Thomas Ratsey Maskew was born at Keyhaven, Milford, Hampshire, England on September 7, 1818 the third of five sons to Thomas Maskew and Elizabeth Ratsey. Educated at Sherborne, Dorset, he was admitted to Trinity College, Cambridge on July 5, 1837 and transferred to Sidney College, Cambridge on May 11, 1840, where he graduated in 1842.
After spells as Curate of Brockhampton, Herefordshire, (1842-1843), and Curate of Sidlesham, Sussex, (1843-1844), he returned to Dorset in 1844 to take up the post of Curate of Swyre.
On July 30, 1844 at Piddlehinton, Dorset, Thomas married Emily Knight the daughter of John Baverstock Knight. It is worth noting at this point that Emily had a twin sister, Augusta Knight, who married Thomas’ brother, George Fairclough Maskew.
Thomas was appointed Headmaster of Dorchester Grammar School in 1846 and after settling in to his new post, he and Emily started a family. Alice Ensor Maskew (1848) and Edward Maskew (1850). Tradgically in 1851 the birth of their third child Emily Gertrude Maskew resulted in the death of both mother and child. Emily’s sister, Augusta, had died under similar circumstances the previous year, although the child survived.
At Netherbury, Dorset on March 3, 1853, Thomas was married to Catherine Ann Keddle. The couple were to have 4 children, Arthur Fairclough Maskew (1854), Thomas Anthony Browne Maskew (1855), Lillian Margaret Maskew (1857) and Catherine Ann Maskew (1859). Following her daughter birth Catherin died on April 26, 1859.
With six children it is no surprise that Thomas soon remarried. At St Pancras, London on June 1, 1860 he married Jane Stordy from Stanwell, Cumberland, with who he was to have two more children, Charles Henry Maskew (1861) and Francis Ernest Stordy Maskew (1865).
During his career as Headmaster of Dorchester Grammar School from 1846 to 1878 he also held the position of Rector of Swyre, Dorset from 1856 to 1861. One of his pupils was future author John Meade Falkner, and Thomas was to provide memorable names for a couple of ‘Moonfleet’ characters. It has also been reported that Thomas’ daughter Katie, was his first love and on whom the character Grace Maskew was probably based.
Following his retirement as headmaster, Thomas held the positions of Curate of Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire (1879-1881),Curate of Kinlet, Shropshire (1881-1885), and Curate of Thornbury, Herefordshire (1886-1891).
Thomas died on March 2, 1893 survived by his third wife, Jane, who died at Swanage, Dorset on August 5, 1917.
Brian Tompkins said,
October 27, 2007 at 7:06 am
Alice Ensor Maskew was the wife of Henry John Gilbert, my 6th Cousin, 4 times removed.
Anthony Maxwell said,
February 13, 2008 at 8:59 pm
The brother of Thomas Ratsay Maskew, the Rev. Henry Edward Maskew, sometime Chaplain to the armed forces and later Rector of the Episcopal Church of St. James, Dollar, Clackmannanshire (1825-1915) was my great great grandfather.
Harriette Mercia Maskew (1830-1858) younger sister to the above Thomas and Henry shipped out to the Ionian island of Zante where she joined Henry in his ministery to the army during the Crimean war. She died there of a fever.
The second son of Thomas Ratsay Maskew, Arthur Fairclough Maskew was Canon of Peterborough Cathederal
Anne said,
February 16, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Hi Anthony, I am also descended from TRM – may I ask how you know Harriet died of a fever in Zante? It isn’t on her death certificate, I’ve long been curious what she was doing there and how she died
cheers
Anne
Jackie Maskew Cavallin said,
February 25, 2008 at 10:36 pm
My Great Grand Father was Dr. John Shepherd Maskew, brother of Thomas Ratsey Maskew.
John married his first cousin Julia Ratsey and together, they had 3 sons and later a daughter.
Two of his sons (Henry Christopher and Gilbert) immigrated to the US and became wool growers in Texas in the 1880′s. Another son, (Frederick Charles) was rumored to have gone to mine diamonds. I have yet to confirm the location was either South Africa NZ or Australia. I’ve found no further account of FC.
My understanding is the family was in association with the Royal family when they were together near New Forest and South Hampton.
Since I’m twice related to the Ratsey’s, I’ve done some research as well on them. For many generations, most were men of the sea serving in the Royal Navy as Captains and Admirals, ship builders and sail makers in and around Cowes, Isle of Wight.
