Person Page - 482

     Thomas Symonds was born on 29 June 1767 in St. James, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.¹ He was the son of Capt. Thomas Symonds RN and Mary Ann Noble.¹ Thomas Symonds died on 15 October 1771 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, at the age of 4.¹

     Thomas Symonds was baptised on 10 February 1727/28 at Horringer, Suffolk, twin to John.¹ He was the son of Rev. John Symonds and Mary Spring.¹ Thomas Symonds was buried on 14 February 1727/28 in Horringer, Suffolk.²

     Thomas C. Symonds's birth was registered in the quarter ending 1881 in the Sydney, New South Wales, Australia registration district.¹ He was the son of Thomas C.L. Symonds and Alice Ann Picot.¹

     Thomas C.L. Symonds's birth was registered in the quarter ending September 1854 in the Alverstoke, Hampshire registration district; born in Gosport.³ He was the son of Maj. Gen. Jermyn Charles Symonds RMLI and Susan Campbell Kennedy ?² Thomas C.L. Symonds married Alice Ann Picot circa 1873 probably in Jersey, Channel Islands.⁴ In May 1887 at Woollahra a draftsman called Thomas Cunningham Lewis Symonds of Cecil Street, Ashfield surrendered as an insolvent he was again bankrupt in April 1903.^5,6 Thomas's death was registered in the quarter ending 1915 in the Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia registration district.⁴

     Thomas E. Symonds's birth was registered in the quarter ending 1877 in the Sydney, New South Wales, Australia registration district.¹ He was the son of Thomas C.L. Symonds and Alice Ann Picot.¹

     Vice-Admiral Thomas Edward Symonds was born on 31 January 1781 in Devonport, Devon.² He was the son of Capt. Thomas Symonds RN and Elizabeth Mallet.¹ He is the eldest son (by Elizabeth, daughter of Hugh Malet, Esq., and wife afterwards of Lieut.-General Farmer, R.M. of the late Capt. Thomas Symonds, R.N. and brother (with the present Sir William. Symonds) of Commander Jermyn John Symonds, R.N., who was lost with all his crew in the Helena sloop, on the coast of Holland, 3 Nov. 1796, and of Commander John Charles Symonds, R.N. (1814), who died 16 Dec. 1840, at Keyhaven, Hants, aged 50. His uncle, the late Dr. Symonds, was Professor of Modern History at the University of Cambridge, and successor to the poet Gray.

This officer entered the Navy, in Dec. 1795, as Midshipman, on board the Cambridge 74, bearing the flag of Vice-Admiral Richard Onslow at Plymouth; and from March, 1796, until promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, 8 Oct. 1802, was employed, on the Lisbon, Halifax, West India, and Home stations, part of the time as Master's Mate, in the St. Albans 64 and Resolution 74, flag-ships of Vice-Admiral Geo. Vandeput, Dasher 18, Capt. Geo. Tobin, Asia 64, flag-ship of Vice-Admiral Vandeput, Lily 14, Capt. Joseph Spear, Belleisle 74, Capt. John Whitby, and Royal Charlotte yacht, Capt. Sir Harry Burrard Neale. He was next, 17 November 1803 and 10 May, 1803, appointed to the Dasher Sloop, Capt. Delafons, and Ville De Paris 110, flag ship of Hon. William Cornwallis, on the Irish, Mediterranean, and Channel stations; he attained the rank of Commander 22 Jan. 1806; and from March, 1807, until posted 29 Sept. 1813, he served in that capacity in the Tweed 18, in the West Indies and North Sea and on the coast of Africa. In the Ville De Paris, in which ship he performed the duties of Signal-Lieutenant, he was present, 22 Aug. 1805, in an attack made upon the French fleet close in with Brest Harbour; and while serving in the Tweed he commanded the in-shore squadron at the blockade and surrender of the city of St. Domingo, in 1809, and made prize at different times of three privateers (the Santissima Trinidad of 4 guns and 20 men [a Spanish schooner letter of marque from Puerto Cavallo bound to Cadiz on 29 February 1808], [16 March 1808 off Jamaica] L'Aventure of 3 guns and 52 men, and [in the North Sea a Danish privateer] the Steinbill of 10 guns and 30 men) and 15 sail of merchantmen. Referring to the siege of St. Domingo, Capt. William. Pryce Cumby, of the Polyphemus 64, in an official letter to Vice-Admiral Bartholomew Samuel Rowley, the Commander-in-Chief, dated 7 July, 1809, says "This despatch will be delivered to you by Capt. Symonds, of the Tweed to whose zealous attention in conducting the troops, schooners, and gun-boats, during a close and vigorous blockade of two months, I owe considerable obligation; and although the services of the squadron you did me the honour to place under my orders may not have been of a brilliant nature, I trust I may be permitted on this occasion to bear testimony to the unremitting perseverance with which the vessels maintained the stations assigned them, through all the variety of weather incident to the season, on a 'steep and dangerous shore, where no anchorage was to be obtained, as well, as to the vigilance and alacrity of those men who were employed in the night guard-boats, by whose united exertions the enemy's accustomed supply by sea was entirely cut off, and the surrender of the city greatly accelerated." Capt. Symonds accepted his present rank (Rear-Admiral) 1 Oct. 1846.

