Individual Details
Dr William "Fancourt" TOMKINS J.P.
(17 Jul 1824 - 24 Mar 1899)
1841 census lists him as Fancourt aged 16.
1851 Census shows occupation as surgeon.
British Medical Journal lists him as a licenced apothacary.
17 Sep 1846 gained his medical certificate as published in London Medical Gazette
Headstone has "To his dear memory - William Fancourt Tomkins J.P. Yeovil M.R.C.S. & L.S.A. - Died suddenly 24 March 1899 and was buried at Hastings Cemetery aged 74 years - Ready ... Jesus.
From: The A-to-Z of Yeovil's History by Bob Osborn
William Fancourt Tomkins was born in Yeovil on 17 July 1825, the eldest of the seven children of Yeovil surgeon William Tomkins (1799-1855) and Hannah née Holland (1799-1871). He was baptised on 10 September 1824 in St John's church, Yeovil. Bought up in the family home of Magnolia House in Hendford (today's Princes Street), in the 1841 census he was listed there (as Fancourt Tomkins) with his parents and siblings.
William qualified as a Doctor of Medicine and was noted as such in the 17 September 1846 edition of the London Medical Gazette. He was admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons in January 1847.
In the 1851 census William and Hannah were still at Magnolia House with four of their children, a medical pupil and three servants. William gave his occupation as "M.D. London College Consulting Physician" and his eldest son, 26-year old William Fancourt, gave his occupation as a practising Surgeon.
In August 1852 William was a key witness in the trial of Joseph Mitchell who attempted to rape 11-year old Lucy Frampton in a field off Vagg Lane. (Mitchell got six months hard labour for the 'attempt', since rape could not be proved).
On 30 October 1855 at All Saints' church, Piddletrenthide, Dorchester, William married 34-year old widow Sarah Palmer, formerly Sarah Flower (b1821, Chickerell, Dorset). William and Sarah set up home at Borough House in High Street, which also served as William's medical practice (see Gallery below). They were listed at Borough House in the 1861 census with four visitors; Reginald Smith, Rector of Stafford, Dorset, Ann Flower (Sarah's 74-year old widowed mother described as a 'Lady'), Sarah's sister Matilda Ann Flower (also described as a 'Lady') and 5-year old John Walter Flower, presumably a nephew. There were also a cook and a housemaid.
William and Sarah were still at Borough House in 1871, together with a cook, general domestic servant and a 13-year old page boy. In 1871 he was appointed as a Borough Magistrate.
During the 1870s Sarah died and William retired to Charminster, Dorchester. In the 1881 census he was listed as a 56-year old widower and retired surgeon living in Alley Lane, Charminster, with his two nieces (on his wife's side); 26-year old Emily Anne Flower and 19-year old Matilda Florence Flower, both described as 'Gentlewoman', together with a cook and a general domestic servant.
By 1891 William had moved to London and was living with his sister, now widowed, Marianne Goodfellow and her son George at 102 Lewisham High Road, St Paul, Deptford, London. He gave his occupation as a retired doctor and Marianne was 'Living on her own means'.
On 10 July 1892, at St Mary's, Paddington Green, London, 66-year old William married 49-year old Elizabeth Marian Margaret Thomas (1843-1921).
William Fancourt Tomkins died at his home at 16 West Hill, St Leonards-on-Sea, on 24 March 1899. He was aged 73. His will was published in London in July 1899 and his effects were valued at £143 13s 1d (around £90,000 at today's value).
1851 Census shows occupation as surgeon.
British Medical Journal lists him as a licenced apothacary.
17 Sep 1846 gained his medical certificate as published in London Medical Gazette
Headstone has "To his dear memory - William Fancourt Tomkins J.P. Yeovil M.R.C.S. & L.S.A. - Died suddenly 24 March 1899 and was buried at Hastings Cemetery aged 74 years - Ready ... Jesus.
From: The A-to-Z of Yeovil's History by Bob Osborn
William Fancourt Tomkins was born in Yeovil on 17 July 1825, the eldest of the seven children of Yeovil surgeon William Tomkins (1799-1855) and Hannah née Holland (1799-1871). He was baptised on 10 September 1824 in St John's church, Yeovil. Bought up in the family home of Magnolia House in Hendford (today's Princes Street), in the 1841 census he was listed there (as Fancourt Tomkins) with his parents and siblings.
William qualified as a Doctor of Medicine and was noted as such in the 17 September 1846 edition of the London Medical Gazette. He was admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons in January 1847.
In the 1851 census William and Hannah were still at Magnolia House with four of their children, a medical pupil and three servants. William gave his occupation as "M.D. London College Consulting Physician" and his eldest son, 26-year old William Fancourt, gave his occupation as a practising Surgeon.
In August 1852 William was a key witness in the trial of Joseph Mitchell who attempted to rape 11-year old Lucy Frampton in a field off Vagg Lane. (Mitchell got six months hard labour for the 'attempt', since rape could not be proved).