Anthony Maxwell said,
March 2, 2008 at 8:01 am
Hello Anne
Harriette Mercia was known as Mercia as was my grandmother and her mother who was named after hariette mercia and because of the rarety of the name the story was passed down to my grandmother and my aunt who aslo has mercia in her name as does one of her daughters. I would like a copy of her death cetificate if you could let me have one. i did not know one existed. I am at; tignarius (at) hotmail dot com .
Hello Jackie
Are you the owner of the Maskew.com website? I have been trying to make email contact but can raise no answer.
There were no diamond mines in New Zealand and Australia in the 19th century so it is probably that frederick Charles Maskew went to South Africa to the ‘big hole’ at Kimberly.
The Ratsey family were sailmaikers to the Royal Navy for about 150 years. the firm still exists making sails for ocean going racing yachts though not in the Ratsay family. The have sail-making lofts in New York and South Wales.
I am still uncertain as to the origin of Thomas Maskew, husband of Elizabeth Ratsey. Does anyone know his origins and what he did. Also, has anyone found him in the 1851 census. He seems to be away from home and has probably been mis-indexed, but clearly his entry might tell us where he came from and what his occupation was.
Jackie Maskew Cavallin said,
March 6, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Hello Anthony,
Thanks for the information on the Diamond mines. I will concentrate more on your Kimberly lead. Are you aware of any Maskew’s in that area?
I will check my file when I get back in but I believe Thomas was listed as a Grocer.
My nephew owns and runs that site. I’ll see if I can trace him down for you. His father did the early research on our line and used information from the Crisp book to start. (Sorry, working out of town and no notes here so name may be incorrect)
Anyway, somewhere in my brothers notes I found reference to Maskew once being spelled Myerscough.
I found this interesting and am now also exploring that spelling in seaching for the senior Thomas Maskew (b abt 1760). There was a family of Myerscough (actually pronounced Maskew) in Lancashire. A Thomas Myerscough’s (Methodist Class Leader1858-1932) http://www.smithwigglesworth.com/pensketches/myerscought.htm
name came up on the search and this made me wonder if there was a connection to Jonathan Maskew/EARLY METHODIST PREACHER (b1713).
Jonathan had a son Thomas born 1756. I have never been able to prove he is the father of Thomas Maskew (b 1790) husband of Elizabeth Ratsey.
Dwight Maskew said,
March 7, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Hi everyone,
I’m Jackie’s nephew (Hi, Jackie!) and ‘run’ Maskew.com. Most of the information contained on the website is from the research my father, Dwight Lee Maskew Sr., (the brother Jackie mentions above), did back in 1980. Most of the information on comes from The Visitation of England and Wales (By Joseph Jackson Howard, Frederick Arthur Crisp). I’ve also done some of my own research trying to piece together some of the family data into meaningful lineages. This has proved somewhat difficult due to the proliferation of Johns, Thomases, and Williams in the Maskew family through the earliest years, as well as the lack of birth/death/marriage certificates available.
From what I understand, Thomas Maskew (b.1790) husband of Elizabeth Ratsey, is listed as being from Sherborne, Dorset and also Milford, Hampshire. This lends a bit of doubt to where exactly he was born. Could not locate a record of an occupation.
I did find information that George Fairclough (b.1822) emigrated to and was living in New Zealand according to the Sherborne Register. (see below)
Also found a publication that backs up Henry Edward’s journey to Zante during the years 1854-76. (see below)
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The Sherborne Register, 1823 – 1892, By Harry Hammond House
http://books.google.com/books?id=Z9sd5C3vixUC&pg=PA15&dq=thomas+maskew&ei=nKTRR-TlJJL0iwG3waXMBg#PPA15,M1
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Maskew, Thomas Ratsy (F.), son of Thomas Maskew, Sherborne ;
born, 1818 ;
Latin Ode, 1836 ;
English Essay, 1837 ;
left, 1837.
Trinity Coll. Camb. ;
Scholar of Sidney Sussex Coll. 1840 ;
Head Master of Dorchester Grammar School, 1846-78 ;
rector of Thornbury, Bromyard, Herefordshire, since 1885.
Maskew, John Shepherd (F.), brother of the above ;
born, 1820. M.D. of Edinburgh University ;
Fairley, Southampton.
