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. It may be that Hart recorded the wrong initials, A.M.; I don't know what first names her brother went by. Now it all makes better sense! [95]
Sources | 8. | Document, Evelyn GOODMAN research |
| 32. | Email, David Oakley, 30 October 2004 |
| 41. | Newspaper, Saturday December 28th 1912, Evesham and Four Shires Advertiser |
| 85. | Email, David Oakley, 8 August 2011 |
| 95. | Personal information, Tim Boddington (STB, Webmaster) |
| 130. | Email, Dr Andrew Hillier, 05 April 2022 |
| 131. | Website, https://www.chinafamilies.net/customs_service/3310-sowdon-a-m/ China families - Sowden |
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