On 30 October 1855 at All Saints' church, Piddletrenthide, Dorchester, William married 34-year old widow Sarah Palmer, formerly Sarah Flower (b1821, Chickerell, Dorset). William and Sarah set up home at Borough House in High Street, which also served as William's medical practice (see Gallery below). They were listed at Borough House in the 1861 census with four visitors; Reginald Smith, Rector of Stafford, Dorset, Ann Flower (Sarah's 74-year old widowed mother described as a 'Lady'), Sarah's sister Matilda Ann Flower (also described as a 'Lady') and 5-year old John Walter Flower, presumably a nephew. There were also a cook and a housemaid.
William and Sarah were still at Borough House in 1871, together with a cook, general domestic servant and a 13-year old page boy. In 1871 he was appointed as a Borough Magistrate.
During the 1870s Sarah died and William retired to Charminster, Dorchester. In the 1881 census he was listed as a 56-year old widower and retired surgeon living in Alley Lane, Charminster, with his two nieces (on his wife's side); 26-year old Emily Anne Flower and 19-year old Matilda Florence Flower, both described as 'Gentlewoman', together with a cook and a general domestic servant.
By 1891 William had moved to London and was living with his sister, now widowed, Marianne Goodfellow and her son George at 102 Lewisham High Road, St Paul, Deptford, London. He gave his occupation as a retired doctor and Marianne was 'Living on her own means'.
On 10 July 1892, at St Mary's, Paddington Green, London, 66-year old William married 49-year old Elizabeth Marian Margaret Thomas (1843-1921).
William Fancourt Tomkins died at his home at 16 West Hill, St Leonards-on-Sea, on 24 March 1899. He was aged 73. His will was published in London in July 1899 and his effects were valued at £143 13s 1d (around £90,000 at today's value).
Events
| Birth | 17 Jul 1824 | Yeovil, Somerset, England, United Kingdom | |||
| Christen | 10 Sep 1824 | St John's Church, Yeovil, Somerset, England | |||
| Residence | 1841 | Hendford, Yeovil, Somerset, England, United Kingdom | |||
| Residence | 1851 | Surgeon practicing - Hendford, Yeovil, Somerset, England, United Kingdom | |||
| Marriage | 30 Oct 1855 | All Saints' Church, Piddle Trenthide Near Dorchester, Dorset, England, United Kingdom - Lady Sarah FLOWER |  | ||
| Marriage | 10 Jul 1892 | St Mary on Paddington Green Church, Paddington Green, London, England, United Kingdom - Elizabeth Marian Margaret THOMAS | | ||
| Death | 24 Mar 1899 | 16 West Hill, St Leonards-on-Sea, Hastings, East Sussex, England | |||
| Burial | Aft 24 Mar 1899 | Hastings Cemetery, Hastings, East Sussex, England | |||
| Alt name | William TOMKINS Jnr | ||||
| Alt name | William Fancourt TOMKYNS | ||||
| Alt name | Fancourt TOMKINS | ||||
| Alt name | Dr William Fancourt TOMKINS J.P. | ||||
| Alt name | William TOMKINS Jnr; Fancourt Tomkins & William Fancourt Tomkyns |
Families
| Spouse | Lady Sarah FLOWER (1821 - 1880) |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Marian Margaret THOMAS (1843 - 1921) |
| Father | Dr William TOMKINS M.D. 🧬 (1799 - 1855) |
| Mother | Hannah "Anna" HOLLAND (1799 - 1871) |
| Sibling | Marianna TOMKINS (1826 - 1909) |
| Sibling | Latitia "Jane" TOMKINS (1827 - 1887) |
| Sibling | Dr Henry Holland TOMKINS ⛵🧬 (1829 - 1907) |
| Sibling | Susan "Emily" TOMKINS (1831 - 1865) |
| Sibling | Fanny TOMKINS (1833 - 1900) |
| Sibling | Lucy Jane TOMKINS (1837 - 1909) |
Notes
Marriage
Sarah was a widow at the time of her marriage to William. Her married name was PALMER.Dorset, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1921
Name Sarah Palmer [Sarah Flower]
Gender Female
Marriage Age Full Age
Marriage Date 30 Oct 1855
Marriage Place Piddletrenthide, Dorset, England
Father
John Flower
Spouse
William Fancourt Tomkyus
Marriage
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915Name: William Fancourt Tomkyns
Registration Year: 1892
Registration Quarter: Jul-Aug-Sep
Registration District: Paddington
Parishes for this Registration District: View Ecclesiastical Parishes associated with this Registration District
Inferred County: London
Volume: 1a
Page: 69
Records on Page:
Name
Jane Hoddy
Francis Patrick Hopkins
James Pugh
Elizabeth Marian M Thomas
William Fancourt Tomkyns