Maskew, George Fairclough (F.), brother of the above;
born 1822. Emigrated to and is living in New Zealand.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Scottish Episcopal Clergy, 1689-2000, By David M. Bertie
http://books.google.com/books?id=Ceey5RQHgHoC&pg=PA362&dq=thomas+maskew&ei=nKTRR-TlJJL0iwG3waXMBg&sig=VUwbHwJ1A45PAo6UY9ks19a2iAg
————————————————————————————–
Maskew, Henry Edward
b. 1824, 4th Son of Thomas Maskew, Milford, Hants.
Magdalen Hall, Oxford, 1848.
D 1850 (Exeter),
P 1853 (Salisbury).
C Bridestowe, Devon, 1850.
C Penzance, Cornwall. 1850-53
C Cattistock. Dorset, 1853-54
C.F., 1854-76: Zante, Ionian Islands; Ladershot; Chatham, Dublin; Parkhurst; Curragh; etc.
C Tunstall, Lancs., 1876-78
INC. Dollar, 1878-1906. Rtd. 1906. d. Mar. 1915, Ealing, Middx.
marr.;
issue: Henry St. Lucien George R.D. b. 7 Jan 1877.
[EA; C; YB; GR;Foster, 1891]
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Anthony, I’ve responded to the email you sent me at my hotmail address. I apologize if there was a problem reaching me before. What method were you using? I’d like to find out what went wrong.
I’m also setting up a better implementation of the genealogy site. You can see it at http://www.maskew.com/gen/ but the data is still rough around the edges and there’s alot of duplicate information I’ve yet to sort out. I did get a nice photo of Henry Edward…
http://maskew.com/gen/showmedia.php?mediaID=1
I’m glad I found this blog. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.
Cheers,
Dwight
Jackie Maskew Cavallin said,
March 8, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Hello Dwight!
Good to hear from you! Glad to see you’re still working on the family info. Anxious to go check out Henry’s photo. Thx for posting.
Checking over my notes this weekend I find several references to Thomas Maskew (father of Thomas Ratsey and John Shepherd) being an Attorney and also being very involved with ministries for Africa.
“a reference to Lucy and Ensor [?] Shepherd of Lymington, spinsters
and executors (with Thomas Maskew of Lymington Esq) of John Shepherd of
Lymington deceased in deeds of 1828 and 1836 concerning plots of land on
the seaward side of Birmingham Road, Cowes [IWRO refs: Ward/1547
Ward/1542]”
Also see:A Brief History of the Wesleyan Missions on the West Coast of Africa … By William Fox Page 347 (Also perhaps another clue Thomas was related to Jonathan Maskew/Wesleyan Minister)
Another interesting note after reading the Lyminton Deed on Lucy and Ensor Shepherd was Thomas named a son John Sheherd and son Thomas Ratsey, named a daughter Alice Ensor.
You can reach me at javalincockers at aol
Dorchester Free School and Under School 1868 « Family Connections said,
March 12, 2008 at 5:50 am
[...] In November 1868 the Schools Inquiry Commission published the Special Reports of Assistant Commissioners to both Houses of Parliament. The Assistant Commissioner for the South West Division was Mr. C.H. Stanton and it is his report on the Dorchester Free Grammar School which follows. Whilst not mentioned by name the Headmaster at this time was the Rev. Thomas Ratsey Maskew. [...]
Anne said,
April 9, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Hi, just want to note for the record in case anyone reads this without background information, that the above exchanges have many errors and inaccuracies throughout. Speculation unsbstantiated is no subsitute for rigorous and accurate historical research. (I’m not referring to your verbal tradition handed down through the generations Mr Maxwell, as you have specified that source and those things are important to capture.)
So caveat emptor anyone who reads this. There are accurate facts mixed in with the fiction, but in some postings the latter predominates.
Anne
Dwight Maskew said,
April 10, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Anne,
What are the specific items you’re referring to? I’m still new to genealogy research, although I’ve been working at it for a few years now. I’d like to find out how to verify some of this information so that moving forward, we have a good baseline of data to work from. No sense in compounding the inaccuracies.
any ideas?
Dwight
Jackie Maskew Cavallin said,
April 25, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Yes, Anne please do tell. I’d be very curious to know where any of the above information is incorrect. You can reach me at javalincockers at aol
Anthony Maxwell said,
April 27, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Sorry to have not come back to this blog sooner but I have been working on another maternal line of mine for a few week.
