Daughter of Samuel West and Frances Harris

Mary West was born around 1816 and is recorded as being born in Wallington, Norfolk in the 1851 census and Lynn, Norfolk in the 1861 census.

Married Augustus Tomkins [ Date and location of marriage not known ]

1838: 23 Newcastle Street, Westminster

The only reference to the family living at this address comes from the baptism of Susannah Frances Tomkins in 1838. We do not know how long the family lived at this address^[1].

1840: 243½ Strand, Westminster.

The only reference to the family living at this address comes from the birth certificate of Elizabeth Charlotte Tomkins in December 1840. The family lived at this address for at least one month, but the exact duration is not known^[2].

1842: 8 Eagle Court, Westminster

The only references to the family living at this address comes from the baptism and death of Elizabeth Tomkins in 1842. We do not know how long the family lived at this address^[3].

1845: 15 ½ Serles Place

The first reference to the family living at this address comes from the baptism of Edward William Tomkins in September 1845. The family were living at this address at the time of the 1851 and 1861 census.

A description of the area including Serles Place and Ship Yard was given in the Times on 12th November 1866. The article described the 'extensive and complicated network of lanes, courts and alleys' in its final days before clearance and demolition, with reference to 'grimy, stooping, unwholesome buildings'  and dilapidated passages, whilst pondering the fate of the 'many hundreds of poor families' displaced by the clearance. 

1851: 15 ½ Serles Place

On the night of 30th March 1851^[4] Augustus Tomkins (38, working as a tailor) was living with his wife Mary (35) and five children, who were listed as: Susannah F. (12, at home), Edward Wm (8, scholar), Mary Ann (5, at home), John T. (3, at home) and Hester Jane (3m, at home).

There were 6 households living at 15½ Serles Place (including the Tomkins) at this time.

1861: 15 ½ Serles Place

On the night of 7th April 1861^[5] Augustus Tomkins (50, working as a tailor) was living with his wife Mary (45) and four children, who were listed as: Susannah Frances (23), Mary Ann (15, working as an apprentice bookbinder), John (10) and Esther (10).

There were 6 households living at 15½ Serles Place (including the Tomkins) at this time.

Augustus became a widower when Mary Tomkins (nee West) died [ sometime between 1861 and 1871 ]

Children:

• Susannah Frances Tomkins
• Elizabeth Charlotte Tomkins
• Mary Ann Tomkins
• Esther Jane Tomkins
• Edward William Tomkins
• John Thomas Tomkins