Click on images to view (if available) a larger image. Use your browser’s Back button to return to site.
| Name | BREE – Thomas |
|---|---|
| Regiment (s) | Honourable East India Company 1st Bombay Fusiliers |
| Regiment Number (s) | 582 |
| Date/Age/Place/Trade or Profession at Attestation | 26th April 1847 / 20 years / Glasgow Scotland Labourer |
| Description – Height Complexion/Eyes/Hair/Scars | 5 Ft 6¼ in Fair / Grey / Fair |
| Overseas Service/Duration | Embarked 18th August 1847 per “Boyne” for India Embarked 1st July 1861 per “Vernon” for England WO23/23 |
| Length of Service | 15 years 3 months |
| Rank/Date/Place of Discharge | Private / 6th June 1861 / not yet known |
| Campaign Medals | Indian Mutiny Medal 1857-59 |
| Intended Residence at Discharge | Hull Yorkshire England |
| Pension Districts | 1861 Hull 1861 Sligo 1862 2nd Glasgow 1862-1882 Western Australia 1882- South Australia |
| Pension Paid | 9d per diem Increased to 1/0d per diem 1897 for campaign service |
| Date of Departure and Place England or Ireland | 8th October 1862 Portland England |
| Ship and Date of Arrival Western Australia | YORK 31st December 1862 |
| Date/Place of Birth | 26th April 1828 Skreen Dromore Sligo Ireland |
| Date/Place of Baptism | Not yet known |
| Father Date/Place of Birth | Not yet known |
| Mother Date/Place of Birth Marriage | Not yet known |
| Siblings | Not yet known |
| 1st Wife Date of Birth or Baptism | HIGGINS Anne B 1847 |
| Date/Place of Marriage | 21st October 1861 Roman Catholic Church Calry Sligo Ireland |
| Children by 1st Wife | Catherine B 13th September 1862 Bp 14th September 1862 St. John the Evangelist Gravesend Southwark Kent England (Mother Anne Hagan) M PASSMORE Charles Henry 1893 Perth Western Australia D 24th October 1946 Leederville Western Australia bur Roman Catholic Section Karrakatta Cemetery Western Australia William B 4th October 1864 Fremantle Western Australia bap 20th October 1864 Western Australia Margaret Ellen B 13th October 1867 York Western Australia bap 5th November 1867 Western Australia M ASPINALL Albert Wood 1908 Perth Western Australia D 19th October 1951 Leederville Western Australia bur Roman Catholic Section Karrakatta Cemetery Western Australia Mary Ann B 1872 Fremantle Western Australia Thomas B 1876 Albany Western Australia D 27th July 1948 Claremont Western Australia bur Roman Catholic Section Karrakatta Cemetery Western Australia |
| Father of 1st wife Date/Place of Birth | HIGGINS Edward Not yet known |
| Mother of 1st wife Date/Place of Birth Marriage | UNKNOWN Sarah Not yet known |
| Land Grants Western Australia | Lot P235 Cockburn Sound Willagee 20 acres or 22.2.10 acres (Actually 22 acres 2 roods 10 perches) |
| Occupation after Arrival | Assistant warder CE 19 December 1865-23 July 1866 |
| Newspaper Articles | The Herald Saturday 3rd January 1871 – page 3 – Thomas Bree drunk The Herald Saturday 6th January 1872 – page 3 – Thomas Bree abusive and obscene language Inquirer and Commercial News 30th March 1881 – page 3 – J Bree to Mauritius on “Star Queen” West Australian Friday 25th October 1946 – page 1 – death Catherine PASSMORE West Australian Monday 22nd October 1951 – page 21 – death of Margaret ASPINALL |
| Departure from Western Australia | Not yet known SROWA – Cons 144 – 1882 Mrs Bree living in No 2 Barracks with 3 children, her husband having left the Colony |
| Date/Place of Death/Burial | 10th January 1905, Sligo Irelands Aged 75. a widower, Occupation – Pensioner, Residence Pound Street, died Workhouse Hospital |
| Date/Place of Death/Burial Wife | 19th February 1912 Claremont Western Australia Roman Catholic Section Karrakatta Cemetery Western Australia |
| Will or Probate | None known |
| Further Information | Discharge: Unfit for further service. Disease of the heart In 1864 Thomas Bree nominated his father-in-law and mother-in-law Edward and Sarah Higgins as migrants to the Colony, at the time they were living at Sligo and Father White was given as the referee. There is no evidence they took up the offer. On 28th February 1870 Captain Finnerty wrote to the resident Magistrate Fremantle requesting that as Mrs Bree was in ill health and as she was unable to support herself and her 3 small children while her husband was serving 42 days imprisonment (Court Martial 27th February 1870) could he have her removed from the barracks to the poor house until her husband had served his sentence and he may be made to support her. Mrs Bree declined the offer. On 8th December 1871 Mrs Bree applied for outdoor relief as her husband is confined to bed with a broken rib. The matter was referred to Commanding Officer Charles Finnerty who replied ‘Pensioner Bree is of bad character were he otherwise he would be on Military Duty. I dismissed him for attempting to shoot the Sergt Major with a loaded rifle – if his rib is broken I am of opinion that he deserves it.’ The application was accompanied by a medical certificate. In 1874 Thomas Bree Had his pension suspended as he was in prison. In 1881 Thomas Bree bought Furniture from Barracks surplus sale when he was living in No 1 Barracks with wife and 5 children In August 1881 Ann Bree, wife of Thos Bree E.I.C. 9d, wants portion of pension, wrote [Beyaar Major] Mauritius. 22 Aug 81 By 1882 Mrs Bree living in No 2 Barracks with 3 children her husband having left the Colony. On 4th June 1890 Fremantle Mrs Bree wrote to the Colonial Secretary requesting him to allow her a room at the barracks as her husband had left her and had left the state 9 years previously. She had a little boy and her only means of support was her husband’s pension of 9d per day and a little assistance she got from her two daughters who were in service at Fremantle. Reply: No quarters available at this time, but by 1891 she was living in two rooms of the Fremantle Barracks with one child, Thomas, who is fourteen years of age. In 1899 there are a series of letters and memos from the caretaker of the Fremantle Barracks and the Acting Under Secretary about the conduct of Mrs Bree who is living with her son Thomas (20) in the Barracks and her refusal to adhere to the regulations. She used violence and abusive language towards the caretaker Sergeant- Major McIlwaine until she was physically removed from the barracks on 6th February 1899. . Royal Adelaide Hospital admissions: Admission No. 205, admitted 26/01/1894, age 67, M, Church of England residence Clare, labourer, born Ireland, 31 years in Colony, ship York Adm 189, 13/01/1900, 74, M, residence Clarenden, occ bushman, born Ireland, 38 years in Colony. Thomas was arrested for using obscene language in Adelaide in 1902 & 1903. |