2.1 Thomas Barnett - the third generation

[Last amended: April 11, 2004]

Thomas Barnett was born in Remenham, Berkshire, in 1781 the first child and son of Thomas Barnett and Sarah Williams. He was baptised at St Nicholas, Remenham, on July 15, 1781. He died on November 20, 1852, at Rotherfield Grays, Oxon, of disease of heart and dropsy, aged 75.

Thomas married Caroline Bassigny by licence on October 2, 1811 in Shiplake, Oxfordshire. Thomas was a bachelor of Shiplake, Oxfordshire, while Caroline, a spinster, came from Wargrave, Berkshire. Witnesses were Diana Cavell and John McHarg.

Shiplake Parish Church

Thomas was a bailiff in husbandry and later a farmer. By 1823 he was a farmer and he and Caroline were living at New Farm. The exact location of this property is unknown but is likely to have been a short distance outside of Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

At the time of the 1841 census, Thomas and Caroline were living in the Parish of Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire. Thomas was listed as a farmer.

More details are provided in the 1851 census. Thomas and Caroline were living at Satwell Farm, Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire. Thomas was married, aged 72 and his occupation is given as farmer of 455 acres employing 12 labourers, a large farm. His place of birth was given as Remenham, Berks.

Thomas died on November 20, 1852. His will was signed May 6, 1842 and proved on February 21, 1853. Properties listed in the will were Satwell Farm and Bromsden Farm, the latter held under lease.

In his Will, Thomas left everything to his wife, Caroline and then stated:

"I rely with full confidence on her maternal affection that she will so dispose of same by her Will and testament or otherwise for the benefit of such of my children who shall be living at the time of her decease and in such shares and proportions as by their filial duty and respect towards her after my decease they shall deserve."

Caroline Bassigny was born about 1785. Of Caroline’s parents, little is known. Her mother, Anne, died on August 2, 1831 and was buried in vault 7 at the Independent Meeting House, Rotherfield Greys. This is the same vault in which George Barnett, brother of Thomas, was buried.

Anne Bassigny’s Will, dated March 9, 1831, stated that she was of Henley upon Thames and was a widow. She obviously thought a great deal of her son-in-law, Thomas, as she left him £500 in her will. The will states that Thomas was of New Farm in the parish of Greys. Apart from some small legacies, one for Diana Cavell who was a witness at the marriage of Thomas and Caroline, the bulk of the estate went to Caroline, independent of any husband, and Caroline’s children. It would appear that Anne was quite well off and that Caroline was her only surviving child.

The children of Thomas Barnett and Caroline Bassigny:

[Note: January 2003. Apart from Thomas, the children who died young, and John Frederick, the rest of the family have disappeared. It appears likely that they emmigrated but where remains a mystery.]