The Rear-Admiral is Chairman of the Lymington Union. He has had issue 10 children. One of his sons, Thomas Edward, is a Commander R.N; another, Jermyn Charles, is a First Lieutenant R.M. (1841) ; and a third, Octavius Cumby, fell a victim to African fever while serving with Capt. Falter Grimston Estcourt in the Eclair steamer.

The Tweed was an 18 gun sloop of war built by Iremonger of Littlehampton who launched the vessel in January 1807. On 5 November 1813 she sruck a rock in Shoal Bay, Newfoundland and about half her crew were lost.³ Vice-Admiral Thomas Edward Symonds married Lucinde Marie Louise Antoinette Touzi, daughter of François Joseph Touzi and Anne Careaud, on 11 March 1815 in the Parish Church, Fareham, Hampshire. Vice-Admiral Thomas Edward Symonds again married Lucinde Marie Louise Antoinette Touzi on 15 June 1817 in St Giles in Fields, London, The second wedding taking place because of the doubt over Lucinde's age caused by confusion over the French and Gregorian calendars and thus it was suspected that the first marriage may have been invalid. Vice-Admiral Thomas Edward Symonds and Lucinde Marie Louise Antoinette Touziappear in the 1861 census at Yeaton House, Hordle, Hampshire, together with their three younger daughters. The census shows Lucinde's birthplace.² Vice-Admiral Thomas Edward Symonds died on 15 April 1868 in Yeovilton House, Lymington, Hampshire, at the age of 87.⁴

     Capt. Thomas Edward Symonds RN was born on 12 October 1817 in Boldre, Hampshire.² He was the son of Vice-Admiral Thomas Edward Symonds and Lucinde Marie Louise Antoinette Touzi.¹ Capt. Thomas Edward Symonds RN was christened on 19 September 1818 at the Parish Church of Boldre, Hampshire.³ This officer entered the Navy 15 Nov. 1832; obtained his first commission 17 March, 1841 ; and was then appointed to the Iris 26, Capts. Hugh Nourse, William Tucker, and George Rodney Mundy, on the coast of Africa, whence he returned to England and was paid off in 1843. He attained the rank of Commander 29 April, 1847.
In a letter to The Times dated 2 September 1864 he describes himself as Retired Captain, Royal Navy. He married firstly Anne Frances Schweitzer, daughter of John George Schweitzer, on 22 July 1848 (she is the widow of the Rev. N. Tindal). Capt. Thomas Edward Symonds RN and Anne Frances Schweitzer appear on the census of 4 April 1881 at 4 Boundary Road, London, which also records Frances Barclay, aged 19 and born in Boldre, an unmarried "daughter-in-law" living with them. The census records Thomas Symonds as a retired Royal Naval Captain.⁴ Capt. Thomas Edward Symonds RN died on 25 July 1887 at the age of 69 s.p.²

