From contemporary newspaper cuttings preserved in JB's copy and a loose memorandum in it by JB himself we can add more about Thomas' life and work.
    JB says that he believes Thomas went to Liverpool at the age of fourteen to make his way, first with a stock-broker and then stock-broking on his own account, though not very successfully.
    He married Eliza Pownall in 1815 -- JB says that they had met as Sunday School teachers at the same school. Eliza's mother, Elizabeth Quillin, came from an old and distinguished Isle of Man family. After their marriage they were in difficult circumstances as the business was failing. However, in 1817 Thomas signed an agreement to be employed by a Mr. Henderson for three years.
    Thomas' departure from Bidford in 1877 was marked by a parish meeting (at which TPB was present) when he and his daughter Eliza received testimonials and presentations of a purse of 70 sovereigns and a travelling writing-case respectively. Thomas spoke his thanks and recollections of the dismal state of the parish when he first came to it, with great emotion. TPB replied on behalf of Eliza.
    A newspaper obituary reported One of the oldest of the Evangelical clergy has just gone to his rest. In his early years he was taught those clear views of the Gospel, from which he never swerved, by his aunt the late Lady Parkyns of Bunny Hall, Nottingham. From the year 1830 he was Vicar of Bidford with which for many years was connected the adjacent parish of Salford. There he encountered the aversion of the old-fashioned clergy to whom cottage lectures, hymnals instead of Tate and Brady, Bible and missionary meetings and other ministerial activities were odious novelties. That it should have been so marks how far into a vanished past this venerable life had reached.

THOMAS BOULTBEE, VICAR OF BIDFORD (1793 - 1883)

(The list and details of Thomas and Eliza's children can be found in Part Two . Ed.)