Grandfather of , horsewoman and writer known for her pony books. The University of Reading hold which include "My case against Rev. J. Pullein Thompson" by W.S. Gilbert, a photocopy of privately printed article, 1908." This dispute is detailed in " By Jane W. Stedman".
Briefly: In his role as Hon. Sec. of the National Blind Relief Society Rev. PT made an appeal on behalf of the Griffin Sisters. W. S. Gilbert had made a donation and then, checking that the funds had been received, he discovered that they had been subsumed into the Rev.'s general fund. The Rev. did not respond well to WSG's complaint, and nor did the Bishop of London so, on the advice of his lawyer, WSG publicised his criticism in a pamphlet, "My case against Rev. J. Pullein Thompson". When the furore died down the Rev. needed a rest abroad.
This photo comes from put on the web by . There you will also find an interview with the Rev. discussing the National Blind Relief Society, and two photos of meetings in his Tite Street dining room, one of which is the Committee for Arranging the King's (Edward VII's) Coronation Dinner for the Blind.
We cannot find Rev PT's full career, only references as follows: Curate of Christ Church, Salford in 1878. Vicar of St. Stephen's, Bow 1890-93 (at least). Vicar of Christ Church Chelsea in 1902-12 (at least).
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, has researched this man and states that according to the UK Clergy List of 1897 he was a Deacon in 1876 and a Priest in 1878, being the Curate of Christ Church, Salford, Manchester from 1876 to 1880 and at St Mark's Church, Manningham, Bradford, Yorkshire from 1880 to 1883. From 1883 to 1886 he was the Metropolitan Secretary of the Colonial and Continental Church Society. He was the Vicar at St Stephen's Church, Bow, Middlesex (now Greater London) from 1886-1894. In 1894 he was appointed as Vicar at Christ Church, Chelsea, London and from 1895 he was the Honorary Secretary of the National Blind Relief Society,
James Pullein Thompson was born on 13 January 1852, in Crayke, North Riding Yorkshire, a son of John Thompson (circa 1813-1869) and Ann Thompson née Owthwaite (circa 1813-1866). His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1852 in the Easingwold Registration District, Yorkshire. He was baptised on 5 January 1853 in St Cuthbert's Church, Crayke, where in the baptismal register his father is shown as a blacksmith.
He was shown as aged 9 years and a scholar in the census that was undertaken on 7 April 1861. He was living at 23 Alfred Street, Pendleton, Lancashire, with his parents and two sisters: Mary Thompson, aged 20 years and a dressmaker, and Martha Thompson, aged 15 years. His father was listed as a shoeing smith.
In the census that was compiled on 2 April 1871 he was shown as aged 19 years and an assistant teacher & local Methodist preacher who was living at 156 Ellor Street, Pendleton, with his sister Martha Thompson.
On 13 September 1876 he married Emily Darbyshire (1852-1913) in St Matthew's Church, Chapel Lane, Stretford, Lancashire, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 24 years, a bachelor and a curate living at 115 Cross Lane, Salford, Lancashire, the son of John Thompson, a farrier, whilst his wife was described as aged 24 years and a spinster who was residing at Olive Bank, Harriet Street, Stretford, the daughter of the late Samuel Darbyshire who had been a cashier.
He was described as aged 29 years and the Curate of St Mark's in the census that was taken on 3 April 1881. He was living at 9 Grosvenor Terrace, Manningham, Bradford, Yorkshire, with his wife together with a female domestic general servant.
They were to have five children: Emily Muriel Pullein Thompson (1884-1954); Harold James Pullein Thompson (1885-1958); Edgar Pullein Thompson (1886-1938); Basil Edmond Pullein Thompson (1889-1889) and Eric Stephen Pullein Thompson (1891-1973).
He was shown in the census that was completed on 5 April 1891 as aged 39 years and a Clerk in Holy Orders who was living in St Stephen's Vicarage, Mostyn Road, Bow, London, with his wife and their three surviving children: Emily Muriel Pullein Thompson, Harold James Pullein Thompson and Edgar Pullein Thompson, who were all listed as scholars, together with a governess, a cook and a housemaid.
The census that was undertaken on 31 March 1901 lists him as aged 49 years and a clergyman in the Church of England. He was living at 27 Tite Street, Chelsea, London, with his wife and three of their children: Emily Muriel Pullein Thompson; Harold James Pullein and Eric Stephen Pullein Thompson. together with a cook, a housemaid and a parlour maid.
When he completed his census return form on 2 April 1911 he described himself as aged 59 years and a clergyman of the Established Church. He was living in The Vicarage, 27 Tite Street, Chelsea, a 17 roomed property, with his wife and three of their children: Emily Muriel Pullein Thompson - a daily governess; Harold James Pullein - a schoolmaster and Eric Stephen Pullein Thompson, together with a cook, a lady's maid, a parlour maid and a housemaid. He confirmed that his wife had given birth to five children but that only four were still alive.
His wife died on 19 February 1913 at Ivycroft, Wimbledon Common, Wimbledon, Surrey (now Greater London).
On 14 February 1914, aged 62 years, he married Margaret Ruby Eastwood (1893-1979), who was aged 20 years, in the Tonbridge Registration District, Kent. He was at the time the Vicar of Luddenham, Faversham. Kent and their daughter, Daphne Ruby Pullein Thompson (1916-2007), was born on 16 November 1916.
When he completed his census return form on 19 June 1921 he described himself as aged 69 years, 5 months, a Clerk in Holy Orders and the Rector of Luddingham. He was living in the 16 roomed Rectory, 24 South Road, Faversham, with his wife, who was aged 27 years, 10 months and their daughter Daphne Ruby Pullein Thomson, aged 4 years, 7 months, together with a cook, a nurse maid, a between maid and a maid.
His death was registered as aged 72 years in the 2nd quarter of 1924 in the Hampstead Registration District, London. Probate records confirm that his address had been 112 Fitzjohn's Avenue, Hampstead, where he died on 8 May 1924 and his in the City of London Cemetery and Crematorium, Aldersbrook Road, London, E12 5DQ. Probate was granted on 14 June 1924 to his widow and his effects totalled £6,894-0s-10d.
He is shown as 'REVD. J PULLEIN THOMPSON.' on the memorial plaque attached to St Stephen's National School, Saxon Lea Court, Saxon Road, London, E3.
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