Diane Rodie, great granddaughter of the rev Henry Edward Maskew has done some serious research into the origins of Thomas Maskew (1783- 1859). He was born in Liverpool, Lancashire son of John Maskew and Jane Fairclough which explains where that middle name comes form. John was born 13 April 1763 son of another John Maskew and Jane was born 19 June 1760 daughter of Anthony Fairclough and Ellen Lyon. John and Jane married at St Peter’s, Liverpool on 21 May 1775 and they had at least three sons of whom Thomas was the eldest. His younger brothers were; John, born 01 June 1784 and Joseph, born 30 December 1786. I have absolute faith in these facts as Diane visit the parish churches in Liverpool and transcribed the information from the actual parish registers.
Anne
If you have a copy of Harriet Mercia’s death certificate, perhaps you could share the information on it with us.
Jackie
I do not think that a ‘Grocer’ in Sherborne would have the wealth to send his four sons to school there and two of then on to Oxford and Cambridge. However, a Solicitor or Barrister may well have. We do not tend to have Attorneys in the UK but I am willing to accept that Thomas may have been in law and will check the Law Society and the Bar Council to see if he was registered with either. Further to this, I understand from Diane Rodie that the Rev. Thomas Ratsey Maskew was an outspoken anti-slave lobbyist and that there are published essays on the subject from him which might tie-in with the Africa Ministries.
I am also given to understand that there is somewhere a portrait of Thomas Maskew which was in possession of his eldest son, Thomas Ratsey Maskew. One wonders where it might be now.
Anthony Maxwell said,
April 27, 2008 at 9:03 pm
Furth;
This will lead you to a notice of a pamphlet by Thomas Maskew on slavery rather than his son….
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=kIZQACS-PJsC&pg=PA121&lpg=PA121&dq=%22Thomas+Maskew%22&source=web&ots=66beImFMrH&sig=q7Wu2ZVGObGEDzUbMxc-_eq8p6E&hl=en#PPA121,M1
Pete said,
June 3, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Hi, the following transcript is taken from the Hampshire Telegraph Monday, 24 Nov 1817
Married on Thursday, the 20th inst. at Milford, in this county, by the Hon. and Rev. Wm. Eden, Thomas Maskew Esq., of Liverpool, to Elizabeth, daughter of the late Christopher Ratsey Esq., of Keyhaven, in the same county.
Hope it helps. P
Anthony Maxwell said,
July 10, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Nice find Pete. It all adds to the picture. Interesting that Thomas married then remained in the same villageof Milford. Of course Keyhaven is virtualy the same village so he did not go far to find his bride or did he move to Milford to capture his bride. He seems to have lived in Milford for most of the rest of his life (except for the last little bit!). If only we could find out what his occupation was.
Lynne Hope ( previously Maskew ) said,
July 14, 2008 at 11:41 am
Hi
Tried to make contact via the maskew.com site without success so hope this works! Found this site after discovering that there was a street in Peterborough called Maskew Avenue. I am very much an amateur at this but have traced the Maskew side of my family ( originating in the Lancashire area ) back to Jonathon Maskew ( Methodist preacher ) who I believe was born in 1729 but havent been able to make the connection with ‘ your Maskews’—however I do have him with a son Thomas but the birth date I have is 1774 ( from Family Search ). I have not been able to trace Jonathons parents or any brothers or sisters ( and would welcome any suggestions ) so there may be a connection there. I do know that Jonathon Maskew married Margaret Clegg in 1754 and have found x 6 children including Thomas. Perhaps we are related somewhere along the line??
Lynne Hope ( previously Maskew )
A. Askew said,
February 26, 2009 at 1:11 pm
On page 308 of the Book “England’s lost Eden” by Philip Hoare (ISBN 0-00-715911) there is an account of the committal by Dr. Maskew of a perfectly sane Julia Wood, a “shaker” of the Commune at New Forest Lodge in the parish of Lymington in Hampshire, England to the Asylum at Laverstock, Wilts. Julia was the benefactor of Mother Mary Ann Girling, also committed for being a public nuisance.
Anne Norris said,
November 23, 2012 at 9:45 am
My husband is descended from John Baverstock Knight whose daughter married Thomas Ratsey Maskew.
I was thrilled by this connection as I had to study Moonfleet for my mock O’level years ago and I absolutely LOVED the story and as a keen amateur genealogist I am loving reading all this family history.
Regards to you all and thank-you.
Anne Norris