Notes for Thomas 'China Tom' ADKINS Evelyn Goodman has him working for the China Consular Service for the period 1855-
1879. However David Oakley says that Consular records show that he worked there only
in the month of January 1868. Author P.D Coates, 'China Consuls', has him in
Takow (as Kaohsiung was then known) for three months. 1881 Census: visiting
cousin George Caleb ADKINS . The 1901 Census tends to suggest that there
were no children, but that he was comfortably off. Funeral report confirms - no
children. Picture courtesy of the late Theo Christophers. [95]
Notes for Agnes Margaret SOWDON Sister of a Chinese Customs commissioner. 1881 Census: visiting husband's cousin
George Caleb ADKINS.
A.M. Sowdon joined the Customs in April 1880 & started as a 4th Ant at Canton.
Letter from Hart to Campbell, 12 March 1880 (268) ‘I am glad Sowdon has passed: he
is Adkins’ b-in-law & Adkins as Consul has always been fair to the Customs’.
However, it didn’t turn out well- letter from Hart, 24 Oct. 1883 (441). ‘Sowden[sic]
has collapsed – melancholia.’ [130]
The newspaper report of Thomas Adkins's funeral clearly indicates that his wife died
in 1911. However, in the China Families record it states that she withdrew from the service due to
being deceased on 01/04/1884. There is no evidence of him being married more than
once. [131]
Is it possible there is some confusion, because Agnes Margaret SOWDON is clearly a
woman, but in Hart's letter he says '... he is Adkins’ b-in-law ...', referring to
SOWDON twice as male. [95]
Lots of confusion above! It rather belatedly occurs to me that Hart is referring to
Agnes Margaret's brother who was a Chinese Customs commissioner, ie. working for the
British customs department attending to Chinese customs. It is he who died on
01/04/1884. Now it all makes sense. [95]
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