Thomas, Miriam, Walter & Harriet left Liverpool, England on board the S.V. 'Jessie Munn' on 9 Nov 1858 and arrived Melbourne, Victoria, 24 Feb 1859. On 7 March they headed to Sunbury on their own account. They lived in Victoria for two and a half years before moving to New Zealand. Annie and Louisa were born in Victoria. They landed from the S.S. 'Oscar' at Port Chalmers, Dunedin on 27 August 1861, sailing from Melbourne.
In his early years in Christchurch he was involved in the construction of the Lyttleton Tunnel and in the construction of the railway line from Heathcote to Christchurch. He settled at Cust in 1863 and lived in a cob (sod) house that remained intact until it lost its roof in a wind storm around 1980. The house was originally on a 40 acre plot which was expanded to 140 acres by his son Henry. He took a prominent part in local affairs until increasing infirmities compelled him to dispose of his property and live with his relatives.