Thomas CASS - Surveyor born 1817 in Yorkshire, possibly Brafferton

[Thatman]

Thomas CASS was born in Yorkshire in 1817 and went on to become a notable surveyor in the early days in the development of New Zealand.

In all of the bio's and wiki's his birth is only referred to as 1817 with no location.

I have located a possible candidate who was christened in Brafferton, York on 28 May 1817 with parents of Thomas and Elizabeth but there is no other information that would link this record to the above person.

Unfortunately Father = Thomas Cass is not too meaningful due to the large number of Thomas (and wife Elizabeth) that feature in records on FamilySearch, Ancestry and MyHeitage.

Every bio that I have read on the subject person are very vague as to the birth location and date, but all dates post that are very specific like his travel to NZ and subsequent marriage and death.

It is possible that Thomas Cass (born 1817) also had a brother and sister but again I cannot locate potential candidates.

Your input and thoughts would be appreciated.


   

[BumbleB]

FindMyPast have the parish registers for Brafferton :

3 December 1812 - marriage by Banns of Thomas Cass (bachelor) and Elizabeth Ellenby (widow)

Mary - daughter of Thomas (Labourer) and Elizabeth Cass of Helperby - baptised 14 March 1813
John - son of ditto - baptised 3 October 1815
Thomas - son of ditto - baptised 28 May 1817

11 July 1818 - burial of Elizabeth Cass of Helperby, aged 38
24 March 1859 - burial of Thomas Cass of Helperby, aged 73

[Thatman]

BumbleBe,

thanks for that. Now to make the leap of faith to link Thomas junior to being the same Thomas CASS, Surveyor

[jonwarrn]

11 July 1818 - burial of Elizabeth Cass of Helperby, aged 38

Two other Cass burials at Brafferton in 1818.
10 May, John Cass, abode Helperby, age 1
17 May, Thomas Cass, abode Helperby, age 3

It's as if the boys ages/names, have been reversed. No other baptisms there to account for them.
Doesn't look too promising

[rosie99]

I was also going to post what John has just mentioned about the burials

[jonwarrn]

Great minds think alike, Rosie!

[rosie99]

I was looking at it earlier but had not seen the baptism images.  Although the burials were a week apart it is possible the register was written up at the same time.

[jonwarrn]

That's true. I have the feeling that some error has been made. Father Thomas seems to have remarried.
 
Perhaps the born in Yorkshire info is wrong. The obits (on Papers Past) say he was educated at Christ's Hospital in London.
A baptism at St Anne Soho, 31 Dec 1817
Thomas
parents Michael + Jane Cass
abode Gerrard St
father a Linen Draper
born Nov 22

Possible burial of father at St Anne, 6 February 1825?
Michael Cass
abode Dean St
age 51

Ah, he left a will
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D163415

Also on ancestry.

[jonwarrn]

Possible burial of father at St Anne, 6 February 1825?
Michael Cass
abode Dean St
age 51

So far the only baptism to match that I can find is Michael Cass in Thirsk, Yorkshire, in 1774. Father William. I have no more details.
Could it be that his dad was from Yorkshire, rather than Thomas?

Marriage
Michael Cass + Jane Thickbroom, 5 Feb 1807, St Anne Soho
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NKRC-69M