     Admiral of the Fleet Sir Thomas Matthew Charles Symonds GCB was born on 31 October 1811 in Milford, Hampshire.^2,3 He was the son of Rear Admiral Sir William Symonds KCB, FRS and Elizabeth Saunders Luscombe. Admiral of the Fleet Sir Thomas Matthew Charles Symonds GCB was baptised on 11 September 1816 at Fawley, Hampshire.² He married firstly Anna Maria Heywood, daughter of Capt. Edmund Heywood CB., RN, on 25 September 1845 in Essendon, Hertfordshire.⁴ Admiral of the Fleet Sir Thomas Matthew Charles Symonds GCB married secondly Prestwood Mary Wolrige, daughter of Capt. Thomas Wolrige R.N., on 16 February 1856 in St. George's Chapel, Stonehouse, Devon.⁵ Admiral of the Fleet Sir Thomas Matthew Charles Symonds GCB died on 14 November 1894 in Sunny Hill, Higher Warberry, Torquay, Devon, at the age of 83 after a prolonged illness.^1,6

     Capt. Thomas Symonds RN was baptised on 10 August 1731 at Horringer, Suffolk.² He was the son of Rev. John Symonds and Mary Spring. Capt. Thomas Symonds RN married firstly Mary Ann Noble. Capt. Thomas Symonds RN married secondly Elizabeth Mallet, daughter of Dr. Hugh Mallet and Susanna (Unknown), on 25 March 1780 in Stoke Damerel, Devon.³ On 10 October 1781 he was in command of HMS Charon when his ship, along with three others, Guadaloupe, Fowey and Vulcan together with some transports were burnt in the Chesapeake before Yorktown by red hot shot from the American batteries. Together with Lord Cornwallis who commanded the garrisons of York and Gloucester, he signed the articles of capitulation on behalf of the British naval forces in the York river, before George Washington, thus ending the war with America.⁴ Capt. Thomas Symonds RN died on 25 May 1792 in St. Edmund's Hill at the age of 60.⁵ He was buried in St Mary’s Parish Church, Pakenham, Suffolk,, where he shares a mural tablet with his son Jermyn John.⁶

     Thomazina Symonds was the daughter of Robert Symonds de Swynfeilde.¹ Thomazina Symonds married Henry Stokes of Ewell.

     Rev. William Symonds was born on 30 March 1858 in Devon.^1,2 He was the son of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Thomas Matthew Charles Symonds GCB and Prestwood Mary Wolrige.¹ Rev. William Symonds was educated at Eton.¹ He graduated in 1881 from Magdalen College B.A., M.A. 1884. He was Rector of Newntown, Tetbury, Gloucestershire.¹ He died on 1 July 1918 in Bury St. Edmunds at the age of 60.^1,3

     William Cornwallis Symonds was born on 30 July 1855 in Onehunga, New Zealand.^1,2 He was the son of John Jermyn Symonds and Alithea Seymour Wilson.¹ William Cornwallis Symonds died on 6 September 1892 in Onehunga at the age of 37 unmarried.²

     Capt. William Cornwallis Symonds was born on 1 August 1810.² He was the son of Rear Admiral Sir William Symonds KCB, FRS and Elizabeth Saunders Luscombe.¹ Capt. William Cornwallis Symonds. Capt Symonds was an officer of the 96th Regiment of Foot of the British Army. He came to New Zealand in the early 1830s as agent of the Waitemata and Manukau Land Company and was instrumental in the founding of Auckland and the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. He was one of Governor William Hobson's closest and most effective officials and was one of the first six Police Magistrates in New Zealand. He was Chief Magistrate of Auckland and Deputy Surveyor of New Zealand.³ He died on 23 November 1841 in Manukau Harbour, Auckland, New Zealand. At the age of 31. On an errand of mercy to help Mrs Hamlin, the wife of the Missionary living at Orua Bay who had become ill, Captain William Cornwallis Symonds was drowned. Captain Symonds obtained medical supplies and proceeded to Orua Bay in one of the ships boats. A sudden squall blew up which upset the boat and only one of the five men in her, a Maori oarsman, survived. Of the Company, Captain Symonds, James Adams and Mr McAlpine were drowned. He probably was the first European to drown in the Manukau Harbour.
There are two Symonds Streets in Auckland - the Central City thoroughfare is named after William Cornwallis Symonds, whilst Symonds Street in Onehunga is named after John Jermyn.

