFTERNOON, at 2.45 o’clock, for Waverley Cemetery. WOOD, COFFILL, and COMPANY, LTD.
Reuben W. Thomas continued the business until 1910 when Sydney City Council resumed the land and knocked down the buildings to widen York Street.
“Description: Two and three storey shops sandstone and brick. Display signs advertise M P Kielly at number 38, W C Eldridge and Company, Dyers at number 40, H C Stone, Woollen Merchant at number 42, Reuben Thomas, Undertaker at number 44 and Mauri Brothers and Thomson at 46-48. A horse and trailer stand outside number 34.”6
Ibid.
‘Funerals’, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) 8 April 1892: p. 8. Web. Accessed 19 Jun 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1376276>. Funeral of Samuel Bond Gough, recorded as uncle of Reuben W. Thomas.
‘Deaths’, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930) 8 June 1914: p. 6. Web. Accessed 19 Jun 2025, <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page25735550>.
‘Demolition Books - Albums and Prints, 1900-1949’. City of Sydney, Print - Commercial premises in York Street Sydney, circa 1909-1911 (01/01/1909 - 31/12/1911), [A-00036546]. City of Sydney Archives, accessed 19 Jun 2025, https://archives.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/662913