Thomas Henry Blencowe (1828–1904) and Elizabeth Ann Pickard (1831-1904)
1857-1861 An Entrepreneural Emigration to the United States
Thomas and Elizabeth emigrated to United States in 1857 but then returned home in 18611
This journey is best described as an entrepreneurial emigration. They were not driven by poverty or hardship;
instead, they were comfortably established in the family’s thriving pharmacy business and sought opportunities abroad.
The Entreprenueral Background
Thomas Henry was born in Radstone, a small hamlet of about 100 people. He came from a long line of retailers and farmers.
Seven generations earlier, his ancestor John Blencowe (1604–1666) had been a grocer in London before dying in Radstone.
Thomas’s father, Timothy Blencowe, apprenticed as an apothecary and by 1841 owned a pharmacy on High Street, Towcester.
Thomas followed in his father’s footsteps, learning pharmacy, accounting, and retail management directly from him.
In May 1850 Thomas Henry married Elizabeth Ann Pinckard from Maidford a viilage about 12 miles away, Thomas Henry and Elizabeth soon began a family with son Charles Blencowe being born in 1852.
Soon after, they planned their journey to America, intending to explore opportunities in the New World while retaining the means to return home if necessary.
It was a bold move, and many years ahead on similar emigrations by others.
When and Where Did the Emigration Take Place?
Family accounts in the Blencowe Book2 mistakenly claimed that Thomas Henry and Elizabeth emigrated to Michigan in 1843. The Blencowe book story relates that, Thomas Henry believed that Michigan’s latitude would offer a climate similar to England, and the couple chose that region. Their daughter Annie Marie was born in April 1858 in Elm Township, Michigan, proving their residence there. However, they soon discovered that winters were far harsher than expected.
During their stay, Thomas Henry worked as an accounting clerk in several locations. The birthplaces of his children reflect this pattern of relocation. Records also show that the family was living in New York in the same year they returned to England—Arthur’s birth there likely marked the final significant family event before their departure. They sailed back to England in 1861, arriving after April, as they do not appear in the English 1861 census. The outbreak of the American Civil War in April 1861 may have influenced their decision to return—a fortunate choice given the upheaval that followed.
Children born in the United States
2. John Franklin (Frank) Blencowe, b. 4 Oct 1857, Chicago, Illinois,
3. Annie Marie Blencowe, b. April 1858 Winona, Elm Township, Michigan,
4. Arthur Blencowe, b. Abt 1861, New York, New York ]
Return to Towcester and a New Departure
When the family returned to Towcester, they rejoined the pharmacy business on the High Street. By then, Timothy Blencowe was 63 and in need of a succession plan. Timothy’s eldest son, Charles Blencowe (1822-1890), was already running a successful grocery business in London, much like their ancestor John Blencowe had done in 1628. Responsibility for the pharmacy therefore fell to Thomas Henry.
The business continued to prosper, and more children were born in Towcester. By the time Timothy died in 1871 at the age of 73, Thomas Henry and Elizabeth were parents to seven children. Timothy’s will left the pharmacy jointly to Charles (the grocer) and Thomas Henry, the brothers chose to sell it to Mr. T. Oldham.
As an aside,in 1871 their eldest son Charles Thomas was in training to succeed, he was a Chemist Assistant in St Albans, Hertfordshire.
In 18733 and in their forties, Thomas Henry and Elizabeth decided to make another attempt at life in America—this time seeking a warmer climate. We haven’t a record of when they set out once more for New York, a party of nine (that is seven children and some American by birth of course). The younger children: Arthur Henry (11), Marian Elizabeth (8), and Emily Mary (6) classified as emigrants by US officials.
Virginia 1873
In 1873 the family arrived back in the USA and made their way to Virginia. Its entirely possible this was Nelson County. No newspaper articles etc have been found to substatiate this though, but they were in the States for a 5 year period it seems before they appear in the records of Lynchburg.
Lynchburg Virginia
According to local reports, the family arrived in Lynchburg in 1878. They found a town that despite being the scene of one of the civil wars larger battles, it was a thriving tobacco and manufacturing hub, with a population of about 15,000, known for its warehouses, mills, and river trade along the James River.
Thomas Henry and his two American born sons Frank and Arthur found jobs locally, Thomas Henry as an accountant in the Tobacco trade, his sons as clerks in retailing businesses. This was a first step to working their way into their own businesses.
Virginia Offers Opportunities and a Good Life
By 1880, Thomas had established a pharmacy on Main Street, Lynchburg, with sons Charles and Frank as druggists.
The Main St of Lynchburg in 1900 , the right side of the street has a Wholesale Chemist sign could this have been the Blencowes Pharmacy I wonder.
Meanwhile daughter Annie Marie married William Jewby in May 1881 at Lynchburg and they moved to Washington DC.
Over the next few years, the pharmacy moved locations along Main Street, while Charles Thomas later opened his own business in Berryville.
By 1900, Frank was running a pharmacy in Campbell, Virginia.
One daughter died by the 1890 Census who and then the marriage to nash
Thomas Henry lived with Elizabeth for their last years at 1417 Clay St. Lynchburg.
In 1903 his lifelong partner Elizabeth died age 72 years and he was now a lonely widow , he lasted just one year more. In mid-winter of 1904 he caught pneumonia and after a short illness died.
In 1906 Thomas Henry was still listed in The Lynchburg Business Directory has running a Pharmacy at 800 5th Avenue, Lynchburg. It was probably operated by his sons but his name was on the ownership
The Lynchburg News obituary of 1904 contained errors , but confirmed Thomas Henry’s standing in the community.
It noted his arrival in Lynchburg in 1878 and praised his character and Christian faith.
He was survived by sons Charles (Berryville), Frank and Arthur (Lynchburg), and daughters Mrs. C. A. Nash and Mrs. Jewby of Washington, D.C.
Obituary
From Lynchburg Newspapers 1904 “Mr. Thomas Blencowe, the •wellknown druggist, died yesterday morning at 8:20 o’clock at his residence, corner of Fifth and Federal, after an Illness of ten days with pneumonia. Mr. Blencowe was bom at the family home, Marston Manor, in Northamptonshire, England, on January, 11th, 1829. •He came to this country in 1843 and settled In Nelson county, Va., where he lived till 1878. when he* came to Lynchburg and established the present drug business. He was a member of the Episcopal church, and had a large circle of friends here. He was a perfect Christian gentleman whose quiet dignity and gentle manner* never failed to impress all who knew him. -Mr. Blencowe was a man of most estimable character, and was held In the highest regard by this entire community. He Is survived by throe sons, Messrs. Charles Blencowe, of Berryrille, and Frank and A. H. Blencowe, of Lynchburg, and two daughters, Mrs. C. A. Nash and Mi’s. Jewby of Washington, D. C.“—-Lynchburg News.
Notes
- The Blencowe book section for Thomas Henry and family was researched and written by a family member who probably leaned on a news paper report in 1903. The emigration year is 1843 is not plausible given son Charles Thomas birth in England (1852). Charles Thomas confirms the year was 1857 in a 1900 US census declaration. As for the newss article reporting they first went to Nelson County, Virginia. There is no proof of that. However, they may have gone there on their second trip before arriving in Lynchburg in 1878
- The Blencowe Book, while a good article does not cover the children of Thomas Henry and Elizabeth Ann in and I wished to do that in more detail.
- The date of arrival 1873 to the USA is declared by Alfred Henry in the 1900 US Census