The United Service Magazine reports: We deeply grieve to record the premature and melancholy fate which, since the above was transmitted, has befallen the highly promising officer in whose company Capt. Best made the journey described in this narrative. Capt. William Cornwallis Symonds, of the 96th Regt., eldest son of the present Surveyor of the Navy, to whom our naval architecture is so deeply and practically indebted, after studying, with marked distinction, at the Senior Department of the Royal Military College, proceeded to New Zealand, his regiment being stationed in New South Wales, with the appointment of Deputy Surveyor-General, for which he was in every respect qualified. Of his assiduity and intelligence in the discharge of very active duties in a region gifted by nature, but as yet imperfectly known, we have recently had proofs in a journal kept by Capt. Symonds, with a perusal of which we were favoured ; and we have reason to know that his personal popularity was unbounded amongst the New Zealanders, whom his manly and humane character materially tended to conciliate and civilize. It is unnecessary to add that he was justly respected and beloved by the European residents. An act of noble solicitude for one of the latter occasioned his lamented death on the 23rd of November last. The wife of a missionary at the settlement being ill, and no medical aid at hand, Capt. Symonds, with characteristic feeling and energy, proceeded himself, at all risks, to a vessel at some distance, to procure the necessary assistance. The weather was rough, the sea ran high, and, on returning from the ship, the boat swamped. Poor Symonds—remarkable for his athletic and handsome person was an expert swimmer, and struck out manfully to gain the shore, some miles distant, with his companion, Mr. Adams, who, after a stout struggle, sank and rose no more. Symonds still persevered, and was long seen buffeting the waves with unsubdued vigour and presence of mind ; but when close to the shore he suddenly disappeared,a shark had pulled him down. The monster was taken, and a portion of the remains was found in its stomach. Thus miserably perished one of the finest young men in the British Service. Capt. Symonds had, not long before, purchased his company, and paid the difference to come on full pay: he has found an early grave in the public service, and in the immediate performance of an act of humanity at great personal hazard.²

     William Cunningham Symonds was christened on 12 February 1832 at the Parish Church, Boldre, Hampshire, this record gives his name as William Comingham Symonds.² He was the son of Vice-Admiral Thomas Edward Symonds and Lucinde Marie Louise Antoinette Touzi.¹ William Cunningham Symonds died on 8 March 1854 at the age of 22 killed in an accidental explosion whilst supervising the blasting of a root of a tree with gunpowder.
The London Gazette of 21 March mentions a promotion vice 1st. Lt. Symonds, deceased.^1,3

     Rear Admiral Sir William Symonds KCB, FRS. Surveyor of the Navy.² He was born on 24 September 1782.³ He was the son of Capt. Thomas Symonds RN and Elizabeth Mallet.¹ Rear Admiral Sir William Symonds KCB, FRS went to sea on 27 September 1794. Promoted lieutenant, 14 October 1801 he gained no further promotion until his captaincy on 5 December 1827. He became a retired rear-admiral in 1854.² He married firstly Elizabeth Saunders Luscombe, daughter of Matthew Luscombe FRS, on 22 April 1808 at East Stonehouse, Plymouth, Devon.⁴ Rear Admiral Sir William Symonds KCB, FRS married secondly Elizabeth Mary De Carteret, daughter of Rear Admiral Philip De Carteret and Mary Rachel Silvester, on 10 March 1818 at Southampton. The marriage of Rear Admiral Sir William Symonds KCB, FRS and Susan Mary Briggs was registered in the quarter ending December 1851 in the Williton, Somerset Registration District.⁵ Rear Admiral Sir William Symonds KCB, FRS died on 30 March 1856 at the age of 73 on board the French steamer Nil whilst on his way from Malta to Marseilles, where he is buried.²

