Person:Thomas Maxwell (38)

Thomas MAXWELL b.1824, Indian medical service, had issue (Gen. Her. Dic.). Thomas was a surgeon major (M. Williams). or MD in Bengal Army (Gen and Her. Dict. 1863). Thomas Maxwell of West Hill House (6nov1823-29apr1908) married 1860 Violet Sophia LOCKHART (d. 8feb1914) at Inchinnan (M. Williams). Thomas Maxwell (b. 1824) died 2nd qtr 1908 at Guildford (bmd). In 1881 Thomas Maxwell (b. 1824, Scotland, surgeon major India Army ret’d), wife Violet S. (b. 1837 Scotland), 4 servants and children born 1861-1868 in East Indies, 1871 in Richmond, Surrey and 1872-1878 in Guildford, Surrey, were at West Hill House, Guildown Rd., Guildford (census). Thomas and his wife were also listed on the 1891 and 1901 census. From “Surrey Advertiser”: A chandelier presented to St Mary’s Church in Guildford by Muslim soldiers was the centrepiece of a patronal festival service to mark Candlemas, illuminated this year by a glorious blaze of candlelight. The inscription on the chandelier relates its interesting origins: “To the memory of Violet Sophia Maxwell, mother of their Squadron Commander, this candelabrum was given by the Indian Officers and Men of the Mohammedan Squadron XI King Edward’s Own Lancers (PROBYN’S HORSE) 1914.” The Maxwells are a distinguished military family who have lived in or near Guildford since 1871, when Thomas Maxwell, retired surgeon major in the Indian Army, brought his young wife and family to live in West Hill House, Guildown Road. It is his wife, Violet, who is commemorated by the chandelier, and also by other furnishings in St Mary’s. Violet Maxwell, born in 1837, was the daughter of the Rev Lawrence Lockhart, minister of the parish of Inchinnan, just outside Glasgow. While she was growing up there she would have met Sir Walter Scott, whose daughter Sophia was married to Violet’s uncle, J.B. Lockhart, Scott’s friend and biographer. Violet was married to Thomas Maxwell in 1860, in her father’s church. The Maxwell family home then was at Dargavel House, just two or three miles away, in the same parish. The couple went out to India, where Violet produced her first four children, before Thomas retired from the Indian Army medical service in 1868 and came back to England. They settled in Guildford where they developed a wide circle of friends. Violet gave birth to another seven children, the last five of them being born in Guildford, making an impressive count of 11 children in 18 years. There were seven sons and four daughters. Five of the sons entered the army, and served with distinction, but sadly four of them fell in the First World War. Their names and ranks have been added to their parents’ grave in the Mount Cemetery. After over 30 years at West Hill House, the Maxwells moved down the road to Guildown Grange. It was here that Thomas died in 1908 at the age of 84.

1.   International Genealogical Index. ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 1999-2008)
   Batch #: M115661, Sheet #: 00, Source Call #: 6035516 REGISTER, Printout Call #: NONE, Date.
2.   Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland (Extracted records)
   FHL Film 102918 +, 1822/1823.

   Extract: Vital Records Index - British Isles - Second Edition
   Christening event for: Thomas MAXWELL
   Gender: Male
   Birth Date: 6 Nov 1823
   Birthplace: , Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland
   Recorded in: Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland
   Father: William MAXWELL
   Mother: Mary CAMPBELL
   Source: FHL Film 102918 + Dates: 1822 - 1823

   Principal in Christening Extract.

3.   Burke, John, and Sir John Bernard Burke. A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland. (London, England: Various publishers, 1849-1863).
4.   England. 1881 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands: . (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.).
5.   England. 1891 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.).
6.   General Register Office for Scotland. 1901 Scotland Census. (Edinburgh).