Thomas married in 1855 at St. Philip's Church, now the Anglican cathedral. His bride was Elizabeth Ann Lorton.
In 1861 the couple were living in Summer St. Edgbaston and had three children; Alice Ann (Annie) aged 5, Amy Agnes 3, and Frank Spencer 1. Thomas gave his occupation as Designer and Modeller.
By 1871 the family had grown with the addition of Minnie, born 1861, Claretta Louisa 1863, Henry Albert(Harry) 1865, and Ada Teresa 1868. By 1881, Alfred Leonard 1874 , had been added. His twin, Charles Vincent, didn't survive infancy and another daughter also died young.
In 1881, Thomas was still giving his occupation as Designer and Modeller but by 1891 he had become a Patent Agent. Apparently, he had an office near the Smithfield market in Birmingham, and was perpetually at war with the man on the floor above, who would push burning cabbage stalks through cracks in the ceiling. This gave rise to his catch-phrase "did I ever tell you how Lowbridge served me out?"
Thomas was also something of an inventor himself, although I have found no evidence that he invented Ladies' suspenders and the belt pull-up on train windows as family lore has it. Most of the inventions patented by him seem to consist of metallic bedsteads, knobs for door handles and the like.
(To be continued)
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