     Zébée Helen Emilia Jessie Symonds was christened on 6 March 1836 at the Parish Church, Boldre, Hampshire.³ She was the daughter of Vice-Admiral Thomas Edward Symonds and Lucinde Marie Louise Antoinette Touzi.^1,2 Zébée Helen Emilia Jessie Symonds married Maj. Gen. Francis Edward Cox RE, son of Samuel Fortnom Cox and Mary Emily Sheffield, on 5 September 1861 in Hordle, Lymington, Hampshire, The Annual Register spells her name Emilia.^4,5,6 Zébée Helen Emilia Jessie Symonds appears on the census of 1881 at 9 St. Johns Terrace, Radipole, Dorset, together with her children Rosamund, Felicia, Walter, St. John and a servant Ellen Flood.³ She appears on the census of 5 April 1891 at Melcombe Regis, Dorset, described as a lodger, living on her own means.⁷ Zébée's death was registered in the quarter ending March 1909 in the Weymouth registration district.⁵

     Hannah Taft was born in 1758.¹ She was the daughter of Robert Taft and Deborah Lovett.¹ Hannah Taft married Simon Adams.¹ Hannah Taft died in 1833.¹

     Robert Taft was born in 1724.¹ He married Deborah Lovett.¹ In 1776 responded to the alarm under Capt. Zenas Wheeler.¹ Robert Taft died in 1787 in New Malboro, Massachusetts.¹

     Mary Taggart was born on 16 August 1865 in Kansas, Illinois.² She was the daughter of Rev. Samuel B. Taggart.¹ Mary Taggart married William Jesse Sewall, son of William Winter Sewall and Susan E. Cox, on 6 September 1893 in Illinois.^1,3 Mary Taggart died on 23 March 1949 in McCune-Brooks Hospital, Carthage, Missouri, at the age of 83.²

     Rev. Samuel B. Taggart. Of Upper Alton, Illinois.¹

     Mary Tailer was the daughter of Edward N. Tailer.¹ Mary Tailer married Robert Reginald Livingston, son of Robert Edward Livingston and Susan Maria Clarkson de Peyster, on 15 April 1884.²

     Aymer Taillefer, Count of Angoulême married Alice de Courteney, daughter of Peter de Courteney and Elizabeth de Courteney, in April 1186.^1,2

     Isabella Taillefer was born in 1188 in Angoulême, France.² She was the daughter of Aymer Taillefer, Count of Angoulême and Alice de Courteney.¹ Isabella Taillefer married John Lackland, King John of England, son of King Henry II, called Curtmantle, King of England and Eleanor of Aquitane, on 24 August 1200 in Bordeaux Cathedral, Gascony.³ Isabella Taillefer died on 31 May 1246 in Fontevrault Abbey where she was buried.⁴

     Euphemia Tait was born circa 1833 in Scotland.¹ She was the daughter of James Tait and Euphemia Bell.¹

     Euphemia Bell Tait's birth was registered in the quarter ending March 1867 in the Alnwick, Northumberland registration district.¹ She was the daughter of Walter Tait and Margaret (Unknown).¹ Euphemia's death was registered in the quarter ending December 1868 in the Alnwick, Northumberland registration district.¹

     James Tait was born circa 1796 in Scotland.² He married Euphemia Bell, daughter of William Bell and Markie Minto, on 20 June 1824 in Jedburgh, Roxburgshire.^3,1 James Tait appeared in the 1841 census at Kames E Mains, Berwickshire. James is listed as a farmer. He appears in the 1851 census at Branxton, Northumberland. As a farmer of 304 acres employing 12 labourers. He is described as a widower.⁴

     Jane C. Tait was born circa 1829 in Scotland.¹ She was the daughter of James Tait and Euphemia Bell.²

     Margaret Tait was born circa 1873 in Warkworth, Northumberland.¹ She was the daughter of Walter Tait and Margaret (Unknown).¹

     Marky M. Tait was born circa 1882 in Norham, Northumberland.¹ She was the daughter of Walter Tait and Margaret (Unknown).¹ Note: A Marky Minto Tait is listed in the first register of midwives in Western Australia. Supplement to the Government Gazette of Western Australia, 7 February 1913. The British Journal of Nursing , 12 January 1918 records the award of the Royal Red Cross Decoration, First Class to Miss Maryky Minto Tait, A./Sister, Civil Hpl. Res. Glasgow Western Infirmary.^2,3