Not sure if this is still live, I can confirm that jonw65 was correct, Thomas Cass was the son of Michael Cass and Jane Thickbroom. Michael was born in Yorkshire, to a large family (he was one of eight), his parents ran the Three Tuns in Thirsk. Michael was a Linen Draper in Soho, and he died in 1825, leaving his wife with three sons and three daughters: Elizabeth, Jane, John, William, Thomas and Mary. John became a master mariner, and married Jane Beard. William became a GP in Cowes (Isle of Wight) and married Caroline Rowe, Thomas relocated to New Zealand he did train as a mariner first. His brother John sailed to NZ and Australia fairly regularly. The daughters became governesses, and two married after their mother died. Elizabeth becoming 'Betty Townsend', Jane becoming 'Jane Balls'. So although Thomas had his family roots firmly in Yorkshire it is not true that he was born there, he was born in London. Hope this helps (I am a descendant of John Cass, Thomas's older brother, we have the family Bible of Michael's parents, listing all the eight children's baptisms).
