Biography

Sarah Jane Thomas (1872 – 1899)

Sarah Jane Thomas was born in 1872 to Robert Thomas and Sarah Thomas, nee Yarwood. She married James Young on 29 January 1891 in Dunedin. Her husband James was born on 2 December 1864 at Skibereen, County Cork, Ireland, and emigrated to New Zealand, the land of opportunity, prior to their marriage in 1891. James and Sarah had two surviving children before Sarah’s tragic death from complications after a premature birth at the young age of 28 on 10 August 1899. Sarah is buried with her first born child Sydney and a premature baby.

Their children were:

1. Sydney Young, born February 1892 Dunedin; died May 13 1893 Dunedin aged 15 month.

2. Margaret May Young, born on 16 January 1894.

3. Norman Thomas Young, born on 5 February 1896 in Invercargill. He died on 11 August 1981 in California, USA.

After Sarah’s death, James married Annie Hyndman (she was a member of the bookshop/publishing family) who was the daughter of William Hyndman and Margaret Nutt, in 1900 in Dunedin. Annie was born on 7 June 1870 in Cambusnethan, Lanark, Scotland.

James and Annie moved to California, USA, with May and Norman and had a further six children.

1. Reginald Hyndman Young, born on 11 October 1900, San Francisco, died 29 October 1900, Colma, California, USA.

2. Veda Beresford Young, born on 7 March 1902, San Francisco, died 1 August 1998, California, USA.

3. Kenneth Kingsley Young, born on 7 August 1904, San Francisco, died July 1987.

4. Myra Valentine Young, born on 14 February 1907, San Francisco.

5. Howard Wellington Young, born on 1 January 1911, San Francisco, died 19 September 1974, Ogden, Utah, USA.

6. California Young, born 8 March 1913, died 17 December 1991, California, USA.

James died on 27 July 1952 in San Francisco, USA.

Annie died on 29 March 1951 in San Francisco, USA.